Currently, the intellectual property (IP) protection for inventions and industrial designs is increasingly interested by functional agencies, individuals, organisations and businesses, aiming to strengthen the protection of business secrets, enhance the effectiveness of the law, and create a healthy competitive environment.

Ms. Le Thi Xuan Thuy from the Sustech Green Environment Co., Ltd owns many inventions that have been granted certificates of industrial intellectual property protection. Photo: KHANH HOA

Established in 2016, the Sustech Green Environment Co., Ltd based in Thanh Khe District’s Vinh Trung Ward, specialising in research, invention and sales of water treatment products, has 4 products granted IP protection certificates by the National Office of Intellectual Property under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

These products are votive paper burning box, a multistage water purifier, an environmentally-friendly method for treating heavy metal ions-contaminated wastewater, and ‘trun que’ (perionyx excavates) farming equipment.

Currently, the company is completing documents to apply for an IP protection certificate for its product ‘The process of making dried ‘trun que’ to serve the needs of local residents for growing hydroponic vegetables and tubers in urban areas.

Dr. Le Thi Xuan Thuy, a lecturer at the Faculty of Environment of the Da Nang University of Science and Technology, the University of Da Nang, and a member of the Sustech Green Environment Co., Ltd., is the owner of the abovementioned inventions.

She said that the company has received special attention and financial support worth nearly VND80 million from the Department to completing IP protection documents for its own products.

“When we are granted the IP protection certificates, we no longer worry about the product being counterfeited as well as have a basis to report to the authorities for handling when our products are infringed on ownership. I myself am more confident and enthusiastic to continue researching to come up with highly applicable products at reasonable prices, suitable for all types of consumers,” emphasised she.

How to protect IP for industrial products is a long-standing concern of many individuals and business organisations, especially when counterfeit goods and unfair competition still exist in the market, significantly affecting the reputation and performance of businesses.

Ms. Le Thi Phuong Cam, Deputy General Director of the Da Nang-based Central Power Corporation said, said she looked forward to having better access to IP protection policies for industrial products as well as funding from the city’s Science and Technology Development Fund to conduct more scientific research activities.

According to Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Science and Technology Vu Thi Bich Hau, over the past time, the department has coordinated with functional units to provide all information related to the registration procedures for industrial property rights, measures to protect industrial property rights, arising dispute settlement procedures, IP legislation, the Intellectual Property Strategy to 2030 and the Intellectual Property Development Programme to 2030.

As for the State management of IP, the city has developed the Da Nang City Intellectual Property Development Programme to 2030, and issued a municipal People's Council -adopted resolution stipulating the levels of support for registration of intellectual property protection until 2030.

As a result, the awareness about the protection and respect of IP rights is raised among individuals, businesses and the community.

The focus is on promoting the development of typical local products, as well as supporting collective economic organizations to register for industrial property rights.

Reporting by KHANH HOA - Translating by M.DUNG