WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION  
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DU COMMERCE  
ORGANIZACIÓN MUNDIAL DEL COMERCIO  IP/N/1/FIN/P/13 
9 February 2007 
 (07-0599) 
Council for Trade-Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Original:   English/ 
 anglais/  inglés 
 
 
MAIN DEDICATED INTELLECTUAL PR OPERTY LAWS AND REGULATIONS 
NOTIFIED UNDER ARTICLE 63.2 OF THE AGREEMENT 
 
FINLAND
 
  The   present   document   reproduces    the   consolidated   text
1  of  the  Act on Inventions of 
Importance to the Defence of the Country 15. 12.1967/551 as amended up to 1997/245 incl., notified 
by Finland under Article 63.2 of the Agreement (see document IP/N/1/FIN/2).  
Conseil des aspects des droits de propriété intellectuelle qui touchent au commerce 
 
 
PRINCIPALES LOIS ET RÉGLEMENTATIONS CONSACRÉES À 
LA PROPRIÉTÉ INTELLECTUELLE NOTIFIÉES AU TITRE 
DE L'ARTICLE 63:2 DE L'ACCORD 
 
FINLANDE
 
  Le présent document con tient le texte actualisé
1 de la Loi 15.12.1967/551 sur les inventions 
importantes pour la défense du pays, modifiée jusqu' en 1997 (1997/245) inclusivement, notifiée par la 
Finlande au titre de l'article 63:2 de l' Accord (voir le document IP/N/1/FIN/2). 
 
Consejo de los Aspectos de los Derechos de Propiedad 
Intelectual relacionados con el Comercio 
 
 
PRINCIPALES LEYES Y REGLAMENTOS DEDICADOS A LA 
PROPIEDAD INTELECTUAL NOTIFICADOS EN VIRTUD 
DEL PÁRRAFO 2 DEL ARTÍCULO 63 DEL ACUERDO 
 
FINLANDIA  
 
 En el presente documento se reproduce el texto1 refundido de la Ley sobre las Invenciones de 
Importancia para la Defensa del País N° 15. 12.1967/551 y sus modificaciones hasta 1997 (1997/245) 
inclusive, notificado por Finlandia en virtud de lo dispuesto en el párrafo 2 del artículo 63 del 
Acuerdo (véase el documento IP/N/1/FIN/2). 
 
                                                      
1 In English only. The text is available for co nsultation by interested Delegations at the WTO 
Secretariat in Finnish and Swedish./En anglais seulement.  Les délégations intéressées peuvent consulter le texte 
en finnois et suédois au Secrétariat de l'OMC./En inglés solamente.  Las delegaciones interesadas podrán consultar en la Secretaría de la OMC el texto en finlandés y sueco. 
 IP/N/1/FIN/P/13 
Page 2  
 
  Act on Inventions of Importance to the Defence of the Country 
15.12.1967/551 
 
(Unofficial translation) 
 
(Amendments up to 1997/245 included) 
 
 
Section 1 
 
An invention which is principally of importan ce to the defence of the country and which, 
from the point of view of national defence, it is  important to keep secret, may under this Act, 
after a patent application has been filed for the invention, by gove rnment decision be 
expropriated for public purpose.  A reasonable compensation shall be payable from public funds to the holder of an invention 
expropriated for public purpose under the fi rst subsection. Where the amount of the 
compensation is not agreed on, the holder of the invention may br ing a separate action for the 
compensation in the Helsinki District Court.  The provisions concerning patents or patent app lications of this Act shall mutatis mutandis 
apply to utility models or utility model applic ations. In such cases, se ction 18 of the Utility 
Model Act shall be applicable in place of the provisions of sections 21  and 22 of the Patents 
Act.  
Section 2 
 
If it is obvious that an invention is principally  of importance to the defence of the country, an 
inventor residing in Finland, or his successor in  title, may not apply for or authorise another 
person to apply for a patent for the invention abroad before an application has been filed for a 
patent for the invention in Finland and before si x months have passed from  the date the patent 
application was filed here.  If it is obvious that an invention is principally  of importance to the defence of the country, an 
inventor residing in Finland, or his successor in t itle, shall file a European patent application 
within the meaning of the European Patent Co nvention (Finnish Treaty Series 8/96) or an 
international patent applicati on under chapter 3 of the Finnish Patents Act with the Finnish 
Patent Authority.  
Section 3 
 
A person appointed by the Ministry of Defence is authorised to study patent applications filed 
at the National Board of Patents and Registration. 
 If it is found that an invention is principally of importance to the defence of the country, the 
provisions of sections 21 and 22  of the Patents Act shall, at the request of the Ministry of 
Defence, not be applicable.   IP/N/1/FIN/P/13 
 Page 3 
 
 
  If the Government has not within six months of  the filing of the app lication made a decision 
to expropriate the invention fo r public purpose, the processing of the application shall be 
continued in the normal order.  For European patent applicati ons and international patent applications the time limit laid 
down in the third subsection shall nevertheless be:  (1) where a European patent appl ication is concerned, three months  from the date of filing the 
application with the Patent Authority, or, wher e priority has been claimed, thirteen months 
from the date of priority claimed; and  (2) where an international patent application is  concerned, three months from the date of 
filing of the international appli cation, or, where priority has b een claimed, twelve months and 
ten days from the date of priority claimed.  
Section 4 
 
Matters relating to inventions referred to in th is Act shall by all authorities be dealt with 
subject to secrecy.  At the request of the Ministry of Defence, appl ications for patents for inventions referred to 
in section 1 filed by the Minist ry or the proper body of the de fence establishment, shall, 
besides being kept secret, not be en tered in the public record either. 
 
Section 5 
 
Patents for inventions which under this Act shal l be dealt with subject  to secrecy shall be 
granted without complying with the provisions concer ning the making ava ilable to the public 
of an invention of sections 20 to 22, 24 and 25 of  the Patents Act, where prerequisites for the 
grant of a patent otherwise exist.  At the request of the Ministry of Defence, pate nts referred in the first subsection shall not be 
entered in the public register of patents.  
Section 6 
 
In respect of the right of the defence esta blishment in its capacity as employer to the 
inventions made by persons in its service, the special provisions laid down on the right of an 
employer shall apply.  
Section 7 
 
Anyone who has learned about an invention referre d to in this Act may not make use of it or 
disclose what he has learned.   IP/N/1/FIN/P/13 
Page 4  
 
  Section 8 
 
Punishment for breach of secrecy obligation prov ided for in sections 2 and 7 shall be meted 
out pursuant to chapter 38, secti on 1 or 2 of the Penal Code, unless the act is punishable 
under chapter 40, section 5, of the Penal Code or a more severe punishment is provided 
elsewhere in law.  
Section 9 
 
Further provisions on the appl ication and implementation of this Act may, where necessary, 
be given by the Government.  
Section 10 
 
This Act enters into force on 1 January 1968.  
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