Take decisive action to prevent intellectual property infringement.

On May 5, 2026, the Prime Minister issued Directive No. 38/CĐ-TTg on focusing on decisively implementing solutions to combat, prevent, and handle acts of intellectual property infringement. The directive clearly states the requirement for functional forces to concentrate resources and simultaneously deploy necessary measures to combat, prevent, and strictly handle violations nationwide from May 7 to 30, 2026, ensuring the principle of "no forbidden zones, no exceptions." In Thai Nguyen, the implementation of the directive has been carried out urgently and has initially achieved positive results.

Market Management Team No. 3 coordinated an inspection of goods suspected of violating regulations at a business establishment.

Closely monitor the area and conduct surprise inspections.

In mid-May 2026, market inspections were carried out vigorously on the bustling commercial streets of the province's central urban area. Task forces from the Provincial Market Management Department continuously monitored the area, conducting surprise inspections of businesses, focusing on goods at risk of infringing intellectual property rights (IPR).

According to a quick report dated May 20, 2026, from the Provincial Market Management Department, in just a short period of implementing the peak campaign, functional forces have detected and handled 15 violations related to intellectual property rights, which is nearly 70% of the number of cases in the same period of May 2025.

Notably, all cases were handled administratively, with no criminal prosecutions initiated. This reflects the fact that most violations remain small-scale, yet are quite common and pose a potential risk of spreading if not controlled promptly. The total amount of fines imposed reached 102 million VND, with the value of confiscated goods estimated at approximately 66.72 million VND.

The violations mainly focus on infringing on trademarks and geographical indications, elements closely linked to the reputation and value of products. From clothing and footwear to cosmetics and dietary supplements, it's not difficult to find products that closely resemble genuine products but are sold at much lower prices.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Trung Anh, Deputy Head of Market Management Team No. 2, said: "The most common tactic nowadays is to counterfeit labels and packaging or use signs that are confusingly similar to protected trademarks. Consumers who lack information are easily deceived."

During the peak period of implementing Directive No. 38, Market Management Team No. 2 discovered and handled 6 cases, mainly minor violations related to labels and packaging of consumer goods such as fashion and footwear.

In reality, trademark infringement not only harms legitimate businesses but also directly affects consumer rights, especially for health-related products. Although no serious, complex, or typical cases have been discovered to date, this does not mean the situation is any less concerning.

According to assessments by authorities, intellectual property (IP) violations are currently characterized by small-scale, scattered activities, but are becoming increasingly sophisticated. While Thai Nguyen is not yet a key area for the trading of goods infringing IP rights, it serves as a transit point for many goods passing through border crossings. Without proper control, these violations could easily develop into large-scale networks.

Another worrying reality is that the business of trading in goods infringing intellectual property rights is increasingly shifting to the e-commerce environment, where inspection and supervision are more difficult. Many individuals are exploiting social media and e-commerce platforms to sell counterfeit and pirated goods on a wider scale and are harder to trace.

Significant change

Market management forces supervise the destruction of goods that infringe intellectual property rights.

Implementing Directive No. 38/CĐ-TTg is not only the responsibility of the Market Management Force but also requires close coordination among many agencies and units, including the Department of Science and Technology.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Loi, Deputy Head of the Provincial Market Management Department, informed: "We are coordinating with relevant agencies to collect information on protected trademarks, provide expert assessment support when necessary, and promote awareness campaigns to improve the understanding of intellectual property rights among businesses and the public."

This coordination helps to make the process of handling violations more accurate and objective, while also improving the effectiveness of state management in a field that is still relatively new to many people.

One of the reasons why intellectual property infringement persists is the limited awareness of some business people. Many believe that "a little imitation" is normal, as long as the goods can be sold. Furthermore, the profit from counterfeit goods remains a major attraction. Low import costs and high profits lead many to disregard the law.

Conversely, consumers sometimes unwittingly contribute to the problem by choosing cheap goods without considering their origin. This very mindset creates fertile ground for goods that infringe on intellectual property rights.

From the practical experience, it can be seen that the implementation of Directive No. 38/CD-TTg has created a clear change in the inspection and handling of intellectual property violations in Thai Nguyen. However, to achieve sustainable effectiveness, more coordinated and regular efforts are needed.

First and foremost, authorities need to continue intensifying inspections at hotspots, while also enhancing the ability of enforcement personnel to identify violations, especially in the digital environment.

From the perspective of businesses, proactively registering trademarks and promptly providing information to authorities when detecting signs of infringement is essential. For consumers, every shopping choice contributes to shaping the market. Saying no to counterfeit goods is a practical way to protect their own rights and build a healthy business environment.

The initial results in Thai Nguyen are just the beginning. There is still much work to be done, but with the decisive actions of the authorities and the cooperation of the entire society, the fight against intellectual property infringement will certainly achieve more sustainable results in the future.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/thoi-su-thai-nguyen/202605/quyet-liet-ngan-chan-xam-pham-so-huu-tri-tue-c896484/