vietnam blog

Vietnam’s 2025 Legal Shift: The “Fast-Track” Era Begins back to blog Category:The New IP Law Sources: Vietnam’s Amended IP Law Changes Requirements for IP Agents (Tilleke & Gibbins) Intellectual Property Law further amended (IPMAX Law Firm) Amendments to Vietnam’s IP Laws (CMS LawNow) Introduction For decades, Vietnam’s intellectual property system was notorious for its backlog. Patent examinations could drag on for years, leaving innovators in limbo. However, following the comprehensive amendments to the IP Law passed in 2022 and fully implemented throughout 2023 and 2024, the landscape in 2025 looks radically different. The “Fast-Track” Revolution The amended IP Law introduced specific provisions to accelerate the examination of patent and trademark applications. This “fast-track” mechanism is not just a policy guideline but is now anchored in the legislation, prioritizing applications that serve key national interests or meet specific readiness criteria. For foreign investors, this means the “time-to-grant” has been slashed, allowing for faster commercialization of products in the Vietnamese market. Stricter Agent Qualifications Another overlooked but critical update in the 2024-2025 period is the tightening of qualifications for IP Agents. The new law requires stricter certification for individuals representing clients, separating “Patent Agents” from “Trademark Agents” to ensure technical competence. This ensures that the professionals handling complex patent drafts are actually qualified to do so, raising the quality of prosecution across the board. Why Speed Matters In a “First-to-File” jurisdiction like Vietnam, speed is everything. The ability to expedite examination means you can enforce your rights sooner—a critical advantage when fighting the counterfeit goods that often flood the market shortly after a product launch. How ASEAN IPR Helps: Qualifying for the fast-track lane requires precise adherence to the new filing protocols. ASEAN IPR ensures your applications meet these rigorous new standards. Furthermore, our local teams in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are fully certified under the new Agent regulations, guaranteeing that your IP is handled by recognized experts, not generalists. Other Blogs The Economic Cost of Fakes: Why Indonesia is Getting Tough on IP Violations • December 15, 2025 • indonesia blog The Economic Cost of Fakes: Why Indonesia is Getting Tough on IP Violations back to blog Category:Trademark Opposition Sources: Cases of Intellectual … Laos Toughens Up: New IP Law Brings 60-Day Opposition Windows • December 16, 2025 • laos blog Laos Toughens Up: New IP Law Brings 60-Day Opposition Windows back to blog Category:New IP Law 2024/2025 Sources: Laos Issues Updated Law … The “SuperApp” Trap: High Court Rules on Using Competitor Trademarks in Apps • December 15, 2025 • malaysia blog The “SuperApp” Trap: High Court Rules on Using Competitor Trademarks in Apps back to blog Category:Trademark Infringement Case Study Sources: High Court … April 1, 2025: The Day European Patents Became Valid in Laos • December 16, 2025 • laos blog April 1, 2025: The Day European Patents Became Valid in Laos back to blog Category:European Patent Validation Sources: Launch of the European …

Compulsory Licensing & New Grounds for Patent Invalidation in Vietnam back to blog Category: Patent Strategy Sources: Amendments to Vietnam’s IP Laws to take effect on 1 Jan 2023 (CMS LawNow) Introduction While Vietnam has made it easier to get a patent, the new laws have also made it easier for competitors to attack one. The recent amendments introduced expanded grounds for invalidating patents, a move that aligns Vietnam with international standards but introduces new risks for patent holders. New Attack Vectors Under the updated law, a patent can now be invalidated if the applicant failed to disclose the origin of genetic resources or traditional knowledge used in the invention. This is a massive shift for biotech and pharmaceutical companies, who must now trace and declare the source of every biological component. Additionally, “Bad Faith” has been codified as a specific ground for opposition and invalidation, targeting squatters who file patents solely to block legitimate innovators. The Threat of Compulsory Licensing Perhaps most critically for the pharmaceutical sector, the new law clarifies the grounds for “Compulsory Licensing.” The government can now force a patent holder to license their invention to meet the needs of importing countries for disease treatment, aligning with international treaties. This creates a complex strategic environment where holding a patent is not an absolute monopoly if public health is at stake. Defending Your Rights Navigating these new invalidation grounds requires a defensive filing strategy. Applications must be “bulletproofed” against claims of insufficient disclosure or bad faith before they are even filed. How ASEAN IPR Helps: We specialize in defensive patent drafting. ASEAN IPR conducts thorough pre-filing audits to ensure all genetic resource disclosures are compliant with the new Vietnamese regulations. If you are facing a bad faith competitor, we utilize these new invalidation grounds to aggressively clear the market of squatters blocking your business. Other Blogs Stopping Fakes at the Border: Myanmar’s New Customs Recordation Rules • December 15, 2025 • myanmar blog Stopping Fakes at the Border: Myanmar’s New Customs Recordation Rules back to blog Category: Customs Recordation Sources: Myanmar Sets Customs Recordation Rules … Strict Liability: Understanding IP Enforcement in Brunei • December 16, 2025 • Brunei Darussalam blog Strict Liability: Understanding IP Enforcement in Brunei back to blog Category:Enforcement & Customs Sources: Brunei IP Guide 2025 (Asia IP) Introduction Brunei … Timor-Leste Joins ASEAN: What It Means for Your IP Strategy • December 16, 2025 • Timor leste blog Timor-Leste Joins ASEAN: What It Means for Your IP Strategy back to blog Category:ASEAN Accession Sources: East Timor IP Guide 2025 (Asia … A New Era Begins: Timor-Leste Approves Industrial Property Code in 2025 • December 16, 2025 • Timor leste blog A New Era Begins: Timor-Leste Approves Industrial Property Code in 2025 back to blog Category:The New IP Code Sources: Govt approves Industrial …