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Vietnam: partial restoration of activities at the IP office
15 April 2020
On April 9, 2020, the Vietnam Intellectual Property Office issued Notice No. 5294/TB-SHTT on receiving IP applications filed through the online filing system and post-office services. Under this notice, the VNIPO decided to restore certain activities at its headquarters in Hanoi from April 13, 2020, including receiving applications filed through the online filing system and post-office services. Procedures for submitting applications through the online filing system and post-office services follow the instructions set out in its previous Notice Nos. 5277/TB-SHTT and 5387/TB-SHTT. The VNIPO continues to suspend face-to-face transactions with applicants at its headquarters and in representative offices due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The partial restoration of activities at the VNIPO’s headquarters will facilitate prosecuting IP registrations in Vietnam, which has been partly disrupted due to the pandemic, says Manh Hung Tran, managing partner at BMVN International in Hanoi.
"In addition, we expect the VNIPO to soon resume normal operations, including the examination of IP applications. However, face-to-face filings or discussions are still unavailable."
On March 31, 2020, the VNIPO issued Notice No. 5277/TB-SHTT, adopting measures in relation to the deadline extension for establishment procedures of IP affected by the global COVID-19 outbreak, and laying down guidance on transaction procedures between the VNIPO and the applicants over this period. According to this notice, from April 1, 2020, all transactions between the VNIPO (including its representative offices in Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City) and applicants would only be performed through post-office services or the VNIPO’s online filling system.
On April 3, 2020, the VNIPO issued urgent Notice No. 5387/TB-SHTT, announcing that due to a COVID-19 case, the VNIPO would stop all transactions with applicants at its headquarters, including receiving applications filed through the online filing system and post-office services. Applicants must proceed to the representative offices of the VNIPO in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang City for IP filings.
Under local regulations, foreign applicants must submit IP applications via a local agent firm, says Hai Hoang Nguyen, senior IP manager at the firm. "The temporary suspension of all activities at the headquarters of the VNIPO in Hanoi challenged the usual operation activities of local IP agents and caused inconvenience for applicants, especially those who are not based in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang City."
Johnny Chan
