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Filing a Patent in Vietnam
HOW MANY TYPES OF PATENT IN VIETNAM?
In Vietnam, we have two types of patent including:
+ Patent for invention
+ Utility solution
What is criteria for patent to be protected in Vietnam?
A patent in Vietnam shall be protect if it meets the following conditions:
+ Novelty step
+ Inventive step (not applicable to utility solution)
+ Industrial applicability
WHAT ARE PRIORITY CLAIMS OF PATENT AVAILABLE IN VIETNAM?
A patent in Vietnam could be filed in one of the three types:
+ Direct filing: a foreign patent applicant could file their patent in Vietnam directly
+ PCT Patent: 31 months from the first filing date.
+ Paris conventions: 12 months counted from the first filing date.
How long is validity of patent in Vietnam?
+ Patent for invention: 20 years from the filing date.
+ Patent for utility solution: 10 years from the filing date.
In order to maintain the validity of patent, the annuity patent fee shall be payable annually after the patent is granted only.
WHAT ARE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO FILE PATENT IN VIETNAM?
– Specification of the patent. If it is a PCT patent, we could download it from WIPO’s website.
– Claims of patent or amended claims, if any.
– Drawing (if any)
– Certified copy of priority document (if any)
– Name and Address of inventor and applicant.
– POA (drafted by ASL LAW): Sign only. A copy via email is acceptable, the original one shall be submitted later within 01 months from the filing date or 03 months to PCT patent.
WHAT IS PROCEDURE OF FILING PATENT IN VIETNAM?
Step 1: Formality examination of patent
National Office of Intellectual Property (NOIP) with examine the formality of the patent application within 1-2 months counted from the filing date. However, the actual time may be longer.
Step 2: Publication of patent on Vietnamese IP Gazette
NOIP shall publish the patent application on Vietnamese IP Gazette within 19 months counted from the first filing date or date of accepting its legitimate whatever comes later.
The applicant could ask for earlier publication of their patent application.
Step 3: Substantive examination of patent
NOIP shall issue the substantive examination result 12-16 months from the publishing date. If the result is positive, the patent shall be granted within 1-2 months. Otherwise, patent applicant shall have three months (extensible for 3 months) to respond to the rejection.