With information technology a key factor in the nation's development strategy, it's crucial that the Government provide appropriate incentives to the IT industry.

On December 30, the Government issued Decree No 119/2010/ND-CP amending Decree 105/2006/ND-CP of September 22, 2006, guiding implementation of a number of articles in the Law on Intellectual Property with respect to State administration of intellectual property rights.

For more clarity and details on dealing with rights infringements, Decree 119 focuses on (i) the forms of rights infringement to plant species, (ii) data, evidence and exhibits accompanying applications to deal with infringement and (iii) evidence proving status as intellectual property rights holders.

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has gained a geographical indication of origin for scotch whisky in Vietnam.

The registration of 'scotch whisky' as a geographical indication of origin (GI) has been agreed by the Vietnamese National Office for Intellectual Property (NOIP), following an SWA application for such protection in October 2008.