Trademark Registration for Jewelry & Gold Business in Vietnam

In the rapidly evolving and fiercely competitive gold and jewelry market, building and protecting a brand is crucial for enterprises to assert their position and enhance prestige. Trademark registration for jewelry & gold business in Vietnam not only safeguards intellectual property against copying or counterfeiting but also creates a solid legal foundation for sustainable growth. Beyond securing a Jewelry trademark Vietnam, enterprises must ensure full compliance with a Gold business license to operate legally. In this article, Viet An Law provides comprehensive guidance on registering a class 14 trademark and the essential steps to protect your brand in the precious metals industry.

Which classes apply to trademark registration for jewelry & gold business?

Based on the Nice Classification of goods and services, and depending on their function and intended use, trademarks for gold and silver trading can be registered for the following classes of goods and services:

• Class 14: Gold and silver; Gold and silver jewelry;
• Class 35: Services for buying and selling gold and silver, gold and silver jewelry; Display and introduction of products in the jewelry sector;
• Class 37: Repair services for gold and silver jewelry;
• Class 40: Silver plating services; gold plating; custom gold and silver processing and manufacturing;
• Class 42: Jewelry design;
• Class 45: Gold and silver appraisal services.

Trademark registration dossiers

• 02 trademark registration application forms;
• 05 trademark samples measuring 80 mm x 80 mm;
• 01 power of attorney (if authorizing another individual or organization to submit the application);
• Documents proving priority rights, if claiming priority rights;
• In the case of collective trademark registration, the regulations for the use of the collective trademark must be added;
• In the case of certification trademark registration, the following documents are required:
• Regulations for the use of the certification trademark;
• A description of the characteristic nature and quality (or specificity) of the gold and silver products bearing the trademark;
• A geographical area map (if it is a certification trademark of geographical origin or contains place names or other signs indicating the geographical origin of the local specialty);
• A document from the People’s Committee of the province or centrally-governed city allowing trademark registration (if it contains place names or other signs indicating the geographical origin of the local specialty).

Trademark registration application form

The trademark registration application form is completed according to Form No. 08, Appendix 1, issued with Decree No. 65/2023/ND-CP.

Step-by-step guide to filing a class 14 trademark application for jewelry & gold

• The trademark registration certificate will be issued in electronic or paper form (if the customer requires a paper copy, please mark ‘ in the box).
• Notes on describing trademarks in the application form:
• Provide a complete description of the trademark’s constituent elements: The trademark consists of a graphic element, a textual element, or a combination of both;
• If it is a word trademark, clearly state the content of the textual element; font (bold, uppercase, lowercase, italic, etc.); stylized font; color of the text; meaning; if the text is in a foreign language, it must be translated into Vietnamese;
• If it is a graphic trademark, describe in detail the color, layout, shape, and meaning (if any);
• If it is a combined word and graphic trademark, describe in detail both the textual and textual elements, and the layout;
• Describe the trademark in order from top to bottom, left to right, and outside to inside;
• Avoid using descriptive or advertising language (e.g., “Number 1”, “leading”, “exclusive”, etc.).
• Accurately declare information in the applicant section;
• Fully mark all documents in the dossiers;
• Select the classes of goods and services corresponding to the gold and silver business; the applicant should use a semicolon “;” between products and services within the class; at the end of each group, record the total number of products in that class.

Methods for filing an application in Vietnam

Organizations and individuals can submit d for trademark registration for gold and silver enterprises through the following methods:

• Submitting applications in person;
• Submitting applications via postal service.

Competent authorities for trademark registration for jewelry & gold business in Vietnam

Organizations and individuals submitting trademark applications for gold and silver trading should do so at the application receiving department of the National Office of Intellectual Property.

Procedures for trademark registration for jewelry & gold business in Vietnam

• Step 1: Before filing a trademark registration application, organizations and individuals should conduct a trademark search to check whether the intended trademark is identical to or confusingly similar to another registered trademark. Organizations and individuals can conduct this search through the following methods:
• Preliminary searches are free on the NOIP’s portal;
• In-depth searches are subject to a fee.
• Step 2: Prepare and submit the trademark registration application for gold and silver to the NOIP, and simultaneously pay the registration fees;
• Step 3: The NOIP will conduct a formal examination of the application within one month from the date of receipt and notify the applicant of the results of the formality examination:
• In case of a valid application: A decision will be made to accept the valid application;
• In case of an invalid application: A notice of intended rejection will be issued, requesting the applicant to supplement or correct the deficiencies within 02 months from the date of the notice.
• Step 4: Publish the application in the Industrial Property Gazette within 2 months from the date of acceptance of the valid application;
• Step 5: Substantive examination of the application within no more than 9 months from the date of publication of the application;
• Step 6: Send the results of the trademark application processing as follows:
• If the application meets the protection requirements: The NOIP issues a notice of intent to grant trademark registration;
• If the application does not meet the protection requirements: The NOIP issues a notice of intent to refuse trademark registration. If the applicant disagrees with the NOIP’s reasons for refusing the trademark application, they should send a reply clearly stating the grounds for granting their trademark registration.

Fees and charges for trademark registration

Based on Circular 263/2016/TT-BTC and Article 3 of Circular 63/2023/TT-BTC, the fees for registering trademarks for gold and silver business from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025 are applied as follows:

• Application fee: 75,000 VND/application
• Trademark registration certificate fee: 60,000 VND/01 product/service class, an additional 50,000 VND must be paid for each group from the second class onwards;
• Industrial property registration application examination fee: 550,000 VND for 6 products/services in one class, an additional 120,000 VND must be paid for each product/service from the 7th onwards;
• Search fee for application examination (no more than 6 products/services in one class): 100,000 VND; For each class with more than 6 products/services (from the 7th product/service onwards), the fee is 20,000 VND per product/service;
• Examination fee for priority claim (if any): 600,000 VND/claim;
• Application publication fee: 120,000 VND.

Famous jewelry trademark Vietnam: Notable examples of registered brands

• Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company is a well-known business in Vietnam specializing in gold, silver, gemstone jewelry, and fashion accessories under the brand “PNJ”. The company has been granted trademark registration certificates for products in various categories of goods and services related to the gold and silver business, including: Class 14: Jewelry, watches; Class 35: Retail, advertising, and marketing services. The company has been granted protection certificates for several trademarks, including: the “PNJ” trademark (the company’s main trademark); the “PNJLab” trademark for diamond, gemstone, and precious metal appraisal services; and “PNJ Art” for gold and silver art.
• Bao Tin Minh Chau is a long-standing and reputable gold and silver business in Vietnam, established in 1989, specializing in providing gold bars, jewelry, and related services. Bao Tin Minh Chau has been granted trademark protection certificates for goods and services related to the gold and silver trading, specifically classes 14 and 35;
• The renowned DOJI Gold, Silver and Gemstone Group has also been granted trademark registration certificates for the “DOJI” brand, covering classes 14 and 35.

Customers who wish to trademark registration for jewelry & gold business in Vietnam, contact Viet An Law for the best support!