Intellectual property law for dummies

More than 150 local and foreign scholars and researchers met at an international workshop in HCM City on Wednesday to discuss enforcement of intellectual property laws in relation to new trade agreements.— Photo giaoducthoidai.vn HCM CITY — More than 150 local and foreign scholars and researchers met at an international workshop in HCM City on Wednesday to discuss enforcement of intellectual property laws in relation to new trade agreements. The “Intellectual Property and Trade: Law and Practical Experience” workshop was organised by HCM City’s University of Economics and Law, Việt Nam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, and Indiana University in the US. Participants also included representatives from the Ministry of Education and Training and Ministry of Justice. Prof. Nguyễn Tiến Dũng, rector of the University of Economics and Law, said that professionals who work in the fields of research, teaching, government and business management would have an opportunity to view … [Read more...] about Enforcement of intellectual property laws discussed at int’l seminar

A customer browses a Vietnamese online shopping site. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Tú Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — The establishment of an intellectual property court in Việt Nam is in sight but has yet to be completed, a deputy chief inspector of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) has said. Unlike in foreign countries where the court plays a major role in handling violations of intellectual property rights, Việt Nam’s court system has not asserted its power as strongly on the matter, according to Nguyễn Như Quỳnh, MOST’s deputy chief inspector. “About 98.4 per cent of the violations in Việt Nam in the 2012-15 period, including online infringement, were handled by inspectors from administrative agencies,” she said. “There needs be an intellectual property court in Việt Nam , but we don’t know when it will be established,” she said at a conference on intellectual property enforcement in the digital world held in Hà Nội yesterday. While the prospect of … [Read more...] about Intellectual property court on way

NA mulls draft laws on electronic transactions, intellectual property (06-10-2005) HA NOI — The process of presenting signatures electronically sparked a debate among members of the National Assembly Standing Committee yesterday on whether to write detailed regulations into the draft Law on Electronic Transactions. Skeptical deputies pointed to the fact that, because regulations on the order and method of presenting signatures electronically would depend on businesses’ technological capability, it could not be covered in detail in the law. The law’s drafting committee told the National Assembly committee yesterday that regulations on electronic signatures were based on common and existing technological principles which were standard operating procedures for any business that would seek to conduct electronic transactions. Electronic signatures would be validated by the user and were considered safe when supported by a qualified service provider, the committee said. … [Read more...] about NA mulls draft laws on electronic transactions, intellectual property

NA reviews draft on intellectual property (16-03-2005) Customs officers are checking IP products . — VNA/VNS Photo Trong Duc HA NOI — The National Assembly’s Science, Technology and Environment Committee yesterday reviewed the draft Law on Intellectual Property in Ha Noi. The draft Law is expected to be ratified later this year as Viet Nam moves closer to what deputies hope will be World Trade Organisation (WTO) accession. The new legislation marks a giant step in Viet Nam’s economic adaptation to WTO legal rules, with the Government vowing to push hard for the law’s ratification and protection of IP rights. "Viet Nam is clearly facing a number of challenges in its accession to the WTO, one of which is to ensure full protection and implementation of IP regulations," said Bui Manh Hai, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology. "Legal issues on IP will be addressed in only one legal document – the Law on Intellectual Property." The draft law has 14 … [Read more...] about NA reviews draft on intellectual property

HA NOI — Viet Nam is committed to protecting intellectual property rights in accordance with the law, said President Nguyen Minh Triet yesterday. He was speaking during a meeting with the General Director of the World Intellectual Property Organ-isation, Francis Gurry. But he admitted the nation was still weak in enforcement and human resources and therefore expected to receive continuing support from WIPO, with Viet Nam and intellectual property organisation working closely together for more effective and practical outcomes in the protection of intellectual property rights. The Vietnamese State encouraged and created favourable conditions for intellectuals to contribute to national development, Triet said. World Intellectual Property Association would be willing to assist Viet Nam improve the capacity of agencies and personnel on the issue, Gurry said. Gurry hailed Viet Nam’s co-operation with WIPO in intellectual property rights protection and the country’s proper … [Read more...] about Intellectual property will be protected, says VN President

Assembly adopts laws on IP and e-transaction (21-11-2005) HA NOI — The National Assembly on Saturday adopted thelaws on Intellectual Property (IP), Environmental Protection (revised) and Electronic Transactions. With 222 articles defining in detail matters on copyright, industrial property, and cultivated crops, the Intellectual Property Law is an essential legal document for Viet Nam’s international economic integration. In compiling the law, related agencies and NA deputies paid special attention to the protection of rights on new plant varieties, an important matter in negotiations for Viet Nam’s admission to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and bilateral negotiations with other nations. The law was drafted with input from Vietnamese and international experts, and takes into account Viet Nam’s commitments in the Viet Nam-US bilateral trade agreement (BTA) and other international treaties. NA deputies agreed that the draft law was compiled fairly in terms … [Read more...] about Assembly adopts laws on IP and e-transaction

Deputies asked to focus on draft laws at sitting (03-08-2005) HA NOI — The National Assembly’s deputies have been called on by their Chairman Nguyen Van An to focus on discussing and contributing their opinions about draft laws that will go to parliament before the end of the year. The chairman made his request at the beginning of a 15-day sitting to prepare legislation for the November sitting of the assembly in Ha Noi yesterday. The laws the deputies have to consider are: The Anti-Corruption Law; The Law for Practising Thrift and Combating Waste; The Negotiable Instruments Law; The Housing Law; the Environment Protection Law, amended; the Intellectual Property Law; the Youth Law; the Electronic Transaction Law; the People’s Police Law; the Business Law; the Investment Law; the Value Added Tax Law, amended; the Special Consumption Law, amended; the Petition and Denunciation Law, amended and the Bidding Law. An said the forthcoming 8th session of the assembly … [Read more...] about Deputies asked to focus on draft laws at sitting

NA to pass 14 laws, one resolution at 8th session (15-10-2005) HA NOI — The 11th National Assembly (NA) will discuss and pass 14 laws, one resolution and debate nine draft laws at the 8th session, announced Chairman of the NA Office Bui Ngoc Thanh yesterday. The parliament, Thanh said, would also reform its style of discussions to encourage more deputies take part and improve the quality of debates so as to enhance the laws to be passed. Deputies were expected to register for debates over laws they are interested in, Thanh told a press conference yesterday. The 14 laws and one resolution to be passed included the revised Law on Environmental Protection, Law on Bill of Exchange, Law on Intellectual Property, Law on E-transaction, Law on Housing, Law on Youth, Law on Anti-corruption, Law on Complaints and Denunciations, Law on Bidding, and the resolution for a programme to build laws and ordinances for 2006. In addition, Thanh said the NA would discuss nine draft … [Read more...] about NA to pass 14 laws, one resolution at 8th session

Assembly passes budget resolution, 3 laws (23-06-2006) Passengers board an airplane at Noi Bai International Airport in Ha Noi. — VNA/VNS Photo Bui Tuong HA NOI — The National Assembly yesterday passed three laws as well as the Resolution on Ratification for the Clearing of the State Budgetary Balance for 2004. Law on Lawyers The Law on Lawyers, which will replace the July 2001 ordinance on January 1, 2007, was adopted yesterday with a nearly 84 per cent approval vote. Article 14 states that apprentice lawyers must complete 18 months of apprenticeship. They are allowed to help their senior lawyers in their duties, but not allowed to take up professional practise or have clients during their period of apprenticeship. This regulation ensures work quality, although it was described as rigid by some deputies during the debate on the law late last month. Lawyers are banned from providing legal services to clients who have conflicting interests in … [Read more...] about Assembly passes budget resolution, 3 laws

Committee lays ground for e-transactions law (01-04-2005) Ha Noi — At its ongoing meeting yesterday, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly (SCNA) discussed the draft law on electronic transactions and the draft law on youth. The legislators acknowledged the need for a law on electronic transactions to facilitate investment, trade in goods and services, and State management, as well as serve the requirements of international integration. In his presentation on the bill, Ho Duc Viet, chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, said that, as the country is hastening its bid for WTO membership, Viet Nam is committed to implementing the APEC Common Plan of Action on e-commerce. In 2000, Viet Nam was also a signatory to the ASEAN framework agreement on e-commerce and e-government. The SCNA is developing a draft law on electronic transactions in order to recognise the legal validity of such transactions and of data … [Read more...] about Committee lays ground for e-transactions law