In the presence of the Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by the heads of the International Intellectual Property Protection Forum (IIPPF) and the Directorate of Market Surveillance (DMS) of Vietnam

December 27, 2024

On Friday, December 20, 2024, Mr. Tran Huu Linh, Director General of the Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance (DMS), and Mr. KOBAYASHI Toshihiko, Chairperson of the International Intellectual Property Protection Forum (IIPPF), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between IIPPF and DMS for a closer cooperation in addressing the problem of counterfeits in the Vietnamese market. The signing ceremony was held at the Japan Patent Office (JPO), which supports the activities of IIPPF, and witnessed by Mr. ONO Yota, Commissioner of the JPO.

This MOU marks the first agreement between the IIPPF and a foreign government enforcement agency. With the signing of this MOU, it is expected that collaboration with individual Japanese companies, which is essential for DMS in its efforts to crack down on counterfeit goods in the market, will be further strengthened, allowing for quicker and more effective action against counterfeit products.

In April 2021, the JPO and DMS had signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) concerning cooperation in the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights between the two organizations. Since then, they have deepened their exchanges through regular discussions and seminars on authenticity determination via the IIPPF, leading to the conclusion of this MOU.

The JPO, together with the IIPPF, will continue to strengthen its cooperative relationship with DMS and work towards creating an environment where the intellectual property of Japanese companies is adequately protected in Vietnam.

*The International Intellectual Property Protection Forum (IIPPF) is a gathering of companies and organizations aiming to resolve issues related to intellectual property rights infringements overseas, such as counterfeiting and piracy. The JPO supports the activities of the IIPPF.
The International Intellectual Property Protection Forum (IIPPF) (External link)

[Last updated 27 December 2024]