Requirements of Commercial franchising in Vietnam

What is the Requirements of Franchising in Vietnam?

Commercial franchising is an activity adjusted by Commercial law, whereby franchisors permit and require franchisees to undertake by themselves to purchase or sell goods or provide services on the following conditions: i) the purchase or sale of goods or provision of services shall be conducted in accordance with methods of business organization prescribed by franchisors and associated with the franchisors’ trademarks, trade names, business knows-how, business slogans, business logos and advertisements; ii) franchisors shall be entitled to supervise and assist franchisees in conducting their business activities.

Commercial Franchise Lawyer in Vietnam 

Commercial franchise contracts must be made in writing or in other forms of equivalent legal validity and registered with Ministry of Industry and Trade excepting some regulated cases which are not required to register but report to Department of Industry and Trade which are domestic franchises and the franchises from Vietnam to overseas.

Firstly, the franchisors, except having otherwise agreed, have the rights i) to receive franchise sums; ii) to organize advertising for the commercial franchise system and the commercial franchise network; iii) to conduct periodical or extraordinary inspections of activities of franchisees in order to ensure the uniformity of the commercial franchise system and the stability of quality of goods and services.

In the meantime, the franchisors have the obligations i) to supply documents guiding the commercial franchise system to franchisees; ii) to provide initial training and regular technical assistance to franchisees for managing the latter’s activities in accordance with the commercial franchise system; iii) to design and arrange places of sale of goods or provision of services at the expenses of franchisees; iv) to guarantee the intellectual property rights over objects stated in franchise contracts; v) to equally treat all franchisees in the commercial franchise system.

For the franchisees, except having otherwise agreed, the franchisees could i) request franchisors to provide with full technical assistance related to the commercial franchise system; ii)  request franchisors to equally treat all franchisees in the commercial franchise system.

The franchisees have the obligations to i) pay franchise sums and other amounts under commercial franchise contracts; ii) to invest adequate material facilities, financial sources and human resources to take over business rights and know-how transferred by franchisors; iii) to submit to the control, supervision and instruction by franchisors; to comply with all requirements set forth by franchisors on designing and arrangement of places of sale of goods or provision of services; iv) to keep secret the franchised business know-how even after the expiration or termination of commercial franchise contracts; v) to stop using trademarks, trade names, business slogans, logos and other Intellectual property rights (if any) or systems of franchisors upon the expiration or termination of commercial franchise contracts; vi) to manage their activities in accordance with the commercial franchise system; vii) not to sub-franchise without permissions of franchisors.

Besides the above rights and obligations, the parties may supplement others provisions demed necessary but not contrary to the provisions of law.

If Client needs more information or request for legal advice regarding commercial franchise in Vietnam, please contact with Commercial Franchise Lawyer in Vietnam at ANT Lawyers to be assisted.       

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Telecommunication, Media&Technology(TMT) Services in Vietnam

ANT Lawyers assist clients to operate with compliance or look for opportunities to enter the market. In Telecommunications, Media & Technology (TMT) practice, our lawyers assist clients in commercial matters, corporate M&A and other transactions, regulatory issues, system integration, software development and licensing, IT services including outsourcing, software & technology agreements, data protection, intellectual property, disputes resolutions.

Telecommunications, Media & Technology Services in Vietnam

Our customers include telecom network operators and service providers, producers, software and hardware technology companies, outsourcing companies and e-commerce companies, internet companies, media and entertainment companies.

Some highlight matters include:

KDDI, a Japan telecom company, which we assist on various ongoing matters in Vietnam.

SECUREMETRIC, a Malaysian company providing digital security solutions in Vietnam, which we assist the Malaysian holding company to be listed on the Bursa Securities, advised the procedures for the local entity to be complied, conducted licensing procedures on behalf of the Client and drafted share purchase agreement for execution and carried out the process to change the ERC, IRC of the company in Vietnam under the name of the new owner with strict requirement to meet deadline for listing;

VIETFIBER, a foreign owned company with investors from Turkey manufacturing telecom equipment in Long An City, Vietnam, which we reviewed the shareholder agreements, Share Purchase Agreement, and advised procedures to complete the transfer of capital contribution from current shareholder to new investor and register with authority in Vietnam;

An Eastern European Technology company, which we advised telecommunications, media intellectual property laws on Personal Data Protection, Data Localization, and Copyrights infringement matters for their project to deliver service in Vietnam and online mobile stores in launching a personal content feed offering to users with a personalized news feed, with news items linking to a news story available on a third-party website, as well as a headline and small fragment of a news story and an accompanying image, embedded videos, the video content itself hosted on a third party website.

A Chinese Entertainment company, which we advised the client on the legal risks and compliance plan to launch a music application, an online music software providing functions of singing, recording, and uploading the songs etc, along with intelligent scoring, professional mixing, online interaction and social sharing. The advice cover areas of intellectual property permissions (including complete audio, words, music, accompaniment, music clips, etc.) on UGC (User-generated Content) or PGC (Professionally-generated Content), User License Agreement, the copyright and related rights collective management organization system including: The Vietnam Literary Copyright Center (VLCC); The Recording Industry Association of Vietnam (RIAV); The Vietnam Center for Protection of Music Copyright (VCPMC) and The Vietnam Reproduction Rights Organization (VIETPRO) whom exercise copyright licensing service, collect and distribute of royalties to the authors and rights holders whom authorized to them.

ANT Lawyers - a Law firm for TMT in Vietnam with international standard, local expertise and strong international network. We focus on customers’ needs and provide clients with a high quality legal advice and services. For advice or serive request, please contact us via email ant@antlawyers.vn, or call us +84 24 730 86 529

Let ANT Lawyers help your business in Vietnam.       

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How to Apply for an Extract of Birth Certificate in Vietnam?

 Extract of birth certificate is a document issued by a competent state agency to prove the birth fact of an individual registered at the civil status registry. According to the regulations in Vietnam, the original birth certificate cannot be re-issued. A birth extract is a certified true copy of the birth certificate. The reason people need to apply for a copy of the birth certificate extract is because the original copy of the civil status extract is lost or damaged.

According to the regulations, the authority whom issue copy extract of birth certificate will not depend on the place of residence of the person having the right to request, hence the requester can apply for a copy of extract birth certificate at civil status management agencies nationwide. However, at present, because the electronic civil status database system has not been synchronized nationwide, the request for issuance of a copy of civil status extract is still within the competence of the People’s Committee of the province, commune where the birth was originally registered. The birth certificate extract from the original has the same value as the original.

Applying for a copy of extract birth certificate is an administrative procedure. Specifically, the person who wishes to apply for a copy of extract birth certificate can do this by himself or authorize another person to carry out this procedure. In addition, the requester can apply in person or send it by post or submit an application online through the national public service portal.

In addition, the application for a copy of extract birth certificate must also comply with the regulations. Accordingly, the dossier includes: (i) Declaration; (ii) The original of one of the identification papers to prove identity; (iii) Power of attorney or documents proving the kinship relationship. The authorization must be made in writing and authenticated according to the law. In case, authorizing a relative, the authorization document does not need to be notarized or authenticated, but documents relating to the relationship with the authorizing person is needed. If the documents are in a foreign language, they must be translated into Vietnamese and notarized or authenticated by the translator’s signature as prescribed by law.

Within three working days from the date of receipt of the dossier, the civil status registration and management agency will verify the dossier and compare the information in the electronic civil status database. If the request for certification is correct, a document certifying civil status information shall be returned to the requester. In case of having to check and verify, the time limit can be extended but not exceeding ten working days. If the birth registration data is not found, the civil status agency will normally send a written reply with the content not found in the data.

You could learn more about ANT Lawyers Birth Certificate Practice or contact our lawyers at ANT Lawyers – Law Firm in Vietnam for advice via email ant@antlawyers.vn or call our office at +84 28 730 86 529     

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Notice of Receipt Application for Exemption from Trade Remedies in March 2022

  On March 14^th, 2022, Trade Remedies Authority has issued Notification No. 06/TB-PVTM of receipt of application for exemption from trade remedies in March 2022 (Case No. SG04, SG06, AC10.SG04).

On March 03^rd, 2020, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Decision No.715/QD-BCT extending the application of safeguard measures against imported DAP/MAP fertilizers holding the HS code: 3105.10.20; 3105.10.90; 3105.20.00; 3105.30.00; 3105.40.00; 3105.51.00; 3105.59.00; 3105.90.00.

On March 20^th, 2020, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Decision No. 918/QD-BCT on extending the application of safeguard measures to imported billet and long steel products holding the HS code: 7207.11.00; 7207.19.00; 7207.20.29; 7207.20.99; 7224.90.00; 7213.10.10; 7213.10.90; 7213.91.20; 7214.20.31; 7214.20.41; 7227.90.00; 7228.30.10; 9811.00.00.

On March 20^th, 2020, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Decision No. 920/QD-BCT on the extension of the application of measures to prevent evasion of trade remedies against imported coil and wire products holdings the HS code: 7213.91.90; 7217.10.10; 7217.10.29; 7229.90.99; 9839.10.00.

In order to submit the application for exemption for exemption from trade remedies, the Trade Remedies Authority requires enterprises that meet the conditions to be exempted to submit a dossier of application for exemption from application of trade remedies in the mentioned cases to provide all documents specified in Article 14 and Appendix 03 of the Circular No. 37/2019/TT-BCT.

The relevant parties must submit the application for exemption via online public service portal or send directly to Trade Remedies Authority before 17:00 April 13^th, 2022 (Hanoi time).

If Client needs any more information or request for legal advice or potential dispute regarding trade remedies measures including, anti-dumping, countervailing duty and safeguard measures or international trade dispute matters, our competition, anti-dumping, and countervailing duty lawyers in Vietnam of International trade and tax practice at ANT Lawyers, a law firm in Vietnam always follow up anti-dumping cases and its development to update clients on regular basis.    

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Cases of Using Published without Having Permission, without Paying for Royalties, Remuneration

According to regulation of current Law on intellectual property, copyright means rights of an organization or individual to works created or owned by such organization or individual. Copyright to a work includes moral rights and property rights. If other organization or individual wishes to exploit, use a part or the whole of works, they shall ask permission, pay the owner of copyright for royalties, remuneration according to both parties’ agreement or regulation of law. However, there are still cases of using works without having permission and/or without paying the author or owner of copyright for royalties, remuneration.

Cases of using published works without having permission, without paying for royalties, remuneration include:

Copyright in Vietnam

-Making one copy for scientific research or personal teaching purposes.

-Reasonable quoting from a work in order to comment on or illustrate one’s own works, without misrepresenting the author’s views;

-Quoting from a work in order to write an article published in a newspaper or to use in periodical publications, in a radio or television broadcast or in a documentary, without misrepresenting the author’s views;

-Quoting from a work in order to teach in school or university without misrepresenting the author’s views and not for commercial purposes;

-Copying of a work in order to archive in library and research purposes;

-Performing a stage work or other art work in cultural meetings, communication or mobilization activities without collecting fees in any form;

-Directly audio-visual recording of a performance in order to report current news or to teach;

-Photographing or televising shaping work, architectural, photographic, or applied art work displayed at a public place in order to present images of such work;

-Translating a work into braille or other languages for the blind;

-Importing copies of another’s work for personal use.

However, it should be noted that organization or individual using, exploiting works in above cases must meet the conditions: not causing damage to the normal exploit of works, not causing damage to copyright and owner of copyright; must provide information of  the author and the source and origin of the work. In addition, due to specific characteristics of of various types of works such as architectural works, shaping works and computer programs, cases of (i) making one copy for scientific research or personal teaching purposes and (ii) copying of a work in order to archive in library and research purposes, shall have permission and pay author or owner of copyright for royalties, remuneration according to both parties’ agreement or regulation of law.

Cases of using published works without having permission but paying for royalties, remuneration include:

-A broadcasting organization which uses a published work to make a broadcast which is sponsored, contains an advertisement or which collects fees in any form shall not be required to ask permission but must pay the owner of copyright for royalties or remuneration from using time. Level of royalties, remuneration or other material benefits and payment methods are agreed by parties; If the agreement can not be reached, it shall follow regulation of Government or shall file a petition to Court according to regulation of law;

-A broadcasting organization which uses a published work to make a broadcast which is not sponsored, no advertisement or which do not collect fees in any form shall not be required to ask permission but must pay the owner of copyright for royalties or remuneration from using time according to regulation Government;

Similarly, the use of a work in these two cases must neither affect the normal use of such works nor cause prejudice to the rights of the author or copyright holder, and must provide information being the author’s name and the source and origin of the work. Besides, in case of using published work without having to seek permission but royalties or remuneration must be paid shall not be applied to cinematographic works.

If the client needs any other information, requires for further legal advice, or dispute with others on IP matters, our Vietnam IP attorney, copyright lawyers in Vietnam at ANT Lawyers, we will be available for service.

ANT Lawyers - a Law firm in Vietnam with international standard, local expertise and strong international network. We focus on customers’ needs and provide clients with a high quality legal advice and services. For advice or service request, please contact us via email ant@antlawyers.vn, or call us +84 24 730 86 529.       

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Patent Attorney in Vietnam

At ANT Lawyers, we provide patent attorney in Vietnam with specialized qualifications necessary for representing clients in obtaining patents and acting in all matters and procedures relating to patent law and practice in Vietnam.

Patent attorney in Vietnam

The inventors may obtain a patent in Vietnam without the assistance of a patent lawyer if they wish. However, this is almost full of risks. Ignoring the complexity of filing the registration application, the primary concern is whether an inexperienced inventor can write an application which satisfies rules as the requirement of Vietnam Intellectual Property law.

It can be said that Vietnam intellectual property law and procedure on patent registration are complex. That’s why valuable legal rights can easily be lost if the patent application and prosecution of that application are not handled carefully and precisely by one skilled in such matters. Companies that file lots of patent applications use patent attorneys for a reason that you almost certainly will get a better patent if it is done by a patent attorney.

If the inventor does not work with a patent attorney, some of dangers may occur in registering patent in Vietnam as following:

-Failure in providing enough file for patent registration;

-Making inaccurate statement such as incorrect description;

-Wasting time because the documents is not valid;

-Loss of patent right because of other patents;

-Loss of capability on exploiting economic from patent right;

With the above – mentioned risks, patent registration in Vietnam with the assistance of the patent attorney seem to be an effective way to ensure the client’s right. The patent attorney in Vietnam may help clients obtain patent quickly. The inventor also save time to focus on their core specialization if they use patent filing service.

The patent attorney in Vietnam assist clients as following:

-Advise about the procedure for registration prior submitting application;

-Compile all forms related to patent registration procedure;

-Prepare for registration dossier and conduct the registration;

-Subscribe to the application already filed and report to clients on the status of the application;

-Inform, advise and handle mission or refusal of Patent Agency;

-Get Patent and hand over to clients after receiving patent from patent Agency;

-Consult clients about the use of the invention, rights and obligations related to invention after successful registration.

All things become easy, convenient and safe if you get the assistance from a patent attorney in Vietnam in patent registration.       

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Dispute between Foreign Investor and Host State in Vietnam

What Need to Know About Dispute between Foreign Investor and Host State?

In the globalization and international integration in general as well as economic integration in particular, foreign investment including foreign direct investment (FDI) and indirect foreign investment in countries are increasing significant. This trend also comes along with the growth of international investment dispute between foreign investor and host state (or related state agencies). This dispute is often complex with huge amount of compensation demanded by the investor.

Subjects of this dispute include foreign investor (plaintiff) and host state or related state agencies (defendant). In particular, Vietnam laws stipulate that foreign investor means an individual holding a foreign nationality or an organization established under foreign laws an making business investment in Vietnam. The second subject is state, a “special” subject because this subject is the beneficiary of “jurisdictional immunity”. Specifically, jurisdictional immunity is a right of a state which do not be judged by any international or national jurisdiction without the consent of such state.

Subjects of this dispute include foreign investor (plaintiff) and host state or related state agencies (defendant). In particular, Vietnam laws stipulate that foreign investor means an individual holding a foreign nationality or an organization established under foreign laws an making business investment in Vietnam. The second subject is state, a “special” subject because this subject is the beneficiary of “jurisdictional immunity”. Specifically, jurisdictional immunity is a right of a state which do not be judged by any international or national jurisdiction without the consent of such state.

This dispute shall relate to the investment of foreign investor in host state according to regulation of (i) investment law of host state; (ii) treaty of promotion and protection of investment (bilateral investment treaty – BIT) or investment chapter in bilateral/regional trade agreements; or (iii) contract relating to investment of foreign investor and competent state agencies.

To promote foreign investment and to protect investors, countries around the world as well as Vietnam have signed and will sign bilateral agreements on promotion and protection of investment (BIT), agreement between countries on promotion and protection of investment (international investment agreement – IIA), free trade agreement (FTA) having investment chapter. Accordingly, investor holding the nationality of a signatory to investment agreement (chapter) is entitled to have full protection and security, fair and equitable treatment, non-discrimination, no expropriation… of investment according to regulation of such investment agreement (chapter) in host state. Besides, to ensure that dispute between foreign investor and host state will be fairly and properly settled and to prevent the case of refering to jurisdictional immunity to avoid being sued, there are provisions on dispute settlement mechanisms between foreign investor and host state in most of these agreements.

Through investment agreement (chapter), the host state abandons its right of jurisdictional immunity to be sued and judged at competent jurisdiction. If the host state violates and harms the foreign investor, such country shall compensate according to judgement of that jurisdiction. Jurisdictions being competent to resolve disputes between foreign investor and host state may be arbitration, court of the host state; international arbitration; or other jurisdictions by agreement between the parties.

Behaviours which state violates commitment on investment protection may be very broad, including: (i) expropriation such as: requisition or nationalization without compensation; “indirect” requisition or “according to regulation” without reasonable compensation; (ii) no fair and equitable treatment; (iii) no full protection and security; (iv) there is discrimination such as violation of most favoured nation and national treatment; (v) and/or other violations such as: legal obligation/commitment, right of withdrawing investment and interest, compensation due to war or riot.

Dispute resolution process between foreign investor and host state usually takes place with three stages, including (i) conflict management stage means carrying out resolving complaints and consultation, mediation; (ii) dispute resolution stage; and (iii) implementation stage. In above process, consulting with international trade dispute lawyers in Vietnam to for resolution of international investment disputes is a very important and necessary.

Law firm in Vietnam with Litigation and Dispute lawyers in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang cities that help clients dealing with dispute resolution and alternative dispute resolution in Vietnam. For advice or service request, please contact us via email ant@antlawyers.vn, or call us +84 24 730 86 529     

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