Diep Thi Bich Le - Tilleke & Gibbins

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Diep Thi Bich Le

Senior Associate, T&G Law Firm LLC (TGVN)

• +84 24 3275 3935
• [email protected]

Biography

Diep Thi Bich Le is a senior associate with T&G Law Firm LLC (TGVN), a licensed law firm and IP agent that partners with Tilleke & Gibbins for local filings in Vietnam. Diep began her legal career with Tilleke & Gibbins’ trademark team, where she adeptly managed all facets of trademark prosecution for foreign clients in Vietnam. After completing her LLM in IP Law from the University of Leeds, she joined TGVN, where she now specializes in IP enforcement and IP commercialization.

Diep’s hands-on experience with IP infringements across Vietnam and Southeast Asia has equipped her to offer clients practical and effective strategies for protecting and enforcing their IP rights. She is also proficient in IP licensing, technology transfer, and IP due diligence, regularly assisting clients in these areas. On the litigation front, she has successfully represented IP holders in numerous infringement lawsuits before civil courts. In her commitment to continuous learning, Diep completed an online course on copyright from Harvard Law School.

Experience

• Conducted comprehensive IP due diligence for a U.S.-based multinational technology company engaged in e-commerce before its market entry in Vietnam.
• Advised a leading American multinational corporation and technology company on developing a defense strategy in a potential lawsuit relating to the FRAND licensing of standard essential patents.
• Regularly advises clients to overcome office actions from the Vietnamese authority to successfully register technology transfer agreements in Vietnam.
• Advised a European elevator company in arbitration proceedings at VIAC in a USD 8 million dispute with a Vietnamese developer over the delay in implementation of a construction contract.
• Represented an iconic motorbike manufacturer in a civil suit against a Vietnamese company before Hung Yen Court in an industrial design and trademark infringement case. Drafted the statement of claims, prepared lawsuit dossier, and worked with responsible judge to follow up on the case.
• Advised and assisted a world-leading food and beverage company in IP enforcement strategies against acts of unfair competition committed by a Vietnamese company.
• Won a wide range of domain name disputes by virtue of legal actions in Vietnam and UDRP proceedings before the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center.
• Assisted clients in a wide range of industries such as fashion, cosmetics, food and beverages, and technology in combating IPR infringements via administrative route, including conducting investigations, analyzing acts of infringement, and working with authorities to carry out administrative raids/inspections.
• Advised high-profile companies and organizations in the film industry on Vietnam’s legal regime for copyright for possible enforcement actions against copyright-infringing websites.

ABOUT Diep Thi Bich

Practices

Dispute Resolution and Litigation

Intellectual Property

Location

Vietnam

Languages

Vietnamese

English

Education

LLM, University of Leeds (U.K.)

LLB, Hanoi Law University

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Insights

December 5, 2025

Trademark Squatting in Vietnam Poses Growing Challenge for Brand Owners

One morning, a California-based company mapping its Southeast Asia rollout opened an unexpected cease-and-desist letter from a Vietnamese IP firm. To the company’s surprise, the letter asserted that a local client already owned the company’s brand in Vietnam and threatened legal action. This is not an isolated incident. In another recent matter in the sports industry, a squatter demanded at least USD 48,000 from our client to “resolve” a similar conflict. For brands entering Vietnam or expanding distribution there, these tactics can create acute risk at precisely the point at which market momentum is building. Vietnam’s rapid economic growth and deepening integration into global trade have made it an increasingly attractive destination for multinational brands. Those same dynamics have intensified a longstanding issue: trademark squatting. Vietnam has modernized its IP framework over the past decade, but its strict first-to-file trademark system continues to incentivize opportunistic filings by parties with no legitimate interest in a mark. As more foreign brands build their reputation abroad before turning to Vietnam, squatters remain alert to timing gaps and enforcement frictions. The First-to-File System: Advantages and Vulnerabilities Vietnam adheres closely to the first-to-file principle under its Law on Intellectual Property. In practice, exclusive trademark rights belong to whoever submits the earliest valid application to the Vietnam Intellectual Property Office, regardless of prior use in Vietnam. This approach offers administrative clarity and reduces evidentiary burdens compared to use-based jurisdictions. Yet it also creates fertile conditions for squatting. Bad-faith actors regularly monitor foreign markets, identify brands gaining traction, and move quickly to register those marks domestically, often long before the genuine owner enters the market or prioritizes local filings. By the time the true brand seeks protection, the squatter’s application (or registration) stands as a legal obstacle, pushing businesses toward costly oppositions, cancellations, or uncomfortable negotiations

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October 26, 2025

The IP Puzzle of AI-Generated Songs: Protection, Responsibility, and the Future of Music Law

AI-generated songs are now making waves in Vietnam on platforms like TikTok, with tracks such as “Say mot doi vi em” quickly gaining popularity and sparking widespread attention. This phenomenon raises a host of legal and ethical questions: Who is the author of these songs? Can they be protected by copyright? Who is responsible if there is an infringement? These questions are becoming increasingly urgent as AI music becomes more mainstream in Vietnam. Copyright Protection for AI-Generated Music in Vietnam Under current Vietnamese law, copyright protection is reserved for works that bear the mark of human creativity. The 2022 amendments to Vietnam’s Intellectual Property Law reaffirm that only works created by humans are eligible for copyright. In practice, if a human meaningfully contributes to the creative process—by providing prompts, making selections, editing, or arranging—their contribution may be protected. However, if a song is generated entirely by AI without significant human input, it is unlikely to qualify for copyright protection. When an AI-generated song does not qualify for copyright protection, the question arises as to whether the person who writes the prompts, edits, or compiles the work can still be considered the owner of an asset under the Vietnamese Civil Code. According to Article 105 of the Civil Code 2015, assets include objects, money, valuable papers, and property rights. While AI-generated music that is not protected by copyright is not considered money or valuable papers, it may be regarded as an object (in the form of a digital file or recording) or as a property right if it can be possessed, used, transferred, or exploited for value. Use of AI-Generated Works Without Copyright Protection If a song is not protected by copyright, does that mean anyone can use it freely? Not necessarily. The absence of copyright does not mean the

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August 21, 2025

Tilleke Adopts Harvey to Accelerate AI-Powered Legal Services across Southeast Asia

Tilleke & Gibbins is pleased to announce that the firm has adopted Harvey, a leading enterprise-grade AI platform for the global legal industry. The firm is proceeding with a rollout of Harvey’s legal AI solutions, which are supported by robust security and confidentiality protections, across the firm’s full-service regional practice in Southeast Asia. This initiative builds on the firm’s recent deployment of Microsoft Copilot and represents another advancement in Tilleke & Gibbins’ commitment to leveraging technology for enhanced legal service delivery. Under the program, legal professionals across the firm’s offices in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam will have access to the full Harvey platform, equipping them to deliver practical, impactful, and results-driven legal services for clients throughout the region. The firm will also develop bespoke agentic workflows within Harvey tailored to the firm’s core practices and the unique requirements of Southeast Asian legal markets. Commenting on the initiative, Managing Partner Tiziana Sucharitkul stated, “At Tilleke & Gibbins, we have consistently invested in developing and adopting technology to improve the speed, precision, and overall excellence of our legal services. The firm’s decision to invest in Harvey exemplifies our commitment to innovation, further differentiating Tilleke & Gibbins within Southeast Asia’s legal landscape.” Managing Partner Darani Vachanavuttivong remarked, “By combining the deep regional expertise of our lawyers with Harvey’s market-leading domain-specific AI, we are empowering our regional team to streamline drafting, research, and review processes for complex legal matters, all while maintaining the high standards of quality and security our clients expect from us.” Harvey’s Chief Business Officer John Haddock added, “It’s clear Tilleke & Gibbins is investing heavily in innovation, and it’s clear their global clients will benefit significantly from their focus and investment. The Harvey team is thrilled to support the firm’s journey with our platform.”

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June 30, 2025

Vietnam Shifts Some IP Duties to the Provincial Level

Vietnam is making notable strides in decentralization, aiming to grant greater autonomy to local government entities to streamline administrative procedures. As part of this effort, the government issued Decree No. 133/2025/ND-CP on decentralization of state management of the Ministry of Science and Technology dated June 12, 2025 (Decree 133). Effective from July 1, 2025, Decree 133 decentralizes and delegates numerous state management functions—including in intellectual property (IP) and technology transfer—to provincial-level People’s Committees (PCs). This reform signals a profound shift in how IP rights are administered and enforced across Vietnam. While this offers new opportunities for IP owners, agents, and innovators, it also introduces additional operational complexities. Impact on IP and Technology Transfer Decree 133 significantly reallocates responsibilities in IP and technology transfer, primarily to provincial-level PCs. Provincial PCs and other provincial authorities are now empowered to handle a wide range of tasks, including but not limited to the following: Issuance of duplicates and reissuance of certificates of registration. Registration of license agreements for the transfer of usage rights for industrial property objects (e.g., trademarks, patents) and recording amendments, extensions, or early terminations of such agreements. Enforcing decisions on compulsory licensing of patent use rights. Evaluation and approval of technology transfer contracts—a key step in facilitating localized technological advancements. Permitting the establishment of foreign-invested scientific organizations and their branches, to encourage foreign direct investment in local R&D and technology development. Approval of provincial-level R&D tasks, aligning with local socio-economic development priorities. Legal Implications The decentralization and delegation brought forth by Decree 133 carry several significant legal implications: Echoing Decree 133, the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam issued Notification No. 2351/TB-SHTT on June 26, 2025, announcing the cessation of 19 administrative procedures at the national level. Specifically, from July 1, 2025, the IP Office will no longer accept requests related

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Awards & Rankings

January 15, 2026

Tilleke & Gibbins Achieves Top Results in Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2026 Rankings

Tilleke & Gibbins has demonstrated continued excellence across all six jurisdictions where the firm operates in the 2026 edition of the Legal 500 Asia-Pacific rankings. The recently released rankings showcase the firm’s outstanding performance with 29 practice area recognitions and 34 individual rankings—an increase from 30 individual recognitions in 2025.

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December 12, 2025

Tilleke & Gibbins Again Earns Top Rankings in Chambers Asia-Pacific 2026

Tilleke & Gibbins has maintained its strong market position in the newly released Chambers Asia-Pacific 2026 rankings, with six Band 1 honors in core practices and consistently strong performance across the entire region. In addition to the exceptional practice-area rankings, 33 lawyers were recognized across 11 practice areas.

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December 1, 2025

Thailand and Vietnam Country Awards for Tilleke & Gibbins at 2025 Lexology Index Awards

Tilleke & Gibbins is pleased to announce that the firm has been honored with two awards at the 2025 Lexology Index Awards in London, this time picking up both the Thailand and Vietnam Country Awards. Formerly known as the Who’s Who Legal Awards, the Lexology Index Awards celebrate outstanding achievements by firms and individuals identified through Lexology’s extensive global research process. Tilleke & Gibbins’ continued success in this forum reflects the exceptional expertise and dedication of its team, whose commitment to delivering the highest caliber of legal services continues to set a benchmark in the industry. The firm extends its gratitude to its talented professionals and valued clients for their continued trust and support. A full list of the winners of the 2025 Lexology Index Awards is available on the Lexology website.

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November 10, 2025

Tilleke & Gibbins Recognized at 2025 Managing IP and Asialaw Awards

In the Managing IP Asia-Pacific Awards 2025, the firm was recognized for its intellectual property (IP) excellence across the Asia-Pacific region. Meanwhile, Asialaw Awards 2025 named Prisna Sungwanna as Laos’ Female Lawyer of the Year.

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