International patent applications
      Applying for a patent in Finland

A patent refers to an exclusive right, granted to the inventor on application for a fixed period, to commercially manufacture and sell the invented product or apply the invented method. Commercial exploitation includes the manufacture of the patented product, the use of a patented method and the sale of licences or rights to use the invention. Holders of patents shall enforce this exclusive right themselves.

A patent is only granted for an invention that is new, that essentially differs from what was known before and that is industrially practicable. The invention may be a new product, device, method or the use thereof. The invention must not be made public before applying for the patent.

More about patents at the web pages of the Board of Patents and Registration.

International patent applications

A Finnish patent only protects the invention in Finland. A patent may be applied for in each country for which the inventor wishes to obtain a patent. Patents may be obtained in 34 European countries with an application conforming to the EPC patent system. A European patent application may be filed with the National Board of Patents and Registration or directly with the European Patent Office at its branch in Haag or Munich.

The application may be made in English, German or French. The application may also be made in Finnish, but it must be translated to one of the above-mentioned languages within one month of application.

An international patent application may also be filed at the National Board of Patents and Registration patents department in Finland as an international PCT patent application. A PCT application may be filed with the National Board of Patents and Registration or directly with WIPO (Work Intellectual Property Organization) in Geneva or with the European Patent Office (EPO).

Fees for international patent applications amount to 4,000–6,000 Euro per country.

Applicants considering an international patent are advised to consult a patent attorney, as this is a requirement in several countries.

Applying for a patent in Finland

Novelty search

Before filing an application for a patent with the National Board of Patents and Registration (NBPR), it is advisable to carry out a novelty search on the invention. Preliminary examinations can also be made on the Internet using the free-of-charge espacenet patent information network, whose global database is particularly useful. The identification and status information of Finnish patents is available in the PatInfo register on the Internet. Links to both databases can be found at www.prh.fi/fi/julkaisut/espacenet.html on the National Board of Patents and Registration website. The pages are in Finnish.

You may also order a preliminary examination from the NBPR consulting engineers. The examination is subject to a fee.

Patent application process

In Finland, patent applications are submitted to the National Board of Patents and Registration. Patent applications are made in Finnish or Swedish using a form issued by the NBPR. It is also possible to submit the patent application in English and have it examined in English, if so requested at the time of submitting the application and if the application is a first application (a first application concerning the given invention). However, the application must be translated into Finnish or Swedish before it is made public. Although it is possible to make an application in other languages, and obtain an application date, the application will not be processed until it has been translated into Finnish or Swedish.

Ready-made forms are available from the NBPR, tel. +358 (0)9 6939 5966, and on the Internet. Patent applications may be sent by post to The National Board of Patents and Registration, PL 1160, 00101 Helsinki, or delivered to the PatRek Customer Service, Arkadiankatu 6 A, 00100 Helsinki.

Patent applications may be made by the inventor or through a patent attorney. The minimum cost of a patent application is 335 Euro (basic fee 250 Euro + basic printing fee 85 Euro). If the applicant uses the services of a patent attorney, the attorney's fee may amount to 2,000–3,500 Euro.

Patent validity

In Finland, a patent may be maintained for 20 years from the date of application. In the case of plant protection products and medical substance, an extension may be granted for a maximum period of 5 years. The patent is maintained through payment of the stipulated annual fees.

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