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A dispute over the domain name chagee.vn has raised questions about the scope of trademark rights in Vietnam, involving CHAGEE, a bubble tea brand, and a Vietnamese domain holder.
On April 27, a Facebook post by Louis Nguyễn, representing team 5VN, said the group held the chagee.vn domain and had received a 21-page legal letter from an international law firm representing the CHAGEE brand. The letter reportedly demanded a free transfer or cancellation of the domain within 10 working days.
Team 5VN said it rebutted the legal arguments and refused the request.
The article states that CHAGEE INVESTMENT PTE. LTD registered trademarks in Vietnam in the beverage sector, and that some marks have been granted registration. However, it notes that CHAGEE is not recognized as a famous mark under Vietnamese law, meaning protection does not extend beyond the registered goods or services.
It also says CHAGEE has filed multiple trademark applications in Vietnam and holds some registrations, while the domain names chagee.vn and chagee.com.vn are owned by Vietnamese individuals or entities.
Under Vietnamese law, the article argues, ownership of assets—including domain names—is protected when properly established. It further contends that owning a trademark does not automatically allow a brand to force the withdrawal of a domain name.
Whether CHAGEE can enforce violations is described as depending on how the website uses “CHAGEE” in a way that could cause confusion with the protected mark in specific beverage-related contexts, such as drinks, restaurants, or bubble tea.
The article cites IP Law 2005, stating that registering or using a domain name that causes confusion with a protected mark or trade name can be considered unfair competition.
It adds that even if a violation is established, the trademark owner can seek removal of information or penalties, but ownership of the domain does not automatically transfer.
The article concludes with practical lessons for brand owners and domain holders: registering multiple domains can help prevent disputes, and acquiring domains may be less costly than pursuing legal remedies.
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