HCM City-based law firm Bross&Partners Law Co has cautioned the Phu
Quoc Fish Sauce Association that the Phu Quoc fish sauce trademark has
been registered by a local firm in Hong Kong.
Le Quang
Vinh, director of the law firm's Intellectual Property Department, said
despite the geographical indication which allows only fish-sauce makers
on Vietnam's Phu Quoc island to use the label, it was registered for a
fish sauce on May 11 by Hong Kong-based Viet Huong Trading Ltd Co.
Viet Huong has applied to relevant agencies in the Chinese region
seeking protection of the label, and Vinh warned that if Vietnam did not
object to the infringement within a certain time, the trademark would
be protected under Hong Kong law.
In 2001 Phu Quoc fish
sauce became one of Vietnam's first products to have its appellation of
origin recognised worldwide, meaning the name can be used only
for fish sauce products made on the Vietnamese island.
Other appellations of origin worldwide include champagne (a region in
France), tequila (a town in Mexico), and Havana (cigars)./.