5-step process for trademark examination[1]

Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (VNIPO)

China National Intellectual

Property Administration

(CNIPA)

[13 months by law, in reality: 24-27 months]

[11 months by law, in reality: 6-10 months]

Step 1: Filing an application to VNIPO along a fee of 1 million VND and receiving application number and filing date.

Step 2: VNIPO examines the formality before issuance of a decision on formality acceptance within 1 month from the filing date.

Step 3: The application is published on monthly Gazette A (in Vietnamese) within 2 months from the date of formality acceptance (for possible opposition within 5 months).[2]

Step 4: VNIPO examines the substance to find grounds for refusal in 9 months from Gazette A before it releases a notice of grant.

Step 5: A certificate[3] is issued within 1-3 months after the applicant has paid the grant fee of 360,000 VND.

Step 1: Submitting an application to CNIPA with a fee of 270 CNY (online) or 300 CNY (paper) and receiving application number and filing date.

Step 2: CNIPA examines the formality in about 30-45 days before issuing a notice of application acceptance.

Step 3: CNIPA examines the substance to find absolute grounds and/or relative grounds within 4-6 months from the filing date before it issues a notice of preliminary approval.

Step 4: Weekly announcement (in Chinese) of the preliminarily approved trademarks (for possible opposition in 3 months).[4]

Step 5: A certificate (electronic version only) within 1 month if no opposition is filed (no grant fee is required).