A ST24 rice field in Hung Phuoc commune, Bu Dop district, Binh Phuoc province. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA)- The PAN Group has been authorised to register ownership rights for the ST24and ST25 rice varieties in foreign markets and protect related trademarks.
An agreement tothis effect was signed recently by the group and Ho Quang Tri, the familyenterprise of farmer-scientist Ho Quang Cua - the creator of the two ricevarieties.
Under theagreement, the PAN Group will take appropriate deterrent and protection action regardingthe intellectual property.
The move comes as Australia’sT&L Global Foods Supply Pty Ltd recently sought to register the “Rice; BestRice of the World” trademarks for the two varieties.
Both ST24 and ST25were developed in Vietnam by farmer-scientist Cua and his colleagues and havewon international prizes.
Illustrative image (Source: VIR) This is not thefirst time ST24 and ST25 rice have lost their trademark protection rights inforeign countries, as there were certain applications made to register ST25 previouslyin the US.
Such moves lead toconfusion about origin and cause damage to Vietnamese rice exporters, and also spoil the image of a nationaltrademark and asset recognised by the international community, a representative from the PAN Group said.
The PAN Group willtake appropriate steps and observe laws in host countries to oppose infringementsand present evidence testifying to the origin of the trademark, whilecoordinating with relevant agencies and the business community and associationsto identify infringements and protect Vietnamese trademarks.
The representativecalled for an inter-sectoral cooperation mechanism between relevant agencies inVietnam in supporting the protection of Vietnamese trademarks in theinternational market, especially well-known and national brands.
Regarding the casein Australia, the Vietnam Trade Office in the country has spoken with Cua aboutcoordinating action and been actively engaged in discussions with leaders ofT&L Global Foods Supply, which said it would check the matter with itsbrand department.
The agency hasalso sent documents and photos to IP Australia to clarify that the ST24 andST25 rice varieties were developed by Cua and a team of Vietnamese scientists,and have been granted patents in Vietnam.
It has asked IPAustralia to consider the matter and to avoid possible disputes that couldaffect ST24 and ST25 rice exports from Vietnam to Australia./.
VNA
