Duong & Tran Intellectual Property

News & Updates

IP law developments across Southeast Asia

Vietnam

Territorial Jurisdiction of the Specialized Intellectual Property Court under Resolution No. 04/2026/UBTVQH16, Effective from June 10, 2026

Resolution No. 04/2026/UBTVQH16 dated June 10, 2026 amending and supplementing a number of articles of Resolution No. 81/2025/UBTVQH15 dated June 27, 2025 regarding the territorial jurisdiction of Provincial People’s Courts and Regional People’s Courts, took effect on June 10, 2026. Territorial jurisdiction of Regional People’s Courts over civil, business and commercial matters and administrative cases relating to intellectual property (IP) and technology transfer is provided as follows: • Regional People’s Court 2 – Ha Noi has territorial jurisdiction over 20 provinces and cities, comprising: Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Hue, Bac Ninh, Cao Bang, Dien Bien, Ha Tinh, Hung Yen, Lai Chau, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Phu Tho, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Son La, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa and Tuyen Quang; • Regional People’s Court 1 – Ho Chi Minh City has territorial jurisdiction over 14 provinces and cities, comprising: Can Tho, Da Nang, Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City, An Giang, Ca Mau, Dak Lak, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, Quang Ngai, Tay Ninh and Vinh Long.

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Vietnam

Digital Court Procedures Under Resolution No. 01/2026/NQ-HDTP

On 15 January 2026, the Judicial Council of the Supreme People's Court of Vietnam issued Resolution No. 01/2026/NQ-HDTP ("Resolution 01"), providing comprehensive guidance on the conduct of litigation procedures and judicial administrative procedures in the digital environment at People's Courts. Resolution 01 took effect on 1 March 2026 and supersedes Resolution No. 04/2016/NQ-HDTP, which had governed the submission and service of documents by electronic means under the civil and administrative procedure codes. Resolution 01 represents a significant step in Vietnam's broader digital transformation agenda, extending the scope of permissible electronic court interactions to cover virtually all stages of litigation. Key areas addressed include electronic filing, service of process, fee payment, online hearings, and the storage and exchange of case records in digital form.

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Vietnam

What Applicants Should Note When Preparing and Filing an International Industrial Design Application Under the Hague System Designating Vietnam

As of 30 December 2019, applicants could use the Hague System to protect their industrial designs in the Contracting Parties to the 1999 Act of the Hague Agreement designating Vietnam. After several years of implementation, we have seen that many international applications (Hague applications) designating Vietnam of foreign applicants have encountered refusal by the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (IPVN) for the reasons relating to industrial design description and/or photos/drawings, and unity of applications. Vietnamese law and practice on industrial design protection may differ from those in other countries, especially in term of strict requirements on drawings/photos/specification. This article aims to provide important notes the applicants should pay attention to when preparing and filing Hague applications designating Vietnam to avoid refusal by IPVN.

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Vietnam

Key Changes to Administrative Enforcement of Industrial Property Rights Under Decree No. 186/2026/ND-CP

On 26 May 2026, the Vietnamese Government issued Decree No. 186/2026/ND-CP (“Decree 186”), amending Decree No. 99/2013/ND-CP as amended and supplemented by Decrees No. 126/2021/ND-CP and No. 46/2024/ND-CP (“Decree 99”), which governs administrative penalties for industrial property violations. Decree 186 will take effect on 15 July 2026. Decree 186 is issued primarily to align Decree 99 with the Law Amending the Intellectual Property Law, which came into force on 1 April 2026 (the “Amending IP Law”), and to reflect recent structural reforms to Vietnam’s state administrative machinery. The amendments introduce new remedial measures for domain name infringement, clarify and expand enforcement authority, increase maximum fine thresholds that can be imposed by some administrative enforcement bodies, and streamline certain procedural requirements. This article summarises the most notable changes under Decree 186.

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Vietnam

Key Changes on Copyright and Related Rights Under Decree No. 134/2026/ND-CP

On 6 April 2026, the Vietnamese Government issued Decree No. 134/2026/ND-CP (“Decree 134”), amending Decree No. 17/2023/ND-CP (“Decree 17”) which provides detailed guidance on the implementation of the Intellectual Property Law in relation to copyright and related rights. Decree 134 took effect on 9 April 2026. The primary purpose of Decree 134 is to bring Decree 17 into alignment with the Law Amending the Intellectual Property Law, which also came into force on 1 April 2026 (the “Amending IP Law”). The amendments address several significant developments in IP law, most notably the treatment of AI-assisted works, the introduction of a text and data mining exception, updated registration procedures, and expanded responsibilities for digital intermediary platforms. This article summarises the most notable changes under Decree 134.

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Vietnam

Vietnam’s Amended Intellectual Property Law: Key Changes Effective 1 April 2026

Vietnam’s Law Amending the Intellectual Property Law (the “Amending IP Law”), together with its guiding regulations including Circular 10/2026/TT-BKHCN, came into effect on 1 April 2026. This is among the most substantial revisions to Vietnam’s intellectual property framework in recent years, spanning patent, industrial design, copyright, plant variety rights, and enforcement.

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