How Licensing of Trademark Works?

Licensing of industrial property subject in general or of trademark in specific is regulated in Intellectual Property law.  Accordingly, in trademark licensing, the owner (licensor) grants permission to another (licensee) to use that trademark on mutually agreed terms and conditions. The licensing of trademark must be established in written form to avoid dispute in trademark licensing.

Accordingly, licensing of trademark includes the following types: exclusive contract, non-exclusive contract; sub-license contract.

Firstly, exclusive contract means a contract under which, within the licensing scope and term, the licensee shall have the exclusive right to use the licensed trademark while the licensor may neither enter into any trademark license contract with any third party nor, without permission from the licensee, use such trademark.

Secondly, non-exclusive contract means a contract under which, within the licensing scope and term, the licensor shall still have the right to use the trademark and to enter into a non-exclusive trademark license contract with others.

Thirdly, trademark sub-license contract means a contract under which the licensor is a licensee of the right to use such trademark pursuant to another contract.

In any type of the contracts, it is required to have the following contents: full names and addresses of the licensor and of the licensee; grounds for licensing; contract type; licensing scope including limitations on use right and territorial limitations; contract term; licensing price; rights and obligations of the licensor and of the licensee.

Besides the above contents, the parties also need to take note on the validity of this contract. Different from assignment contract of trademark when it is required to register at National office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam to take effect, the licensing contract of trademark does not required this kind of registration for taking effect. Licensing contract shall automatically be terminated upon the termination of the licensor's trademark right.

If Client needs any more information or request for legal advice regarding licensing of trademark or dispute in trademark licensing contract, our Intellectual Property attorney inVietnam at ANT Lawyers will be of help.

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Ministry of Industry and Trade initiates the Investigation of Imposing Anti-dumping Measure to some H shaped steel products (AD12)

On August 24^th 2020, Minister of Ministry of Industry and Trade signed the Decision No. 2251/QD-BCT regarding the Investigation of imposing Anti-dumping measure to some H shapedsteel products from Malaysia. Related parties may by themselves or authorize to experienced law firm in Vietnam on international trade to work with Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam (TRAV) to cooperate.

Background

On November 06, 2020, Trade Remedies of authority of Vietnam (TRAV), Ministry of Industry and Trade received the dossiers on requesting the anti-dumping measure to some H shaped steel products from Malaysia. The requester is Posco Yamato Vina Steel Joint stock Company – the sole company which produced H shaped steel in Vietnam.

The requester provided the reasonable bases for calculation of dumping margin originated from Malaysia. The requester provided the reasonable information to prove the significant damage of domestic industry. The requester’s dossier proved the existence of causal relationship between imported products and the significant damage of domestic industry.

Hence, TRAV determined dossier of the requester satisfied the law of anti-dumping and petition of Minister of Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Investigation’s details

i) Products under investigation

Product’s name: H shaped steel

The H shaped steel product with the following HS code: 7216.33.11, 7216.33.19, 7216.33.90, 7228.70.10 and 7228.70.90

The products which are excluded from investigation scope includes:

The H shaped steel with the height more than 700 mm (± 4mm) or the width more than 300 mm (± 3mm);

H steel beam with the size of 100mm x 55mm or 120mm x 64mm (the description size is height x width).

The Ministry of Industry and Trade may amend and supplement the list of HS codes of the product under investigation to be in accordance with the description of the product under investigation and other changes (if any).

ii) Originated of products under investigation: Malaysia

iii) Period of investigation (POI)

-Period of investigation to determine the anti-dumping action: from April 1^st 2019 to March 31^st 2020

-Period of investigation to determine the damage of domestic industry:

The first year: from April 1^st 2017 to March 31^st 2018

The second year: from April 1^st 2018 to March 31^st 2019

The third year: from April 1st 2019 to March 31st 2020

iv) Duty Levels Proposed by Requester:

The anti-dumping duty which is requested by the requester is 10,2%.

Register as related parties:

Pursuant to Article 6 of Circular No. 37/2019/TT-BCT, organizations and individuals stipulated in Article 74 of Law on foreign trade management may register as related parties in this case with TRAV in order to access to publicly circulated information during the investigation process, send comments, information and evidence related to the investigation content within sixty (60) working days from the day on which the decision on investigation takes effect via post or email.

In order to ensure rights and interests, the investigating authority recommend that organizations and individuals which produce, import or use products under investigation register as related parties to carry out the right to access information, provide information and express opinions during the investigation process.

Investigation Questionnaire:

Within 15 days after the issuance of the investigation decision of the Minister of Industry and Trade, the Investigating Authority shall send the investigation questionnaire to the Related Parties, including:

-The applicant requests for application of Anti-dumping measures;

-Other domestic manufacturers which Investigating Authority knows;

-Parties requesting for application investigation of anti-dumping measures which Investigating Authority knows;

-Importers of products under investigation;

-Diplomatic authorities of the country where the origin of products under investigation;

-Other related

Cooperating in the investigation process

Any related party refuses to participate in the case or does not provide necessary evidences or significantly ​obstructs the completion of the investigation, the investigation conclusion regarding such relevant party shall be based on available information.

Any related party provides false or misleading evidences, such evidences shall not be reviewed and investigation conclusion regarding such relevant party shall be based on available information.

TRAV recommends that related party participate and cooperate fully in the process in order to ensure legitimate rights and interests and avoid potential disputes.

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TRAV Receiving Review Application of Products of Chinese and Korean origins (case No. AD04)

TRAV Receiving Review Application of Anti-Dumping Measures for flat-rolledalloy/non-alloy steel products, varnish painted or scanned or coated with plastics or other covers from China and Korea (AD04).

On August 20^th, 2020, Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam (TRAV) – Ministry of Industry and Trade notified on receiving the dossier for reviewing flat-rolled alloy/non-alloy steel products, varnish painted or scanned or coated with plastics or other covers from China and Korea imported into Vietnam.

Specifically, on November 24^th 2019, Minister of Industry and Trade issued the Decision 3198/QĐ-BCT on imposing the official decision to some of the flat-rolled alloy/non-alloy steel products, varnish painted or scanned or coated with plastics or other covers from China and Korea.

According to Article 82.1.a Law on foreign management 2017: “After 1 year from the day on which the decision on imposition of anti-dumping measures is issued, the Minister of Industry and Trade may decide to review anti-dumping measures at the request of one or multiple interested parties and evidence provided by them.”

Regarding the right to submit request dossiers regulated in Article 58.1 Decree 10/2018/NĐ-CP: “Within 60 days before the end of one year from the date of issuance of the decision on the imposition of official anti-dumping measures and countervailing measures or the latest decision on the results of the review of anti-dumping measures, countervailing measures, the concerned parties as prescribed in Article 59 hereof may submit the dossiers for review, except for cases where the submission deadline is less than 09 months before the time limit for the Minister of Industry and Trade to decide whether to carry out the final review of anti-dumping or countervailing measures”.

Accordingly, the scope of review request of the interested parties regulated in Article 74  includes but not limited to the following contents:

-The product scope subject to anti-dumping measures;

-The anti-dumping margin imposing to some specific foreign enterprises;

-The damage of domestic industry.

After finishing the reviewing period, based on the investigating result, TRAV will propose Minister of Industry and Trade one of the following options:

-Continue to impose the anti-dumping measure in accordance with the current law; and/or

-Adjust the anti-dumping measure in accordance with the reviewing result; or

-Bring the anti-dumping measure to an end.

The performing of the procedures related to the reviewing period will not affect to the effective anti-dumping measures imposed currently.

The reviewing dossiers must be filed sufficiently and timely to TRAV before 5 p.m on October 24^th 2020 (Hanoi time)

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The cases for marriage registration be rejected when marriage with foreign elements

When marriages with foreign element are rejected?

Before a foreigner and Vietnamese decide to get married, they must have known each other for some time. However,due to difference in cultures, and laws in different countries, they might fall under cases which are not allowed by Vietnam State Authority to get married.

The marriage registration of marriage with foreign elements will be rejected in the following cases:

-One or both parties fail to reach the Vietnam legal age of marriage

-The foreign applicant is not old enough to get married under the laws of the country where he/she is a citizen or permanent resident (for stateless persons)

-The marriage is not voluntarily decided by both parties

-There is deception, forced marriage

-One or both parties are married

-One or both parties lose the civil act capacity

-The parties are in the direct line of descent or relatives within three generations

-The parties are or have been father, mother and child, father-in-law and daughter-in-law, mother-in-law and son-in-law, stepfather and his wife’s children, stepmother and her husband’s children

-The parties of the same sex (men marrying men and women marrying women)

-The marriage registration is also be rejected, if the results of the interview, examination, verification show that the marriage through illegal brokers, sham marriage does not aim to build a prosperous, equality, progress, happiness and sustainability family, married inconsistent with the habits and customs of culture, taking advantage of the marriage to trafficking in women and sexual abuse against women or for other personal benefits.

ANT Lawyers provide services for marriage and family, please contact us for advices at email: ant@antlawyers.vn or call us at +84 28 730 86 529.

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Legal matters concerning marriages and divorce in Vietnam

Vietnam family laws covers all legal matters concerning marriages and divorces, including marriage registration procedures, and divorce procedures, matters concerning separate or joint ownership assets and property, child custody, child support, and dispute on related matters.

Marriage and Family Lawyers in Vietnam

Vietnam marriage laws have developed during the past 40 years and are still connected with changes in the thinking of the Vietnamese society and are thereby not exempt from future amendments that might appear simultaneously with the changes in Vietnam’s fast emerging society. The legal fundamental basis for marriages in Vietnam is the Marriage and Family Law.  Some of the main points that are included in this law’s mission are for contributing to build and protect the marriage and family regime as well as to protect legitimate rights and interests of family members. The essential legal provisions of the Vietnam marriage law requires and determines: a required marital age for male is at least 20 years and female 18 years; marriages must be voluntary, progressive, monogamous marriages in which husband and wife are equal; marriages between partners of different nationalities, religions etc. are respected and legally protected but marriages between married people, people without civil act capacity, between the same direct blood line or within three generations, between (former) adoptive parents and children or parents- and children-in-law and stepparents and stepchildren, are forbidden. Although the marriage between persons of the same sex is not forbidden any more but the State shall not recognize it.

Furthermore, marriage or remarriages must be registered with the competent State bodies (registration offices) where either of the marriage partners resides. Vietnamese citizens living abroad shall refer to overseas Vietnamese diplomatic missions or consulates for services.  Unless otherwise provided by law, the provisions of the Marriage and Family law also are also applicable for foreigners involved in Vietnamese marriages.  In case a treaty to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a contracting party contains provisions different from those of this Law, the provisions of such treaty prevail.

The registration procedures might differ in some points for foreigners because of the documents required from their home countries.  Papers issued, granted or certified by competent foreign agencies for use in the settlement of cases and matters of marriage and family shall be notarized, legalized, except cases eligible for exemption from consular legalization under treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a contracting party or on the principle of reciprocity. Foreigners must demonstrate that they are eligible for marriage in compliance with the law of their home countries. According to the Vietnam Marriage and Family law, foreigners enjoy the same rights and obligations like Vietnamese and Vietnam provides protection for the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese living abroad in marriage and family relations in accordance with the law.  In the case of a marriage between a foreigner and a Vietnamese, each one must abide by the legislation of his/her country on the marriage conditions. The law also bans marriages whereby foreigners take advantages related to human trafficking, sexually abuse against women.

The law on marriage and family has brought a positive change to the role of the family in Vietnamese society and the traditional values ​​of marriage and family. These legal provisions have contributed to the protection and perfection of a progressive marriage and family regime by creating legal standards that keep pace with the times but also respect long-standing traditional values ​​of Vietnam. However, Vietnam still lacks complex mechanisms to deal with all those involved and another problem is that some clauses are overlapping and are not clear enough to address outstanding issues such as: cohabitation system such as husband and wife, separated or surrogacy. Prenuptial agreements, premarital agreements or similar marriage contracts are not recognized in Vietnam. However, agreements on joint assets, or division of assets during marriage are recognized but certain procedures have to be followed.

Lawyers at ANT Lawyers have experience with registration of marriage, divorce procedures or dispute matters of assets, properties in Vietnam.

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Regulations on Online Civil Status Registration in Vietnam

On July 28th, 2020, the Government issued Decree No. 87/2020/ND-CP (Decree 87) regulating the electronic civil status database, online civil status registration i.e. birth certificate registration, marriage certificate registration, death certificate registration.

Marriage dispute lawyers in Vietnam 

The Decree is the provisions on the building, management, updating, exploitation and use of the electronic civil status database; connecting and sharing data between the electronic civil status database with the national population database, the national public service portal, the public service portal, the provincial electronic one-door information system, other databases of ministries, branches and localities; issue copies of civil status extracts, certify civil status information; online civil status registration. Although an application can be submitted online, the person applying for civil status registration must still be present at the civil status registry to sign the civil status book and receive results in case of registration of the following procedures: birth certificate registration; marriage registration; guardian registration; recognition of parents, children; change, correct civil status, redefine ethnicity, supplement civil status information; death registration.

Upon receiving results at the civil status registration office, the requester for civil status registration must submit and present papers and documents that are part of the civil status registration dossier as prescribed.

Cases in which the requester is not present at the civil status registration office to sign the civil status book and receive the results, but still have to submit and present papers and documents that are part of the household registration dossier civil status according to the law on civil status, including: confirm civil status information; record in the civil status book the birth, marriage, divorce, marriage cancellation, guardianship, recognition of father, mother, child, identification of father, mother, child, adoption, change of civil status, death registration of Vietnamese citizens who have been settled at a foreign competent authority.

To perform online civil status registration, the requester needs to access the National Public Service Portal, the Provincial Public Service Portal to register an account and authenticate users according to the instructions. Upon successful account login, the requester must provide information in the available form; attach photocopies or electronic copies of papers, documents as prescribed; pay fees and charges through the online payment function or by other means as prescribed by law. After the submission of the dossier is completed, the system will automatically send a number of administrative documents for the requester to follow up, look up the progress of the application or access to complete the application when requested by the civil status registration agency.

Decree 87 will take effect from September 15, 2020. The construction of the civil status database, the development of online civil status registration, helps people to handle administrative procedures anytime, anywhere, without having to travel many times, without having to queue and not takes time to wait, limits crowds. In addition, the use of online public services also contributes to reducing the harassment, bureaucracy and troubles of a part of cadres and civil servants, increasing the publicity and transparency of the state agencies file handling.

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New procedure in marriage with foreign element

From February 17th 2014, the marriage between Vietnamese and foreigner belonging to one of following cases must be consulted, supported by the Center of Consulting, supporting marriage and family with foreign element:

Marriage dispute law firm in Vietnam

-A spouse is 20 years older than the other.

-The foreigners get married the third time or have married and divorced with the Vietnamese ex-spouses in the past.

-Either spouses have not yet understood the family situation, personal situation of each other; don’t understand the language, customs, habits, culture, laws on marriage and family of the other country.

-In above cases, the Department of Justice at provincial level must organize interview(s) before issuing the Clarification of marriage status for Vietnamese party.

-Besides, after 90 days from the date issuing marriage certificate, if the parties do not conduct marriage registration ceremony, the Marriage Certificate will become invalid.

ANT Lawyers have experience in civil and family matters to advice clients whom are interested for such legal service in Vietnam. We assist our clients in the process of reviewing agreements, procedures and concerned matters in civil and family.

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What is the Requirements of Franchising in Vietnam?

Commercial franchising is an activity adjusted by Commercial law, whereby franchisors permit and require franchisees to undertake by themselves to purchase or sell goods or provide services on the following conditions: i) the purchase or sale of goods or provision of services shall be conducted in accordance with methods of business organization prescribed by franchisors and associated with the franchisors’ trademarks, trade names, business knows-how, business slogans, business logos and advertisements; ii) franchisors shall be entitled to supervise and assist franchisees in conducting their business activities.

Commercial franchise contracts must be made in writing or in other forms of equivalent legal validity and registered with Ministry of Industry and Trade excepting some regulated cases which are not required to register but report to Department of Industry and Trade which are domestic franchises and the franchises from Vietnam to overseas.

Firstly, the franchisors, except having otherwise agreed, have the rights i) to receive franchise sums; ii) to organize advertising for the commercial franchise system and the commercial franchise network; iii) to conduct periodical or extraordinary inspections of activities of franchisees in order to ensure the uniformity of the commercial franchise system and the stability of quality of goods and services.

In the meantime, the franchisors have the obligations i) to supply documents guiding the commercial franchise system to franchisees; ii) to provide initial training and regular technical assistance to franchisees for managing the latter’s activities in accordance with the commercial franchise system; iii) to design and arrange places of sale of goods or provision of services at the expenses of franchisees; iv) to guarantee the intellectual property rights over objects stated in franchise contracts; v) to equally treat all franchisees in the commercial franchise system.

For the franchisees, except having otherwise agreed, the franchisees could i) request franchisors to provide with full technical assistance related to the commercial franchise system; ii)  request franchisors to equally treat all franchisees in the commercial franchise system.

The franchisees have the obligations to i) pay franchise sums and other amounts under commercial franchise contracts; ii) to invest adequate material facilities, financial sources and human resources to take over business rights and know-how transferred by franchisors; iii) to submit to the control, supervision and instruction by franchisors; to comply with all requirements set forth by franchisors on designing and arrangement of places of sale of goods or provision of services; iv) to keep secret the franchised business know-how even after the expiration or termination of commercial franchise contracts; v) to stop using trademarks, trade names, business slogans, logos and other intellectual property rights (if any) or systems of franchisors upon the expiration or termination of commercial franchise contracts; vi) to manage their activities in accordance with the commercial franchise system; vii) not to sub-franchise without permissions of franchisors.

Besides the above rights and obligations, the parties may supplement others provisions demed necessary but not contrary to the provisions of law.

If Client needs more information or request for legal advice regarding commercial franchise in Vietnam, please contact with ANT Lawyers to be assisted.

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AMENDMENTS TO SOME ARTICLES OF LAW ON INSURANCE BUSINESS AND LAW ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY --------	SOCIAL REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM Independence - Freedom - Happiness ---------------
No. 42/2019/QH14	Hanoi, June 14, 2019

LAW

AMENDMENTS TO SOME ARTICLES OF LAW ON INSURANCE BUSINESS AND LAW ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Pursuant to Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;

The National Assembly promulgated Law on amendments to some articles of Law on Insurance Business No. 24/2000 / QH10 amended to some articles in accordance with Law No. 61/2010 / QH12 and Law on Intellectual Property No. 50/2005 / QH11 amended to some articles in accordance with Law No. 36/2009 / QH12.

Article 1. Amendments to Law on Insurance Business

1. Addition of Clauses 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 after Clause 20 of Article 3:

"21. Insurance auxiliary service is an integral part of insurance business activities, implemented by insurers, insurance brokers, other organizations and individuals for profit purpose, including insurance consulting, insurance risk assessment, actuarial analysis, insurance loss assessment, insurance claim assistance.

22. Insurance consulting is an activity that provides consulting services on insurance programs, insurance products, insurance risk management, prevention and reduction of losses.

23. Insurance risk assessment is an activity that identifies, classifies and assesses the nature and extent of risks, assesses the risk management on people and property and civil liability as a basis for insurance participation.

24. Actuarial analysis includes collection and analysis of statistical data; calculation of insurance premiums, professional reserves, capital, solvency margin; evaluation of business performance results and determination enterprise value in order to ensure financial safety of insurers.

25. Insurance loss assessment is an activity that determines actual state, cause, loss level; calculates and allocates liability for compensation as a basis for insurance claim assistance.

26. Insurance claim assistance is an activity that assists policyholders, the insured, beneficiaries or insurers in carrying out procedures on insurance claim assistance.

2. Amendments to Article 11:

Article 11. Right to participate in professional - social organizations on insurance business

Insurers, insurance agents, insurance brokers, individuals and organizations providing insurance auxiliary services are able to participate in professional - social organizations on insurance business for the purpose of developing insurance market, protecting legitimate rights and interests of members in accordance with laws.

3. The title of Chapter IV is changed as follows:

Chapter IV

INSURANCE AGENCIES, INSURANCE BROKERS, INSURANCE AUXILIARY SERVICES

4. Addition of Section 3 after Section 2 of Chapter IV:

Section 3

INSURANCE AUXILIARY SERVICES

Article 93a. Provision of insurance auxiliary services

1. Principles of providing insurance auxiliary services:

a) Honesty, objectiveness, transparency; guarantee of legitimate rights and interests of related parties;

b) Compliance with standards and technical regulations in insurance auxiliary services;

c) Compliance with ethical rules, professional conduct issued by social – professional organizations.

2. Individuals and organizations that meet the conditions specified in Article 93b of this Law shall be entitled to provide insurance auxiliary services in according with the following provisions:

a) Individuals are entitled to provide insurance consulting services;

b) Insurers, insurance brokers and other juridical persons shall be entitled to provide insurance auxiliary services (collectively referred to as “insurance auxiliary service providers”).

3. Responsibilities of individuals and organizations providing insurance auxiliary services:

a) Customers’ information shall be kept secret and used for right purpose, not be revealed to a third party without consent of customers, unless it is provided in accordance with laws;

b) Individuals providing insurance consulting services shall purchase professional liability insurance that covers insurance consulting services; insurance auxiliary service providers shall purchase professional liability insurance in accordance with each type of insurance auxiliary service;

c) Insurance auxiliary service providers shall not provide insurance loss assessment services and insurance claim assistance for insurance contract that the providers are both the insurance buyer and the insured or beneficiary;

d) Insurance brokers shall not provide insurance loss assessment services for the insurance agreements they brokered.

4. Contracts providing insurance auxiliary services shall be made in writing.

Article 93b. Conditions on providing insurance auxiliary services

1. Every individual providing insurance consulting services shall:

a) Be at least 18 years of age and have full legal capacity; and;

b) Have a bachelor’s degree or higher majoring in insurance. In case of no bachelor’s degree or higher majoring in insurance, there must be a bachelor’s degree or higher in another major and a certificate of training in insurance consulting granted by a training institution legally operating in Vietnam or overseas.

2. Every organization providing insurance auxiliary services shall:

a) Be a juridical person, legally established and operated;

b) Ensure that individuals directly performing insurance auxiliary activities in the organization meet the conditions specified in point a, clause 1 of this Article; have qualifications that are appropriate for the insurance auxiliary services they provide and granted by a training institution legally operating in Vietnam or overseas.

Individuals directly performing insurance loss assessment shall also meet the criteria applied to assessors in accordance with commercial law.

The actuaries shall also meet the criteria on law compliance, morality, qualification and experience in actuarial analysis, and are members of International Actuarial Association.

Government shall provide detailed guidance on this point.

3. The Minister of Finance shall provide guidance on the content of training program, examination and certificate granting on insurance auxiliary services of domestic training institutions and the recognition of certificates of insurance auxiliary services granted by overseas training institutions.

5. The title of Chapter VI is changed as follows:

Chapter VI

INSURERS AND FOREIGN-INVESTED INSURANCE BROKERS CROSS-BORDER SERVICE PROVISION

6. Amendments to Clause 2 of Article 105:

”2. Insurers, foreign insurance brokers providing insurance services across the border, foreign organizations providing insurance auxiliary services across the border, foreign individuals providing insurance consulting services in accordance with regulations of Government.”

7. Amendments to Article 120:

 Amendments to Clause 1:

"1. Promulgate and provide guidance on implementation of legislative documents on insurance business and insurance auxiliary services; build strategies, plans and policies on development of Vietnamese insurance market;"

b) Amendments to Clause 4:

"4. Supervise insurance business activities through professional operations, financial standing, enterprise administration, risk management and law compliance of insurance enterprises and insurance brokers; take necessary measures to make sure insurance enterprises to fulfill financial requirements and fulfill commitments to insurance buyers.

Supervise insurance auxiliary service activities through compliance with regulations on standards and technical regulations relevant to insurance auxiliary services, liabilities of individuals and organizations providing insurance auxiliary services, conditions for providing insurance auxiliary services and provision of insurance auxiliary services across the border;"

8. Addition of Clause 9a after Clause 9 of Article 124:

“9a. Violations of technical regulations relevant to insurance auxiliary services; liabilities of individuals and organizations providing insurance auxiliary services; conditions for providing insurance auxiliary services; providing types of insurance auxiliary services and provision of insurance auxiliary services across the border;”

Article 2. Amendments to Law on Intellectual Property

1. Amendments to Point a, Clause 3 of Article 6:

a) Industrial property rights to inventions, industrial designs, layout designs and trademarks shall be granted on the basis of decisions on granting protection issued by competent authorities in accordance with registration procedures specified in this Law or on the basis of recognized international registration granted accordance with international agreement to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory.

Industrial property rights to well-known trademarks shall be granted on the basis of their use instead of registration.

Industrial property rights to geographical indications shall be granted on the basis of decisions on granting protection issued by competent authorities in accordance with registration procedures specified in this Law or international agreement to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory.

2. Amendments to Clause 3 and addition of Clause 4 after Clause 3 of Article 60:

"3. It is considered that an invention does not lose its novelty if it is directly or indirectly disclosed by the person entitled to registration specified in Article 86 of this Law or by the person who has information about the invention under the condition that the patent application is submitted in Vietnam within 12 months from the date of disclosure.

4. The provisions of Clause 3 of this Article shall also be applied to any invention disclosed in the industrial property application or industrial property protection announced by industrial property authority in case the announcement is inconsistent with provisions of laws or the application is submitted by a person ineligible for registration.

3. Amendments to Article 61:

"Article 61. Level of invention

1. Inventions are considered to be inventive based on technical solutions that have been publicly disclosed in the form of use or written description or in any other form at home and abroad prior to the submitting date or the privilege date of the patent application if those applications entitled to privileges; or the invention is an innovation and cannot be easily created by a person with average knowledge about the corresponding technical field.

2. Technical solution which is an invention disclosed in accordance with Clause 3 and 4, Article 60 of this Law which must not be used as a basis for evaluation of the level of invention."

4. Amendments to Article 80:

a) Amendments to Clause 1:

"1. Names and indications that have become common name of goods widely accepted by consumers in Vietnam;"

b) Amendments to Clause 3:

"3. Any geographical indication that is identical or similar to a trademark under protection or being submitted under a trademark application with early or privileged submitting date, the use of which may cause confusion over commercial origin of goods;"

5. Addition of Clause 3 after Clause 2 of Article 89:

"3. Applications for granting industrial property rights may be submitted physically or electronically."

6. Amendments to Section 4 of Chapter VIII:

“Section 4

INTERNATIONAL APPLICATIONS, INTERNATIONAL PROPOSALS AND PROCESSING OF INTERNATIONAL APPLICATIONS, INTERNATIONAL PROPOSALS"

7. Addition of Article 120a after Article 120 in Section 4 of Chapter VIII:

“Article 120a. International proposals and processing of international proposals on geographical indications

1. Proposals for recognition and protection of geographical indications in accordance with international agreement to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is negotiating, are called international proposals.

2. The announcement of international proposals and handling of third-party opinions, assessment of conditions for protection of geographical indications in international proposals shall comply with the equivalent provisions specified in this Law for geographical indications in geographical indication applications submitted to industrial property rights authority.

8. Amendments to Clause 2 of Article 136:

"2. Trademark holders shall use trademark continuously.

Trademark use under a trademark use agreement by a transferee is also considered an act of using the holder’s trademark.

In case the trademark is not used continuously for five years or more, the Trademark Certificate of Registration shall be invalidated in accordance with Article 95 of this Law."

9. Amendments to Article 148:

"Article 148. Effect of industrial property rights transfer agreement

1. As for industrial property rights granted on the basis of registration specified in Point a, Clause 3, Article 6 of this Law, an industrial property rights transfer agreement shall only come into force when it has been registered with industrial property rights authority.

2. As for industrial property rights granted on the basis of registration specified in Point a, Clause 3, Article 6 of this Law, industrial property rights agreements shall come into force according to the agreement between the parties.

3. Industrial property rights agreements specified in Clause 2 of this Article, except for trademark use agreements, shall be registered with an industrial property rights authority to be valid for third parties.

4. An industrial property rights agreement shall be invalidated if transferor’s industrial property rights are invalidated.

10. Addition of Clauses 4 and 5 after Clause 3 of Article 89:

"4. The defendant in a lawsuit over the infringement of intellectual property rights and receive acquittal from the Court is entitled to request the Court to order the plaintiff to reimburse for their reasonable expenses such as the cost of hiring a lawyer or other expenses in accordance with laws.

5. In case an organization or individual abuses the procedures for intellectual property protection and thus causes damage to another organization or individual, the organization and individual suffering damage is entitled to request the Court to force the abuser to pay damages, including reasonable costs of hiring a lawyer. Acts of abusing intellectual property rights protection procedures include acts of intentionally exceeding the scope or objective of this procedure.”

11. Amendments to Clause 1 of Article 205:

"1. In case the plaintiff can prove that the infringement of intellectual property rights has caused material losses to him/her, he/she is entitled to request the Court to decide the compensation amount according to one of the following grounds:

a) The total financial losses and the profits that the defendant has gained from the infringement of intellectual property rights, if the plaintiff's reduction in profits has not been included in material losses;

b) The transfer price of intellectual property rights if the intellectual property rights were transferred to the defendant by the plaintiff under an intellectual property rights agreement within the scope of the infringement;

c) Other material losses calculated by the intellectual property right holder in accordance with provisions of lawsoft;

d) In case it is impossible to determine the damages for material losses according to the provisions specified in Points a, b and c of this Clause, the damages shall be determined by the Court based on the level of loss, in which case the damages shall not exceed VND5 million.”

12. Amendments to Clause 1 of Article 218:

"1. When the requester for suspension of customs procedures has fulfilled the obligations specified in Article 217 of this Law, the customs authority shall issue the decision of suspension.

 The customs authority shall provide the intellectual property rights holder with information on name and address of shipper; exporter, consignee or importer; description of goods; quantity of goods; origin of goods (as the case may be), within 30 days from the date of issuance of the decision to apply administrative measures to handle trademark counterfeiting and smuggled goods specified in Clause 4, Article 216 of this Law.”

Article 3. Effect

1. This Law will take effect from November 1, 2019, except for the case specified in Clause 4 of this Article.

2. Addition of section 32a after section 32, Appendix 4, List of Sectors and Trades Subject to Conditional Business Investment of the Law on Investment No. 67/2014 / QH13, which was amended in accordance with Law No. 90/2015 / QH13, Law No. 03/2016 / QH14, Law No. 04/2017 / QH14 and Law No. 28/2018 / QH14 as follows:

“32a. Insurance auxiliary services include insurance consulting, insurance risk assessment, actuarial analysis, insurance loss assessment and insurance claim assistance.

3. Insurance auxiliary services arising from insurance business activities shall be regulated by the Government and approved by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly before issuance.

4. Regulations on intellectual property rights in this Law will take effect from January 14, 2019, applying to the following cases:

a) Applications for industrial property rights submitted from January 14, 2019;

b) Requests for invalidation of the Patent for invention, Patent for useful solutions, Certificates of geographical indications registration issued on the basis of applications for industrial property rights submitted from January 14, 2019;

c) Requests for invalidation of trademark registration certificates submitted from January 14, 2019;

d) Lawsuits over infringement of intellectual property rights accepted by competent authorities from January 14, 2019; other requests relevant to intellectual property protection carried out from January 14, 2019.

Article 4. Transitional provisions

1. Within 01 year from the effective date of this Law, individuals and organizations that have been providing insurance auxiliary services before the effective date of this Law shall meet conditions on providing insurance auxiliary services according to regulations of this Law. Otherwise, they shall not continue to provide insurance auxiliary services until the conditions are fully met.

2. Applications for inventions and geographical indications submitted before January 14, 2019 shall be processed in accordance with Law on Intellectual Property No. 50/2005 / QH11 amended in accordance with Law No. 36/2009 / QH12.

3. Trademark use agreements signed between the parties but not registered with industrial property rights authority before January 14, 2019 are only valid for third party from January 14, 2019.

4. Unsolved lawsuits over infringement of intellectual property rights accepted by competent authorities before January 14, 2019 shall be handled in accordance with provisions of Law on Intellectual Property No. 50/2005 / QH11 amended in accordance with Law No. 36/2009 / QH12.

This Law was passed by the 14^th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at its 7th session on June 14, 2019.

CHAIRMAN OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan

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