Subject Matters of Intellectual Property Rights in Vietnam

Subject matters of intellectual property rights in Vietnam is divided into three groups included: subject matter of copyright, subject matter of industrial property rights, subject matter of rights to plant varieties. In details:

 

Protect Intellectual Property Rights in Vietnam

-The subject matter of copyright shall comprise literary, artistic and scientific works; the subject matter of copyright related rights shall comprise performances, audio and visual fixation, broadcasts and satellite signals carrying coded programmes.

-The subject matter of industrial property rights shall comprise inventions, industrial designs, designs of semi-conducting closed circuits, trade secrets, marks, trade names and geographical indications.

-The subject matter of rights to plant varieties shall comprise plant varieties and harvested materials.

Pursuant to Intellectual Property right 2005 (amended in 2009), Intellectual property rights means rights of an organization or individual to intellectual assets comprising copyright and copyright related rights, industrial property rights and rights to plant varieties. For example, software computer program can be protected under Copyright, or name of a product can be protected under Industrial property right that is Trademark or the outward appearance of a car can be protected as Industrial design.

However, intellectual property rights are generated and established based on certain grounds:

Firstly, copyright shall arise at the moment a work is created and fixed in a certain material form, irrespective of its content, quality, form, mode and language and irrespective of whether or not such work has been published or registered. For instance, a musician is about to write a song, however, the idea of the song still bears in mind of the musician and have not written down yet. At that time, copyright of the musician still does not generate.

Secondly, related rights shall arise at the moment a performance, audio and visual fixation, broadcast or satellite signal carrying coded programmes is fixed or displayed without causing loss or damage to copyright. Related right is the right related to copyright. Proceeding to above example, when the musician has finished writing his song and is sung by the singer on stage, the right of the singer to sing the song of the musician is related right.

Thirdly, different grounds for the generation and establishment of industrial property right. As said above, industrial property rights include 7 subject matters: inventions, industrial designs, designs of semi-conducting closed circuits, trade secrets, marks, trade names and geographical indications. These subjects have different grounds for generating and establishing right:

-Industrial property rights to an invention, industrial design, layout design, mark or geographical indication shall be established on the basis of a decision of the competent State body to grant a protection title in accordance with the registration procedures;

-Industrial property rights to a trade name shall be established on the basis of lawful use thereof;

-Industrial property rights to a trade secret shall be established on the basis of lawful acquirement of the trade secret and maintaining confidentiality thereof.

Fourthly, rights to a plant variety shall be established on the basis of a decision of the competent State body to grant a plant variety protection title in accordance with the registration procedures

It is wise to consult the advice of a IP attorneys in Vietnam to help assist you with your patent. We are a legal marketplace with quality lawyers who are knowledgeable in various areas of the law—including patents.

ANT Lawyers is a law firm in Vietnam, recognized by Legal500, IFLR1000. We are an exclusive Vietnam member of Prea Legal, the global law firm network covering more than 150 jurisdictions. The firm provides a range of legal services to multinational and domestic clients.

 

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What Are Potential Disputes over the Settlement Method for Employees When Separating Enterprises?

In Vietnam, reorganization of an enterprise means the division, separation, consolidation, merger or transformation of an enterprise. In particular, when separating enterprises, in addition to legal issues related to enterprise separation procedures, registration for newly formed enterprises, the introduction of a plan for the employees of the separated company is also a matter of concern. The transferor company and the transferee company need to allocate and use the existing labor force accordingly. It is important to ensure the interests of workers. Specifically, in case of continuing to employ employees, when separating an enterprise, the next employer is responsible for continuing to use up the existing workforce and proceeding with the labor contract amendment and supplement. All of this might lead to potential disputes which lawyers would be involved to provide legal advice from the early stage.

 

Dispute settlement method for employee when separating enterprises in Vietnam

If the enterprise does not use up all the employees or the labor demand of the company does not run out of the existing number of employees, the enterprise must develop a suitable plan to use employees in accordance with the law. Specifically, an employment plan must contain the following main contents: The list and the number of employees to be continued to be used, the employee sent for retraining to continue using; List and number of employees to retire; The list and number of employees who are transferred to part-time work; the employee must terminate the labor contract; Measures and financial resources to ensure implementation of the plan. Enterprises should note that when developing plans for the employment of employees, there must be the participation of organizations representing labor collectives at the grassroots level.

In case it is imperative that the employees quit their job, the enterprise must pay the employee a job loss allowance so that the interests of the employee will still be guaranteed when separating the enterprise. The Labor Code has specified as follows: An employer shall pay a job-loss allowance to an employee who loses his/her job and has worked regularly for the employer for 12 months or longer. The job-loss allowance is equal to 1 month’s wage for each working year, but must not be lower than 2 months’ wage. The working period used for the calculation of job-loss allowance is the total time during which the employee actually works for the employer minus the time during which the employee benefits from unemployment insurance in accordance with the Law of Social Insurance and the working period for which the employer has paid a severance allowance to the employee. The wage used for the calculation of job-loss allowance is the average wage in accordance with the labor contract during 6 months preceding the time the employee loses his/her job.

It is important to have proper and proactive discussion with impacted employee and avoid disputes impacting the company’s reputation. Dispute lawyers in Vietnam could be of help for advice and preparation.

ANT Lawyers is a law firm in Vietnam, recognized by Legal500, IFLR1000. We are an exclusive Vietnam member of Prea Legal, the global law firm network covering more than 150 jurisdictions. The firm provides a range of legal services to multinational and domestic clients.

 

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How Licensing of Trademark Works?

Licensing of industrial property subject in general or of trademark in specific is regulated in Intellectual Property law. Accordingly, in trademark licensing, the owner (licensor) grants permission to another (licensee) to use that trademark on mutually agreed terms and conditions. The must be established in written form to avoid dispute in trademark licensing in Vietnam.

 

Trademark licensing in Vietnam

Accordingly, licensing of trademark includes the following types: exclusive contract, non-exclusive contract; sub-license contract.

Firstly, exclusive contract means a contract under which, within the licensing scope and term, the licensee shall have the exclusive right to use the licensed trademark while the licensor may neither enter into any trademark license contract with any third party nor, without permission from the licensee, use such trademark.

Secondly, non-exclusive contract means a contract under which, within the licensing scope and term, the licensor shall still have the right to use the trademark and to enter into a non-exclusive trademark license contract with others.

Thirdly, trademark sub-license contract means a contract under which the licensor is a licensee of the right to use such trademark pursuant to another contract.

In any type of the contracts, it is required to have the following contents: full names and addresses of the licensor and of the licensee; grounds for licensing; contract type; licensing scope including limitations on use right and territorial limitations; contract term; licensing price; rights and obligations of the licensor and of the licensee.

Besides the above contents, the parties also need to take note on the validity of this contract. Different from assignment contract of trademark when it is required to register at National office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam to take effect, the licensing contract of trademark does not required this kind of registration for taking effect. Licensing contract shall automatically be terminated upon the termination of the licensor’s trademark right.

If Client needs any more information or request for legal advice regarding licensing of trademark or dispute in trademark licensing contract, our Trademark attorneys in Vietnam at ANT Lawyers will be of help.

 

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Trademark consultant in Vietnam

Trademarks are an important part of client company’s competitive edge. ANT Lawyers IP practice helps you protect these valuable intellectual assets, through trademark registration, oppositions, and other trademark protection resolutions in Vietnam.

 

Trademark consultant in Vietnam

In particular, ANT Lawyers IP practice offers client services as following:

-Trademark Availability Searches

-Trademark Watch Service

-Trademark Filings & Trademark Registration in Vietnam

-Renewals

-Recordals of Amendments, Assignments, Merger Agreements, Licences

-Filing Opposition & Responses

Our trademark attorneys in Vietnam will process client’s trademark registration by carrying out the following steps:

-Providing our clients with cost estimates for searching and filing applications

-Conducting comprehensive clearance searches including analysis about registration of the required trademarks and providing advice on the most appropriate and cost-effective method to obtain a clearance

-Preparing and filing trademark applications, including obtaining appropriate legalization of documents and translations (if applicable)

-Responding to objections raised by Registrars and potential third party oppositions

-Negotiating settlement agreements when necessary to overcome prior marks

-Obtaining a Certificate of Trademark Registration once your trademark is approved

-Recording changes in name and address of proprietor, assignments, licenses and renewals of trademarks

-Providing solutions for trademark protection in Vietnam.

If you are looking for an experienced IP services in Vietnam to help you with your Trademark application, you should visit ANTLawyers.vn. Our attorneys have experience with the IP process and will work closely with you as you apply for your Trademark in Vietnam. 

 

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Protecting intellectual property rights abroad for Vietnamese enterprises

The development of international supply chains has become a critical success factor for big companies, and should be seen as important key for products of developing countries to gain entry into high standard market such as USA, European Countries, and Japan. However, many Vietnam companies have experienced problems in shifting their supply chain abroad as well as managed their intellectual property such as geographical indication, trademarks.

 

Protecting Intellectual Property Rights Abroad for Vietnam Enterprises

On October 24^th, 2017, Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA) in cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (AIPPI) organized the seminar “Protecting intellectual property rights abroad for Vietnamese enterprises” to provide Vietnam companies value information for protecting their Intellectual Property right in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and global supply chain development.

All the experts have strongly recognized the important role of intellectual property protection abroad for Vietnamese enterprises and introduced:

-Introduction to the International World of Intellectual property

-Protecting a valuable asset- How to protect your Brand with Madrid

-Options to protect an invention: Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and trade Secrets

-Introduction to the international design System- Hague

-Other WIPO services, Tools and Products

-About International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property- AIPPI (Association Internationale pour la Protection de la Propriété Intellectuelle) Vietnam is a member of the WIPO and is a signatory to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. It has acceded to the Patent Cooperation Treaty and the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks, and in 2004 joined the Berne Convention. Therefore, the Vietnamese enterprises should file trademarks, patents or industrial designs by international systems for saving cost and managing the registration procedures effectively. However, it is suggested that the international Bureau of WIPO does not decide whether trademarks, patents or industrial designs are eligible for protection or not, and the final decisions must depend on Intellectual Property law of each country i.e. Vietnam. For differences of laws in every country and difficult techniques when preparing Intellectual Property application, applicants should find valuable assistant from Intellectual Property agent.

If you are looking for an experienced IP services in Vietnam to help you with your IP application, you should visit ANT Lawyers.vn - Law Firm in Vietnam. Our attorneys have experience with the IP process and will work closely with you as you apply for your IP. We routinely match inventors with experienced IP attorneys for a free consultation on our platform and offer a money back guarantee. 

 

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Dispute Resolution in Vietnam Through Arbitration

Dispute resolution methods are litigation, negotiation, mediation and arbitration. Handing disputes requires litigation dispute law firm in Vietnam with dispute lawyers in Vietnam having experience and knowledge to provide resolutions to complex cross-border issues, commercial and civil disputes.

 

Arbitration Law Firm in Vietnam 

In the current business environment, most business agreements could contain a clause stipulating that disputes arisen must be resolved in arbitration.  For a dispute to be referred to arbitration, there must be a valid arbitration agreement in writing, either as an arbitration clause within a contract or a separate agreement.  If the agreement is included within the context of a contract, the arbitration clause is considered independent, and any modification, extension, or termination of the contract does not affect the validity of the arbitration clause. Vietnamese law allows for a written arbitration agreement to take the form in any written form, so long as the writing clearly indicates the parties’ intent to resolve any dispute via arbitration. If a dispute falls within the scope of a valid arbitration agreement, but a party attempts to initiate court proceedings, the residing court does not have jurisdiction over the matter, and must drop the case. Moreover, an arbitration agreement does not have to stipulate specific dispute matters and/or the arbitration organization authorized to resolve disputes without supplemental agreement.  Even if there is a valid arbitration agreement, Vietnamese Arbitration Law stipulates that in order for a dispute to go to arbitration, it must also fit into one of three categories:

(1) disputes arising from “commercial activities”;

(2) disputes where at least one party is engaged in commercial activities;

(3) other disputes where the law stipulates that arbitration is a permissible means of resolution.

In category (1), the term “commercial activity” is defined in Commercial Law No. 36-2005-QH11 (31 December 2005) as “activity for profit-making purposes comprising the purchase and sale of goods, provision of services, investment, commercial enhancement, and other activities for profit-making purposes.”  The types of disputes that often fall into the second category are noncommercial disputes, such as civil disputes, where at least one party to the dispute is engaged in commercial activities. However, this category does not apply in disputes between a good/service provider and a consumer. In this case, the law allows the party to choose between litigation and arbitration. Even the agreement includes a standard arbitration clause in the supply of goods or services contract, the dispute may not be arbitrated without the consumer’s consent. The final category of disputes permissible for arbitration gives legislators discretion to expand or maintain the types of disputes resolved through arbitration.  An example of a category (3) dispute is a dispute arising from investment activities governed by the Law on Investment.

Arbitration has become an extremely popular method of dispute resolution, as many businesses prefer it over the high costs of litigation.

Contact Us for Mediation Services in Vietnam  provided by qualified mediators and lawyers, supported by field experts.

ANT Lawyers in a law firm in Vietnam, recognized by Legal500, IFLR1000. We are an exclusive Vietnam member of Prea Legal, the global law firm network covering more than 150 jurisdictions. The firm provides a range of legal services to multinational and domestic clients. For advice or services request, please contact us via email ant@antlawyers.vn, or call us +84 24 730 86 529.

 

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How to protect Industrial Design in Vietnam

Before a new design is launched, or sold in a new country, client company needs to ensure the Intellectual Property protection of industrial design in Vietnam.

 

ANT Lawyers IP Practice offers industrial design services as following:

- Look-up, assess and consult possibilities to register industrial design in Vietnam and abroad;

-Represent clients in applying for certificates of industrial design, record modification, extend degree of industrial protection in Vietnam and abroad;

-Evaluate the effectiveness of the certificate of industrial design registration and the possibility of industrial design rights violation;

-Implement of the protected industrial design rights: investigate, monitor, negotiate, seek arbitration or initiate a lawsuit or request other competent agencies for handling of infringement in Vietnam and abroad;

-Negotiate, draft, evaluate and register the of changing industrial design ownership in Vietnam and abroad;

-Advise on building strategies, brand development;

If you are looking for an experience Industrial design attorney in Vietnam to help you with your Industrial design matters, you should visit ANTLawyers.vn. Our attorneys have experience with the IP process and will work closely with you as you apply for your IP.

 

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Register industrial design in Vietnam

Register industrial design in Vietnam is necessary for individual and organization.

Industrial design is the outward appearance of a product embodied in three-dimensional configuration, lines, colors or a combination of such elements. An impressed appearance shall increase the value of products, the attraction to customers and the distinction from other same products. In fact, however, appearances of products can be copied easily if there no legal protection and prior prevention. Filling industrial design in National Office of Intellectual Property shall guarantee that your product appearance is protected from violation of others.

 

Register industrial design in Vietnam

With highly professional staff and great experience in IP aspect in Vietnam, ANT Lawyers would like to offer you Industrial Design Filing service as follow:

ANT Lawyers service in Industry Design

Our services in this area include:

a. Evaluate the possibility of registration and use of Industrial Design;

b. Search for information on the registration and use of Industrial design;

c. File application and proceed with the legal procedures on the registration of Industrial design;

d. Advise and proceed with the legal procedures on the record of assignment of Industrial Design application;

e. Advise and proceed with the legal procedures on the record of amendment of Industrial Design application such as: name and address of the applicant;

f. Advise and proceed with the legal procedures on the amendment of the Industrial Design Certificate on the basis of transferring of ownership, merging companies; record of change of name and address of the Certificate holder;

g. Advise on the renewal of validity of the exclusive Industrial Design Certificate.

h. License and Assignment;

i. Opposition against proceedings;

j. Appeal; cancellation; invalidation;

 

How to file Industrial Design in Vietnam?

Required documents:

i. Original Power of Attorney from the Applicant(s);

The POA must be signed by an applicant or duly authorized representative on behalf of the Applicant (no further notarization or legalization is required);

The POA is required at the time of filing, please therefore arrange to have and provide us with scan copy via fax or email first and original one can be followed within one [01] month later.

ii. Full name and address of applicant(s);

iii. Full name, address and nationality of designer(s);

iv. Drawing of design;

The drawings of design must show clearly 7 views (separately in jpeg. format is preferable): perspective view, front view, rear view, right view, left view, top view, bottom view, at a same scale; and the minimum resolution is 300DPI.

v. Original certified true copy of priority document (if any);

vi. Salient novelty features description in which showing the using purpose or Lorcano classification of design, if any.

Time and procedures:

The ID application will be examined by National Office of Intellectual Property of Viet Nam (NOIP) with ID Examination Procedure as below:

i. Formality examination: Under Intellectual Property Law of Vietnam, the above application will be examined as to form within one [01] month as from the filing date or date entering the national phase. If the ID application meets the requirements as to form, the NOIP will issue a decision of formality acceptance and then the application will be further processed.

ii. The Substantive Examination: The above application will be examined as to substance within 12 months.

• Notification of the Substantive Examination Results.

• The Decision of Refusal or Request to pay fee.

• Issuing the ID of Invention

Note: The deadline for filing design application in Vietnam on the basis of claiming priority right under Paris convention is 6 months counted from the earliest priority date;

iii. The total time from filing to registration in straightforward case is 12-14 months. However, in practice, this duration can be extended further 3-6 months;

ID Term and Maintenance:

A registered industrial design is given an initial protection period of 5 years from the date of filing and is extended for two further consecutive terms of 5 years each. The maximum protection period is 15 years.

If you are looking for an experience Industrial design attorney in Vietnam to help you with your Industrial design matters, you should visit ANTLawyers.vn. Our attorneys have experience with the IP process and will work closely with you as you apply for your IP.

 

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What Are the Order of Disciplining Employee in Vietnam?

Labour discipline is the provisions on compliance matters relating to work time, technology and production and business management in labor regulations. It can be understood simply that when an employee violates the labor regulations, depending on the extent and regulations of the company, he or she will be subject to disciplinary action. The order of disciplining labor is conducted in accordance with the provisions of labour code in Vietnam. Failing to follow the order of discipline would lead to potential disputes which both employer and employee should consult with dispute lawyers in Vietnam for advice to protect their best interests.

 

Firstly, the employer must confirm the employee’s violations

In the cases where an employee found committing a violation, the employer shall issue an offence notice, inform the employee representative organization (or the employee’s parent or legal representative if the employee is under 18) in order to hold a disciplinary meeting.

Secondly, issuing notice of the disciplinary meeting

This step is only carried out in case the employer detects violations of labor discipline after the time when the violation has occurred, there are sufficient grounds to prove the fault of the employee and the statute of limitations for disciplining.

The employer sends the notice with the content, time and place of the meeting to handle the labor discipline to the organization representing the labor collective at the grassroots level; workers; In the case of a person under 18 years old, there must be the participation of a parent or legal representative.

The employer must ensure these recipients receive notice before the meeting takes place and conduct a labor discipline meeting with the participation of the notification components.

Thirdly, conducting a disciplinary meeting

It is mandatory to have the minutes of the disciplinary meeting, which have to be approved by the participants before the end of the meeting. The minutes shall bear the participants’ signatures. If any participant that refuses to sign the minutes, there should be explanation.

Fourthly, disciplinary decisions

The person that concludes the employment contract on the employer’s side also has the power to issue the disciplinary decision. The disciplinary decision shall be issued before expiration of the original or extended time limit for penalty imposition specified the labour code.

The disciplinary decision shall be sent to the employee (or his/her parent or legal representative if the employee is under 18) and the employee representative organization.

ANT Lawyers is an employment dispute law firm in Vietnam, recognized by Legal500, IFLR1000. We are an exclusive Vietnam member of Prea Legal, the global law firm network covering more than 150 jurisdictions. The firm provides a range of legal services to multinational and domestic clients.

 

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