VIETNAM: THE PROPOSAL OF THE ELECTRONIC DATABASE SYSTEM ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

To support the activities of the Customs authorities concerning inspections, supervisions, temporary suspensions of customs procedures for exported and imported goods that are subject to intellectual property rights, the controlling of counterfeit goods and goods infringing intellectual property rights, the Circular No. 13/2015/TT-BTC of the Ministry of Finance has been promulgated and effected as from March 15, 2015.

After 3 years of executing this circular, although it improves Customs management, the relevance authorities found problems from reviewing the implementation. Currently, the cases under Customs supervision and inspection regarding counterfeit goods, goods infringing intellectual property rights are increasing. The applications which propose supervising exported or imported goods that are subject to intellectual property rights have also risen significantly. However, the process of searching information or dossiers on intellectual property rights of holders has always done manually. Therefore, Customs officers have to spend lots of time and effort to solve issues resulting in the term processing of customs clearance which has been extended by this matter.

In order to settle current situations, Ba Ria – Vung Tau Customs Department recommended that the General Department of Vietnam Customs should establish an electronic system on intellectual property records and information for the whole sector. Building the database management system shall allow the customs support on supervisions and inspections of imported and exported goods with favorable requirements for intellectual property protection as well as for more convenient enforcement.
[Source: Customsnews]