The International Trademark Association (INTA) and Vietnam’s Inspectorate of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) recently hosted a seminar on “The Protection of Famous and Well-Known Trademarks – The Actual Situation and Toward Solutions” in Hanoi. The seminar also served to launch the Well-Known Trademarks Project, an INTA-MOST project meant to build links for cooperation between government and the private sectors.

Thomas J. Treutler, partner and managing director of Tilleke & Gibbins’ Vietnam offices, who serves as chair of the INTA East Asia & Pacific Famous and Well-Known Trademarks Subcommittee and Project Task-Force Lead of the Well-Known Trademarks Project, attended the seminar and discussed three main topics with representatives of the National Office of Intellectual Property and other stakeholders:

• Obstacles in the protection and enforcement of well-known trademarks.
• Sharing of experiences in protection and enforcement related to well-known trademarks.
• Solutions to improve the legal system and reduce obstacles in the protection and enforcement of well-known trademarks.

During the seminar, Thomas noted: “It is expected that Vietnam will amend its IP Law in 2017, so this joint INTA-MOST project is a well-timed opportunity to refine the law to better protect well-known trademarks.”

If you would like to learn more about this seminar, please visit the INTA website.