An industrial design protects the external appearance of a product or its packaging. From 1 April 2026, protection in Vietnam also covers designs of a part of a product and of non-physical products such as graphical user interfaces. 7S Law searches for novelty, prepares photographs and drawings to the required standard and follows the application through to grant.

1. Who this service is for

a) Manufacturers: with new products or packaging who want to stop copies of their product appearance.

b) Technology companies: that need to protect graphical user interfaces and app icons under the new rules.

c) Designers and creative studios: that want to secure rights before selling or licensing designs to partners.

d) Companies facing copycat products: that need a registered design as the basis for enforcement.

2. Scope of work

a) Novelty search: searching for identical or similar designs already filed or published and assessing registrability.

b) Photographs and drawings: guidance on views and drawings that fully show the design features.

c) Preparing and filing the application: request form, description, photographs, drawings and any priority claim.

d) Prosecution: responding to formality deficiency notices, provisional refusals and third-party oppositions.

e) Grant: paying the grant fee, receiving the patent for industrial design and handing it over.

The following are quoted separately when required: appeals against refusals, international registration under the Hague Agreement, maintenance and enforcement against infringement.

See also: Trademark registration, Legal advice.

3. Process

Step 1. Intake and search: 7S Law receives photographs or drawings of the product and conducts a novelty search

Step 2. Advice on scope of protection: 7S Law recommends a single design, multiple variants or a partial design to optimise protection

Step 3. Filing: 7S Law finalises the photographs and description, the client signs a power of attorney and 7S Law files the application

Step 4. Monitoring and responses: 7S Law monitors publication and substantive examination and responds to notices from the IP Office

Step 5. Grant: 7S Law pays the grant fee, receives the certificate and hands it over to the client

4. Timeline and deliverables

The amended Law on Intellectual Property 2025 shortens processing times for industrial property applications from 1 April 2026. The total time to grant depends on the examination outcome and whether any opposition is filed; 7S Law reports progress at each milestone of the application.

Note: actual timelines may change if the authority requests supplements or amendments, if documents are provided late or incomplete, or if procedures or laws change.

Deliverables: the search report, the filing receipt and application number, all responses filed with the IP Office and the patent for industrial design.

5. Service fees

Fees are quoted separately according to the scope of each matter, based on the following factors:

Note: Service fees exclude 8% VAT, government fees, translation, certification, consular legalisation and travel expenses. The exact fee is confirmed in a fee proposal before work begins.

For a tailored fee proposal, please call +84 877 523 888 or email lienhe@7slaw.vn.

6. Information we need from you

Photographs or drawings of the product from all views (front, back, left, right, top, bottom, perspective); product name and use; designer and applicant details; details of any prior disclosure or sale of the product.

7. Legal basis

This service is provided on the basis of the following legal instruments:

a) Law on Intellectual Property No. 50/2005/QH11, as amended by Laws No. 36/2009/QH12, 42/2019/QH14, 07/2022/QH15 and Law No. 131/2025/QH15 dated 10 December 2025, effective from 1 April 2026

b) Decree No. 65/2023/ND-CP dated 23 August 2023 detailing the Law on Intellectual Property on industrial property, as amended by Decree No. 100/2026/ND-CP dated 31 March 2026, effective from 1 April 2026

8. About 7S Law

Legal services are provided by CÔNG TY LUẬT TNHH 7S (7S Law Firm), Certificate of Registration of Operation No. 01022306/TP/ĐKHĐ. 7S Law has offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, works in Vietnamese and English, and serves Vietnamese companies, foreign-invested enterprises and individuals.

9. Frequently asked questions

a) Can a product already on the market still be registered?

A design must be new. If it has already been publicly disclosed, it can only be protected if the application is filed within the statutory grace period from the date of disclosure. Companies should file before launching the product.

b) How long does a design patent last?

A patent for industrial design is valid for 5 years from the filing date and may be renewed twice, each time for 5 years.

c) Can software interfaces be protected as designs?

Under the amended Law on Intellectual Property 2025, designs of non-physical products such as graphical user interfaces and icons are protectable from 1 April 2026.

d) Is it infringement if a competitor changes small details?

A product that does not differ significantly from the protected design may still be considered infringing. 7S Law assesses each suspected product individually.

10. Contact 7S Law

CÔNG TY LUẬT TNHH 7S (7S Law Firm)
Address: Floors 1-2, Lot E2, Mac Thai To Street, Yen Hoa Ward, Hanoi, Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City office: 18th Floor, TNR Tower, 180 Nguyen Cong Tru Street, Ben Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
Hotline: +84 877 523 888 | Email: lienhe@7slaw.vn
Send us your request via the contact page.