Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Vietnam News, Wednesday January 21, 2004

HCM City -- An intellectual property rights reference collection opened in HCM City on Monday (January 19).

The General Sciences Library in HCM City and the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council Education Forum jointly developed the project.

The aim is to promote the development of resources, information and understanding of intellectual property rights in Vietnam.

The collection will be housed in a section of the General Sciences Library. It will include textbooks, journals, listing of laws and other resources on protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.

Visitors to the library will be able to study and conduct research on issues ranging from the drafting history of the WTO agreement to issues affecting developing countries.

Unfair practices affecting competition in businesses, technology and agri-business, are also described.

The collection will be open to the public, the legal profession, businesses, academics, and others interested in intellectual property rights.

In early spring, the General Sciences Library and the Trade Council hope to organize workshops and seminars featuring leading experts.

"Strong IPR protection and enforcement is vital for US companies in Vietnam, Vietnamese companies with overseas operators, and Vietnamese companies developing products for their domestic market," said Virginia Foote, President of the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council.

"Protection and enforcement is also a key chapter in the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement and will be important in Vietnam's effort to join the World Trade Organization."

The Trade Council has worked on economic and political normalization between the two countries since 1989. The U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council Education Forum has since 1997 helped to provide technical assistance to Vietnam on issues relating to the U.S.-Vietnam BTA, WTO accession, and international global integration. - VNS