Police investigate Saigon Beer copycat
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Police in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province are investigating a copyright infringement involving Saigon Beer by a former employee of its brewer, Sabeco. They found over 9,000 boxes of the Saigon Vietnam Beer with the brand name and packaging similar to that of the 43-year old Saigon Beer brand produced by Sabeco, the largest brewer in Vietnam.
The beer is distributed by the Saigon Vietnam Beer Group Jsc., not a subsidiary of Sabeco. Its CEO, Le Dinh Trung, held several positions in Sabeco for years, including assistant to the deputy CEO and head of its legal department.
Another person involved in the copyright infringement is Tran Thi Ai Loan, a distributor of Sabeco beer for the last four years.
The original headquarter address of Saigon Vietnam Beer Group Jsc was registered at Floor 9, Vincom Building, 72 Le Thanh Ton, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, the same as Sabeco. Although the Saigon Vietnam Beer Group Jsc. later changed its headquarters to a different location in Binh Thanh District, its beer packaging carried the old address, confusing customers.
Authorities said Loan, as a legal representative, had signed a contract with BiVa Beer Brewer in southern Ba Ria–Vung Tau Province to produce the Saigon Vietnam Beer and started distributing the product in May.
The same month, Sabeco requested the Vietnam Intellectual Property Research Institute to inspect the similarities between the packaging and brand name of the two beers. The institute concluded in June that there were signs of copyright infringement, following which Sabeco requested market authorities to intervene.
“Each box was being sold at VND159,300 ($6.91), nearly 12 percent lower than that of Sabeco’s Saigon Beer.”
Authorities later found thousands of Saigon Vietnam Beer boxes in the southern localities of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Phuoc, Soc Trang and Can Tho as well as the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak. Each box was being sold at VND159,300 ($6.91), nearly 12 percent lower than that of Sabeco’s Saigon Beer.
Vu Tuan Chau, owner of BiVa Beer Brewer, told authorities that they had distributed a total of 4,400 boxes so far. Chau said they only produced the beer to the requirements of Saigon Beer Vietnam and was not aware of any copyright infringement. A lawyer representing Sabeco said that the infringement has damaged their brand’s reputation and misled customers into purchasing the wrong product. Sabeco is working with authorities to continue the investigation, the lawyer said.
No comments were available from the representatives of Saigon Beer Vietnam at the time of going to print.
Questions & Answers
Q.Which individuals are allegedly involved in the copyright infringement case concerning Saigon Beer?
Which individuals are allegedly involved in the copyright infringement case concerning Saigon Beer?
The police are investigating Le Dinh Trung, former Sabeco employee and CEO of Saigon Vietnam Beer Group Jsc., and Tran Thi Ai Loan, a Sabeco beer distributor and legal representative for the infringing product. Vu Tuan Chau, owner of BiVa Beer Brewer, produced the beer.
Q.What led Sabeco to suspect copyright infringement by Saigon Vietnam Beer Group Jsc.?
What led Sabeco to suspect copyright infringement by Saigon Vietnam Beer Group Jsc.?
Sabeco requested an inspection after noticing the brand name and packaging of Saigon Vietnam Beer were similar to their own 43-year-old Saigon Beer brand. The institute confirmed signs of infringement in June.
Q.What impact has the alleged infringement had on Sabeco, according to their legal representation?
What impact has the alleged infringement had on Sabeco, according to their legal representation?
A lawyer representing Sabeco stated that the infringement has damaged their brand's reputation. It has also misled customers into purchasing what they believed to be Sabeco's product, causing confusion in the market.
Q.Where has the infringing Saigon Vietnam Beer been found by authorities?
Where has the infringing Saigon Vietnam Beer been found by authorities?
Authorities located thousands of boxes of Saigon Vietnam Beer in the southern localities of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Phuoc, Soc Trang, and Can Tho. It was also discovered in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak.
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