Patent registration in Finland – Any company that owns a patent and intends to expand its business in the Finnish market or create long-term value as well as find investors for their patent or grant license their patents in the future should use the Finnish patent system. It is paramount for businesses to file a patent application in Finland for inventions, even if the launch of the respective product on the Finnish market has not yet commenced.
Deadline for filing a patent application in Finland
The deadline for filing a patent application claiming priority in Finland is 12 months from the date of priority. In the event that this period has expired, a patent application in Finland can still be re-filed within 16 months from the earliest priority date.
Request a patent application in Finland
Patent applications in Finland can be filed and processed in Finnish, Swedish (only if the applicant’s native language), or English. If submitted in English, a Finnish translation of the abstract and claims must be provided within 18 months of the filing date prior to publication.
The following information and documents need to be provided in the Finnish patent application:
- patent request with the name of the invention and applicant information;
- description, claim, and abstract of the invention (in Finnish or English);
- drawings (if any).
Original certified copies of the Priority Document must be submitted within 16 months of the priority date. The office may request translations of these documents.
An attorney may be appointed by stating the attorney’s details on the application form (signed by the applicant) or by submitting a separate Power of Attorney. Signed Power of Attorney must be submitted. The deadline for submission of Power of Attorney is two months from the date of notification of the Patent Office.
Examination of patent applications in Finland
Finnish patent applications will be examined for compliance with the requirements of form and substance. The substantive examination of patent applications in Finland is carried out automatically and no specific requirements are required.
Patent validity and renewal
The deadline for payment of the official publication fee is two months from the date of the announcement by the Finnish Patent Office. Patents in Finland are valid for 20 years from the date of filing. The due date for payment of the annual maintenance fee is the last day of the month in which the application is filed. The annual maintenance fee will be due from the first year, however, the fee for the first and second years must be paid together with the maintenance fee for the third year. The annual maintenance fee must not be paid earlier than 6 months prior to the due date. Late payment is possible up to 6 months after the due date, subject to a 20% surcharge.
Represented by a patent attorney
International applicants for patents in Finland should do a patent search in Finland through a law firm, an experienced patent attorney.
You can find the list of Finland IP firms here.