In building a brand, businesses typically begin with a narrowly focused brand image, including specific trademark configurations. Over time, these trademarks tend to evolve, with new stylistic elements being introduced for marketing purposes. If the main elements of the trademark remain consistent, brand owners assume that the prior use of a slightly different mark will help to support registration of the modified versions of the mark.

Over the last decade, the ability of IP rights holders to enforce their rights in Vietnam has improved greatly. This article examines a number of key developments and the current state of enforcement practice in Vietnam, and provides some strategy tips for rights holders seeking better IPR protection.

Foreign agrichemical companies usually opt to appoint their local distributors, agents, or licensees as the local entity to apply for and maintain product registration and import licenses as usually required by Asian Ministries of Agriculture.  Such appointments are normally set out in the distribution agreement.  While on most occasions this is a mutually beneficial relationship, sometimes local partners who have built up the business for those products may begin to compete unfairly or commit other breaches which leads to difficulties in terms of terminating a partner who holds t

With the official implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement effective on January 1, 2010, companies now have an expanded opportunity to increase exports in this important and diverse market. In regard to food, however, it should be noted that companies are still required to register their products with the local Food Agencies. Even though harmonization of rules for food products is a stated aim of ASEAN members—similar to the ASEAN Harmonization on Pharmaceutical Registration already in place for pharmaceutical products—harmonized rules have not yet been implemented in this area.

Presented in a Q&A format, this chapter provides a broad overview of product liability law and regulations in Thailand subsequent to the enactment of the Product Liability Act in 2008. The chapter addresses issues such as causation, defenses, procedures, time limits, remedies, and costs.

According to the Vietnam National Internet Centre (VNNIC), there have been hundreds of complaints requesting the withdrawal of registered .vn domain names. The most popular ground for such complaints is that the registered domain names are identical to complainants’ registered trademarks or trade names. This article examines new guidelines that were recently issued to deal with such disputes.

On April 30, 2010, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) published its 2010 Special 301 Report examining the application and effectiveness of intellectual property rights enforcement by countries around the world. Thailand, for the fourth year in a row, has been maintained on the Priority Watch List. The USTR has highlighted its concerns regarding the increase of manufacturing and distribution of illegal optical discs and the significant amount of internet, cable, and signal piracy. This article looks at the Report’s findings and its expected impact.

With Vietnam’s entry into the World Trade Organization, it is expected that franchising activity in the country will increase markedly over the next few years. There are presently a handful of major franchises operating in the country, including Kentucky Fried Chicken, Subway, Lotteria, Jollibee, Pho 24, Gloria Jean’s Coffees, Buntamita, and Cartridge World. These franchises view Vietnam as strong potential market, as it is the 12th most populous country in the world, with a young dynamic population that places a high premium on reputable international brands.