On August 25, according to the Hung Yen Department of Science and Technology, the unit organizing the Workshop to contribute opinions to complete the draft Plan to handle arising issues regarding geographical indications, certification marks, and collective marks after arranging administrative units and implementing the 2-level local government model in the province.
According to the review report, Hung Yen currently has 44 intellectual property assets using geographical names that have been granted protection certificates, including 1 geographical indication, 18 certified marks and 25 collective marks.
The arrangement of administrative units and the transition to a 2-level local government model have led to some issues that need to be addressed, especially determining the owner, management organization, place names on trademarks, geographical scope, legal documents and protection period.
At the Workshop, representatives of Viet Intellectual Property Asset Development Co., Ltd. reported the survey results and proposed handling plans for each asset group. Delegates focused on exchanging views on plans for transferring ownership, management organizations; determining the scope of protected geographical areas; procedures for updating and extending diplomas and digitizing management data.
Representatives of the Provincial Farmers' Association, cooperatives, and craft village associations also raised practical issues in the process of receiving, managing, and exploiting intellectual property after arranging administrative units.
Concluding the Workshop, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Thai - Deputy Director of Hung Yen Department of Science and Technology, requested the consulting unit to fully absorb the opinions, continue to review and complete the draft Plan in a scientific, synchronous, feasible, in accordance with legal regulations and close to reality, as a basis for submitting to the Provincial People's Committee for consideration and approval.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Thai emphasized that intellectual property associated with place names is not only a legal tool to protect brands but also contributes to improving the value and competitiveness of key products, agricultural products, craft village products and OCOP products.
The handling of issues arising after arrangement needs to ensure inheritance, without disrupting the management, exploitation and use of intellectual property.
