Useful intellectual property links

Official reference points: administering authorities, application and grant databases, sources of legal texts.

co-quan

• Copyright Office of Vietnam (COV) — The authority issuing copyright and related-rights certificates. Hosts an FAQ section and forms.
• Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (IP Vietnam) — The authority granting patents, trademarks, designs and geographical indications. Publishes notices on fee and procedure changes.
• Vietnam Digital Copyright Center — The focal point for digital copyright, supporting action against infringing online content.
• Government legal document database — The authoritative full-text source for laws, decrees and circulars. Use it whenever online figures conflict.
• National Public Service Portal — The gateway for filing many administrative procedures online, including IP procedures.

to-chuc

• Vietnam Center for Protection of Music Copyright (VCPMC) — The largest collective management organisation for music — it licenses uses and collects and distributes royalties.
• Recording Industry Association of Vietnam (RIAV) — Represents the rights of producers of sound and audiovisual recordings.

tra-cuu

• WIPO Lex — Viet Nam member profile — The official list of treaties Vietnam has joined with entry-into-force dates, plus English texts of the IP laws.
• PATENTSCOPE — international patent search — The database of PCT applications and national collections including Vietnam. Search it before drafting.
• Global Brand Database — trademark search — Searches registered marks worldwide, including Vietnamese national marks.
• Madrid Monitor — international trademark tracking — Tracks the status of international applications filed through the Madrid System.
• Global Design Database — industrial design search — Searches designs registered internationally through the Hague System.
• Google Patents — Fast patent search with a friendly interface and machine translation. Good for a first pass before formal searching.
• Nice Classification (goods and services) — The 45-class list used to classify trademark applications — it directly determines your filing cost.
• Locarno Classification (industrial designs) — The classification system used for industrial design applications.

van-ban

• Thu Vien Phap Luat — The most complete document repository, with validity status and amendment history. Some content requires an account.
• LuatVietnam — Fast updates on newly issued instruments with summaries of what changed.
• VCCI legal document library — The open document library of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, no sign-up required.