Workshop on intellectual property rights

A customer shops on an e-commerce site. VNS Photo Đoàn Tùng

It was necessary to raise the awareness of community about the protection of intellectual property rights in general and the e-commerce environment in particular, Trần Văn Tùng, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, told a workshop on intellectual property enforcement in e-commerce in Hà Nội on Wednesday.

"The Government, the Ministry of Science and Technology and other ministries and sectors have been working hard to prevent intellectual property infringement as well as infringements of intellectual property rights in the digital environment, but this work faces many difficulties," Tùng said.

Nguyễn Như Quỳnh, deputy chief inspector the Ministry of Science and Technology, said enterprises were not fully aware of the protection of intellectual property rights in e-commerce.

She pointed out difficulties including enterprises not being aware of the problem, difficulties in identifying violating organisations or individuals, difficulties in collecting evidence and incomplete legislation.

Lê Ngọc Lâm, deputy director of National Office of Intellectual Property of Việt Nam, said e-commerce had grown vigorously. “Due to the almost infinite author’s privilege and the scope on the Internet, along with the development of e-commerce, online infringement has become a major challenge.”

E-commerce was developing very strongly in Việt Nam, however, the sector had many shortcomings because it still lacks qualified staff, he said.

In addition, co-ordination among agencies caused difficulties and obstacles, he added. “Functional units need to have training courses on e-commerce, strengthening the co-ordination activities between enforcement forces in the prevention and control of intellectual property infringement.”

As the responsible agency for intellectual property issues, the National Office of Intellectual Property of Việt Nam would add sanctions for the electronic transaction environment, while co-ordinating with authorities to resolve domain name disputes and in identifying related issues to intellectual property infringement cases, said Lâm, the representative of the office.