04 prohibition rules of naming of cooperatives or associations of cooperatives in Vietnam

When naming for cooperatives or associations of cooperatives, organizations and individuals must not violate prohibition rules specified in Article 8 of the Decree No. 193/2013/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government as follows:

- Use full names, abbreviated names, or names expressed in foreign languages, of cooperatives or associations of cooperatives that are identical or confusing to those of other cooperatives or associations of cooperatives which have already been registered nationwide.

- Use full names, abbreviated names or names expressed in foreign languages that infringe upon industrial property rights over trade names, brand names and geographical indications of other organizations or individuals in accordance with laws on intellectual property.

- Using the names of state regulatory authorities, people's armed force units, political organizations, socio-political organizations, socio-political-professional organizations or socio-professional organizations as the whole or part of names of cooperatives or associations of cooperatives.

- Use names of famous persons, words or symbols in breach of historical, cultural traditions, moral standards, national customs or values.

Besides, this Decree also details relevant regulations on the names of cooperatives and associations of cooperatives, specifically as follows:

- Names of cooperatives or associations of cooperatives must be written using the Vietnamese language or Latin characters, except special signs, which may be combined with numerals, symbols, and must begin with the phrase “cooperative” or “cooperative association” followed by the proper names given to cooperatives or associations of cooperatives.

- Cooperatives or associations of cooperatives may use business sectors or industries or other complementary symbols constituting their names.

- Names of cooperatives or associations of cooperatives must be inscribed or mounted at their main offices, branches or representative offices. Names of cooperatives or associations of cooperatives must be printed or written on transactional documents, dossiers or materials and publications issued at their discretion.

- Cooperative registration agencies shall be entitled to reject the suggested names of cooperatives or associations of cooperatives if these names are not conformable to provisions of Article 8 herein.

- Cooperative registration agencies shall be responsible for publicly informing names of cooperatives or associations of cooperatives that have already been registered; if cooperatives or associations of cooperatives obtaining registration before the entry into force of this Decree have confusing names, cooperative registration agencies must encourage and provide advantages for cooperatives or associations of cooperatives whose names are identical to each other and cause confusion to enter into negotiations to register change of their names or supplement geographical names as distinguishing elements.

View the full text at Decree No. 193/2013/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government, effective from January 27, 2014.

Thuy Tram

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