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In his letter of May 7, 2018, addressed to Ms. Wang Binying, Deputy Director General, Brands and Designs Sector, Mr. Dinh Huu Phi, Director General, National Office of Intellectual Property of Viet Nam (NOIP), invited colleagues from the Hague Registry to undertake a working visit to NOIP to assist Viet Nam in reviewing the necessary documents for accession to the Hague Agreement and provide recommendations and advice. In addition, colleagues from the Hague Registry were invited to cooperate in organizing two workshops in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City to promote the Hague System. In your letter of May 15, 2018, WIPO’s readiness to undertake the said mission was confirmed (letters attached). In further correspondence between NOIP and the Hague Registry, the dates of the mission were confirmed from September 4 to 7, 2018.
In accordance with the work plans of the Hague Development and Promotion Section and the WIPO Funds-in-Trust Japan (Industrial Property) 2018-2019, the Seminar would be an excellent opportunity to promote the Hague System in Viet Nam and to assist Viet Nam in its preparations towards accession to the 1999 Act of the Hague Agreement. This mission would also be an excellent opportunity for discussions with officials from NOIP regarding examination procedures at NOIP.
It is recalled that the accession of Viet Nam to the 1999 Act is foreseen in 2018 or 2019. WIPO’s latest comments on the law/procedures at NOIP were sent on April 25, 2018, and on the fee structure on May 25, 2018. Remaining issues to be clarified concern, in particular, the applicable designation fee for Viet Nam in respect of international registrations.
For the above reasons, I hereby propose that I undertake this mission to Viet Nam. |