VietNamNet Bridge – The intellectual property (IP) registration process, which lasts 36-42 months, will be shortened to 36 months from June 1 next year.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is recently signed by the Intellectual Property Office under the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Korea Intellectual Property Office.— Photo qdnd.vn

The change is regulated in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) recently signed by the Intellectual Property Office under the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Korea Intellectual Property Office. The MOU aims at strengthening intellectual property (IP) management.

The MOU focuses on setting up IP rights in Vietnam, enhancing the quality of examination of patent applications and the system of automation of administration of industrial property registration applications.

Specifically, Vietnam and Korea will cooperate to quickly handle patent applications.

The pilot programme will be implemented from the beginning of June next year and will last two years.

As of now, the time limit for evaluating the registration of an invention is 42 months from the filing date. For registration of a utility solution patent, the time limit for evaluation will be 36 months.

Under the agreement, Korean-origin applications submitted to the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam will receive an accelerated appraisal process if they meet all requirements.

An application for registration of an invention originating in Vietnam handled by Korea is also entitled to the same mechanism.

The shortening of procedures will continue to be discussed by both parties before application.

This is a common trend among different national IP offices around the world, to minimise the human resources for appraisal work and to speed up the process of appraisal.

Le Ngoc Lam, Deputy Director of the National Office of Intellectual Property, said that signing the contract would help shorten the processing period of the application, improving the business environment and supporting the two countries’ businesses.

It would also strengthen direct investment from Korean enterprises to Vietnam.

Last year, the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam received more than 10,000 applications for registration of all kinds, with the focus on industrial property rights and patents, industrial designs, national brands and international brands. The department has settled more than 8,500 applications, an increase of 1 per cent compared with 2016. 

Source: VNS