Unprecedented Growth in Intellectual Property Applications: An Insight into Vietnam’s Innovative IP Management Efforts”.

In 2023, the Department of Intellectual Property received an impressive 156,413 applications for intellectual property rights, a significant increase of 11% compared to the previous year. This included 84,753 applications to register ownership rights, reflecting an impressive 8.5% increase. The department also saw a significant rise in the enforcement of rights to combat counterfeit goods and infringement cases, with over 3,000 cases handled.

Localities implemented a total of 168 projects supporting 153 specific products in the protection and management of industrial property rights. This support was extended to 253 businesses and 283 collective organizations. Notably, key local products such as Luc Ngan lychee and Binh Thuan dragon fruit were protected by geographical indications in the Japanese market, resulting in prices that are up to 25% higher than normal.

The Hanoi government has developed an intellectual property program aimed at having at least 40% of products associated with the one-product-per-commune program receive support for registration, protection, and management. The progress made is impressive as there are now 198 out of the protected OCOP products and a high number of industrial property registration applications and certificates issued.

Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat acknowledged the positive impact of this development program but emphasized the need for innovation to address challenges facing intellectual property management activities. Suggestions were made at a conference on March 29th that included strengthening synchronous management of intellectual property throughout the creation, establishment, exploitation, and protection stages. Solutions include shortening the registration process, providing guidance on intellectual property deployment, and supporting disputes related to industrial property.

Leaders from the Department of Intellectual Property noted difficulties faced by localities implementing community branding and asset management related to science and technology tasks. As a result, they plan to amend regulations that will effectively protect access to related assets