Intellectual Property
1 Overview In a progressively uncertain economy, counterfeit products are becoming more prevalent particularly in Vietnam. Therefore, companies should be increasingly vigilant in protecting their intellectual property (IP) rights. These rights, whether they be patents, designs, trademarks or copyrights, comprise the most important intangible assets on a company s balance sheet. A failure to protect them can lead to severe financial repercussions. At LNT & Partners, our specialized IP lawyers can protect our clients ideas, brand, inventions, innovations and above all, their reputation. We make it our aim to mitigate any commercial implications arising from potential infringements and to ensure our clients are able to fully leverage their IP. Our team is active in a wide array of sectors and has been recognized for their depth of IP law services ranging from the standard to the complex.
2 KEY CONTACTS Mr. HUY Do Partner Leading the firm s IP practice, Mr. Huy Do has nearly 18 years of experience handling corporate and dispute matters involving intellectual property across a range of legal disciplines such as M&A, corporate restructuring, licensing, franchising, antitrust and competition, enforcement and/or infringement actions, tax and holding structures, technology transfers, Internet, privacy and data protection, among others. Mr. Do practiced for over 10 years in the Silicon Valley at renowned international law firms involving matters in the US, Europe and Asia. He has over 12 years experience handling Vietnam matters. He has represented some of the most recognized names in the technology, media and telecommunications industry in complex transactions, arbitrations and lawsuits. He is a frequent speaker and highly sought by clients from different industries for his pragmatic and innovative approach to solving legal issues. E-mail: huy.do@lnt-partners.com Dr. TUAN Nguyen Partner Dr. Tuan Nguyen is a major player in the pharmaceutical, FMCG and distribution sectors, possessing keen insight into the commercial challenges faced by companies in these sectors. In addition to serving as LNT & Partners competition law specialist, Dr. Nguyen has considerable experience in advising on a range of IP matters for recognized multinational companies. He is often on the forefront of IP disputes for these companies, having successfully delivered workable solutions in high-profile cases. E-mail: tuan.nguyen@lnt-partners.com www.lnt-partners.com
3 Areas of expertise Our clients have benefited from our broad range of services in our intellectual property law practice, which include: Patents & Designs Copyrights Trademarks IP Litigation IP Commercialization
4 Patents & Designs Patents in Vietnam cover inventions and utility solutions. Due to the often technical nature of inventions, applications through the National Office of Intellectual Property (NOIP) can be a tedious and complex process. Our patent attorneys are unique in that they possess a strong background in both science, for all those technical parts, and in law, to navigate through the IP law regime. Our networks and tried-and-true methods of filing patent applications ensure that our clients inventions are registered in the most efficient manner possible. Our team handles a wide array of matters in relation to patents, utility solutions and designs. These include search and legal advice on patentability/registrability, freedom-tooperate assessments, specification drafting, registration and prosecutions of patent/ design applications, recordal of changes/ assignments, annuity payments, oppositions, cancellations, validity and invalidity assessments and registration of patent license/ assignment agreements. Trademarks Trademarks are the foundation of creating an effective brand, and are perceived as the face of a company. Therefore, it pays to have a trusted legal adviser like LNT & Partners to navigate through the regulatory maze of applying, registering and securing your company s future image. Our trademark experts act on a broad spectrum of trade mark matters, including trade mark searches, registration and prosecution. Our team also provides assistance in the recordal of changes/assignments of trademark applications, oppositions, cancellations, renewals, registration of trademark and service mark license/ assignment agreements. Copyrights Internationally copyrighted works enjoy protection in Vietnam under the Berne Convention. However, while Vietnam has an established registration system for copyrights, registration does not mean that your copyright is enforceable. Our copyright lawyers can walk you through all the necessary steps to have your works protected in Vietnam whether they be artistic or highly technical. Through our familiarity of all the steps leading to copyright registration, our lawyers will provide you the most time and cost effective solution to see your creations protected. IP commercialization The knowledge to properly leverage your IP assets in an increasingly competitive market is crucial to commercial success. Out IP legal team at LNT & Partners has the experience and expertise to deliver practical strategies for commercializing and managing IP portfolios. We ensure that our clients are able to maximize their commercial benefits from their IP assets. In collaboration with our TMT, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry specialists, our team offers comprehensive legal services to fully exploit the economic value of your IP. Our IP lawyers also have extensive experience with IP contracts, including agreements relating to franchising, technology transfers, and licensing. IP litigation When things do not go according to plan, our IP litigation team stands ready to assist our clients. Our clients benefit from the expertise of our litigation and ADR practice. Our lawyers have considerable experience in representing our clients in civil and criminal IP disputes, including disputes related to patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade names, and trade secrets. www.lnt-partners.com
5 Recent highlights of work The IP team at LNT & Partners has been highly regarded by some of the biggest names, both domestic and foreign, in a wide range of industries. We have successfully acted or advised in some of the most complex IP law cases in Vietnam. Below are some of our most recent successes: Represent one of the largest global electronics conglomerates from Korea in a ground-breaking copyright infringement case involving Smart TVs, apps and online Karaoke. Represent a leading recruitment company from Japan in its acquisition of the largest recruitment company in Vietnam. Advise one of the largest insurance companies in Vietnam on its trailblazing patent filings to secure innovative business processes. Represent a major Japanese group in the retail industry with respect to pro tecting its brand in Vietnam, preserving its leading multi-million market share in Vietnam. Represent a sizeable non-profit organization in Vietnam in a significant trade mark infringement lawsuit involving administrative and court proceedings. Represent one of the largest retailers in Vietnam with respect to its significant IP portfolio to ensure its copyrights are fully commercialized across all forms of media.
6 About Us LNT & PARTNERS is a leading full-service independently ranked local law firm in Vietnam with offices in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hong Kong, and San Francisco. The firm is among Vietnam s most prominent, representing a wide range of multinational and domestic clients, including Fortune Global 500 companies as well as well-known Vietnamese listed companies on a variety of business and investment matters. For further information about us or how we can assist you in your commercial endeavors, please contact: Ms. Quyen Hoang Managing Partner quyen.hoang@lnt-partners.com www.lnt-partners.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Ms. Quyen Hoang Managing Partner quyen.hoang@lnt-partners.com Ho Chi Minh City Head Office Unit 03, Level 21, Bitexco Financial Tower No.02 Hai Trieu Street, District 1 Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM Tel: +84 8 3821 2357 Fax: +84 8 3910 3733 Hanoi Office Unit 08A, Level 2, International Centre 17 Ngo Quyen Street, Hoan Kiem District Hanoi, VIETNAM Tel: +84 4 3824 8522 Fax: +84 4 3824 8580 Mr. Huy Do Partner huy.do@lnt-partners.com Hong Kong Office (affiliate) 25/F Workington Tower 78 Bonham Strand Sheung Wan, Hong Kong SAR, CHINA Tel: +85 2 6741 6190 Fax +85 2 3013 9748 San Francisco 90 New Montgomery Street Suite 1015 San Francisco, CA 94105 USA Tel: +1 415 691 7552 Fax: +1 415 707 5050 www.lnt-partners.com