Workshop on Sound Trademark Protection

For helping Vietnam to implement the commitments on intellectual property (IP) of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) that 11 countries have signed in 2019 including Vietnam and Canada, under a non-project support modality, Canada will cooperate with the National Office of Intellectual Property (the IP Vietnam) to conduct a series of research activities and specialized IP workshops. The seminar on Sound Trademark Protection held on January 22, 2021 was the first seminar to be carried out within the framework of this cooperation.

Attending the seminar were Deputy Director of the IP Vietnam, Mr. Tran Le Hong, leaders, appraisers, officers of the Trademark Examination Center, International Trademark and Geographical Indications Examination Center, IP Legislation and Policy Division and related agencies. On the Canadian side, participated online, was Professor Jeremy De Beer, an expert on intellectual property.

                                                             Professor Jeremy De Beer participates online in the seminar

As the protection of non-traditional trademarks, including sound marks is a new subject for Vietnam, the challenge and experiences that Canada has faced and had would be very helpful to Vietnam.

The seminar focused on discussing the legal basis, characteristics of sound signs when used as a trademark, examination of the mark in practice and assessment of the mark’s registability. Professor Jeremy De Beer said that Canada started to protect sound trademarks  from 2012, but so far only 80 applications have been filed, of which about 40 were withdrawn. Although the number of sound trademark registrations in Canada is limited, the practice of a sound trademark expression upon registration, how to keep sound data and to search sound marks and the documents required when filing an application were of great concern to delegates.