Solutions to Identify Counterfeit Goods and IP Violations from
the Experience of Korea
Currently, counterfeit products and product
infringing intellectual property rights happening in Vietnam
are very popular and diverse in types. This situation not only affects domestic
production and trade but also has a negative impact on close business partners
of Vietnam, including Korea. In many cases, the infringed parties have been
seeking help from IP lawyers in Vietnam for
advice.
IP Enforcement Law Firm in Vietnam
With cultural compatibility, Korean products
such as fashion, home appliances, cosmetics, and functional foods are very
popular and widely consumed in Vietnam. Therefore, with the quick grasp of this
trend, the products of Korean enterprises have become the subject of
counterfeiting. Besides, with the development of e-commerce channels, these
counterfeit products quickly reach consumers, affecting the interests of
consumers in Vietnam and Korean enterprises.
Moreover, with technology, forgery is increasingly done in a very
sophisticated way from the packaging, share, and the color of the counterfeit
products. Therefore, without a method of comparison and inspection, it is
difficult for consumers to detect the product as a fake. This causes great
damage to Korean enterprises not only the market share, but also the value of
reputation and intellectual property rights being violated.
Besides, the Covid-19 pandemic makes people in Vietnam more
inclined to buy goods online. This is an opportunity for individuals and
organizations that counterfeit products to easily reach out to consumers
without being detected and punished.
In addition, although Vietnam has a mechanism to enforce
intellectual property rights, these regulations have not been thoroughly
applied. Therefore, many individuals and organizations making counterfeit goods
and infringing intellectual property still continue to violate without being
caught. Meanwhile, consumers still have to pay to use bad quality products.
With the support of Korean businesses, Vietnam authorities will
continue to improve their capability in identifying counterfeit goods and goods
infringing on intellectual property. Therefore, an exchange between Korean
businesses and the General Department of Market Management of Vietnam is
necessary in providing methods to detect counterfeit goods and intellectual
property violations for Vietnam agencies to exchange support, raise awareness
of intellectual property rights
protection, and provide information on intellectual property rights
for Korean businesses in Vietnam. It is expected that Vietnam intellectual
property enforcement agencies improve their efficiency in identifying,
preventing, combating and handling counterfeit and infringing goods in Vietnam
to protect consumers and company in creating an encouraging investment
environment in Vietnam, for Korean investors to enter Vietnam for setting up company, factory and do
business in Vietnam.
You could learn more about ANT Lawyers IP
Practice or contact our IP lawyers in Vietnam for advice via email ant@antlawyers.vn or call our office
at (+84) 24
730 86 529
v
Solutions to Identify Counterfeit Goods and IP Violations
ANT Lawyers as an Industrial Property law firm
with full IP license under Vietnam laws represented Live Forever Young Co., Ltd
to submit an international application of trademark Live Forever Young
trademark which designated the US according to the World Intellectual Property
Organization (WIPO) on October 2021.
ANT
Lawyers IP
law firm in Vietnam
Through the formal examination stage, on March
2021, WIPO issued a Certificate of Registration, which certifies that the above
application conformed to the formal requirements of WIPO. Subsequently, WIPO
notifies the Intellectual Property Office of the U.S. and this Office could
conduct the substantive examination.
During the substantive examination stage, the
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a Non-final Office
Action on May 2021. Subsequently, ANT Lawyers assisted the Client in preparing
and submitting the corresponding response letter to USPTO.
After 7 months of substantive examination, on
October 2021, the Live Forever Young trademark has been successfully registered
in the US and USPTO issued a Registration Certificate. Accordingly, the
registration will remain in full force and effect for a term of ten years from
the date of issuance and may file a renewal.
Trademark registration
in the US is very
important for the client as this is the first step that uncovers the
considerable opportunities for entering the potential market in the US. With
the help of ANT Lawyers from experts in intellectual property as well as close
cooperation relationships with IP law firm in different part of the world, ANT
Lawyers IP law firm has assisted Clients in achieving their goals and while
maximizing their rights and exploiting legal benefits from intellectual
property as well as minimizing risks in the process of registration
of trademark in Vietnam and
international trademark registration in US.
Successfully Register a Vietnam Trademark in the US
For the purpose of ensuring legitimate interest of manufacturers
as well as consumers, reduction and elimination unfair commercial competition,
the Vietnam government has been increasingly focusing on protection of
intellectual property (IP) rights. This is expected to contribute to technical
enhancement in domestic production industry, foreign investment attraction,
reduction of IP infringement in Vietnam.
Infringements of intellectual property rights
in Vietnam
Intellectual property rights always plays
an important role in international trade agreements which Vietnam has been a
contracting party, especially ASEAN and WTO. The WTO requires its members to
impose penalties or fines, or both, to prevent acts of intellectual property
infringement for commercial purposes, in accordance with the penalty applicable
to the crime of corresponding severity.
In order to consolidate and protect the social order; punish
crimes; raise people’s awareness of compliance with the law; prevent and fight
crimes, Vietnam has legalized sanctions for infringements of intellectual property rights in Vietnam under
administrative, civil and criminal measures.
The Criminal Code 1999 (amended and supplemented in 2009)
regulated provisions on “Infringement of industrial property rights” (Article
171). The criminal sanctions for infringement of intellectual property right
are regulated in Article 225 and Article 226 of the Criminal Code 2015.
Regarding the subject of infringement of intellectual property
rights, the offenders shall be (i) person who is at the sufficient age to bear
criminal responsibilities; or (ii) corporate legal entity as defined in the
Civil Code.
The effective protection of intellectual property rights will be
an important factor that protect the interests of consumers, manufacturers,
eliminating “distortion” of competition and commerce. In common
playgrounds, Vietnam as well as other member countries must strictly comply
with the regulations on IP issues to integrate into global economy.
You could learn more about ANT
Lawyers IP Practice or contact our IP attorneys in Vietnam for advice via
email ant@antlawyers.vn or call our office at (+84) 24 730
86 529
Infringement of Intellectual Property Rights Under Vietnam’s Criminal Code
For the purpose of ensuring legitimate interest of manufacturers
as well as consumers, reduction and elimination unfair commercial competition,
the Vietnam government has been increasingly focusing on protection of
intellectual property (IP) rights. This is expected to contribute to technical
enhancement in domestic production industry, foreign investment attraction,
reduction of IP infringement in Vietnam.
Intellectual property rights always plays
an important role in international trade agreements which Vietnam has been a
contracting party, especially ASEAN and WTO. The WTO requires its members to
impose penalties or fines, or both, to prevent acts of intellectual property
infringement for commercial purposes, in accordance with the penalty applicable
to the crime of corresponding severity.
In order to consolidate and protect the social order; punish
crimes; raise people’s awareness of compliance with the law; prevent and fight
crimes, Vietnam has legalized sanctions for infringements of intellectual property rights in Vietnam under
administrative, civil and criminal measures.
The Criminal Code 1999 (amended and supplemented in 2009)
regulated provisions on “Infringement of industrial property rights” (Article
171). The criminal sanctions for infringement of intellectual property right
are regulated in Article 225 and Article 226 of the Criminal Code 2015.
Regarding the subject of infringement of intellectual property
rights, the offenders shall be (i) person who is at the sufficient age to bear
criminal responsibilities; or (ii) corporate legal entity as defined in the
Civil Code.
The effective protection of intellectual property rights will be
an important factor that protect the interests of consumers, manufacturers,
eliminating “distortion” of competition and commerce. In common
playgrounds, Vietnam as well as other member countries must strictly comply
with the regulations on IP issues to integrate into global economy.
To learn more about ANT
Lawyers IP Practice or contact our IP attorneys lawyers in Vietnam for
advice via email ant@antlawyers.vn or call our office at (+84) 24 730
86 529


