On September 23, 2026, Hanoi Law University successfully organized the seminar entitled “Strengthening the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in Vietnam.” The seminar was jointly organized by Hanoi Law University, the Motion Picture Association (MPA) / Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), and the International Trademark Association (INTA). The event was supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, and coordinated by BMVN International LLC.

Overview of the seminar

The seminar was honored to welcome numerous distinguished delegates and guests from domestic and international agencies and organizations. International participants included H.E. Ms. Jennifer Wicks, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Vietnam; The Honorable Richard F. Boulware II, U.S. District Judge for the District of Nevada; Mr. Edward Veronda, International Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Legal Advisor, U.S. Department of Justice, as well as representatives from the U.S. Department of State, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), MPA, ACE, and INTA.

Representing Vietnamese agencies and organizations were Mr. Tran Le Hong, Deputy Director General of the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam; Ms. Pham Thi Kim Oanh, Deputy Director General of the Copyright Office of Vietnam, together with representatives from the Customs authorities, the Market Surveillance authorities, experts, and business representatives.

Representing Hanoi Law University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Quang, Vice Rector, attended and delivered the opening remarks. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Thi Hai Yen, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Civil Law, also attended the seminar.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Quang delivering the opening remarks

In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Quang emphasized that, amid increasingly deep international integration and the rapid development of the digital economy, intellectual property plays an important role in innovation, investment, trade, and national competitiveness. At the same time, intellectual property infringement has become increasingly diverse and complex, extending beyond traditional methods and spaces.

The Vice Rector highlighted three particularly important objectives of the seminar:

• Creating a forum for direct exchange among stakeholders involved in different aspects of intellectual property enforcement, from policymakers to law enforcement agencies, customs authorities, market surveillance forces, and rights holders.
• Enhancing the exchange of international experience in intellectual property enforcement by addressing the issue from various perspectives, including policymaking, adjudication, border protection, and enforcement in the digital environment.
• Strengthening the connection between legal education, research, and practice, providing lecturers and students with opportunities to directly learn from the experiences of regulatory authorities and international experts.

H.E. Ms. Jennifer Wicks, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Vietnam, delivering remarks at the seminar

During the seminar, speakers and participants engaged in discussions across four sessions:

• Session 1: Updates on the current situation and trends in intellectual property enforcement in Vietnam.
• Session 2: Challenges facing Customs authorities in controlling and enforcing intellectual property rights at the border and in e-commerce.
• Session 3: The role of Market Surveillance authorities in strengthening intellectual property enforcement.
• Session 4: Intellectual property enforcement in the digital content sector: challenges and practices.

Ms. Pham Thi Kim Oanh, Deputy Director General of the Copyright Office of Vietnam, delivering a presentation

Ms. Iris Gunther, Director, Brand Enforcement & Sustainability, International Trademark Association (INTA), delivering a presentation

The Honorable Richard F. Boulware II, U.S. District Judge for the District of Nevada, delivering a presentation

The seminar concluded successfully with valuable discussions that contributed to sharing experiences, identifying challenges, and exploring solutions to improve the effectiveness of intellectual property rights protection in Vietnam. The event also contributed to further strengthening Hanoi Law University’s international cooperation in legal education and research, particularly in developing high-quality legal professionals.

Delegates participating in the seminar