What intellectual property does your business own? What is the legal status of each asset? Who is responsible for monitoring each one? If management cannot answer these three questions immediately, the company’s IP portfolio needs better governance. This article provides an IP portfolio management checklist for companies in Vietnam — fully updated for the 2025 amended IP Law (effective 1 April 2026).
A. Inventory and classify every asset
- List everything: trademarks, patents/utility solutions, industrial designs, copyrights (software, documents, websites), trade secrets, trade names, plant varieties (if any).
- Tag each asset: in use / pending / granted / expiring / expired.
- New from 1 April 2026: partial industrial designs (inseparable parts of products) and non-physical products (GUIs, icons) are now protectable — audit unregistered digital assets.
B. Legal status and renewal calendar
| Subject matter | Term (Article 93) | Management note |
|---|---|---|
| Trademarks | 10 years, renewable indefinitely (each renewal 10 years) | Set reminders 6 months ahead; lapses can mean loss of rights |
| Patents | 20 years (non-renewable) | Track annual maintenance fees |
| Utility solutions | 10 years (non-renewable) | — |
| Industrial designs | 5 years, renewable twice (max 15 years) | — |
New timelines from 1 April 2026 (Article 119, Law 131/2025): substantive examination — trademarks 5 months, patents 12 months, publication 1 month; 3-month fast-track available — update filing/renewal planning accordingly.
C. Review licence and assignment agreements — PRIORITY
The most urgent workstream after 1 April 2026:
- NEW Article 148.3: licence contracts for industrial property subject matter — except trademark licences — must be registered with the managing authority to be effective against third parties. Review all existing patent/design licences: unregistered licences are vulnerable vis-à-vis third parties.
- Article 149 REPEALED: scan every contract and internal document citing Article 149 (the old framework for registering IP transfer contracts) — update legal references.
- Check clauses: licence scope (exclusive/non-exclusive), territory, term, royalties, improvement grant-backs.
D. Internal IP clauses
- Employment contracts: employee-created IP clauses (linked to Articles 86, 39, 135 — see related articles).
- Approval workflows for trademark/brand asset use in marketing.
- Trade secret policy: access tiers, NDAs, exit controls when personnel leave.
E. Infringement monitoring and enforcement
- Monitor markets and e-commerce platforms: the E-Commerce Law 122/2025/QH15 + Decree 248/2026/ND-CP (effective 1 July 2026) provide takedown mechanisms for IP-infringing goods.
- Administrative sanctioning limitation period for IP is 2 years (Law 88/2025) — act promptly on detection.
- Sanctions: Decree 186/2026/ND-CP (amending 99/2013/ND-CP) — check current fine levels when planning enforcement.
- Preserve infringement evidence systematically (detection date, samples, transactions).
F. Commercializing IP assets
Law 131/2025 adds a framework promoting IP commercialization: owners may use IP rights in civil, commercial and investment transactions, as capital contributions or loan collateral. Checklist:
- Value the portfolio (for contributions, M&A, sales).
- Identify “sleeping” assets — license or assign rather than let lapse.
- Record intangible assets in accounting as required.
G. Filing touchpoints and record-keeping
- New: IP filings are decentralized to provincial/municipal People’s Committees (no longer only IP Viet Nam centrally) — update filing touchpoints and docketing.
- Centralize records: titles, decisions, licence/assignment contracts, fee receipts — paper and digital.
- Assign owners per asset group + periodic review cycle (recommended: every 6 months).
90-day implementation roadmap
| Phase | Actions |
|---|---|
| Days 1–30 | Full inventory; renewal calendar; licence review under new Article 148.3 |
| Days 31–60 | Update repealed-Article-149 references; finalize employment clauses; set up infringement monitoring |
| Days 61–90 | Preliminary valuation; standardized archiving; issue internal IP governance rules |
Legal sources
- Law on Intellectual Property — Consolidated Document 67/VBHN-VPQH 2026 (consolidating Law 131/2025/QH15, effective 1 April 2026): Article 93 (protection terms), Article 119 (examination timelines), Article 148.3 (licence registration — NEW), Article 149 (REPEALED).
- Circular 10/2026/TT-BKHCN (1 April 2026) — IP procedures.
- E-Commerce Law 122/2025/QH15 + Decree 248/2026/ND-CP (1 July 2026) — takedown of infringing goods.
- Law 88/2025 — 2-year IP sanctioning limitation; Decree 186/2026/ND-CP (amending 99/2013) — IP sanctions.
Transparency: This article was prepared by AI within the FLAW AI Legal Council workflow; it is not advice from a human lawyer and does not replace legal advice for your specific case.
FLAT Law Firm assists businesses with IP portfolio audits, licence/assignment reviews and internal IP governance frameworks. Contact us for advice on your specific case.
This article is pending review by the QA Council.