What Are Legal Requirements of Patent Description?

When patent owner registers for their patent, one of the most important documents included in the dossiers is the patent’s description. Patent is a technical solution in the form of a product or process which is intended to solve a problem by application of natural laws. Patent description is very important which is aimed to reveal the nature of a patent for examiner to consider its ability if satisfying the protected conditions. Specifically, patent description must include the description and protection scope.

Register patent in Vietnam

The description must completely disclose the nature of the technical solution sought to be registered. It must contain sufficient information based on which any person with average skill in the art can deduce the solution and also clarify the novelty, inventive steps and susceptibility of industrial application of the technical solution.

The description includes the following contents:

-Title of the invention, which briefly expresses the object or objects sought to be registered and must be brief and must not be of a promoting or advertising purpose;

-Use field of the patent: the field in which the object is utilized or to which the object is relevant;

-Technical state of the use field of the patent: The technical state of the above mentioned file at the time of;

-Technical nature of the patent: The nature of the object, in which clearly state the signs (characteristics) featuring the object and clearly indicate the signs (characteristics) which is new to those of known similar technical solutions;

-Brief description of attached drawings (if any);

-Detailed description of invention operating variations;

-Detailed description of invention operating variations;

-Benefits (effects) expected to be achieved.

Protection scope or protection claim of the patent:

The protection scope is used for determination the scope of industrial property rights to patent. The protection scope must be presented briefly and clearly in conformity with the description and drawings, making clear signs of novelty of the object sought to be protected and comply with the following regulations:

-The protection scope (claim) must be adequately demonstrated by the description, including prerequisite and sufficient substantial technical signs to identify the object, achieve the set objective and distinguish the object from a known object;

-Technical signs within the protection scope (claim) must be clear, precise and recognizable in the similar art;

-The protection scope (claim) should not invoke the description and drawings, except for invocation to parts that cannot be accurately described with words;

-If the application contains drawings illustrating the protection claim, signs presented in the protection scope (claim) may be accompanied with indication numbers put in brackets. Those indication numbers are not considered confining the protection scope (claim).

-The protection scope (claim) should (is not required to) be expressed in two sections: Restriction and Distinction. The section Restriction covers the title of the object and signs of the object that are identical to those of the latest known object and is connected to the section Distinction by the phrase distinguishable by or characterized by or equivalent expressions. The section Distinction covers signs that distinguish the object from the latest known object and are combined with signs of the section Restriction to constitute the object of protection claim.

-The protection scope (claim) may include one or more than one points. A multi-point protection scope (claim) may be used to present an object sought to be protected, with the first point (called independent point) and subsequent point(s) used to concretize the independent point (called dependent point(s)); or to present a group of objects sought to be protected, with several independent points, each presenting an object sought to be protected in the group. Such an independent point may have dependent point(s);

-A multi-point protection scope (claim) used to present a group of objects must satisfy the following requirements: Independent points presenting different objects must not invoke other points of the protection scope(claim), unless the invocation helps avoid total repetition of the content of another point; dependent points must immediately follow the independent point on which they are dependent.

Besides the description and protection scope, the patent abstract is also a compelled part in the dossier for patent registration. Accordingly, the patent abstract is used to concisely describe (with no more than 150 words) the nature of the patent. The abstract must disclose principal details of the nature of the technical solution for the informatory purpose and may contain typical drawings or formulas.

If the client needs any other information or requires for further advice, our IP attorney in Vietnam at ANT Lawyers, the IP agent in Vietnam will be available for service.

Source ANTLawyers: https://antlawyers.vn/library/what-are-legal-requirements-of-patent-description.html

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Brief Reminder of Time Schedule to Apply PCT Application into Vietnam

According to Vietnam Law on Intellectual property, a PCT applicant who would like to go into Vietnamese phase after the end of PCT procedures need to submit the application within the following duration:

Register patent in Vietnam

If an international application designates Vietnam, the National Office of Intellectual Property in Vietnam (NOIP) is the designated office. In this case, in order to enter the national phase, the applicant shall submit, within 31 months from the date of priority, to the NOIP the following:

-Written declaration requesting invention registration, made according to a set form;

-Copy of the international application (if the applicant requests the entry into the national phase before the date of publication of the international publication);

-Vietnamese translation of the international application: The description, consisting of a description section, protection request, annotations for drawings and abstract (the published copy or initially filed original application, if the application has not yet been published, and modified copy and explanation of modified contents, if the international application has been modified under Article 19 of Patent Cooperation Treaty;

-National charges and fees.

If an international application elects Vietnam, the NOIP is the elected office. In this case, if the election of Vietnam is made within 19 months from the date of priority, in order to enter the national phase, the applicant shall submit, within 31 months from the date of priority, to the NOIP the following documents:

-Written declaration request;

-Sting invention registration, made according to a set form;

-Vietnamese translation of the international application: The description, consisting of a description section, protection request, annotations for drawings and abstract (the published copy or initially filed original application, if the application has not yet been published, and modified copy and explanation of modified contents, if the international application has been modified under Article 19 and/or Article 34(2)(b) of the Treaty);

Patent Registration under PCT Procedure in Vietnam

Overview of PCT System for Invention Protection Abroad

-Vietnamese translations of annexes to the international preliminary examination report (when substantive examination of the application is requested);

-National charges and fees.

After having submitted the application, the time  when the processing of an international application designating or electing Vietnam in the national phase starts is the first day of the thirty second month from the date of priority if the applicant files no written request for entry into the national phase earlier than the above time limits. The international application shall be put to formality examination and substantive examination according to the procedures applicable to ordinary invention registration applications. If the applicant requests in writing earlier examination of his/her application and pay the prescribed charge, the international application shall be examined earlier than the time limit specified above in accordance with the provisions of Article 2 3(2) of the Treaty.

Please be noted that in addition to the cases where an international application is considered withdrawn specified in the Treaty and the Regulation on implementation of the Treaty, an international application designating or electing Vietnam shall be considered withdrawn if the national fees are not paid to the NOIP or there is no Vietnamese translation upon the expiration of the set time limit.

It is important to adhere to the deadline and patent attorney of ANT Lawyers always follow up with the Client to remind on the schedule to follow when submitting for PCT application in Vietnam.

It is important to adhere to the deadline and patent attorney in Vietnam of ANT Lawyers always follow up with the Client to remind on the schedule to follow when submitting for PCT application in Vietnam.

If you're looking for an affordable IP attorneys in Vietnam, check out ANT Lawyers was established to meet these needs by providing fast, effective and economical solutions. Hope that clears things up a bit. Feel free to message me directly to chat further about any other IP questions that you face.

Source ANTLawyers: https://antlawyers.vn/legal-service/brief-reminder-of-time-schedule-to-apply-pct-application-into-vietnam.html

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How do you patent your startup idea?

You can’t patent an idea, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a patent on some part of your startup. A patent is for an invention but it doesn't necessarily have to be a product, it can be a process or a method of doing something or it can be an improvement on an existing product, process, or method. The first thing is that you need to determine whether you have an “invention” that can be patented.

Register patent in Vietnam

Along with the proper subject matter above, the invention also needs to be new and non-obvious. An invention that is already in the public domain or has already been patented will not be granted a patent. It also needs to be more than an obvious improvement. The standard is determined by looking at the prior art of the subject area and determining whether the claimed invention is simply an obvious improvement on what was already in the public domain. If the claimed invention is only an obvious improvement, it will not be granted a patent. You will also need to prove that your claimed invention is useful.

Whether you meet the requirements will be determined by the USPTO through the filing process. You will submit all required application and filing materials to the office and they will make a determination on the patentability of your claimed invention. I would suggest that you hire a patent attorney to help you with the filing process.

To answer your more specific question, it seems like what you really need is a non-disclosure agreement. An NDA is an agreement between parties to not disclose certain information allowing you to choose who gets to hear your secrets and prohibit those chosen people from further disclosure of your secret to other people. So, if you want a patent because you are worried about disclosing your secrets without protection, then an NDA will offer you that protection. Again, though, you would want to hire an attorney to help you draw up you NDAs.

Source: Quora

If you are looking for an experienced patent attorney in Vietnam to help you with your patent or an attorney with experience drawing up NDAs, you should visit ANT Lawyers.vn. We are supported by a team of experienced patent, trademark, design attorneys with qualification and skills handling full range of legal services relating to intellectual property rights in Vietnam.  We have specialized in the preparation and registration of patents, trademarks and designs for our clients.   Please contact our lawyers in Vietnam for advice via email ant@antlawyers.vn or call our office at +84 28 730 86 529.

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Four Steps of Patent Application Processing Procedures

After submitting patent application at National Office of Intellectual Property in Vietnam (NOIP), the applicant will concern on how their application will be processed.

Specifically, patent application will be gone through the following phases: receipt of application; formality examination of application; substantive (ex-officio) examination of application; grant of or refusal to grant protection titles; official registration and publication of decisions on the grant of protection titles.

Vietnam patent

Firstly, receipt of patent application:

When receiving the application in this first phase, the NOIP will check and prepare with the documents listed in the declaration to consider whether to receive the dossiers. In case of sufficient dossiers according to the law, the receiving officer shall receive the dossiers and stamp the submitting date in the dossiers and send back a declaration to the applicant. In case of insufficient dossiers, the NOIP shall decline to receive the dossiers.

Secondly, formality examination of patent application:

The purpose of formality examination is for examination of observance of regulations on formalities applicable to applications, serving as a basis for concluding whether applications are valid or invalid. If the application is valid, it will be proceeded to the next step, otherwise, it will be denied. The formality is considered related to the language in the application, application presentation, word size; the declaration must ensure the compulsory information and be uniformed; regarding the documents required to have the confirmation of competent authority then those documents must have that seal. Besides, the NOIP also check the filing date and priority date (if any). If there are any errors in the dossiers, the NOIP will send a notification to applicant of intention to refuse the valid application and set a period so as the applicant can correct the errors. In case applicant does not reply to the notification, the NOIP will issue the refusal notification of the application; if the application is valid, the NOIP will issue the acceptance notification of the valid application.

Thirdly, publication of valid application:

After being accepted the validity, the NOIP will publish the valid application on Industrial Gazette in the nineteenth month from the date of priority or the filing date in case the application has no date of priority or within two months after it is accepted as a valid application, whichever is later. If the patent application is under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, it shall be published within two months from the date it is accepted as a valid application and entering the national phase. Regarding the application which request for earlier publication, it shall be published within two months from the date the NOIP receives that request or the date it is accepted as a valid application, whichever is later.

Fourthly, substantive examination of patent application;

The purpose of substantive examination is to assess the protect ability of objects stated in those applications under the protection conditions and corresponding protection coverage. Be noted that during the substantive examination process to the application having the priority, the NOIP may use the searching information result and corresponding substantive examination result of the application submitted abroad. However, the applicant could actively provide the following documents for substantive examination: (i) searching information result and corresponding substantive examination result of the application submitted abroad (ii) the copy of protection title on the basis of similar application submitted abroad (iii) the documents related to technical art of the subject mentioned in the application which provided by oversea competent authority and other documents. The content of substantive examination is to assess the corresponding of the subject in the application to each protection claim. After finishing the substantive examination period, the NOIP will issue one of the following notifications:

-The subject in the application does not satisfy the protected conditions or satisfies the protection conditions and remains some errors. Then, the NOIP will issue a notification of intention of refusal to grant protection title and set a period for applicant to have opinion and correct the errors. If the applicant replies to the notification and the NOIP considers to be suitable, then NOIP then issues the intention of granting protection title and set a period for application to submit the granting fee.

-If the subject in the application satisfies the protected conditions, the NOIP then issues the intention of granting protection title and set a period for application to submit the granting fee.

In both the above cases, if the applicant submits the granting fee, publication of granting decision fee; registration protection title fee and first year remaining validity fee, applicant will then be granted the patent registration certificate. Every year, applicant will have to submit the remaining validity fee, otherwise, the protection title will be invalid.  It is suggested that patent attorney in Vietnam will be assigned to follow up with the authority for effective management of IP properties.

ANT Lawyers in a law firm in Vietnam, recognized by Legal500, IFLR1000. We are an exclusive Vietnam member of Prea Legal, the global law firm network covering more than 150 jurisdictions. The firm provides a range of legal services to multinational and domestic clients. 

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Condition, Procedures and Period of Patent Registration in Vietnam

Before applying the patent registration, applicant needs to find out the matters related to conditions, procedures and period from the time of submission the application until granting the protection title when registering a patent to avoid the cases that National Office of Intellectual Property in Vietnam (NOIP) may issue the notification on denying examination due to not meeting criterias or non-compatible dossiers.

Register invention in Vietnam

According to Law on Intellectual Property in Vietnam, a patent needs to satisfy 03 following criterias to be protected:

-An invention shall be deemed novel if it has not yet been publicly disclosed by use or by means of a written description or any other form either inside or outside Vietnam before the filing date or the priority date, as applicable, of the invention registration application.

-An invention shall be deemed not yet publicly disclosed if it is known to only a limited number of persons who are obliged to keep it secret.

-An invention shall not be deemed to have lost its novelty if it is published in the following cases, provided that the invention registration application is filed within six (6) months from the date of publication:

1.It is published by another person without permission from the person having the right to register it;

2.It is published in the form of a scientific presentation by the person having the right to register it;

3.It is displayed at a national exhibition of Vietnam or at an official or officially recognized international exhibition by the person having the right to register it.

-An invention shall be deemed to be of an inventive nature if, based on technical solutions already publicly disclosed by use or by means of a written description or any other form either inside or outside Vietnam prior to the filing date or the priority date as applicable of the application for registration of the invention, the invention constitutes inventive progress and cannot be easily created by a person with average knowledge in the art;

-An invention shall be deemed to be susceptible of industrial application if it is possible to realize mass manufacture or production of products or repeated application of the process which is the subject matter of the invention, and to achieve stable results.

For registration procedures, after the application was filing, it will go through 02 phases of examination:

-The application will be examined formality from 1-3 months. If the application meets the formality criteria according to the law, NOIP will issue the decision on accepting the formality of the application. Then, it will be published on Industrial Property Official Gazette within 02 months from the date of issuing the above decision.

-Then, when having the request, the application will go through a substantial examination within 12-16 months. If meeting the protection criteria as mentioned above, NOIP will issue the Patent to applicant.

However, the actual examining period will be shorter or longer than as regulated.

In case of authorizing ANT Lawyers as IP agent in Vietnam, the client needs to provide the following documents:

-Name and address of the applicant;

-Name and address of inventor(s);

-POA to ANT Lawyers;

-Specification, Figures and Claims of the patent;

-Priority documents (if any);

-Other related documents.

ANT Lawyers - A Law firm in Vietnam is supported by a team of experienced patent, trademark, design attorneys with qualification and skills handling full range of legal services relating to intellectual property rights in Vietnam.  We have specialized in the preparation and registration of patents, trademarks and designs for our clients.

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How can I register an idea?

You can’t protect an idea, however you can protect an invention. Of course, the idea is the first step in that creation process, but until you create something tangible, there is no protection for you there. Once your idea manifests into an actual invention, then you can work through the process of protecting it through a patent. Depending on your invention, you will likely be considering one of the following patents:

Register invention in Vietnam 

Utility Patent: This type of patent focuses on function. It is appropriate to file for this patent if you have created a brand new product that has never been invented before.

Design Patent: This type of patent is appropriate if you have a product that is already established on the market, but you have created a new look that is incredibly unique.

In some instances, your invention may be eligible for both types of patents. To best determine where you should go from here, you should consult a patent attorney.

This article is for informational and educational purposes only. This should not be taken as a substitute for legal advice. This does not create an attorney-client relationship with anyone who reads it.

Source: Quora

If you are looking for an experienced IP services in Vietnam to help you with your IP application, you should visit ANTLawyers.vn. Our attorneys have experience with the IP process and will work closely with you as you apply for your IP. 

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How do you get an idea patented?

While an idea is not eligible for patent protection, most reproduceable inventions are. If you have created something new, novel, and reproduceable, chances are that your creation is eligible for legally enforceable intellectual property rights protection.

Vietnam patent

It’s important to understand that not all creations are treated the same under the law. If you’re an artist, author, or musician and you’ve created an original work of art or authorship, your work isn’t patentable. Instead, you’ll want to register the copyright for your work (which is created as soon as your work is fixed in a tangible form) with the U.S. Copyright Office. If your business has developed a branding tool, such as a graphic, logo, phrase, original domain name, etc. then you’ll need to register your original trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. However, if your novel and reproduceable creative work is a manufactured product, process, machine, product design, or plant species, that work may be patentable.

Source: Quora

If you're looking for an affordable IP attorneys in Vietnam, check out ANT Lawyers.vn was established to meet these needs by providing fast, effective and economical solutions. Hope that clears things up a bit. Feel free to message me directly to chat further about any other IP questions that you face.

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Overview of PCT System for Invention Protection Abroad

PCT System is a tool which helps protecting Inventions abroad and based on the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). PCT is international treaty with more than 150 Contracting States. This system makes it possible for patent owner to protect theirs invention simultaneously in a large number of country by filing only one international application instead of national or regional submitting, normally through the support of IP attorney.

Vietnam patent

However, the patent is granted under the control of national or regional patent offices via national phase. The application when filing by this system is called PCT application. The general PCT procedures includes: filing application; international search; international publication; supplementary international search (optional); international preliminary examination (optional); national phase.

PCT is widely used by individuals and different organizations. Patent owner is entitled to file PCT application if they are a national or resident of a PCT Contracting States. If there are several applicants named in the international application, only one of them needs to comply with this requirement. Also, the PCT application can be filed, in most case, with national patent offices or directly with WIPO if pursuant to national law.

One of the most important matters which applicant notice is the time schedule when filing PCT application. Normally, applicant will have up to 18 months from the time they file their international patent application (or usually 30 months from the filing date of the initial patent application of which they claim priority) before they enter national phase with the separate procedures of each national patent offices. Be noted that you always can ask for an early entry into the national phase without waiting for the expiration of 30 months.

During the time period of PCT process, the PCT application will be gone through an international search which is the main search beside supplementary international search, by International Searching Authorities which may be either a national office or an intergovernmental organization, such as the International Patent Institute, whose tasks include the establishing of documentary search reports on prior art with respect to inventions which are the subject of applications, with the result of an international search report. The report enable applicant to evaluate the chances of obtaining patents in national phase. After that, the application will be published or this step called International publication. WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) publishes the international application shortly after the expiration of 18 months from the priority date together with the international search report on PATENTSCOPE. After the international publication, applicant can also request for a second evaluation of the potential patentability of the invention which is International preliminary examination. This examination allows applicant to amend the international application before entering the national phase. At the end of the procedure, an international preliminary report on patentability will be issued. This report give the opinion on the compliance with the international patentability criteria of each of the claims which have been searched and an even stronger basis on which to evaluate the chances of obtaining patents.

Finally, you may decide to push your application go further when proceeding with national phase. From that time, the procedures would comply with the national where it is elected or designated.

For PCT registration in Vietnam, the patent attorney in Vietnam at ANT Lawyer will be of help for advisory, and filing with National Office of Intellectual Property in Vietnam.

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Protecting Invention Abroad via Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)

Patent is an intellectual property right which owner could benefit from limited monopoly or commercialize through licensing the patent to others in return for royalty.  To protect  invention internationally, an inventor may file an international application with a national or regional patent office or WIPO and this aplication must comply with the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) formality requirements. The patent owner should have a patent lawyer to help out with the process of patent registration, and filing an international protection through PCT process.

Vietnam patent 

 What is Patent Cooperation Treaty?

The PCT is an international treaty with 153 Contracting States. This treaty helps the applicant in protecting their invention internationally when filing only one international patent application to be protected in a large number of countries instead of filing several separate national or regional patent applications. The granting of patents remains under the control of the national or regional patent offices in what is called the “national phase”.

The general procedures when filing an PCT application would be:

Filing, International search, International Publication, Supplementary International Search (optional), International Preliminary Examination (optional), National Phase.

With the filing step, the applicant needs to file an international application with a national or regional patent office or WIPO, complying with the PCT formality requirements, in one language, pay one set of fees. Before International Publication, the patent must go through an International Search by an “International Searching Authority” (ISA) (one of the world’s major patent offices). The purpose of this Search is to identify the published patent documents and technical literature which may have an influence on whether invention is patentable. After that, a written opinion on invention’s potential patentability will be issued. Then, the PCT application can go directly to national phase. However, there are two optional steps which applicants may go through: (i) Supplementary International Search (optional), and (ii) International Preliminary Examination (optional). These two steps based on applicant’s request should publish documents which may not have been found by the first ISA and carry out an additional patentability analysis, usually on an amended version of application, respectively.

How long does the PCT process take? Normally, applicant will have 30 months from the filing date of the initial patent application of which they claim priority or up to an additional 18 months from the time applicant files their international patent application before they have to begin the national phase procedures with individual patent offices and to fulfill the national requirements.

At any time, however, applicant may request an early entry into the national phase instead of waiting for the expiration of 30 months from the earliest filing date of their patent application. Once the application has gone into national phase, the time required for the examination and grant of a patent varies across patent offices of each state.

One of the important steps in filing PCT is to make sure the translation into Vietnamese language match up with the original language.  Patent attorneys in Vietnam at ANT Lawyers will assist along the process including the translation of the patent and work with the national office of intellectual property in Vietnam to follow the instructions to complete the registration process in Vietnam.

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Brief Reminder of Time Schedule to Apply PCT Application into Vietnam

According to Vietnam Law on Intellectual property, a PCT applicant who would like to go into Vietnamese phase after the end of PCT procedures need to submit the application within the following duration:

Vietnam patent 

If an international application designates Vietnam, the National Office of Intellectual Property in Vietnam (NOIP) is the designated office. In this case, in order to enter the national phase, the applicant shall submit, within 31 months from the date of priority, to the NOIP the following:

-Written declaration requesting invention registration, made according to a set form;

-Copy of the international application (if the applicant requests the entry into the national phase before the date of publication of the international publication);

-Vietnamese translation of the international application: The description, consisting of a description section, protection request, annotations for drawings and abstract (the published copy or initially filed original application, if the application has not yet been published, and modified copy and explanation of modified contents, if the international application has been modified under Article 19 of Patent Cooperation Treaty;

-National charges and fees.

If an international application elects Vietnam, the NOIP is the elected office. In this case, if the election of Vietnam is made within 19 months from the date of priority, in order to enter the national phase, the applicant shall submit, within 31 months from the date of priority, to the NOIP the following documents:

-Written declaration request;

-Sting invention registration, made according to a set form;

-Vietnamese translation of the international application: The description, consisting of a description section, protection request, annotations for drawings and abstract (the published copy or initially filed original application, if the application has not yet been published, and modified copy and explanation of modified contents, if the international application has been modified under Article 19 and/or Article 34(2)(b) of the Treaty);

-Vietnamese translations of annexes to the international preliminary examination report (when substantive examination of the application is requested);

-National charges and fees.

After having submitted the application, the time  when the processing of an international application designating or electing Vietnam in the national phase starts is the first day of the thirty second month from the date of priority if the applicant files no written request for entry into the national phase earlier than the above time limits. The international application shall be put to formality examination and substantive examination according to the procedures applicable to ordinary invention registration applications. If the applicant requests in writing earlier examination of his/her application and pay the prescribed charge, the international application shall be examined earlier than the time limit specified above in accordance with the provisions of Article 2 3(2) of the Treaty.

Please be noted that in addition to the cases where an international application is considered withdrawn specified in the Treaty and the Regulation on implementation of the Treaty, an international application designating or electing Vietnam shall be considered withdrawn if the national fees are not paid to the NOIP or there is no Vietnamese translation upon the expiration of the set time limit.

It is important to adhere to the deadline and patent attorney in Vietnam of ANT Lawyers always follow up with the Client to remind on the schedule to follow when submitting for PCT application in Vietnam.

ANT Lawyers is a law firm in Vietnam located in the business centers of Hanoi, Danang, Ho Chi Minh city. We provide convenient access to our clients. Please contact our lawyers in Vietnam for advice via email ant@antlawyers.vn or call our office at +84 28 730 86 529.

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