OBJECTS NOT PROTECTED UNDER INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

29/07/2024
REGISTRATION OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGNS

Industrial design refers to the appearance of a product or its components arranged to be assembled into a complex product. However, not all objects are protected as Industrial Designs.

OBJECTS NOT PROTECTED UNDER INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

According to the provisions of Article 64 of the Intellectual Property Law, objects that are not protected as industrial designs:

1. Products with external shapes dictated by mandatory technical features:

   - Examples: Circular shape of a wheel, spiral shape of a screw, flat surface of a CD, two ends of a sewing needle, L-shape of angle bars,...

OBJECTS NOT PROTECTED UNDER INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
Flat surface of a CD
OBJECTS NOT PROTECTED UNDER INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
Circular shape of a wheel
OBJECTS NOT PROTECTED UNDER INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
Spiral shape of a screw

2. External shapes of civil or industrial construction works:

   - Civil or industrial construction works are not protected under industrial design due to their lack of industrial applicability. Identical construction works cannot be mass-produced from their shape to materials, equipment, and interior furnishings. The design drawings of these constructions hold only aesthetic value and may be protected under copyright.

   - Examples: Houses, bridges, skyscrapers, stadiums,...

   - However, if the product is a modular house frame that can be assembled and moved, it may still be protected as an industrial design.

OBJECTS NOT PROTECTED UNDER INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
Bridges
OBJECTS NOT PROTECTED UNDER INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
Skyscrapers
OBJECTS NOT PROTECTED UNDER INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
Stadiums

3. Shapes of products not visible during product use:

   - Examples: Shape of toothpaste inside the tube, engine components, pills inside blister packs, batteries inside casings,...

OBJECTS NOT PROTECTED UNDER INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
Shape of toothpaste inside the tube
OBJECTS NOT PROTECTED UNDER INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
Pills inside blister packs
OBJECTS NOT PROTECTED UNDER INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
Engine components

4. Products with designs containing symbols or emblems:

   - Examples: National flags, emblems of international organizations like the United Nations, emblems of governmental organizations,...

OBJECTS NOT PROTECTED UNDER INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
Vietnam's flag
OBJECTS NOT PROTECTED UNDER INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
Vietnam national emblem
OBJECTS NOT PROTECTED UNDER INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
United Nations symbol

5. Products with designs conflicting with cultural norms and customs:

   - Examples: Products with offensive or socially unacceptable designs that contradict cultural and ethical norms.

OBJECTS NOT PROTECTED UNDER INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

These are the categories of objects that do not qualify for industrial design protection under Vietnamese law.


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