Tensions over the name 'Miss Universe Vietnam'

In recent days, the dispute over the name "Miss Universe Vietnam" between Saigon Universe Joint Stock Company (SG Unicorp, abbreviated as Unicorp) and Miss Universe Vietnam Trading Joint Stock Company has been a hot topic on online forums.

On February 23, SG Unicorp (Saigon Universe Joint Stock Company) announced that from February 18, 2023, it has terminated its cooperation with the Miss Universe organization in copyright and nomination of Vietnamese representatives to participate in Miss Universe. This unit said that Miss Universe Vietnam© is a prestigious beauty pageant brand founded andexclusive ownership, exploitation. Starting from 2008, this unit has successfully organized 5 seasons of Miss Universe Vietnam 2008, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022.

On February 24, Ms. Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip - President of Miss Universe Organization - and the reigning Miss R'Bonney Gabriel attended the signing ceremony and announcement of Miss Universe Vietnam copyright information in Ho Chi Minh City. Accordingly, the copyright of Miss Universe Vietnam belongs to Miss Universe Vietnam Trading Joint Stock Company, run by model Lan Khue, and BTV - MC Quynh Nga is the national director.

Ms. Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip - President of Miss Universe Organization (2nd from left) at the event announcing the copyright of Miss Universe Vietnam in Vietnam.

After the signing event, the Facebook page of Miss Universe Vietnam Trading Joint Stock Company was renamed from Miss Universe Vietnam to Miss Universe Vietnam.

The controversy over the right to use the name "Miss Universe Vietnam" broke out from here.

Representative of Miss Universe Vietnam Trading Joint Stock Company - Ms. Thuy Nga said that it is not a big deal whether it is a Vietnamese or English name. This unit said that it holds the copyright to organize the Miss Universe Vietnam contest and nominates the winner to Miss Universe.

However, Mr. Tran Viet Bao Hoang - representative of SG Unicorp - affirmed that any individual or organization that is using or intends to use the name "Miss Universe Vietnam" is acting unprofessionally and will strongly condemn and take action to protect their brand.

On February 28, MUO's parent company - JKN Global Group - sent information to a number of Vietnamese media outlets. Accordingly, Mark D'Alelio - Legal Director of JKN said that from February 20, SG Unicorp has no right to use the intellectual property of this unit because the license has not been renewed and the use of any intellectual property (including the name Miss Universe and the Vietnamese translation 'Hoa Hau Hoan Vu Vietnam') must stop.

This unit claims to belegal ownerof the name Miss Universe Vietnam - "Hoa Hau Hoan Vu Vietnam" and will take all legal actions to protect intellectual property.

Responding to this information, on the evening of February 28, SG Unicorp continued to send a press release to clarify the issue. This unit said that from February 18, 2023, it has changed its name and identity to separate the two brands Miss Universe Vietnam and Miss Universe Vietnam in the spirit of respecting the ownership of the Miss Universe brand of JKN Global and the Miss Universe Vietnam brand of the new copyright owner. At the same time, this unit continues to affirm its ownership of the Miss Universe Vietnam contest brand.

SG Unicorp issued a statement on the evening of February 28 in response to information from JKN Global Group.

This unit believes that the protection of the Miss Universe organization in Vietnam only includes the brand name and trademark “Miss Universe”. The contest called “Miss Universe Vietnam” has been held for many years completely independently, not under the protection and ownership of the Miss Universe/JKN Global organization.

Therefore, SG Unicorp denies the statements of JKN Global sent to the Vietnamese press, opposes the use of the name "Miss Universe Vietnam" by the current copyright owner of Miss Universe Vietnam, and continues to take relevant legal measures to protect the brand.

Reporters will continue to report on this incident.