Local inventors have yet to pay attention to applying for intellectual property (IP) rights, which might get them into trouble in the future, an IP official in HCM City said.

According to Hoang To Nhu, Deputy Head of the Division for IP Rights under the municipal Department of Science and Technology, one of the main reasons for the limited number of applications for IP rights is that local inventors have not fully understand the importance of claiming and protecting IP rights for their inventions.

Moreover, for the fear of losing secret information, many inventors chose not to apply for patents, instead choosing other protection forms like secret business protection.

Nhu said procedures for applying for IP rights are very simple, including a fill-in form, a description and a document for holding priority rights.

She advised inventors to apply because it will protect their invention and prevent violations of IP rights as well as commercial disputes in future.

Nhu said from 2006-2010, the annual average number of applications for IP rights in HCM City was 119.

The number increased to 205 during the period 2011-2015 but remain is a modest figure for a city like HCM City, Nhu said.

VNA