PATENT DECREE  26.9.1980/669  
 
Patent Application and Record of Applications  
Section 1  Finnish patent applications shall be filed with the Finnish Patent and Registration 
Office (the Patent Office).  
International applications designating Finland are to be filed with an authority or international 
organization which is a receiving Office authorized under the Patent Cooperation Treaty 
(Treaty Series of the Statutes of Finland 58/1980) and its Regulations. Sections 45 to 50 and 
51 a contain provisions on the Pa tent Office as a Receiving Office. (27.10.2011/1097)  
The provisions in this Decree concerning patent applications shall, unless otherwise 
specified, only apply to:  
(1) Finnish patent applications;  
(2) international patent applications pursued in Finland un der section 31 of the Patents Act or 
accepted for examination under section 38 of that Act; and  
(3) European patent applications converted into national applications under section 70 s of 
the Patents Act. (15.2.1996/104)  
Section 2  (13.7.2000/674) Finnish p atent applications shall consist of an application 
document and accompanying documents.  
 
The application document must be signed by the applicant or their representative and it must 
comprise:  
(1) the name, domicile and address of the applicant and, if the applicant has appointed a 
representative, the name, domicile and address of the representative;  
(2) the name and address of the inventor;  
(3) a concise and factual title for the invention to which the application relates;  
(4) where a patent is applied for by several persons jointly, a statement as to which of them is 
entitled or, if they have appointed a representative, whom they have jointly authorised to 
receive communications from the Patent Office on behalf of all applicants;  
(5) a statement, where appr opriate, that the application includes a deposit of a biological 
material under section 8a of the Patents Act; and  
6) a list of documents accompanying the application document;  
7) if the applicant wishes that the decisions concerning the application are gi ven in English, a 
request to that effect. (27.10.2011/1097)  
 
The following documents shall accompany the application document:  
(1) a description of the invention together with the drawings, if any, needed to understand the 
invention, claims and an abstract ; 
(2) if the applicant is not the inventor or has not made the invention on his own, a statement 
establishing the applicant's title to the invention.  
 
The representative appointed by the applicant has to prove his authorisation, unless the 
representative h as been given authorisation in the application document.  
 
The prescribed application fee shall be paid when filing an application.  Section 3  If a document is not drawn up in one of the languages laid down in section 8(5) of 
the Patents Act, the applicant m ust also submit to the Patent Office a translation of the 
document into Finnish, Swedish or English. For a document other than a description, an 
abstract or claims, or for the text in the description or claims of a Finnish patent application 
which is not i ncluded in the basic document under section 21(1), the Patent Office may waive 
the requirement for a translation or may accept a translation into a language other than 
Finnish, Swedish, or English. (27.10.2011/1097)  
Section 4  Repealed 1 September 2013 (580 /2013)  
Section 5  To obtain a novelty search as referred to in section 9 of the Patents Act, the 
applicant shall make a written request within three months of the filing date of the application 
or, where applicable, of the date on which it is deemed to have  been filed, to the Patent Office 
and shall pay the fee prescribed by the Searching Authority. Where the application is not 
drawn up in a language acceptable to the Searching Authority, the request shall be 
accompanied by a translation of the application i nto a language prescribed by the Patent 
Office.  
 
If the search referred to in the first paragraph can be carried out by more than one authority 
and if the applicant wishes to specify which of such authorities is to carry out the search, he 
shall name that authority in his request.  
 
The request shall be deemed withdrawn if, on expiration of the time limit laid down in the 
first paragraph, the application and the translation do not satisfy the formal requirements for 
an international application.  
Section 6  The Patent Office shall enter on the application the date on which it was received at 
the Patent Office.  
Section 7  Repealed 1.11.2011 (27.10.2011/1097).  
Section 8  Repealed 1.11.2011 (27.10.2011/1097)  
Section 9  Where notice is given that an invention for whic h a patent has been sought has 
been assigned to another person, the latter person shall be recorded as the applicant in the 
record of applications only if proof of the assignment is furnished.  
Priority  
Section 10  To enjoy priority under section 6 of the P atents Act, the applicant must claim 
priority in writing within 16 months of the date on which the first application given as a basis 
for the priority was filed, simultaneously stating where and when the application was filed 
and, as soon as possible, its serial number. The applicant may, within the time limit laid down 
above and under the same conditions, add or correct a priority claim. If the addition or 
correction causes a change in the priority date, the date may be notified within 16 months 
from eithe r the original or the changed priority date, whichever 16 -month period expires first. 
If the 16 -month time limit has expired, but four months have not yet passed from the filing 
date of the application, the applicant may submit the notification within thes e four months. 
(16.2.2006/144)   
In the case of an international application, the priority claim shall be made in the application 
itself, stating the place and date the application given as the basis for priority was filed and its 
serial number. The applica nt may, however, add a priority claim or correct it by notifying the 
receiving authority or the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property 
Organization of this within 16 months of the priority date. If the addition or correction causes 
a chang e in the priority date, the date may be notified within 16 months from either the 
original or the changed priority date, whichever 16 -month period expires first. If the 16 -
month time limit has expired, but four months have not yet passed from the filing da te of the 
application, the applicant may submit the notification within these four months. 
(16.2.2006/144)  
 
The priority claim referred to in subsection (1) and (2) may not, however, be added or 
corrected after the application has become available to the p ublic. (16.2.2006/144)  
 
Where the application is divided under section 22, a claim to priority in respect of the parent 
application also applies, without separate request, to the new application resulting from 
division.  
Section 11  An applicant who has clai med priority must, within 16 months of the date for 
which priority is claimed, file with the Patent Office a certificate issued by the authority with 
which the application for which priority is claimed was filed, stating the filing date of the 
priority app lication and the applicant's name, and also a copy of the application certified by 
that same authority. The copy must be filed in the form prescribed by the Patent Office. 
However, for an international application, the certificate shall be filed only after  the Patent 
Office has issued the corresponding official action. For such application the priority 
document may also be filed in accordance with Rule 17.1 of the Regulations under the Patent 
Cooperation Treaty with the International Bureau of the World Int ellectual Property 
Organization or with the authority that received the application, or a request may be made to 
such latter authority to forward the priority document to the International Bureau. 
(16.2.2006/144)  
 
The Patent Office may grant an exemption f rom the obligation to file the certificate and the 
copy referred to in the first paragraph.  
 
Where a copy of an application that is the basis for the priority of an international application 
has been filed with the International Bureau referred to in the f irst paragraph, the Patent 
Office may only require a copy and a translation of such copy in accordance with Rule 17.2 
of the Regulations under the Patent Cooperation Treaty.  
Section 12  Priority may only be based on the first application in which the invent ion was 
disclosed.  
 
If the person who filed the first application or his successor in title has filed a subsequent 
application with the same patent authority, relating to the same invention, the subsequent 
application may be cited as a basis for priority, provided that at the time of filing of the later 
application the earlier application was withdrawn, dismissed, or rejected without having 
become available to the public and without there being any rights subsisting, and had not served as a basis for priori ty. Where priority has been obtained on the basis of the subsequent 
application, the prior application may no longer serve as a basis for claiming priority.  
Section 13  Priority may also be obtained for a part of an application. An application may 
claim pri ority deriving from several earlier applications even where they relate to different 
countries.  
Claims (14.6.1985/505)  
Section 14 The claims shall contain:  
(1) the title of the invention;  
(2) a statement identifying the art in relation to which the invention is new (prior art), where 
necessary; and  
(3) a statement of the new and characteristic features of the invention.  
 
Each claim may relate to one invention only.  
 
Where possible, the invention shall relate to one of the following categories: produc t, 
apparatus, process or use.  
 
A claim may not contain any matter irrelevant to the invention disclosed therein or irrelevant 
to the exclusive right claimed by the applicant.  
Section 15  An application may contain more than one claim. Where the application includes 
more than one claim, they shall be arranged and numbered consecutively.  
 
A claim may be independent or dependent. A dependent claim is a claim that relates to an 
embodiment of the invention disclosed in another claim of the application and which, 
therefore, comprises all the features of that claim. All other claims are independent.  
 
One or more dependent claims may relate to one claim. A dependent claim may refer to 
several preceding claims. It shall begin with a reference to a preceding claim and shall state 
the additional features characterizing the invention.  
Section 16  (26.6.1992/583) Where an application contains several inventions they shall be 
interdependent. Inventions shall be deemed to be interdependent, if there is a technical 
connection between all of them in that the inventions have, in whole or in part, the same or 
similar special technical characteristics. The term special technical characteristics shall mean 
the technical characteristics contributed by each single invention going, in considering the 
invention as a whole, beyond the state of the art.  
 
The question whether the inventions are interdependent shall be determined irrespective of 
whether they are stated in separate patent claims or as alternatives in a single claim.  
Descripti on (14.6.1985/505)  
Section 17  The description may only contain subject matter that assists in understanding the 
invention. Where a newly -coined word or a technical term that is not generally accepted has 
to be used, such term shall be explained. The desig nations and units of measurement may not depart from those in general use in the Nordic countries.  
 
Where the application includes a deposit of a biological material under section 8a of the 
Patents Act, the applicant shall as an appendix to the application  give all relevant information 
regarding the characteristics of the biological material that is available to him.  
Section 17a  (14.6.1985/505) Deposits under the first paragraph of section 8 a of the Patents 
Act shall be made with an institution that is an international depositary authority under the 
Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the  Purposes of 
Patent Procedure (the Budapest Treaty) done at Budapest on April 28, 1977, or with another 
depositary authority recognized by the European Patent Office. (15.2.1996/104)  
 
Deposits shall be made in accordance with the Budapest Treaty.  
 
The Pate nt Office shall keep a list of the institutions that are international depositary 
authorities under the Budapest Treaty.  
Section 17b  Where biological material has been deposited, the applicant must inform the 
Patent Office in writing, within 16 months of t he filing date of the application or, where 
priority is claimed, of the date of the claimed priority, of the institution with which the 
deposit has been made and the access code given to the deposit by that institution. For 
international applications the i nformation may be submitted, within the same time limits, to 
the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization. (16.2.2006/144)  
 
Where the applicant requests that the application documents be made available to the public 
earlier than  provided for in the first and second paragraphs of section 22 of the Patents Act, 
the information referred to in the first paragraph shall be submitted, at the latest, together 
with the request. Where the applicant requests early publication of an interna tional 
application under Article 21(2)(b) of the Patent Cooperation Treaty, the information shall be 
submitted, at the latest, together with the request for publication.  
 
If the deposit has been transferred from one international depositary authority to an other 
under Rule 5.1 of the Regulations under the Budapest Treaty, the applicant shall notify the 
Patent Office of the transfer and of the new access code for the deposit.  
 
The Patent Office may require a copy of the receipt for the deposit issued by the i nstitution as 
proof of the information referred to in the first and third paragraphs.  
Section 17c  A new deposit as referred to in the second paragraph of section 8a of the Patents 
Act shall be made in accordance with the provisions for new deposits under t he Budapest 
Treaty.  
 
The new deposit shall be made within three months of the date the depositor received 
notification from the international depositary authority that samples of the previous deposit 
can no longer be furnished. Where the institution has ce ased to act as an international 
depositary authority for the kind of biological material to which the deposit belonged or if it 
has ceased to fulfill its obligations under the Budapest Treaty and the depositor has not 
received notification to such effect w ithin six months of the announcement thereof published 
by the International Bureau, a new deposit may nevertheless be made within nine months of the said published announcement. As far as other depositary institutions are concerned, the 
period of time for making the deposit stated above begins once the European Patent Office 
has published a corresponding announcement of the matter.  
 
Within four months of making the new deposit, the depositor shall submit to the Patent Office 
a copy of the receipt issued for  the new deposit by the institution. However, if the time limit 
laid down in the first or second paragraph of section 17b expires at a later date, the receipt 
may be submitted within such later time limit. When submitting the receipt, the number of 
the app lication or patent to which the deposit relates shall be stated.  
Abstract (14.6.1985/505)  
Section 18  The abstract of a Finnish application shall be based on the description and claims 
as set out in the documents that constitute the basic documents pursuan t to the first paragraph 
of section 21 or the first paragraph of section 24. The abstract shall contain the title of the 
invention and shall be drafted with sufficient clarity to disclose the technical problem to 
which the invention relates, the principles  of the solution provided by the invention and the 
primary field in which the invention is to be used. The final wording of the abstract shall, 
where possible, be determined before the application is made available to the public under the 
second paragraph of section 22 of the Patents Act.  
 
Where an international application or a European patent application converted into a national 
application contains an abstract confirmed by the International Searching Authority or the 
European Patent Office, the wording of that abstract shall be accepted. Where this is not the 
case, the Patent Office shall also confirm the abstract in such application. In the latter case, 
the provisions of the first paragraph shall be applicable. (15.2.1996/104)  
Amendments to Applications   
Section 19  Claims may not be amended to include subject matter not disclosed in a document 
constituting a basic document under the first or second paragraph of section 21 or the first 
paragraph of section 24. Where a claim is amended to add new features,  the applicant shall at 
the same time state where those new features are to be found in the basic documents.  
 
Once the Patent Office has issued a novelty search report, no claim disclosing an invention 
that is independent of the invention disclosed in the previous claims may be included in the 
same application.  
 
For international applications, no novelty search report shall be issued before the period of 
time laid down in section 52b has expired, unless the applicant agrees thereto. 
(14.6.1985/505)  
 
An appl icant may make amendments or additions to the description and drawings only where 
they are necessary according to section 8 of the Patents Act. Such amendments or additions 
may not make a claim encompass matter other than that which has a counterpart in th e basic 
documents.  
Section 20  Unless otherwise allowed by the Patent Office, amendments or additions to the 
claims shall be made by filing a new document setting out all the claims in sequence.  Section 21  For the purposes of this Decree, the basic document  for a Finnish patent 
application, a patent application to be taken up for processing under section 38 of the Patents 
Act and a European patent application converted into a national application is deemed to 
consist of the Finnish, Swedish or English langua ge description with drawings, and of the 
claims contained in the application as filed or as deemed to have been filed. If those 
documents were not included in the application at the time of filing, the first Finnish, 
Swedish, or English language descriptio n and claims subsequently filed shall be deemed to 
constitute the basic document if the content of those documents clearly corresponds to the 
content of the documents held by the Patent Office at that time. (27.10.2011/1097).  
 
The basic document for an int ernational application pursued under section 31 of the Patents 
Act is deemed to consist of:  
1) if a translation is required in order to pursue the application, the translation of the 
description, drawings and claims filed under section 31 of the Patents A ct, including any 
amendments made within the time limit laid down in section 52b; or  
2) if the application was drafted in Finnish, Swedish, or English, the copy of the description, 
drawings and claims filed under section 31 of the Patents Act.(27.10.2011/1 097).  
If the applicant, when filing the patent application, states that an application for protection of 
the invention has been filed with a patent authority outside Finland, and if the filing date and 
number of the foreign application has been given, a su bsequently filed certified copy of that 
foreign application must be deemed to have arrived at the Patent Office at the same time with 
the filing of the application with the Finnish Patent Office. (27.10.2011/1097).  
Division and Separation  
Section 22  (21.3 .1997/246) If more than one invention has been disclosed in the basic 
documents, the applicant may divide the application into more than one application. Division 
may only be made before a notification under section 19(1) of the Patents Act has been given.  
Division cannot take place before the basic document under section 21 has been submitted. 
The new application relating to an invention divided from the original application (parent 
application) must, if the applicant requests it, be deemed to have been fi led at the same time 
as the parent application. (27.10.2011/1097)  
Section 23  If an invention which does not appear form the basic document is presented in the 
patent application by making an addition to the description or the claims or by any other way, 
a new application concerning the invention, made by  
separation, can be deemed, on request by the applicant, as filed at the time when the 
document disclosing the invention was received by the Patent Office.  
 
Separation may only be made before a notification under section 19(1) of the Patents Act has 
been given. Separation may not be made before the basic document under section 21 has been 
submitted. In an application through separation, protection can only be claimed for subject 
matter that was disclosed in t he documents of the parent application when the new document 
was filed. (27.10.2011/1097)  
Section 24  In the event of division or separation, the description, with accompanying 
drawings, and claims filed at the same time as the application document of the n ew 
application shall be deemed to constitute the basic document.   
A new application may be considered to result from division or separation only if this is 
evident from the application when filed. The serial number of the parent application shall be 
stated  in such divisional or separated application.  
Availability to the Public  
Section 25  If the documents of a patent application, under the second or third paragraph of 
section 22 of the Patents Act, have become available to the public prior to the grant of a  
patent, the abstract shall be printed as soon as its final wording has been determined. The 
Patent Office may also decide to print other parts of the application together with the abstract. 
These documents shall be available to any person on payment of th e prescribed fee.  
 
The announcement under section 22(4) of the Patents Act must state the serial number and 
classification of the application, its date of receipt and the filing date, the title of the invention 
and the name and address of the applicant and  of the inventor. Where priority has been 
claimed, the announcement must also state where the relevant prior application was filed, 
together with the filing date and serial number of such prior application. If the application 
includes a deposit of a biolog ical material, this must be stated in the announcement. If the 
applicant has requested under section 22(7) of the Patents Act that samples of the biological 
material be issued only to a special expert, this fact must also be stated in the announcement. 
(16.2.2006/144)  
 
If the translation of the description or claims in an international application has been amended 
within the time limit laid down in section 52b, but after the documents have become available 
to the public, an announcement shall be published o f such amendment. (14.6.1985/505)  
Section 25a  (14.6.1985/505) A request made under the first sentence of the eighth paragraph 
of section 22 of the Patents Act to obtain a sample of a deposit shall be formulated as 
prescribed in Rule 11 of the Regulations u nder the Budapest Treaty.  
 
A person wishing to obtain a sample shall give an undertaking to the applicant or the 
proprietor of the patent to the effect that no sample containing the deposited biological 
material or any material obtained from it will be use d for other than experimental purposes 
and that no sample containing the deposited biological material or any material obtained from 
it will be made available to anyone else before a final decision has been given on the 
application or, if a patent has been  granted, before the patent has expired, unless the applicant 
or the proprietor of the patent explicitly waives this undertaking. (13.7.2000/674)  
 
The same undertaking as is prescribed with respect to a sample shall also be given with 
respect to biological  material derived from the sample which has retained those 
characteristics of the deposited biological material that are essential for carrying out the 
invention. (13.7.2000/674)  
 
The undertaking shall be attached to the request.  
Section 25b  (16.6.1985/505 ) A request made under section 22(7) of the Patents Act that 
samples may only be issued to a special expert must be made within 16 months of the filing 
date of the application or, where priority is claimed, of the claimed priority date. (16.2.2006/144)  
 
The Patent Office shall draw up a list of those persons who have stated their willingness to 
assume assignments as experts and who are suitable for such a task. A decision on the 
persons chosen for inclusion in the list of experts shall be announced as presc ribed in section 
43. 
 
If a sample may be issued only to a special expert, the request for the sample shall state the 
person to be called upon as an expert. The request shall be accompanied by a written 
undertaking from the expert to the applicant to the ef fect that the sample will not be used for 
other than experimental purposes and will not be made available to anyone else before a 
patent granted on the invention has expired or before 20 years have lapsed from the filing 
date of the application if a final decision not resulting in the grant of a patent has been taken 
on the application. This undertaking shall also apply to biological material obtained from the 
sample and to biological material derived from the sample which has retained those 
characteristics  of the deposited biological material that are essential for carrying out the 
invention. (13.7.2000/674)  
 
Any person included in the list, or accepted by the applicant in a particular case, may be 
called upon as an expert.  
Section 25c  (13.7.2000/674) Notwi thstanding the provisions laid down in sections 25a and 
25b of this Decree in respect of undertakings to be given to the applicant for or proprietor of a 
patent, a derived biological material may be deposited for the purposes of a new patent 
application.  
Section 25d  (14.6.1985/505) If a request has been made for a sample and neither the Patents 
Act nor this Decree preclude the furnishing of a sample, the Patent Office shall issue a 
certificate to that effect. The Patent Office shall forward the request for  the sample and the 
certificate to the institution where the deposit is kept. The Patent Office shall at the same time 
forward to the applicant or the proprietor of the patent a copy of the request and the 
certificate.  
 
If the Patent Office decides that a certificate referred to in subsection 1 cannot be issued, it 
shall give a notice of that decision. The person who has requested the sample may lodge an 
appeal against the decision with the Market Court, as provided in the Act on the Finnish 
Patent and Regi stration Office (578/2013). There shall be no appeal from the decision of the 
Board of Appeal of the Patent Office or from the above decision of the Market Court. 
(18.7.2013/580)  
Processing of Patent Applications  
Section 26  (18.7.2013/580) In examining wh ether the conditions for granting a patent laid 
down in section 2 of the Patents Act have been satisfied, the Patent Office shall consider all 
facts that come to its attention.  
 
The examination at the Patent Office shall be carried out on the basis of pate nt specifications, 
published specifications and published applications, or abstracts thereof, from Finland, 
Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the European Patent Office; on the basis of publicly  available international 
applications or abstracts thereof as well as applications that have become available to the 
public in Finland. Other available literature may also be examined if found necessary.  
Section 26a  (21.3.1997/246) If, during the examinati on of an application, a communication 
which is of importance for the examination of the application is filed with the Patent Office, 
the applicant shall be notified thereof. If the communication does not concern better title to 
the invention, the Patent Of fice shall notify the party that submitted the communication of the 
possibility of lodging an opposition if a patent is granted.  
Section 27  Where necessary for the examination of a patent application, the Patent Office 
may consult experts who are not on th e staff of the Patent Office.  
Section 28  The Patent Office may call upon an applicant to submit a model, sample or the 
like, or to carry out investigations or experiments, if necessary in order to evaluate an 
invention.  
Section 29  Anyone who applies for a patent in Finland in respect of an invention for which 
he has sought a patent from a foreign patent authority shall be required, with the limitations 
laid down in the third paragraph of section 74 of the Patents Act, to report wha t such foreign 
authority has communicated to him concerning the novelty or patentability examination of 
the invention. The Patent Office may require him, by official action, to file a copy of such 
communication or a declaration that no information concerni ng the examination of the 
previous application has been received.  
 
If the examination of an application is carried out by a foreign authority in accordance with 
the second paragraph of section 74 of the Patents Act, and if the Finnish Patent Office has 
concluded an agreement with such authority to exchange examination results and other 
information, the Patent Office may defer examination of an application that corresponds to an 
application filed previously with such foreign patent authority until the latter  application has 
been processed to the extent provided for in the agreement.  
 
The Patent Office shall be authorized to communicate documents in respect of applications 
that have not yet become public to a patent authority with which an agreement has been 
concluded in accordance with the second paragraph, provided that the patent authority 
concerned has undertaken not to make such documents available to the public.  
Section 29a  (13.7.2000/674) If the Patent Office considers that a patent may be granted, the 
Office shall, before giving a notice under the first paragraph of section 19 of the Patents Act, 
send the applicant the documents that show the text in which it intends to grant the patent. 
The Patent Office may in such case under section 15 of the Patents Act invite the applicant to 
file his comments and return the documents to the Office within a specified time limit.  
Section 30  (18.7.2013/580) The grant of a patent may only be deferred, if the grant would 
take place before the application has become avail able to the public under section 22 of the 
Patents Act. In such case, the grant of a patent may at the applicant's request be deferred until 
the time the application becomes available to the public under section 22 of the Patents Act.  Grant of a Patent (21 .3.1997/246)  
Section 31  (21.3.1997/246) The printing of a published specification pursuant to section 21 
of the Patents Act shall begin as soon as possible after the applicant has paid the printing fee 
under the third paragraph of section 19 of the Patent s Act.  
 
The published specification must state:  
(1) the serial number of the application in the record of applications and the registration 
number of the patent and the classes in which the patent is classified;  
(2) the name and address of the proprietor o f the patent;  
(3) the name, domicile and address of the representative appointed by the applicant, if any;  
(4) the name and address of the inventor;  
(5) the title of the invention;  
(6) whether the patent is based on a Finnish application, an international application or a 
European patent application which has been converted into a national application;  
(7) if the patent is based on a Finnish application, the date of receipt and the date of filing of 
the application; (16.2.2006/144)  
(8) if the patent is base d on an international application, the international filing date and the 
date on which the application was pursued under section 31 of the Patents Act or on which 
the application under the third paragraph of section 38 of the same Act is deemed to have 
been filed, and the number of the international application;  
(9) if the patent is based on a European patent application which has been converted into a 
national application, the filing date under the European Patent Convention and the date the 
application wa s received by the Patent Office for conversion, and the application number of 
the European application;  
(10) if priority is claimed, where the earlier application given as a basis for priority has been 
filed and the filing date and serial number of such ap plication;  
(11) if the application results from division or separation, the serial number of the parent 
application;  
(12) if the application includes a deposit of a biological material, an indication of the 
institution where the deposit is kept and the acc ess code given to the deposit by the said 
institute; (13.7.2000/674)  
(13) the date on which the application documents were made available to the public;  
(14) the date on which the patent was granted:  
(15) the publications cited.  
Section 32  (21.3.1997/246) An announcement of the grant of a patent shall contain the 
information that is to be given in the published specification under section 31, with the 
exception of the publications cited.  
Section 32a  (27.10.2011/1097) The announcement concerning a correction  of a translation 
under section 27 b (1) of the Patents Act must comprise:  
1) the name and address of the proprietor of the patent;  
2) the registration number and classification of the patent;  
3) the title of the invention; and  
4) the day on which the cor rection of the translation and the publication fee were received by 
the Patent Office.  Opposition (21.3.1997/246)  
Section 33 An opposition under section 24 of the Patents Act shall state the following 
particulars:  
1) the name and address of the opponent;  
2) the registration number of the patent against which the opposition is lodged, the name of 
the proprietor of the patent and the title of the invention;  
3) whether the opponent demands that the patent be revoked or that patent protection be 
restricted to  some extent;  
4) which of the circumstances stated in the first paragraph of section 25 of the Patents Act 
serve as grounds on which the opposition is filed and what other circumstances can be 
presented as grounds for the opposition; and  
5) if the opponent  has appointed a representative, the name, domicile and address of the 
representative.  
 
The opposition and any subsequent communications, together with attachments, from the 
proprietor of the patent or the opponent shall be filed in the number of copies re quired by the 
Patent Office.  
 
Where the opponent has appointed a representative, the representative shall prove his 
authorisation.  
Section 34  (21.3.1997/246) If the opposition has not been made in the manner prescribed in 
the first paragraph of section 24 of the Patents Act, the opposition will not be admitted. 
Neither will the opposition be admitted if the patent against which the opposition is filed is 
not identified in the documents submitted to the Patent Office within the time limit reserved 
for lodgin g an opposition, or if it cannot be established who filed the opposition, or if the 
particulars stated in item 4 of the first paragraph of section 33 are not given in the documents.  
 
If other provisions concerning oppositions are not complied with on lodgi ng an opposition, 
the Patent Office shall invite the opponent to correct the defects within a prescribed time 
limit. Failure to do so in the prescribed time limit shall result in the opposition being rejected 
as inadmissible.  
Section 35  (21.3.1997/246) Cop ies of all communications filed by the opponent shall be 
transmitted to the proprietor of the patent.  
 
If the proprietor of the patent files a counterstatement in respect of the opposition, the Patent 
Office shall decide on the need for a further exchange of communications.  
Section 36  (29.11.2007/1118) If the Patent Office considers that there are no obstacles to the 
grant of a request under section 53a(1) of the Patents Act, the Patent Office shall notify the 
patent holder of this fact. The patent holder s hall after that within two months submit the 
documents referred to in section 53d(2) to the Patent Office. If the patent holder fails to 
deliver the documents forming the basis for limitation of the patent and fails to make the 
payment referred to in secti on 53d(2) within the prescribed time limit, the request for 
limitation shall be considered to be withdrawn.  
 
Once the Court’s decision to limit the patent in accordance with section 52(2) of the Patents Act has gained legal force, the patent holder shall s ubmit the description, the drawings, if 
any, and the limited patent claims to the Patent Office for publication within the two -month 
time limit given by the Patent Office. The printing of the patent publication shall then be 
begun as soon as possible. When  the limited patent claims have been delivered to the Patent 
Office, the Office shall see to it that they are, where necessary, available in the Finnish and 
Swedish languages.  
Section 36a  (29.11.2007/1118) The patent publication according to section 53d(2)  of the 
Patents Act shall indicate:  
1) the diary number of the application as well as the registration number and the classes of 
the patent;  
2) the patent holder’s name and address;  
3) if the patent holder has appointed a representative, his name, domicile  and address;  
4) the name and address of the inventor;  
5) the title of the invention;  
6) information on whether the patent is based on a Finnish, an international, or a European 
patent application converted into a national application;  
7) if the patent is based on a Finnish patent application, the date of receipt and the date of 
filing the application;  
8) if the patent is based on an international patent application, the international filing date and 
the date on which the application has been pursued in acc ordance with section 31 of the 
Patents Act, or the date on which the application shall, in accordance with section 38(3) of 
the said Act, be considered to have been filed, and the international application number;  
9) if the patent is based on a European ap plication which has been converted into a national 
application, the filing date under the European Patent Convention and the date on which the 
Patent Office received the application for conversion, as well as the application number of the 
European patent a pplication;  
10) if priority has been requested, an indication of where the previous application given as the 
basis for priority has been filed, its filing date and application number;  
11) if the application has been effected through division or separation,  the diary number of 
the basic application;  
12) if the application involves deposition of biological material, an indication of the 
institution where the deposit is placed, as well as the number that the institution has issued to 
the deposit;  
13) the date on which the application documents have become available to the public;  
14) the date of granting the patent;  
15) the documents cited;  
16) the date of presenting a request to limit the patent; as well as  
17) the date of granting a permission to limit the pa tent. 
 
The patent publication referred to in section 36(2) above shall contain the information 
mentioned in subsection 1 with the exception of the information mentioned in item 17 and the 
information on the date on which the Court has taken a legally bindi ng decision to limit the 
patent.  
Issuance of further regulations  
Section 37  Repealed 1 September 2013 (580/2013)  Patent Register (29.11.2007/1118)  
Section 37a  (15.2.1996/104) The Patent Register shall contain information on patents granted 
by the Patent O ffice and on European patents having legal effect in Finland.  
Section 38  (21.3.1997/246) Once a patent has been granted in Finland, it shall be recorded in 
the Patent Register. In that connection, the particulars that under section 31 shall be indicated 
in the patent specification, with the exception of the publications cited, shall be recorded in 
the Patent Register.  
Section 38a  (15.2.1996/104) A European patent shall be recorded in the Register once the 
European Patent Office has published an announcement  of the grant of the patent and the 
applicant has filed a translation and paid a fee pursuant to the first paragraph of section 70 h 
of the Patents Act.  
 
The following particulars shall be recorded in the Register in that connection:  
(1) the date on which the European Patent Office has announced its decision to grant the 
patent;  
(2) the date on which the translation and the payment of the fee under the first paragraph of 
section 70 h of the Patents Act were received and the date on which the announcement of  the 
translation was published;  
(3) the date on which the patent term begins; and  
(4) the particulars corresponding to the ones specified in subparagraphs 1 to 5, 10 and 13 of 
the second paragraph of section 31. (21.3.1997/246)  
 
If the European Patent Offi ce has taken a final decision to revoke a European patent, maintain 
it with amended wording, or cancel it, this fact shall be recorded in the Register. If the holder 
of the patent, in such cases where the patent is maintained with amended wording, has file d a 
translation and paid the prescribed fee under section 70 h(1) of the Patents Act, an entry shall 
be made of this in the Register. (29.11.2007/1118)  
 
If a correction is filed of the translation referred to in the first or third subsections above, the 
date at which this has taken place and the date of giving public notice of the correction shall 
be recorded in the Register.  
 
A limitation brought into effect in Finland in respect of a European patent shall be recorded 
in the Register when the European Pate nt Office has given public notice of the limitation of 
the European patent, a translation of the limited patent has been filed and the fee has been 
paid. In that case the following entries are recorded:  
(1) the date on which the European Patent Office has given public notice of the limitation of 
the European Patent; and  
(2) the date on which the translation in accordance with section 70 t(2) of the Patents Act and 
the fee have been received, and the date on which public notice has been given of the 
translat ion. (29.11.2007/1118)  
 
If a European patent is revoked in accordance with section 70 t(3) of the Patents Act, an entry 
shall be made of this in the Register. (29.11.2007/1118)  Section 38b  (21.3.1997/246) Once an opposition has been lodged against a granted patent an 
entry shall be recorded of this in the Patent Register. The entry shall contain the following 
particulars:  
1) the name and address of the opponent;  
2) if the opponent has appoi nted a representative, the name, domicile and address of the 
representative; and  
3) the date of lodging the opposition.  
A final decision taken in respect of an opposition shall be recorded in the Patent Register. 
The date of taking the decision is in this connection recorded in the Register, as well as the 
principal contents of the decision.  
Section 39  (21.3.1997/246) The announcement under section 25 (5) of the Patents Act 
concerning a decision taken on account of an opposition must comprise the registrati on 
number and classification of the patent, the title of the invention, the name of the proprietor 
of the patent, and the date of the decision. (27.10.2011/1097)  
Section 40  Payment of a renewal fee or respite granted for payment of a renewal fee shall be 
recorded in the Register.  
 
If a patent has lapsed under section 51 of the Patents Act, the date as from which the patent 
ceased to be valid shall be recorded in the Register.  
 
A request under section 71a of the Patents Act that a renewal fee be deemed to ha ve been 
paid within the specified time limit shall be recorded in the Register without delay. The final 
decision on such request shall also be recorded.  
Section 41  (18.7.2013/580) Any notification made to the Patent Office that a person has 
taken legal act ion to have a patent declared invalid, to have a patent transferred or to obtain a 
compulsory license shall be recorded in the Patent Register.  
 
When a copy of the decision in a matter has been sent to the Patent Office in accordance with 
Chapter 4, sectio n 23, of the Act on the Judicial Proceedings at the Market Court (100/2013) 
or section 66 d of the Patents Act, this fact shall be recorded in the Patent Register. Once the 
decision has become final, an entry shall be made in the Register in such a way tha t the main 
content of the decision is apparent.  
 
If a patent has been limited in the Patent Office or in Court, or it has been cancelled in the 
Patent Office, an entry shall be made of this in the Patent Register. If a patent has been 
limited, the date on which this has taken place shall be entered in the Register, as well as the 
classes. If a patent has been cancelled, the date of cancellation shall be recorded in the 
Register.  
Section 42  Entries under section 44 of the Patents Act concerning the transfer of a patent or 
the grant of a license or a pledge shall include the name, domicile and address of the right 
holder and the date of the transfer or grant of the license or rights. In the case of a license, it 
shall be stated, on request, whether the right o f the patent holder to grant additional licenses 
has been limited. If it is not possible to take an immediate decision on the question of 
recording the transfer or grant of a license or a pledge, an entry shall nevertheless be made in the Register that rec ording has been requested.  
 
Seizure of a patent to cover a debt shall be recorded in the Register when reported.  
 
Any change reported in respect of a representative shall be recorded in the Register.  
 
Where the Patent Office receives such notification of t ransfer of a deposit as is referred to in 
the third paragraph of section 17b or such receipt of a new deposit of a biological material as 
is referred to in the third paragraph of section 17c, the transfer or the new deposit shall be 
recorded in the Registe r. (13.7.2000/674)  
Section 42a  (11.9.2008/603) A decision of the Patent Office that has been drawn up by using 
automatic data processing may be signed mechanically.  
 
A document issued concerning the Patent Register or the Patent Office's record of 
applicat ions, and which has been drawn up by using automatic data processing, may be 
signed mechanically. This shall be indicated in the document.  
Public Announcements Issued by the Patent Office  
Section 43  Announcements in patent matters shall be made public in a publication issued by 
the Patent Office.  
Special Right to Take Legal Action  
Section 44  The competent authority within the meaning of section 52(4) of the Patents Act 
shall be the Public Prosecutor , unless the Council of State for a specific reason appoints 
another official to carry on the action. (29.11.2007/1118)  
Receiving Office for International Patent Applications  
Section 45  (15.2.1996/104) The Patent Office acts as the receiving Office for in ternational 
patent applications where the applicant or one of the applicants is a national of Finland, a 
natural person domiciled in Finland, a legal entity constituted according to Finnish law, or 
anyone who carries on business in Finland. Such applicant may file an international patent 
application also with the European Patent Office or the International Bureau of the World 
Intellectual Property Organization. (16.2.2006/144)  
Section 46  In its capacity as a receiving Office, the Patent Office shall receive , check and 
transmit international applications in accordance with the Patent Cooperation Treaty and its 
Regulations.  
 
When the Patent Office acts as a receiving Office for international patent applications, the 
applicant shall pay:  
(1) the international f iling fee referred to in Rule 15.1 of the Regulations under the Patent 
Cooperation Treaty within one month of receipt of the application;  
(2) the search fee referred to in Rule 16.1 of the Regulations under the Patent Cooperation 
Treaty within one month of  receipt of the application;  
(3) (3) the transmittal fee referred to in Rule 14.1 of the Regulations under the Patent Cooperation Treaty within one month of receipt of the application; as well as  
(4) the fee referred to in Rule 26bis.3 of the Regulations u nder the Patent Cooperation Treaty 
regarding restoration of priority within two months of the expiry of the priority year. 
(29.11.2007/1118)  
 
If the international filing fee is raised after receipt of the application, but before the payment 
is made, the fe e can be paid without an increase within one month of receipt of the 
application. (16.2.2006/144)  
If the fee referred to in the second paragraph has not been paid within the prescribed time 
limit or if it has not been fully paid on expiry of the time limit , the Patent Office shall invite 
the applicant to pay the outstanding amount within one month of issuing the invitation. 
(26.6.1992/583)  
Section 47  At the applicant's request and on payment of a specifically prescribed fee, the 
Patent Office ensures that a copy of an application previously filed with the Patent Office is 
transmitted under Rule 17.1(b) to the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property 
Organization. The fee must be paid within the time limit for making the request under the 
abov e-mentioned Rule. (16.2.2006/144)  
Section 48  (14.6.1985/505) International applications to be filed with the Patent Office shall 
be submitted in a single copy. They shall be drafted in Finnish, Swedish or English or in any 
other language accepted by the Pa tent Office. The request of an international application shall 
be in the English language even where the actual application is drafted in Finnish or Swedish. 
(16.2.2006/144)  
Section 49 A separate record shall be kept of international applications filed wit h the Patent 
Office. The record shall not be available to the public.  
Section 50  (13.7.2000/674) An applicant not domiciled in Finland shall be required to 
appoint a representative residing in the European Economic Area, entitled to represent him 
before th e Patent Office in matters concerning the application.  
Section 51  (14.6.1985/505) Where not prevented by the Act on Inventions of Importance to 
the Defense of the Country (No. 551/67), the Patent Office shall transmit the international 
applications it rece ives to the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property 
Organization, in accordance with the Patent Cooperation Treaty and its Regulations.  
Transmitting International Patent Applications to the International Bureau  
Section 51a  (21.3.1997/246) Where the Patent Office is not competent to receive an 
international application filed with it by an applicant who is domiciled in or a national of a 
Contracting State, the Patent Office shall without delay transmit the application to the 
International Bur eau in accordance with the Patent Cooperation Treaty and its Regulations.  
 
In this connection, the applicant must pay the transmittal fee referred to in Rule 19.4 of the 
Regulations for the Patent Cooperation Treaty within one month of the filing of the 
application. An application so received for the International Bureau is deemed to have been received on the day the international application has been filed with the Patent Office. 
(16.2.2006/144)  
Pursuing International Patent Applications (14.6.1985/505)  
Section 52  (18.7.2013/580) If an international patent application has been filed in a language 
other than those referred to in section 8(5) of the Patents Act, a translation of the application 
shall be required in order to pursue the application under secti on 31 of the Patents Act or to 
request a review under section 38(1) of the Patents Act. In such case, the provisions of 
section 3 of this Decree concerning the translation shall be complied with.  
Section 52a  (14.6.1985/505) If the applicant has taken all s teps required by section 31 of the 
Patents Act for pursuing an international application, but the Patent Office has received no 
notification of receipt of the application from the International Bureau, the Patent Office shall 
notify the International Burea u thereof.  
Section 52b  (14.6.1985/505) The time limit referred to in section 34 of the Patents Act is four 
months from the expiry of the time limit for pursuing an international patent application laid 
down in section 31, paragraph 1, of the Patents Act. ( 16.12.2004/1200)  
Section 52c  (14.6.1985/505) The request for review under the first paragraph of section 38 of 
the Patents Act shall be filed within two months of the date on which the receiving Office or 
the International Bureau has sent a notification to the applicant of the decisi on referred to in 
that paragraph.  
 
If the applicant can prove that he received the notification referred to in the first paragraph 
more than seven days after the date borne by the notification, the time limit shall be extended 
by as many days as have elaps ed between the date of the notification and the date on which 
the applicant received the notification. The seven days referred to above shall nevertheless be 
subtracted from the term.  
Supplementary Protection Certificates (21.3.1997/246)  
Section 52d  (21.3 .1997/246) Provisions on supplementary protection certificates are given in 
section 70 a of the Patents Act.  
 
“Regulations providing for a supplementary protection certificate" refer to the European 
Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 469/2009 provid ing for the supplementary 
protection certificate for medicinal products and the European Parliament and Council 
Regulation (EC) No 1610/96 concerning the adoption of a supplementary protection 
certificate for plant protection products. (27.10.2011/1097)  
Section 52e  Applications for supplementary protection certificates and for the extension of 
the duration of supplementary protection certificates for medicinal products must be 
submitted in writing.  
 
The application document must be signed by the applicant or their representative and it must 
comprise the details laid down in Article 8 of the relevant Regulation. If several persons 
jointly apply for a supplementary protection certificate, the application document must also contain a statement as to which of t hem is entitled or, if the applicants have appointed a 
representative, whom they have jointly authorised to receive communications from the Patent 
Office on behalf of all applicants.  
 
In addition, the applicant must submit additional information about the product to the Patent 
Office if it is necessary for the handling of the application. (27.10.2011/1097)  
Section 52f  (28.6.1994/595) The application shall be written in Finnish or Swedish in 
compliance with the applicable language laws. If a document accompa nying the application 
is drafted in a language other than those mentioned above, the Office may require that a 
translation be provided in either Finnish or Swedish.  
Section 52g  (28.6.1994/595) The Patent Office keeps a record of filed patent applications. In 
addition to the details listed in Article 9(2) of the relevant Regulation, the following details 
are entered in the record for each application:  
1) the serial number and filing date of the application;  
2) where the applicant has appointed a representati ve, the name, domicile and address of the 
representative;  
3) the communications filed and fees paid in respect of the case; and  
4) the decisions taken in respect of the case. (21.3.1997/246)  
The record and the documents concerning the application shall be  accessible to the public.  
Section 52h  (21.3.1997/246) Provisions concerning the publication of an announcement of 
an application for a supplementary protection certificate and for the extension of the duration 
of supplementary protection certificates for medicinal products are laid down in Article 9 of 
the relevant Regulation. The announcement must also comprise the serial number and filing 
date of the application for a supplementary protection certificate. (27.10.2011/1097)  
Section 52i  (28.6.1994/595) An  application for a supplementary protection certificate or for 
the extension of the duration of a supplementary protection certificate for medicinal products 
may not be amended to relate to another product or another basic patent. (27.10.2011/1097)  
Section  52j (21.3.1997/246) In processing an application, the Patent Office does not verify 
that the application for a supplementary protection certificate meets the condition laid down 
in Article 3(1) (d) of the relevant Regulation. (27.10.2011/1097)  
Section 52k  (21.3.1997/246) The provisions of sections 15 and 16 of the Patents Act apply to 
the time limits referred to in Article 10 (3) of the relevant Regulation. (27.10.2011/1097)  
Section 52l  (28.6.1994/595) Provisions concerning the publication of an announceme nt of a 
supplementary protection certificate and for the extension of the duration of a supplementary 
protection certificate for medicinal products are laid down in Article 11 of the relevant 
Regulation. The announcement must also comprise the serial numbe r and filing date of the 
application for a supplementary protection certificate, and the registration number of the 
certificate. (27.10.2011/1097)  
 
The supplementary protection certificate must comprise the details referred to in subsection 1 
above. (27.10 .2011/1097)  Section 52m  (28.6.1994/595) The Patent Office keeps a register of supplementary protection 
certificates granted. In the register must be recorded the details referred to in section 52 l (1) 
and, if the proprietor has appointed a representative,  the name, domicile and address of the 
representative. In addition, the provisions of sections 40 to 42 apply. (27.10.2011/1097)  
Section 52n  (28.6.1994/595) If an application for a supplementary protection certificate or 
for the extension of the duration o f a supplementary protection certificate for medicinal 
products has been refused or is deemed withdrawn by a final decision, an announcement of 
the fact must be published. The announcement must comprise the details referred to in 
section 52 h. (27.10.2011/ 1097)  
 
The Patent Office publishes an announcement of the fact that a supplementary protection 
certificate has lapsed when such a decision, at the request of a third party, has been taken in 
accordance with Article 14, item d, of the relevant Regulation. ( 27.10.2011/1097)  
Section 52o  (28.6.1994/595) A prescribed renewal fee is payable for a supplementary 
protection certificate for each fee year commencing after the expiry of the term of the basic 
patent.  
 
In addition, the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 3 of  section 41 of the Patents Act apply 
mutatis mutandis in respect of the payment of renewal fees.  
Section 52p  (13.7.2000/674) An applicant for and a proprietor of a supplementary protection 
certificate not domiciled in Finland shall appoint a representative  residing in the European 
Economic Area, as laid down in sections 12 and 71 of the Patents Act.  
Receipt of applications for European patents  
Section 52q  (15.2.1996/104) If a European patent application is filed with the Patent Office, 
the Office shall ent er the date of filing on the application documents, issue the applicant a 
certificate of receipt of the documents and notify the European Patent Office thereof. 
(29.11.2007/1118)  
 
The application shall be transmitted to the European Patent Office in accord ance with Article 
77 of the European Patent Convention, unless otherwise specified in the Act on Inventions of 
Importance to the Defence of the Country (No. 551/67). (29.11.2007/1118)  
Converting European Patent Applications into National Applications (15.2 .1996/104)  
Section 52r (15.2.1996/104) If the Patent Office receives a request for conversion of a 
European patent application into a national application under Article 135(2) of the European 
Patent Convention, the Patent Office shall immediately transmit  the request together with a 
copy of the application to the patent authorities of the countries specified in the request. 
(29.11.2007/1118)  
Section 52s  (15.2.1996/104) If the Patent Office receives a European patent application 
which has been transmitted t here for conversion into a national application under Article 135 
of the European Patent Convention, the Patent Office shall immediately notify the applicant 
thereof. (29.11.2007/1118)   
The application fee and the translation under the first and second par agraphs of section 70 s 
of the Patents Act shall be received by the Patent Office within three months of the date on 
which the Patent Office sent the notification under the first paragraph above to the applicant. 
The application fee shall be computed in th e same manner as the application fee under 
section 8 of the Patents Act.  
Record to be kept of European Patent Applications (15.2.1996/104)  
Section 52t  (15.2.1996/104) The Patent Office shall keep a separate record, accessible to the 
public, of European pa tent applications for which translations have been filed pursuant to 
section 70 n of the Patents Act.  
 
The particulars to be entered in the record for each application include the serial number of 
the application, the applicant's name and address, and the date on which the translation or a 
corrected translation was received by the Patent Office, as well as the date on which an 
announcement of the filing of the translation or a corrected translation was published. 
Further, the date which has been accorded as  the filing date of the application and the 
particulars listed in paragraphs 4 to 6, 10 and 11 of section 7(2) are entered. (16.2.2006/144)  
 
Once the translation in accordance with the first paragraph of section 70 h of the Patents Act 
has been filed, an e ntry shall be made of this in the record, as well as of the date on which an 
announcement of the filing of the translation was published. The same applies to such 
correction of a translation as is submitted before entering the patent in the Patent Register . 
(29.11.2007/1118)  
 
Once the translation in accordance with the second paragraph of section 70 t has been filed, 
an entry shall be made of this in the record. (29.11.2007/1118)  
Translating European Patents and European Patent Applications (15.2.1996/104)  
Section 52u  (15.2.1996/104) The translation under section 70 h of the Patents Act must be 
accompanied by an indication of the title of the invention, the registration number of the 
patent and the name and address of the proprietor of the patent. If these details are not 
enclosed with the translation, the translation is deemed to not have been filed. 
(27.10.2011/1097)  
Section 52v  (15.2.1996/104) The translation under section 70 n of the Patents Act shall be 
accompanied by indication of the number of the application, and the applicant's name and 
address. If that requirement is not complied with, the translation shall be deemed not to have 
been filed.  
Section 52x  (15.2.1996/104) Announcements concerning translations under section 70 h of 
the Patents Act must comprise:  
1) the registration number and classification of the patent;  
2) the name and address of the proprietor of the patent;   
3) the title of the invention;  
4) the filing date of the patent application;  
5) the date on which the European Patent Office has published the mention of grant of the patent or the decision to maintain the patent in amended form; and  
6) if the priority of an earlier application is claimed, information on where the application 
given as the basis for the priority was filed, the filing date of that application and its serial 
number; (27.10.2011/1097)  
 
Announcements concerning translations under section 70 n  of the Patents Act must comprise:  
1) the serial number and classification of the patent application;  
2) the name and address of the proprietor of the patent;  
3) the title of the invention;  
4) the date of filing of the patent application; and  
5) if the p riority of an earlier application is claimed, information on where the application 
given as the basis for the priority was filed, the filing date of that application and its serial 
number; (27.10.2011/1097)  
Public notices concerning translations under sect ion 70t(2) shall contain:  
(1) the registration number and classes of the patent;  
(2) the name and address of the patent holder;  
(3) the title of the invention;  
(4) the filing date of the patent application; as well as  
(5) information on the date on which t he European Patent Office has published its decision to 
limit the patent and on the date the translation and the publication fee were received by the 
Patent Office. (29.11.2007/1118)  
Section 52y  (15.2.1996/104) When correcting a translation under section 7 0 q of the Patents 
Act, the applicant must submit a rewritten copy of the document where the corrections are 
indicated clearly. The correction of the translation must be accompanied by the number of the 
patent or patent application and the name and address  of the patent proprietor or the patent 
applicant. If these details are missing, the correction of the translation is deemed to not have 
been filed. (27.10.2011/1097)  
 
An announcement concerning a correction of a translation under section 70 q (1 ) of the 
Patents Act must comprise:  
1) the registration number and classification of the patent;  
2) the name and address of the proprietor of the patent;  
3) the title of the invention;  
4) the day on which the correction of the translation and the publication fee w ere received by 
the Patent Office; (27.10.2011/1097)  
 
An announcement concerning a correction of a translation under section 70 q (2 ) of the 
Patents Act must comprise:  
1) the serial number and classification of the patent application;  
2) the name and addr ess of the patent applicant;  
3) the title of the invention; and  
4) the date on which the correction of the translation was received by the Patent Office. 
(27.10.2011/1097)  
Section 52z  (29.11.2007/1118)The translation referred to in section 70 t (2) of the Patents 
Act shall be filed with and the payment made to the Patent Office within three months of date 
on which the European Patent Office has published the notification concerning the limitation of the patent.  
 
The translation referred to in paragraph 1 ab ove shall contain the description, drawings, if 
any, and the amended patent claims. Information on the registration number of the patent and 
of the name and address of the patent holder shall accompany the translation.  
 
The translation within the meaning o f section 70 t (2) of the Patents Act shall not be deemed 
having been submitted unless the provisions of the first and second paragraph have been 
complied with. (27.10.2011/1097)  
Transitional provisions  
The Decree 595/1994  shall enter into force on 1 July  1994.  
 
If a supplementary protection certificate has been applied for in accordance with Article 19 
(3) in the Council Regulation, the fee year, however, commences on the day when the filing 
of the application for a certificate has been published in accor dance with section 52 (h). In 
that case, the first annual fee falls due for payment two months after said day.  
 
The Decree 104/1996  shall enter into force on 1 March 1996.  
 
This Decree is applied to applications filed after the entry into force of this Dec ree. 
 
The Decree 246/1997  shall enter into force on 1 April 1997.  
 
The repealed paragraph 3 of section 12 is applied to patent applications filed prior to the entry 
into force of this Decree.  
 
If a parent application has been restricted prior to the entry into force of this Decree, because 
it comprises two or more inventions independent of each other, paragraph 2 of section 22, 
which was in force when the restriction was made, is applied to the divisional application.  
 
The Decree 1200/2004  shall enter into force on 1 January 2005.  
 
The Decree 144/2006  enters into force on 6 March 2006.  
 
Section 10(1) of this Decree applies to applications filed before the entry into force of this 
Decree in respect of which the 15 -month time limit from the priority date servi ng as a basis 
for priority has not yet expired.  
 
The Decree 1118/2007  shall enter into force on 13 December 2007.  
The Decree 1097/2011  shall enter into force on 1 November 2011.  
The Decree 580/2013  shall enter into force on 1 September 2013.