Brazil started to apply anti-dumping tax on goods from Vietnam

On April 24^th, 2017, the Brazilian investigation authority decided to initiate an investigation to verify the existence of dumping, injury and a causal link between them in the imports of seamless stainless steel tubes imported from Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam

Investigated products are seamless stainless steel tubes with diameter equal or higher than 6mm and not higher than 2.032 mm and thickness equal or higher than 0.40 mm and not higher than 12.70 mm, classified as HS code: 7306.40.00 and 7306.90.20 on the Common Nomenclature of MERCOSUR – NCM, from Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Plaintiffs are Aperam Inox Tubos Brasil Ltda. and Marcegaglia do Brasil Ltda.

The alleged dumping margin with Vietnam is 18.0%, Malaysia is 26.4% and Thailand is 19.1%

The Period of Investigation is from October 2015 to September 2016 and the injury period is from October 2011 to September 2016.

The time duration for concerned parties to answer and submit the questionnaire is 30 days since the date of receiving (this duration shall be extended but not exceeding 30 days).  Concerned parties shall have 20 days to register to join the investigation i.e. May 15^th, 2017.

All concerned parties shall have 70 days to submit comments about using alternative country for normal value calculation, by Jul 3^rd, 2017.

If concerned parties have legal representative, the representative shall be allowed within 91 days since the initiation of the investigation, by Jul 24^th, 2017.

To ensure the rights and benefits, the concerned parties are suggested to join and submit the questionnaire fully and find the support from experienced anti-dumping law firm and lawyers in Vietnam and Brazil.

Our lawyers in Vietnam constantly follow up with changes of law to provide the client with update for better decision making process.

Source: ANTLawyers.vn

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How To Conduct Legal Due Diligence for M&A in Vietnam?

Legal Due Diligence help management make better investment decision in Vietnam

Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) has become popular in Vietnam as the country develops and more investors are eager to invest and gain control of the business enough to engage in, decide important business matters through partial or full ownership of an enterprise.  A successful M&A mean the parties achieve their financial and commercial goals (increasing capital, raising management capacity, branding, etc) and ensuring safety and restraint the risk at the lowest level, though legal due diligence undertaken by law firm in Vietnam.

The Importance of Legal Due Diligence of Enterprise in M&A activities

Legal due diligence of enterprises focuses on full and detailed assessment of legal issues relating to the legal entity, capital contribution status, shareholder status, legal rights and obligations. From the investigation information, the parties can anticipate legal risks, assess opportunities to come up with alternatives. In addition, legal assessments help parties evaluate the reliability of their counterparts as well as understand their advantages and constraints for the negotiation process.

What Legal Due Diligence in M&A Activities Entail?

• Evaluate the factors related to the legal status and capacity of the target enterprise: Review the legitimacy of the establishment, operation, possession of enterprise; ensure that the enterprise is not subject to procedures for dissolution or bankruptcy and compliance with the law of the enterprise in the course of operation. The information to be checked includes: dossiers, certificate of enterprise establishment, operation licenses, practice certificates, professional liability insurance, company charter, agreement between the company owner on rights of shareholders, capital contributors, minutes of meetings, member/shareholder register, certificate of capital contribution.
• Evaluate the factors related to the business and financial activities of the target enterprise: Review the system of customers and partners of the enterprise; the documents on economic contracts (with customers, suppliers, etc); dossier of investment, construction, land, project; information on guarantee, mortgage (if any), debt and credit agreement, M&A, financial leasing contract, exclusive contract, franchise, etc, in terms of value, legality, validity, progress to evaluate legal risks in the future. Review the financial statements on the accuracy of the financial status of the business.
• Verify the factors related to labor: Review labor contracts, labor agreements, internal labor regulations to determine the enterprise’s financial obligations to employees, compliance Labor law and reception of labor after the purchase or sale.
• Verify the factors related to intellectual property: Review intellectual property rights of enterprises including: trademarks, trade names, industrial designs, layout designs, business secrets, etc; the property has granted the patent/license. Review matters of infringement of intellectual property rights of other organizations, individuals or legal persons in order to anticipate the risks of being sued or claiming damages.

In addition, in an M&A deal, the acquirer should ensure that participation in capital contribution or acquisition of the target enterprise is permitted, the form of M&A implementation is in accordance with the law and the M&A deal was approved by the competent authority of each party. After that, the factors related to M&A transaction procedures and constraints and restrictions of law (if any) must be evaluated.

Our lawyers in Vietnam constantly follow up with changes of law to provide the client with update for better decision making process.

Source: ANTLawyers.vn

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Circular 15/2012/TT-BVHTTDL on the procedure for issuing copyrights assessors card

The submission requests for the assessor’s card could be sent via post mail or at the office of the Department of Copyright – Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Copyright in Vietnam

Dossiers includes:

– The required declaration form

– Copy of satisfactory test results for professional appraiser or documents of the Council of acceptable for free of professional assessment test

– A copy of the ID card

– 02 photos 3×4 cm

The time for making decision and issuing card is 15 working days after receiving the complete and valid dossiers; in case of refusal, there must be written notification with reasons.

Copyrights assessors card  takes effect from the date of issuance.

This guidance is regulated in Circular 15/2012/TT-BVHTTDL on the assessment of copyright and related rights, taking effect from February 1^st 2013 .

How ANT Lawyers IP Practice Could Help You?

Please click here to learn more about ANT Lawyers IP Practice or contact our Copyright Attorneys in Vietnam for advice via email ant@antlawyers.vn or call us at +844 32 23 27 71

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How to Register Industrial Design in Vietnam?

Industrial design is the outward appearance of a product embodied in three-dimensional configuration, lines, colors or a combination of such elements. An impressed appearance shall increase the value of products, the attraction to customers and the distinction from other same products. In fact, however, appearances of products can be copied easily if there no legal protection and prior prevention. Filling industrial design in National Office of Intellectual Property shall guarantee that your product appearance is protected from violation of others.

Register industrial design in Vietnam

With highly professional staff and great experience in IP aspect in Vietnam, ANT Lawyers would like to offer you Industrial Design Filing service as follow:

1. ANT Lawyers service in Industry Design

Our services in this area include:
a. Evaluate the possibility of registration and use of Industrial Design;
b. Search for information on the registration and use of Industrial design;
c. File application and proceed with the legal procedures on the registration of Industrial design;
d. Advise and proceed with the legal procedures on the record of assignment of Industrial Design application;
e. Advise and proceed with the legal procedures on the record of amendment of Industrial Design application such as: name and address of the applicant;
f. Advise and proceed with the legal procedures on the amendment of the Industrial Design Certificate on the basis of transferring of ownership, merging companies; record of change of name and address of the Certificate holder;
g. Advise on the renewal of validity of the exclusive Industrial Design Certificate.
h. License and Assignment;
i. Opposition against proceedings;
j. Appeal; cancellation; invalidation;

2. How to file Industrial Design in Vietnam

a. Required documents:
i. Original Power of Attorney from the Applicant(s);
The POA must be signed by an applicant or duly authorized representative on behalf of the Applicant (no further notarization or legalization is required);
The POA is required at the time of filing, please therefore arrange to have and provide us with scan copy via fax or email first and original one can be followed within one [01] month later.
ii. Full name and address of applicant(s);
iii. Full name, address and nationality of designer(s);
iv. Drawing of design;
The drawings of design must show clearly 7 views (separately in jpeg. format is preferable): perspective view, front view, rear view, right view, left view, top view, bottom view, at a same scale; and the minimum resolution is 300DPI.
v. Original certified true copy of priority document (if any);
vi. Salient novelty features description in which showing the using purpose or Lorcano classification of design, if any.
b. Time and procedures
The ID application will be examined by National Office of Intellectual Property of Viet Nam (NOIP) with ID Examination Procedure as below:
i. Formality examination: Under Intellectual Property Law of Vietnam, the above application will be examined as to form within one [01] month as from the filing date or date entering the national phase. If the ID application meets the requirements as to form, the NOIP will issue a decision of formality acceptance and then the application will be further processed.
ii. The Substantive Examination: The above application will be examined as to substance within 12 months.
• Notification of the Substantive Examination Results.
• The Decision of Refusal or Request to pay fee.
• Issuing the ID of Invention
Note: The deadline for filing design application in Vietnam on the basis of claiming priority right under Paris convention is 6 months counted from the earliest priority date;
iii. The total time from filing to registration in straightforward case is 12-14 months. However, in practice, this duration can be extended further 3-6 months;
c. ID Term and Maintenance
A registered industrial design is given an initial protection period of 5 years from the date of filing and is extended for two further consecutive terms of 5 years each. The maximum protection period is 15 years.

Source: ANTlawyers.vn

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Opposition Procedures of Trademark in Vietnam

Trademark is the priceless asset of a company because of being used to distinguish goods or services of different organizations or individuals. Many international companies have found that others have registered trademark protection in Vietnam at National Offices of Intellectual Property (NOIP).

Because trademark is protected independently in each nation, it is easy for violators to abuse trademarks of other well known companies for their interests in Vietnam. This could potentially put the real trademark owner’s under challenges when the clients or customers realize the product bearing the trademark they trust do not meet the standard they expected.

Opposition Procedures of Trademark in Vietnam

In Vietnam, after detecting their infringement registration process, you should submit an opposition notice to NOIP in Vietnam to prevent the violating trademark registration. To ensure your opposition shall be effective, you should enclose evidences and related documents.

With highly professional staff and great experience in IP aspect in Vietnam, ANT Lawyers, a qualified attorney and registered IP agent, could support you in opposition procedure of trademark in Vietnam.

Deadline for filing an opposition to a trademark application in Vietnam

The deadline for filing an opposition to a trademark application in Vietnam is stipulated particularly in the IP Law.

According to IP Law of Vietnam, during examination of trademark applications as from the date when a trademark application is published on the Industrial Property Official Gazette until prior to the date of decision on granting Certificate of trademark registration, an opposition request should be filed to the NOIP. Such request will not be accepted by the NOIP for handling if it is filed after the date of decision on granting trademark registration. However, under our current practice, the applicant could request for an acceleration examination, shorter than provided period of 09 months. Therefore please be noted that possible opposition should be filed as soon as possible.

Requirements

Pursuant to the IP Law, foreign opponents are not allowed to file opposition request directly at the NOIP but must authorize a lawful IP representative in Vietnam to proceed with such action based on a required original Power of Attorney (POA). Under current practice in Vietnam, a copy of POA may be acceptable for filing opposition and the original one could be filed later. However, the NOIP will not consider the opposition until the original POA is filed and all formality requirements are satisfied.

Trademark opposition Procedure in Vietnam

The opposition request must be in written form and the source of its accompanied supporting materials (if any) must be specified.

A possible opposition will be considered at the time of the trademark application’s examination as to substance.

As a general procedures, within 01 month (in fact, the time can extend to 02-04 months) as from the receiving date of our opposition, the NOIP will consider and then may convey its contents to the Applicant and fix about 01 month for them to present opinions. After receiving response of the Applicant (if they submit), the NOIP will inform and give the Opponent 01 month for filing response, submission of opinions.

In some cases, the NOIP may give conclusion upon consideration of opposition without conveying its contents to the Applicant if they think that it is clear enough to conclude. It is possible for the NOIP to organize conversation between the Opponent and the Applicant, upon request of the two parties, to clarify the matter (if necessary).

Upon considering the evidences submitted by the two parties, the NOIP will make a decision to accept opposition or not.

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Recordal of Trademark Assignment in Vietnam

Assignment of a trademark right means the transfer of ownership right by owner of such trademark right to another organization or individual.

Trademark Assignment in Vietnam be established in the form of written agreement. Oral agreements, letters or telegrams shall not be accepted and have no legal effect.

Recordalof Trademark Assignment in Vietnam

Required documents

You are required to provide us the following documents:

• One executed original of Deed of Assignment, which must be signed and sealed by both Assignor and Assignee. Since the Deed of Assignment has two pages, both Assignor and Assignee should sign on each page or use company stamp to inter-cross seal over all pages (NO      further notarization or legalization is required);
• A Power of Attorney (POA) that should only be signed by the Representative of Assignee; 
• The relevant original Certificate of Trademark Registration (if recording the assignment for a registered one).

Procedures and time

After the recordal of assignment is completed, the NOIP will issue the following documents:

• The Notice of Assignment Recordal in case of a pending Trademark Application.
• The Certificate for Registration of Deed of Assignment in case ofTrademark Registration. In addition, the name and address of new owner will be endorsed on the last page of this Certificate of Trademark Registration.

The whole duration for recordal of assignment will in straightforward case is 2 months counted from the filing date. However, in practice, this duration can be extended from 3-6 months.

Other matters

Under Vietnam Intellectual Property Law, the trademark assignment will not be approved in the following cases:

• The subject mark for assignment identical/confusingly similar to the trade name of assignor as it shall cause the confusion as to the origin of goods or services with those of assignor. 

• The subject mark for assignment similar or identical to other trademarks but not for assignment of Assignor in respect of similar goods or services as it shall cause the confusion as to the origin of goods or services with the rest of assignor.

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Cancellation Against of Trademark in Vietnam

Trademark is the priceless asset with your company because of being used to distinguish goods or services of different organizations or individuals.

Cancellation Against of Trademark in Vietnam

It usually takes a long time and attempts for your company to gain the trust and belief from customers on your goods and trademark. However, if there is any other same trademark of the same goods like yours, it will easily make customer mistake or confuse and lead many damages to your company such as distinguishing capacity, losing reputation and sale decline.

In fact, many international companies after co-operating with domestic companies to distribute or sell good, find that co-operators steal their trademark by registered trademark protection in National offices intellectual property. Because trademark is protected independently in each nation, it is easy for violators to do steal trademarks.

To protect your rights and benefits, you should request Vietnam IP authority to cancel violated trademark. With highly professional staff and great experience in IP aspect in Vietnam, ANT Lawyers would like to support you in cancelling against of trademark in Vietnam as follows:

Cancellation against of trademark in Vietnam

Under the Article 96 of the Law on Intellectual Property of Vietnam (IP Law), a certificate of trademark registration may be cancelled wholly or partly, by any third party’s request.

The applicant may request to the National Office of Intellectual Property (NOIP) in written form to cancel protection titles in the cases specified provided that they pay fees and charges.

Period for filling cancellation request

To request cancellation of a trademark due to the Applicant’s bad faith: the period for lodging such a request is the whole term of a Protection Title.

To request cancellation of a trademark due to other legal reasons: the period for lodging such a request is within 5 years as from the granting date.

The case for cancellation

A certificate of trademark registration may be cancelled wholly or partly, by any third party’s request, in the following cases:

The registration applicant has neither had nor been assigned the right to register an invention, industrial design, layout-design or mark;

The subject matter of industrial property fails to satisfy the protection conditions at the time the protection title is granted.

Required documents

Proofs (if any);

Power of attorney;

Written justification of the reason for request (clearly stating the serial number of the protection title, reason, legal grounds, contents of the request for termination or Cancellation of part of or the entire protection title) and relevant documents.

Time and procedures

In case a request for cancellation of trademark protection title is made by a third party, the NOIP shall notify in writing the third party’s opinions to the protection title holder, setting a time limit of two months from the date of notification for the trademark protection title holder to respond.

After considering opinions of the parties, the NOIP shall issue a decision on cancellation of part of the entire protection title or notify its refusal to cancellation the trademark protection title.

If disagreeing with the NOIP’s decision on handling of the request for Cancellation of the trademark protection title, the requester or an involved party may lodge a complaint about that decision or the relevant notice.

A decision on cancellation of a trademark protection title shall be published in the Industrial Property Official Gazette and recorded in the National Register of Industrial Property within two months from the date of its signing.

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