Every year, the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (IPVN) publishes an IP Annual Report detailing the IP operations in Vietnam. In 2023, the IPVN posted the statistics intended for this report on its website while drafting the complete report. The posted statistics provide the latest overview of the IP operations, encompassing a 10-year review that focuses on three main aspects: patents, designs, and the transfer of industrial property rights.
PATENT
Patent applications filed – Total numbers
Overall, there has been a substantial increase in the number of patent applications filed, driven by robust economic development and the strengthening of the IP system. Specifically, during the specified years, the total number of applications has surged by 2.3 times, with foreign applications increasing by 2.3 times and domestic applications rising by 2.2 times.
However, there exists a significant disparity in the proportion between the numbers of foreign applications and domestic applications. Foreign applications consistently constitute 90% of the total, while domestic applications maintain a steady share of 10% over the years. In response to the relatively low volume of domestic filings, the IP law was amended in 2022 to focus on the development of patent funding supported by the State budget.
Patents granted – Total numbers
Over the past decade, Vietnam has witnessed a remarkable 2.9-fold increase in the number of patents issued, rising from 1262 initially to 3668 by 2023. Particularly, patents granted for foreign applications have increased by 2.8 times, while those granted for domestic applications have soared by 5.3 times. This trend demonstrates the efforts of the IPVN to streamline the patent examination process and reduce the backlog of patent applications, resulting in more patents being granted in a timely manner.
UTILITY SOLUTION (Utility Model)
Utility solution applications filed – Total numbers
A significant increase is evident in the number of utility solution filings from 2013 to 2023. The period commenced with 331 applications, followed by a peak of 674 applications in 2020, and ultimately surging to 835 applications in 2023.
In contrast to patent applications, the data depicts a divergent trend in utility solution applications. Throughout the study period, domestic applications outnumbered foreign ones by 2 to 3 times, distinctly reflecting the trend in domestic filings.
Comparisons
Compared to 2022, the data indicates an increase in the number of patent and utility solution applications in the United States (a significant increase), Japan, Vietnam, and South Korea, with a slight decrease observed in China.
Interestingly, for a long period, Japan had consistently dominated with the highest number of patent applications. However, as illustrated in the pie chart, there has been a significant increase in the number of patent applications from the United States, particularly in electronic fields such as Qualcomm applications. Consequently, by 2023, the United States surpassed Japan as the top foreign filer of patent applications.
DESIGN
Design applications filed – Total numbers
The data indicates a significant overall increase in the number of design applications from 2013 to 2023. The total has risen by 1.8-fold, with domestic applications increasing 1.5 times and foreign applications by 2.3 times. This surge can be attributed to ongoing advancements in technology and design methodologies, spurring innovation and creativity among companies and driving the development of new products and improvements. As companies strive to distinguish themselves in the market, the surge in design applications reflects their efforts to safeguard their distinctive designs and aesthetics.
IP LICENSES
VN-VN: Licensing contract between the Vietnamese and the Vietnamese
VN-NN: Licensing contract between the Vietnamese and the foreigner
NN-NN: Licensing contract between the foreigner and the foreigner
The graphs illustrate the number of requests for registration of licensing contracts and the number of registered licensing contracts among Vietnamese parties, as well as between Vietnamese and foreign parties, and foreign parties from 2019 to 2023. The data shows that the highest number of licensing contracts is between Vietnamese parties. Several key factors contribute to this trend:
– Vietnamese businesses and innovators often prioritize the domestic market, leading to a higher number of licensing deals staying within the country. This approach enables them to expand their presence and influence within the local market.
– Vietnamese businesses and individuals generally exhibit a higher level of familiarity, understanding, and trust when engaging with other Vietnamese counterparts.
By Dinh Thi Thuy Trang and Tran Kim Oanh
Enforcement Department
