Protection of intellectual property rights

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

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

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

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

EC, ASEAN co-operate on IP rights (07-03-2005) HA NOI —The European Commission (EC)-ASEAN Intellectual Property Rights Cooperation Programme (ECAP II) in Viet Nam was officially inaugurated in Ha Noi on Friday. Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Dinh Tien and Ambassador and Head of the EC delegation to Viet Nam Markus Cornaro attended the inaugural ceremony. ECAP II has pledged an amount of 1.5 million euros to more than 50 intellectual property operations in the country, making Viet Nam the biggest recipient of aid. ECAP II aims to protect and foster initiatives and innovations in Viet Nam, attract more investment and broaden trade exchanges between Viet Nam and foreign countries. It will focus on finalising the legal framework on the management and enforcement of intellectual property rights as well as raising public awareness of intellectual property. — VNS … [Read more...] about EC, ASEAN co-operate on IP rights

A girl looks for movies online on a site that offers films for free in Việt Nam. — VNS Photo Trọng Kiên Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Instead of watching movies at cinemas or on television, Lâm Quang Minh from Hà Nội often uses his smartphone or iPad for entertainment. The two online platforms he most visits are phimmoi.net and hdonline.vn , which offer a diverse choice of local and international motion pictures, including those produced by the Republic of Korea (RoK) on a free-of-charge or pay-per-view format. The Hanoian is among the 68 million viewers that visited phimmoi.net - an online platform that provides films for free - in August, up 27 million from the 41 million just five months earlier. A similar platform bilutv.com saw its figures jump from 19 million views in March to 48 million in August. These are only two among the five websites including hdonline.vn that are allegedly top violators of copyright in Việt Nam, according to Director of the Institute for … [Read more...] about Solutions sought to improve copyright protection

Dates set for APEC summit in Ha Noi (22-07-2005) HA NOI — The summit meeting of senior Asia-Pacific leaders will be held in Ha Noi for two days from November 18-19 next year, it was decided at an international symposium to prepare for the event yesterday. Viet Nam will also host a series of meetings between APEC ministers and working groups. All are expected to contribute to APEC’s goals for free trade and investment through increased co-operation. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan opened the two-day symposium in Ha Noi by telling its more than 150 participants that 2006 would be a milestone for the entire Asia Pacific Economic Community because: It marked the completion of the first phase of the goals for APEC set at its Bogor meeting; it could see the introduction of policies and would set directions for the next phase; and it might meet APEC’s goals to promote trade by reducing the cost of transactions by five per cent. For Viet Nam, 2006 would be the year of … [Read more...] about Dates set for APEC summit in Ha Noi

Weak legal system may slow foreign investment (08-10-2005) HCM CITY — A weak legal system and poor enforcement of laws could slow the pace of foreign investment, said an Australian lawyer who spoke yesterday at an international trade conference in HCM City. "Despite wide-ranging economic reforms aimed at encouraging foreign investment, Viet Nam remains a difficult investment environment," said Robert Winter, chairman for international law at the Queensland Law Society in Australia. The conference was organised by the city Bar Association and the Law Association for Asia Pacific (Lawasia). About 300 lawyers, Government and corporate representatives are participating in the two-day event, the first such event held by Lawasia in Viet Nam. Attendees include 100 lawyers from 25 countries and territories, including Cambodia, Laos, China, Japan, Australia, the US and Viet Nam. Though the investment climate needs improvement, Winter said the economy has strong … [Read more...] about Weak legal system may slow foreign investment

Bill Gates sees Viet Nam’s IT potential (24-04-2006) President Tran Duc Luong welcomes Microsoft chairman Bill Gates in Ha Noi. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Khang HA NOI — Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates announced a range of information technology (IT) development programmes and other assistance for Viet Nam and met with Vietnamese leaders during his visit to the country. President Tran Duc Luong said on SaturdayViet Nam attached great importance to the role of science and technology, particularly IT and informatics to strongly develop the country and had established incentive policies to develop this field. The president said that he would like Gates and the Microsoft Corporation to place special importance on developing their partnership with Viet Nam in their long-term strategy, helping the country meet the requirements of the cause of national construction and development. Meanwhile, Gates said Viet Nam has great information technology development … [Read more...] about Bill Gates sees Viet Nam’s IT potential