“One month campaign Commendating World IP Day” promotes IPR Protection in Vietnam

May 25, 2015, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) in coordination with BSA | The Software Alliance organized closing press conference on “One month campaign Commendating World IP Day”, which was launched on March 31. This is a very first comprehensive IP campaign ever organized in Vietnam, which was led by MOST in coordination with other eight members of Vietnam Inter-Ministerial IP Protection Task Forces (Program 168) and an international organization.

“Following the Minister’s instruction, the Inspectorate of MOST in coordination with BSA was acting as focal point for “One month campaign Commendating World IP Day”, major activities of which include both educational and enforcement, addressing issues and concerns of all related parties – raising public awareness on IPRs in general and IPR owners’ awareness on protection of their own assets in particular, enhancing role of state management agencies and enforcement agencies in IP field, and promoting role of journalists in IPR education. This reflects high priority that Vietnam’s government put on IPR protection” Dung added.

Numerous activities were carried out during the month: Roundtable discussion between enforcement authorities and business community, IPR owners was of great success where both sides could share their observations, views and comments, suggestions on formulation and implementation of IP related policies; Reviewing meeting was hold for all members of Program 168; And “IP, Competition and Technological Transfer Policies” workshop was co-organized by MOST and WIPO. Furthermore, banners of the campaign were hung on streets in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; Direct Mailers were sent to 5,000 enterprises.

Deputy Chief Inspector of the MOST said: “Following educational campaign, the Inspectorate of MOST, in coordination with Economic Police and Provincial Departments of Science & Technology, has conducted raids against 11 targets, which were suspected to infringe Industrial Property Rights. Monetary fines of VND 254 million were imposed on these 11 targets. Seven inspections against seven IP Law Firms were also conducted by MOST’s Inspectorate in coordination with National Office of Intellectual Property.”

Being a member of Program 168, MOCST has made great efforts in enforcing copyright and related rights, especially software copyright.

Mr Tran Van Minh, Deputy Chief Inspector of MOCST, said “Right after the campaign, we in coordination with C50, Anti High Tech Crimes Department, have conducted number of raids in various parts of country: 15 raids were taken in Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Tay Ninh and Ba Ria Vung Tau. 822 PCs were checked and fine of VND 500 million were imposed. And the targets were requested to work with software copyright owners to legalize their use of software and pay compensation for their illegal use of software”

“Inspection is conducted not just after the end of the campaign but we’d keep doing it in months to go. And this is a task assigned to us by the Party’s Central Committee at its 9^th Conference’s Resolution on strengthening and enhancing effectiveness of state management agencies and enforcement agencies in copyright area at both national and local levels”, Minh added.

Mr Roland Chan, BSA’s Senior Director, Compliance Programs, Asian Pacific said “We are very pleased to be able to work with MOST in organizing “One month campaign Commendating World IP Day” with a large number of effective activities. We highly appreciate strong commitments of MOST and other members of Program 168, especially MOCST, to effective IPR protection in Vietnam. We believe that with strategy of combining educational activities and strong, effective enforcement actions, Vietnam’s IPR protection would move to higher level in coming years, producing great incentive for Vietnam’s economic development.”

In context of globalization, economic integration and development of innovative economy, IP becomes more and more important factor for socio-economic development. Vietnam’s government puts a high priority on IPR protection and this is reflected in Vietnam IP related laws and policies. And Vietnam’s government does this job through international cooperation projects, among which “One month campaign Commendating World IP Day” is seen as a phenomenon in IPR protection area in Vietnam in 2015.

Minh Ly