Let’s welcome the new week with information about intellectual property!

In recent times, copyright issues, copyright theft, and unauthorized use of copyrights have become increasingly common. In the era of the Internet of Things (IoT), information is shared and disseminated rapidly. This also creates conditions for unauthorized copyright use to occur in a challenging-to-control manner.

Recently, on June 28, 2022, the Central California Court received a lawsuit against Google from the law firm Doniger Burroughs on behalf of photographer Alexander Stross. The lawsuit alleges that YouTube (owned by Google) did not remove copyrighted images of Stross from videos, even though he had submitted notifications.

It can be seen that in developed countries, especially in the United States and Europe, copyright issues are highly regarded. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, the practice of publicly disclosing and performing works without permission, “plagiarizing intellectual property,” and “free riding” is still very common, whether done consciously or unconsciously. Clearly, awareness and knowledge about intellectual property among individuals and creative entities are very limited, and copyright issues seem to be underestimated.

In light of this reality, specific measures are needed to address copyright infringement. Additionally, widespread information should be provided about the importance of intellectual property in general and copyright in particular to raise awareness and respect for the intellectual property rights of others in the public.

[Note: This text discusses a recent copyright lawsuit involving Google and emphasizes the importance of respecting intellectual property rights.]

[Note: IP Group is an intellectual property consulting firm.]

In late May, Vinamit was awarded a certificate by the Department of Science and Technology of Binh Duong province, recognizing the company as a science and technology enterprise currently operating, along with 4 other enterprises in the province.

On its path of development, IP GROUP has been a constant companion, providing advice on innovation and registering patents to help the company achieve its current status as a science and technology enterprise.

Established in Binh Duong province since 1995, Vinamit quickly established its reputation in the field of organic agriculture and investment in research and application of science and technology. With the company’s efforts and a goal of sustainable development, along with consulting support from IP GROUP, Vinamit now holds 4 U.S. patents, numerous domestic patents, and valuable technological solutions in Vietnam and internationally for technology solutions related to agricultural processing.

In light of Vinamit’s achievements, IP GROUP hopes to continue providing successful consulting and patent registration services for more clients to become science and technology enterprises.

[Note: This text celebrates Vinamit receiving recognition as a science and technology enterprise from the Department of Science and Technology in Binh Duong province. IP GROUP is mentioned as a consulting partner in this achievement.]

💎 FPT Software, a client that IP Group has successfully advised, has just received a patent certificate for its deep learning technology from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

🌟 Recently, IP Group provided consulting services and successfully registered an exclusive patent for their technological solution, “Group-equivariant convolutional neural network for 3D point clouds,” a convolutional neural network with group-equivariant transformations for processing 3D point clouds.

“FPT Software’s invention helps improve accuracy in training AI to recognize objects from various angles by enhancing computational performance for feature separation in object recognition. This neural network can be easily configured and deployed across multiple applications, making it a highly applicable technological solution. Additionally, with this AI training approach, less input data is required, resulting in significant resource savings.”

📌 This patent is considered a significant step in FPT Software’s development strategy as it provides the foundation for the company to continue developing intelligent solutions in the future.

💖 IP Group will continue to collaborate with FPT Software on their journey of innovation and intellectual property to create valuable intellectual achievements.

Recently, Mr. Ngô Đắc Thuần, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IP Group, embarked on a journey from Ho Chi Minh City to Bảo Lộc – Đà Lạt along with fellow companions: Mr. Lê Viết Hải – Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hòa Bình Construction Group, GS.TS Vương Thanh Sơn, and PGS. TS Phạm Ngọc Tuấn – Lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology.

This journey was created with the goal of connecting compassionate individuals who are dedicated to proactive and sustainable healthcare. At the first stop, Viễn Lưu Zen Garden, covering 10 hectares in Bảo Lộc and owned by GS.TS Vương Thanh Sơn, the group had the opportunity to immerse themselves in nature, practice meditation, and enjoy locally-sourced, organic food. Leveraging his expertise in architecture and construction, Mr. Lê Viết Hải suggested several ways to enhance the venue without compromising its natural beauty, thus creating an attractive destination for those interested in wellness, nature, meditation, and holistic well-being.

[Faculty of Pharmacy – Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy]

📌 On the morning of June 21, 2022, IP Group conducted a training session on the topic “Intellectual property and intangible assets in research and commercialization in the pharmaceutical field” at the Faculty of Pharmacy – Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy. This training session provided lecturers at the Faculty of Pharmacy with knowledge about innovation and intellectual property that can be applied in the pharmaceutical industry, an aspect that may not have been emphasized in the past. As a result, the lecturers here have experienced a change in their research and teaching mindset, promising a fresh perspective and the creation of valuable research projects and inventions for both the university and the community.

📌 During the session, Mr. Ngô Đắc Thuần, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IP Group, delivered two main topics to the faculty:

     💎 The role of inventions and intellectual property in the Global Innovation Index (GII).

     💎 The contributions of inventions to outstanding values in the fields of Medicine, Pharmaceutical, and Functional Foods.

📌 In addition, Mr. Ngô Đắc Thuần, along with Mr. Chu Mạnh Quân (a specialist from IP Group), presented and analyzed case studies on intellectual property and patent registrations from pharmaceutical companies and universities worldwide, including Vietnam.

📌 IP Group is fully committed to the field of training, aiming to collaborate in providing intellectual property education and consulting to universities. The goal is to transform high-content research into tangible products and practical models, delivering real and valuable outcomes.

The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 15 million people have died from COVID-19 over the course of the pandemic, spanning more than two years. In contrast, pollution claims the lives of up to 9 million people each year, equivalent to 1/6 of global deaths from all causes.

A publication in Lancet Planetary Health reveals that pollution from industry and urbanization is a major driver of climate change and has contributed to a 7% increase in pollution-related deaths from 2015 to 2019.

Co-author Rachael Kupka, CEO of the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (based in New York, USA), emphasizes that among those who perish due to pollution, deaths resulting from exposure to modern pollutants like heavy metals, agricultural chemicals, and fossil fuels have increased by 66% since 2000.

💢 It’s evident that environmental issues have become increasingly pressing and remain an ongoing saga with no end in sight. Environmental pollution, along with climate change, constitutes an invisible threat that silently claims human lives. In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic, responsible for a significant loss of human life, pales in comparison to this “killer” called environmental pollution.

💎 Confronted with a potentially existential crisis for humanity, IP GROUP is fully committed to encouraging and supporting the development of innovations to address waste and environmental issues. We are also dedicated to seeking alternative green energy sources to replace the depleting traditional energy resources of our planet.

💖 On the path to nurturing innovative business, we remain steadfast in the belief that scientific and technological advancements must be developed sustainably, rooted in the “health” of our environment and the existence of humanity.

The fashion industry, along with fast fashion culture in modern society, has become a major concern for the environment and climate. According to Reuters, the fashion industry is responsible for approximately 10% of global carbon emissions. Consequently, major fashion players are facing significant public pressure to address environmental concerns.

In response to these heavy criticisms, the fashion company H&M has sponsored a research project involving an apron capable of absorbing CO2, developed by the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA). The purpose of this project is to minimize the negative impact of the fashion industry on the climate.

According to technical information from HKRITA, this invention is developed through a chemical process. A solution containing amino acids is used to treat cotton and fabric fibers to create a material with CO2-absorbing properties. After usage, the apron is heated to around 30-40°C to release the stored CO2, which can then be used to “feed” plants. Additionally, it’s claimed that this apron can absorb as much CO2 as one-third of what a tree consumes in a day.

All this information can be used to create a narrative for the media: H&M is an environmentally-conscious brand, acknowledging its environmental impact and investing in a CO2-absorbing apron. However, is this truly a meaningful environmental initiative from H&M?

❓❓❓Several questions arise: How many people use this apron every day? Does the apron manufacturing process generate CO2 emissions? How much of the emitted CO2 can be offset by the absorbed CO2? Why invest in developing a fashion accessory rather than investing in production technology or emissions reduction technologies?

❌Developing a material that absorbs CO2 is an intriguing idea. However, from the perspective of H&M, is this merely a PR stunt to appease public opinion?

⁉ Does investing in innovative environmental technology address the global pollution burden?

⁉ Can commercializing carbon reduction technology become a sustainable technology solution for the future?

⁉ Does the First Movers Coalition, an alliance of pioneers combating climate change through environmental technology, bring about significant change?

🍀 On May 25th, Mr. Ngô Đắc Thuần, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IP Group, conducted a training and advisory session at the conference on “Guidance for Establishing Science and Technology Enterprises” organized by the Bình Thuận Provincial Department of Science and Technology. The topic of the session was “Sharing Solutions to Help Businesses Become Science and Technology Enterprises.”

⭐️ In line with the conference’s objectives to promote the development of science and technology enterprises in the province, IP Group presented the current situation of businesses and proposed solutions for them to either maintain their status or become Science and Technology Enterprises. The conference also provided an opportunity to hear practical experiences from businesses that IP Group has advised on patents and successfully transformed into Science and Technology Enterprises.

💦 Additionally, the conference featured a sharing session by Mr. Lê Trung Hiếu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ewater Engineering, a Science and Technology Enterprise and a client of IP Group.

🎯 IP Group always aspires to bring science and technology to the sustainable development of each Vietnamese business.

⚠️ Nowadays, on various public information sources, it’s not hard to come across the term “invention.” Most news outlets use “invention” when reporting on a new product being created, and this is often taken for granted. However, are these products truly an “invention”?

❇️ In contrast, “invention” and “innovation” are defined as follows:

   💎 Invention is the discovery of an objective existence of a natural object, phenomenon, or law that humans did not previously know.

   💎 Innovation is a technical solution in the form of a product or process aimed at solving a specific problem through the application of natural laws (as defined in the Intellectual Property Law of 2005).

❓So, have these news outlets used the term “invention” correctly? Is the mainstream media becoming too careless with its choice of words?

💖 Faced with this situation, IP Group continually strives to fulfill its mission as a leading consultancy, training, and knowledge provider related to innovation, invention, and intellectual property in Vietnam.

💢 Near-sightedness and far-sightedness are two common eye conditions that can bring considerable challenges to those who have them. For older individuals, dealing with both of these conditions simultaneously can be even more problematic. Of course, using two pairs of glasses simultaneously is an inconvenient and less than ideal solution.

💡 The MWF eyeglass model by Vixion (Japan) was developed to address these issues. The MWF eyeglasses work based on integrated sensors that can automatically adjust the focal point of the lenses to match what the wearer is observing, allowing for clearer vision at most distances. This promises to provide a more convenient way for individuals to see.

❣️ While still in the testing phase, MWF eyeglasses hold the potential to offer new hope to those dealing with near-sightedness and far-sightedness when they become commercially available.

🔎 In the realm of research focused on addressing the simultaneous presence of near-sightedness and far-sightedness, a group of inventors from Naikan University (China) also developed an invention called “Adjustable Spherical Lens for Correcting Far-Sightedness and Near-Sightedness.” This invention was granted a patent in China on December 18, 2013, with patent number CN102662252A. Although it shares the same objective as Vixion’s MWF eyeglasses, this invention relies on wavefront technology and physiological eye data. It creates an individualized eye model based on the actual optical characteristics of a person’s eyes by measuring wavefront aberration and eye axis data in reality, combining the Liou ideal human eye model and using optical design software (as cited from the patent abstract CN 102662252A).

💎 IP Group always provides valuable information and dedicated advice on inventions and exclusive patent registrations.

💎 Industrial property rights are one of the categories of intellectual property rights and are defined as follows: “Industrial property rights are the rights of organizations and individuals to inventions, industrial designs, integrated circuit layout designs, trademarks, trade names, geographical indications, trade secrets created by themselves or owned by them, and the rights to combat unfair competition.” (Article 4, Law on Intellectual Property of 2005).

🌟 Understanding industrial property rights is an essential step for businesses to build, enhance their value, and protect their sustainable development.

💕 Recognizing the importance of this, IP Group is committed to providing advice and training to help establish and protect industrial property rights, allowing businesses to continuously increase their value and create more value for the community.