Source: Korean Intellectual Property Office
Date:   November 30, 2009

The Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) announced, “Commissioner Jung-sik Koh had a meeting with Director General of the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam (NOIP) Tran Viet Hung in the NOIP building on November 23, 2009 and added, “They signed a MOU on comprehensive cooperation in the intellectual property rights (IPR) area. 

The two parties had a commissioners’ meeting during the general assembly of the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) held in September 2009. At the meeting, the two offices agreed on concluding an MOU to improve the IPR systems, to protect IPRs and to enhance the exercise of IPRs. 

The new MOU covers five key items as follows: information exchange on IP, laws and international issues; introduction of an IP administrative information system; training on IP and fostering of IP experts; improvement of awareness on IP; distribution and commercialization of IP information, and the promotion of invention.

As of June 2009, Korean investment in Vietnam reached $10.2billion, making Korea the second-largest investor in Vietnam. Today, about 1,800 Korean companies run their business in Vietnam.

In 2008, the number of trademark registrations by Koreans stood at 1,045, ranking Korea third in Vietnam, while the number of patent and utility model applications amounted to 175, making Korea sixth. With the upgraded relation of the two nations, the number of IPR applications is very likely to increase. 

Commissioner Jung-sik Koh said, “With the MOU, Korea and Vietnam have laid the foundation for sustainable and systematic cooperation in the IP area” and stressed, “The MOU will also help Korean companies in Vietnam enhance their protection of IPRs, and improve the investment environment in Vietnam”. 

The MOU is expected to enhance cooperation in IPRs between Korea and Vietnam, which in turn will lead to the acceleration of cooperation in the area among Korea and ASEAN member states. In addition, Korea will also be able to enjoy an advanced national image in accordance with the government’s “New Asia Initiative” through the sharing of its development experience in IPR administration with ASEAN member states.