In the future, Saigon’s neighborhood phone stores might have to think twice before putting the Apple logo on their front sign.
As VnExpress reports, American tech giant Apple recently issued an official request to Vietnam’s tech shops to stop using its brand elements and product names in promotional materials if they are not an authorized seller of the goods.
Apple’s legal representative in the Southeast Asian country, Vo Tran Company, sent a copyright infringement caution to scores of local retailers in Hanoi and Saigon. Apart from using Apple’s brand logo for illegal advertising, these shops are also accused of selling unauthorized products.
“The use of Apple logo and product names has misled customers that these shops are authorized retailers,” the official warning reads.
At the moment, Vietnamese can only purchase authentic Apple products through big electronic chains such as Futureworld or FPT’s F.Studio, according to Tuoi Tre.
Lawyer Nguyen Kieu Hung told the newspaper that using another company’s logo and product names to conduct business is a violation of the firm’s intellectual property rights.
“Apple is entitled by law to request violators of its intellectual property to stop their infringement, apologize to and compensate the company,” Hung elaborated.
