In the context of intensive economic integration and knowledge-based economy, local businesses are increasingly concentrate on protection of IPRs where industrial design is a significant subject of protection in an aim to uphold internal competitiveness and promote growth. Many giant businesses in Vietnam such as Vingroup, FPT, Viettel, Vinamilk,…are expanding to international markets with ambitious strategies and careful preparations. Hundreds of industrial busdesign applications are filed each year.
Understanding the urgent need of a demanding development economy, the Ministry of Science and Technology whose touchpoint is the NOIP has proactively participated in many bilateral and multilateral IPR establishment agreements with different national IP offices such as KIPO (South Korea), JPO (Japan), Madrid Agreement and Madrid Protocol, the Patent Cooperation Treaty and the Hague system altogether help facilitate businesses in terms of saving time and cost.
Main benefit of seeking for industrial designs protection under Hague system is that owners can submit only one-language application through only one office (the International Bureau of WIPO), paying once by one single currency (Swiss CHF), and many other post-registration online supports. Country members participating in Hague system are benefited from registering once only at one office but being protected at a number of designated countries under each national IP laws. Previous obstacle that the industrial design are protected provided that it meets the national protection standards endorsed by different country’s procedures will be eliminated.
Additionally, the NOIP will be set free from former examination, recording in the International Register, sending the certificate to the holder, publication in the International Designs Bulletin, notification to members through the publications in the bulletin and granting the certificates under the Hague system. Instead, the WIPO International Bureau will be responsible for all these aforesaid tasks.
Currently, the Hague system comprises of 69 country members including Canada, UK, Russian Federation, Cambodia, D.P.R of Korea, USA, Japan, Republic of Korea. Potential accessions in the next coming years will be China, ASEAN countries (including Vietnam), Israel, Mexico, Madagascar and Belize. Vietnam is expected to enter Hague system from now to 2019.
BANCA IP LAW FIRM
