VietNamNet Bridge - Many brands familiar to Vietnamese people like Vinamilk, Vinacafe and others have sufficient conditions but they have not been recognized as famous brands because of a number of problems related to intellectual property law.

Dr. Nguyen Nhu Quynh, deputy chief inspector of the Ministry of Science and Technology, said in the past 10 years, since the Intellectual Property Law came into being, no brand in Vietnam has been officially rated as “famous brand”.

Some large enterprises in Vietnam have faced difficulties in being recognized as famous brands despite the fact that they have been very popular with Vietnamese consumers, for example Vinamilk (Vietnam Dairy Products JSC) or Vinacafe.

Experts said that Vietnam still lacked regulations on the recognition of famous brands.

Nguyen Van Ky, general director of Vinacafe, said the current law only has the concept and the criteria of well-known brands but does not have rules and guidance for enterprises on how to be recognized.

Because of this situation, it costs Vietnamese businesses dozens of million of USD to advertise and build their brand but as their brands are not yet recognized as famous they are not well protected. Their brands are easily imitated, causing huge losses for them.

Mr. Phan Minh Nhut, authorized representative of Nike in Vietnam, said the firm detected hundreds of cases of counterfeit goods in Vietnam. "Whenever you go to the street you will see fake Nike products,” Nhut said, adding that to prove the goods are fake is very difficult because of cumbersome, complicated procedures.

Ms. Nguyen Minh Huong, representative of the BMW Group, said some manufacturing counterfeit BMW spare parts for export but they are not punished.

Colonel Hoang Van Truc - Deputy Director of the Economic Police - admitted that the handling of violations of intellectual property and counterfeit goods and pirated goods are not proper because of problems associated with the law. "In fact, for every 7 counterfeiting cases, only one is handled successfully because it is very cumbersome and difficult to find sufficient grounds for punishment," he said.

Le Ngoc Lam, Deputy Director of the Intellectual Property Office, said the agency was checking the system of intellectual property law.

Lam said, besides the protection of the law, the trademark owner must also protect themselves proactively.

Dr. Nguyen Nhu Quynh, deputy chief inspector of the Ministry of Science and Technology, said the agency has cooperated with the Association of International Trademarks (INTA) to carry out the project "famous brand" from 2015 to 2017.

The objective is to study, evaluate, collect information and opinions from a variety of agencies and representatives of industrial property and private enterprises in difficulties in the enforcement of regulations concerning the recognition, protection and enforcement of rights of famous brands.

S. Tung