The Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH) started in 1835. until 2013, it was referred to as the National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland or NBPR. In addition to becoming a full member of the European Patent Organization, Finland joined WIPO in 1970. (EPO). In 2005, Finland became an International Searching and Examining PCT Authority, marking a significant turning point in the country’s patent history (ISA and IPEA). Online patent applications are also submitted to the Finnish Patent Office via PRH. The Finnish patent system initiates the examination immediately once the filing request is made, i.e., there is no need to submit an examination request separately to speed up and streamline the patent filing process.
Filing requirements
Finnish, Swedish (only if the applicant’s native tongue), or English can all be used to file and process patent applications in Finland. However, before the application is published, the Finnish translation of the abstract and claims, if submitted in English, must be submitted within 18 months of the filing date.
A Finnish patent application must include the description and any relevant drawings, one or more claims, and preferably an abstract to receive the filing date (in Finnish or English). In addition, the name of the inventor must be mentioned. If the applicant is not the inventor, they must demonstrate their ownership of the innovation.
Within 16 months of the priority date, the original certified copy of the priority document must be filed. The Office may ask for the translation of that.
One of two ways to appoint an attorney is to include that person’s information on the application form (which must be signed by the applicant) or to submit a separate Power of Attorney. A copy of the Power of Attorney that has only been signed is acceptable. A power of attorney must be filed within two months following the Office’s invitation.
Novelty grace period
The following circumstances would not negate the novelty of the invention in Finland if the information were disclosed within six months of the filing or priority date:
- the disclosure resulted from an evident abuse in relation to the applicant or their predecessor in title;
- the invention was disclosed at an official or officially recognized international exhibition.
Validity term
Two months after the Office’s notification, the official fee for publishing must be paid. Finland grants 20 years from the date of filing for patents. The final day of the month that contains the anniversary of the filing date is when annual fees are due. Annual prices start to accrue after the first year. However, the first and second years’ fees must be paid before the third year’s fee is due—a maximum of six months before the due date may be used to pay the annual fee. Within six months of the due date, late payments are permitted with a 20% late fee.
Utility model
In Finland, utility model protection for inventions is also possible. To be eligible for registration as a utility model, an innovation must be brand-new, commercially viable, and possess an inventive step. In contrast to patents, less of an inventive step is required. In Finland, a utility model’s maximum protection period is 10 years from the filing date. The original duration of protection is four years from the filing date, extendable twice for further terms of four and two years. Applications for utility models are evaluated for formal requirement compliance, unity, and registrability. If a novelty search is not explicitly requested, it is not done—three months on average between filing and registration.
Also, get in touch with us for Trademark registration in Finland.