WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION  
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DU COMMERCE  
ORGANIZACIÓN MUNDIAL DEL COMERCIO 
IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
17 February 2012 
 (12-0935) 
Council for Trade-Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Original:   English/ 
 anglais/  inglés 
 
  
MAIN DEDICATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 
LAWS AND REGULATIONS NOTIFIED UNDER 
ARTICLE 63.2 OF THE AGREEMENT 
 
FINLAND 
  The present document reproduces the text
1 of the Patents Decree, as notified by Finland on 
10 February 2011 under Article 63.2 of th e Agreement (see document IP/N/1/FIN/3). 
 
 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 contient le texte
1 du Décret sur les brevets, notifié par la Finlande le 
10 février 2011 au titre de l'article 63:2 de l'Accord (voir le document IP/N/1/FIN/3). 
 
 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 texto
1 del Decreto sobre Patentes, notificado por 
Finlandia el 10 de febrero de 2011 en virtud del párrafo 2 del artículo 63 del Acuerdo (véase el 
documento IP/N/1/FIN/3). 
                                                      
1 In English only./En anglais seulement./En inglés solamente.   
   IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
 Page 3 
 
 
   
    
 
    
 
  
MAIN DEDICATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWS 
AND REGULATIONS 
(in English) 
   
Unofficial translations 
 
 
  
PATENTS (Including plant variety protection and utility model protection 
and related legal instruments) 
   
   IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
 Page 5 
 
 
  PATENTS DECREE 
 (Unofficial translation) 
 
No. 669 of September 26, 1980, as amended by Decrees No. 505 of June 14, 1985, No. 583 of 
June 26, 1992, No. 71 of January 21, 1994, No. 595 of June 28, 1994, No. 104 of February 15, 1996, 
No. 246 of April 1, 1997, No. 674 of July 13, 2000, No. 1200 of November 19, 2004, No. 144 of February 16, 2006, 1118 of 29 Novemb er 2007 and 603 of 11 September 2008. 
 
Patent Application and Record of Applications 
 
Section 1  
Finnish patent applications sha ll be filed with the National Boar d of Patents and Registration of 
Finland (the Patent Office).  
International applications designating Finland sha ll be filed with an authority or international 
organization that is a receiving Office authorized under the Patent Cooperation Treaty done at Washington on June 19, 1970, and its Regulations. S ections 45 to 51 contain provisions on the Patent 
Office acting as a receiving Office.   The provisions in this Decree concerning patent ap plications shall, unless otherwise specified, only 
apply to:  
 (1) Finnish patent applications;  (2) international patent applica tions pursued in Finland under S ection 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 patent applications shall consist of an application document and accompanying documents.  
 
The application document shall be signed by the applicant or his representative and shall state:  
 (1) the name, domicile and address of the appli cant 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, w hom they have jointly authorised to receive 
communications from the Patent Office on behalf of all applicants;  (5) a statement, where appropriate, that the app lication includes a deposit of a biological material 
under Section 8a of the Patents Act; and  
(6) a list of the documents accompanying the application document.  
 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 h as not made the invention on his own, a statement 
establishing the applicant's title to the invention.   IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
Page 6  
 
  The representative appointed by the applicant has to  prove his authorisation, unless the representative 
has been given authorisation in the application document.   The prescribed application fee shall be paid when filing an application.   Section 3  
If the document is not drawn up in one of the languag es laid down by the fifth paragraph of Section 8 
of the Patents Act, the applicant shall also submit to the Patent Office a translation of the document 
into Finnish or Swedish. For a document other than a description, an abstract or claims or for the text 
of the description or claims of a Finnish application not included in the basic documents under the 
first paragraph of Section 2l, the Patent Office ma y waive the requirement for a translation or may 
accept a translation into a language other than Finnish or Swedish.  The Patent Office may take up an application for pr ocessing before a translation thereof into one of 
the languages laid down by the first paragraph has be en submitted. The translation has to be submitted 
before the application under Section 22 of the Pate nts Act becomes available to the public. The Patent 
Office shall specify the prerequisites under which th e application is taken up for processing before the 
translation has been submitted. (21.3.1997/246)   
Section 4  
The Patent Office issues regulations on further requi rements in respect of the form and quantity of the 
documents to be filed with the Patent Offi ce by the applicant and the patent holder. 
 
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 accompan ied by a translation of the application into 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 expi ration 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 da te on which it was received at the Patent Office. 
 
Section 7  
The Patent Office shall keep a record of patent appli cations filed. The record shall be accessible to the 
public.  The following particulars are entered in the record for each application: 
 
(1) the serial number in the record of the applicati on and the classes in which the application has been 
classified;  (2) the name of the examiner processing the application;  (3) the name, domicile and address of the applicant;   IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
 Page 7 
 
 
  (4) if the applicant has appointed a representa tive, the name, domicile and address of the 
representative;  (5) the name and address of the inventor;  (6) the title of the invention;  (7) a statement as to whether the application is a Fi nnish patent application, an international patent 
application or a European patent application whic h has been converted into a national application; 
(15.2.1996/104)  (8) if the application is a Finnish patent applica tion, the date of receipt and the date of filing; 
(16.2.2006/144) (9) if the application is an international patent app lication, the international f iling date and the date on 
which the application was pursued under Section 31 of the Patents Act or was filed under Section 38 
of that Act;  (9a) if the application has been converted from a European patent application into a national 
application, the filing date in accordance with the European Patent Convention (Finnish Treaty 
Series 8/96) and the date on which the applicati on was received by the Patent Office for conversion; 
(15.2.1996/104)  
(10) if the priority of an earlier application is cl aimed, the country where the earlier application given 
as the basis for the priority was filed, the filing date of that application and its serial number;  (11) if the application results from division or separa tion, the serial number of the parent application;  
(12) if a new application results from the division or separation of the application, the serial number 
of the application that has been divided or separated out;  
(13) if the application has been made available to the public under the third paragraph of Section 22 of 
the Patents Act, the date on which it became available;  (14) if the application is an international app lication, the international application number;  
(14a) if the application has been converted from a European patent application into a national 
application, the application number of the Eur opean patent application; (15.2.1996/104)  
(15) the documents filed and fees paid in respect of the application;  
(16) decisions taken in respect of the application.   
Section 8  
The Patent Office prepares a weekly list of patent applications that have been filed. The list shall 
contain for each application the particulars listed under items (1), (3), (5) to (11), (14) and (14a) of 
section 7(2). 
 This list shall be accessible to the public on pa yment of a prescribed fee. (16.2.2006/144)  
 
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 th e 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 Patents Act, the applicant must claim priority in writing 
within 16 months of the date on which the first appl ication given as a basis for the priority was filed, 
simultaneously stating where and when the applica tion was filed and, as soon as possible, its serial 
number. The applicant may, within the time lim it laid down above and under the same conditions, add 
or correct a priority claim. If the addition or corr ection causes a change in the priority date, the date 
may be notified within 16 months from either the or iginal or the changed priority date, whichever 16-
month period expires first. If the 16-month time li mit has expired, but four months have not yet 
passed from the filing date of the application, the applicant may submit the notification within these 
four months. (16.2.2006/144) IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
Page 8  
 
   
In the case of an international application, the priori ty claim shall be made in the application itself, 
stating the place and date the appli cation given as the basis for priority  was filed and its serial number. 
The applicant 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 change 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 date 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 public. (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 claimed priority must, within  16 months of the date for which priority is 
claimed, file with the Patent Office a certificate i ssued by the authority with which the application for 
which priority is claimed was filed, stating the filing date of the priority application 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 Offi ce 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 w ith the International Bureau of the World 
Intellectual Property Organization or with the authority that received the application, or a request may 
be made to such latter authority to forward th e priority document to the International Bureau. 
(16.2.2006/144)  The Patent Office may grant an exemption from 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 fo r the priority of an international application has 
been filed with the International Bu reau referred to in the first para graph, 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 appli cation in which the invention was disclosed. 
If the person who filed the first app lication or his successor in title h as filed a subsequent application 
with the same patent authority, relating to the same i nvention, 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 priority. 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 priority deriving 
from several earlier applications even wher e they relate to different countries.  
  IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
 Page 9 
 
 
  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: product, 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 depe ndent 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 th ey shall be interdependent. Inventions shall be 
deemed to be interdependent, if there is a tec hnical 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 character istics 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 interdepende nt shall be determined irrespective of whether 
they are stated in separate patent claims  or as alternatives in a single claim.  
 Description  (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 designations and units of measuremen t 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 applica tion give all relevant in formation regarding the 
characteristics of the biological material that is available to him.   IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
Page 10  
 
  Section 17 a  (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 deposita ry authority under the Treaty on the International Recognition of the 
Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Pate nt Procedure (the Budapest Treaty) done at 
Budapest on April 28, 1977, or with another deposit ary authority recognized by the European Patent 
Office. (15.2.1996/104) 
 Deposits shall be made in accordance with the Budapest Treaty.   The Patent Office shall keep a list of the institutions  that are international depositary authorities under 
the Budapest Treaty.  
 
Section 17 b  
Where biological material has been deposited, the a pplicant must inform the Patent Office in writing, 
within 16 months of the filing date of the applicati on 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 appl ications the information 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 internatio nal 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 inte rnational depositary authority to another 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 institution as proof of 
the information referred to in th e first and third paragraphs.  
 
Section 17 c  
A new deposit as referred to in the second paragraph of Section 8a of th e Patents Act shall be made in 
accordance with the provisions for ne w deposits under the Budapest Treaty. 
 
The new deposit shall be made within three mont hs 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 ceased to act as an internationa l depositary authority for the kind 
of biological material to which the deposit belonge d or if it has ceased to fulfill its obligations under 
the Budapest Treaty and the depositor has not received no tification to such effect within six months of 
the announcement thereof published by the Interna tional Bureau, a new deposit may nevertheless be 
made within nine months of the said published an nouncement. As far as other depositary institutions 
are concerned, the period of time for making the de posit 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 ins titution. 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, th e number of the application or patent to which 
the deposit relates shall be stated.   IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
 Page 11 
 
 
   
Abstract (14.6.1985/505) 
 
Section 18  
The abstract of a Finnish application shall be b ased on the description and claims as set out in the 
documents that constitute the basic documents pursuant 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 fiel d in which the invention is to be used. The final 
wording of the abstract shall, where possible, be de termined before the appli cation 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 applic ation. 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 matt er not disclosed in a document constituting a basic 
document under the first or second paragraph of Sec tion 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 applicatio ns, no novelty search report shall be issued before the period of time laid 
down in Section 52b has expired, unless the a pplicant agrees thereto. (14.6.1985/505)  
 
An applicant 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 the basic documents.  
 Section 20  
Unless otherwise allowed by the Patent Office, amendm ents 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 documen t for a Finnish patent application, a patent 
application to be taken up for pr ocessing under Section 38 of the Pa tents Act and a European patent 
application converted into a national application sha ll be deemed to consist of  the Finnish or Swedish 
language description, with drawings, if any, and 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 that time, the 
first Finnish or Swedish language description and cl aims subsequently filed shall be deemed to 
constitute the basic document if the content of tho se documents clearly corresponds to the content of 
the documents held by the Patent Office at that time. (15.2.1996/104)  IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
Page 12  
 
  The basic document for an international application pursued under Section 31 of the Patents Act shall 
be deemed to consist of:   (1) where a translation is required to pursue the a pplication, the translation of the description, 
drawings and claims filed under Section 31 of th e Patents Act, including any amendments made 
before the time limit laid down in Section 52b has expired; or   
(2) where the application was drafted in Finnish or Swedish, the copy of the description, drawings and 
claims filed under Section 31 of th e Patents Act. (14.6.1985/505)  
 If, at the time of filing an application, it is stated that an application for protection of the invention has 
been filed with a foreign patent authority, a subsequently filed certified copy of the foreign 
application shall, provided that the filing date and serial number of the foreign application have been 
indicated, be deemed to have been filed with the Patent Office simultaneously with the filing of the 
application with the Finnish Patent Office.   Division and Separation 
 
Section 22  (21.3.1997/246)  
If more than one invention has b een disclosed in the basic documen ts, the applicant may divide the 
application into more than one application. Divisi on may only be made before a notice under the first 
paragraph of Section 19 of the Patents Act has been given. In such case, a new application relating to 
an invention divided from the original application (p arent application) shall, at the applicant's request, 
be deemed to have been filed at the same time as the parent application. 
 
Section 23  
If, as a result of an addition to the description or cl aims, or in some other way, the application has 
been caused to disclose an inventio n that was not disclosed in the basic documents, a new application 
relating to such invention, filed by separation from the original application (parent application), may, 
at the applicant's request, be deemed to have been filed on the date when the document disclosing the 
invention was received by the Patent Office.  Separation may only be made before a notice under th e first paragraph of Section 19 of the Patents 
Act has been given. In an application made by sep aration, protection can only be claimed for subject 
matter that was disclosed in the documents of th e parent application when the new document was 
filed. (21.3.1997/246)  
Section 24  
In the event of division or separation, the descrip tion, with accompanying drawings, and claims filed 
at the same time as the application document of th e new application shall be deemed to constitute the 
basic document.  A new application may be considered to result from di vision or separation only if this is evident from 
the application when filed. The serial number of th e 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 th e second or third paragraph of Section 22 of the 
Patents Act, have become available to the public prio r to the grant of a patent, the abstract shall be 
printed as soon as its final wording has been determin ed. The Patent Office may also decide to print 
other parts of the application together with the ab stract. These documents shall be available to any 
person on payment of the prescribed fee.  IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
 Page 13 
 
 
   
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 prio r application was filed, together with the filing 
date and serial number of such prior application. If the application includes a deposit of a biological 
material, this must be stated in the announcemen t. If the applicant has requested under section 22(7) 
of the Patents Act that samples of the biological mate rial 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 of such amendment.  
Section 25 a  
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 under the 
Budapest Treaty.  A person wishing to obtain a sample shall give an un dertaking 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 used for other than experi mental purposes and that no sample containing the 
deposited biological material or any material obtaine d from it will be made av ailable to anyone else 
before a final decision has been given on the applica tion 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.  
 
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 essentia l for carrying out the invention.  
The undertaking shall be attached to the request.   
Section 25 b  (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 f iling 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 pe rsons 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 prescribed 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 effect that the sa mple 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 fili ng 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 a nd to biological material derived from the sample 
which has retained those characteristics of the de posited biological material that are essential for 
carrying out the invention.   Any person included in the list, or accepted by the applicant in a particular case, may be called upon 
as an expert.  IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
Page 14  
 
   
Section 25 c  
Notwithstanding the provisions laid down in Sectio ns 25a and 25b of this Decree in respect of 
undertakings to be given to the applicant for or prop rietor of a patent, a derived biological material 
may be deposited for the purposes of a new patent application. 
 
Section 25 d  (14.6.1985/505)  
If a request has been made for a sample and neith er 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 certificat e 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 as referr ed to in the first paragraph cannot be issued, it 
shall give a notice of that decision. The person w ho has requested the sample  may lodge an appeal 
against such decision with the Board of Appeal of the Patent Office within 60 days of the date on 
which the decision was communicated to the appell ant, not counting the date of communication. 
There shall be no appeal from the decision of  the Board of Appeal. (21.3.1997/246)  
 
Processing of Patent Applications 
 
Section 26 
In examining whether the conditions for granting a pa tent laid down in Section 2 of the Patents Act 
have been satisfied, the Patent Office shall cons ider all facts that come to its attention. 
 The examination at the Patent Office shall be car ried out on the basis of patent specifications, 
published specifications and publishe d applications, or abstracts thereof, from Finland, Norway, 
Sweden, Denmark, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, the Federal Republic 
of Germany, the former German Reich and the Euro pean Patent Office, or on the basis of publicly 
available international applications or abstracts th ereof as well as applications that have become 
available to the public in Finland. Other available lite rature may also be examined if found necessary.  
 
The Patent Office shall issue more specific regulat ions regarding the conduct of the examination. 
Where particular circumstances require, such regul ations may differ from the provisions of the second 
paragraph.   Section 26 a  (21.3.1997/246)  
If, during the examination of an application, a communication which is of importance for the 
examination of the application is filed with the Pate nt Office, the applicant shall be notified thereof. If 
the communication does not concern better title to th e invention, the Patent Office shall notify the 
party that submitted the communication of the possi bility of lodging an opposition if a patent is 
granted.  Section 27  
Where necessary for the examination of a patent a pplication, the Patent O ffice may consult experts 
who are not on the 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 necessar y in order to evaluate an invention. 
  IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
 Page 15 
 
 
  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, w ith the limitations laid down in the third paragraph 
of Section 74 of the Patents Act, to report what  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 
concerning 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 a nd 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 a pplication 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 w ith 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 29 a  
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 Patent s 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 co mments and return the documents to the Office within 
a specified time limit. 
 
Section 30  (21.3.1997/246)  
The Patent Office shall issue regulations on time lim its and extensions of time limits. The grant of a 
patent may only be deferred, if th e grant would take place before the application has become available 
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 app lication becomes available to the public under the 
above-mentioned Section of the Act. 
 Grant of a Patent  (21.3.1997/246) 
 
Section 31  
Printing of a published specification pursuant to Sect ion 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 Patents 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 of the patent;  (3) the name, domicile and address of the representa tive 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 applica tion, an international application or a European 
patent application which has been conve rted 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; (16.2.200 6/144)(8) if the patent is based on an in ternational application, the international IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
Page 16  
 
  filing date and the date on which the application wa s 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 a pplication which has been converted into a national 
application, the filing date under the European Pa tent Convention and the date the application was 
received by the Patent Office for conversion, and the application number of the European application;  
(10) if priority is claimed, where the earlier appli cation given as a basis for priority has been filed and 
the filing date and serial number of such application;  (11) if the application results from division or separa tion, 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 access code given to the deposit by the said ins titute; (13.7.2000/674)  
(13) the date on which the application docume nts 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 cont ain the information that is to be given in the 
published specification under Section 31, with  the exception of the publications cited. 
 
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 agains t 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 re voked 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 representa tive, the name, domicile and address of the 
representative.   The opposition and any subsequent communications, t ogether with attachments, from the proprietor 
of the patent or the opponent shall be filed in th e number of copies required by the Patent Office.  
 
Where the opponent has appointed a representative, th e representative shall prove his authorisation.  
 Section 34  (21.3.1997/246)  
If the opposition has not been made in the manner pr escribed 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 id entified in the documents submitted to the Patent 
Office within the time limit rese rved for lodging 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 co mplied with on lodging an opposition, the Patent 
Office shall invite the opponent to correct the def ects within a prescribed time limit. Failure to do so 
in the prescribed time limit shall result in th e opposition being rejected as inadmissible.  
  IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
 Page 17 
 
 
  Section 35  (21.3.1997/246)  
Copies 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 furt her 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 th e patent holder of this fa ct. The patent holder shall 
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 section 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 acc ordance with section 52(2) of the Patents Act has 
gained legal force, the patent holder shall submit th e 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 Pa tent Office, the Office sha ll see to it that they are, 
where necessary, available in th e Finnish and Swedish languages. 
 
Section 36 a  (29.11.2007/1118)  
The patent publication according to section 5 3d(2) of the Patents Act shall indicate:  
 1) the diary number of the application as well as th e registration number and the classes of the patent; 
2) the patent holder's name and address; 
3) if the patent holder has appointed a re presentative, 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 appli cation, the date of receipt and the date of filing the 
application; 8) if the patent is based on an inte rnational patent application, the in ternational filing date and the date 
on which the application has been pursued in accord ance 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 inte rnational application number; 
9) if the patent is based on a European app lication which has been converted into a national 
application, the filing date under the European Pa tent Convention and the date on which the Patent 
Office received the application for conversion, as well as the application number of the European 
patent application; 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 di vision or separation, the diary number of the basic 
application; 12) if the application involves deposition of biologica l 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 documen ts 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 patent. IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
Page 18  
 
   
The patent publication referred to in section 36(2) above shall contain the information mentioned in 
subsection 1 with the exception of the informati on mentioned in item 17 and the information on the 
date on which the Court has taken a lega lly binding decision to limit the patent. 
Issuance of further regulations  
Section 37  (29.11.2007/1118) 
The Patent Office shall issue more specific regulati ons in respect of patent applications, oppositions, 
limiting of patents in the Patent Office and cancellation of patents, as well as on the processing thereof. 
 
Patent Register 
 
Section 37 a  (15.2.1996/104)  
The Patent Register shall contain information on  patents granted by the Patent Office and on 
European patents having legal effect in Finland. 
 Section 38  (21.3.1997/246)  
Once a patent has been granted in Finland, it sha ll be recorded in the Patent Register. In that 
connection, the particulars that unde r Section 31 shall be indicated in the patent specification, with the 
exception of the publications cited, shall be recorded in the Patent Register. 
 
Section 38 a  (15.2.1996/104)  
A European patent shall be recorded in the Regist er 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 Offi ce 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 specifi ed in subparagraphs 1 to 5, 10 and 13 of the 
second paragraph of Section 31. (21.3.1997/246)   
If the European Patent Office has taken a final deci sion to revoke a European patent, maintain it with 
amended wording, or cancel it, this fact shall be reco rded in the Register. If the holder of the patent, in 
such cases where the patent is maintained with ame nded wording, has filed 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 pub lic notice of the correction shall be recorded in 
the Register.   A limitation brought into effect in Finland in respec t of a European patent shall be recorded in the 
Register when the European Patent Office has give n 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:    IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
 Page 19 
 
 
  (1) the date on which the European Patent Offi ce has given public notice of the limitation of the 
European Patent; and (2) the date on which the translation in accordance w ith section 70 t(2) of the Patents Act and the fee 
have been received, and the date on which pub lic notice has been given of the translation. 
(29.11.2007/1118) 
 
If a European patent is revoked in accordance with sec tion 70 t(3) of the Patents Act, an entry shall be 
made of this in the Register. (29.11.2007/1118)  Section 38 b  (21.3.1997/246) 
Once an opposition has been lodged against a granted pate nt 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 appointed a representa tive, 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 the sixth paragraph of Secti on 25 of the Patents Act concerning a decision 
taken in respect of an opposition shall contain th e serial number and classification of the patent, the 
title of the invention, the name of the proprieto r of the patent and the date of the decision. 
 
Section 40  
Payment of a renewal fee or respite granted for pa yment of a renewal fee shall be recorded in the 
Register.  If a patent has lapsed under Section 51 of the Patent s 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 have 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  
Any notification made to the Patent Office that a person has taken legal action to have a patent 
declared invalid, to have a patent transferred or to obtain a compulso ry license shall be recorded in the 
Register.  
When a copy of a court decision has been sent to th e Patent Office in accordance with Section 70 of 
the Patents Act, this fact shall be recorded in the Register. Once the decision has become final, an 
entry shall be made in the Register in such a way that the main findings of the case are apparent in the 
Register.   
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 Regi ster. If a patent has been limited, the date on which 
this has taken place shall be entered in the Regist er, as well as the classes. If a patent has been 
cancelled, the date of cancellation shall be recorded in the Register. (29.11.2007/1118)  IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
Page 20  
 
  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 cas e of a license, it shall be stated, on request, whether 
the right of the patent holder to grant additional li censes has been limited. If it is not possible to take 
an immediate decision on the question of recording th e transfer or grant of a license or a pledge, an 
entry shall nevertheless be made in the Re gister that recording 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 represen tative shall be recorded in the Register. 
Where the Patent Office receives such notification of transfer of a deposit as is referred to in the third 
paragraph of Section 17b or such receipt of a new de posit 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 Register.  
 
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 applications, and 
which has been drawn up by using automatic data processing, may be signed mechanically. This shall 
be indicated in the document. 
 
Public announcements issu ed by the Patent Office 
 
Section 43  
Announcements in patent matters sh all 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 secti on 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 inte rnational 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 w ho carries on business in Finland. Such applicant 
may file an international patent application also w ith 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 O ffice shall receive, check and transmit international 
applications in accordance with the Pate nt Cooperation Treaty and its Regulations. 
 
When the Patent Office acts as a receiving Office for international patent appl ications, the applicant 
shall pay:  (1) the international filing fee referr ed to in Rule 15.1 of the Regu lations under the Patent Cooperation 
Treaty within one month of receipt of the application;   IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
 Page 21 
 
 
  (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 under 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 fee 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 b een 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 speci fically prescribed fee, the Patent Office ensures 
that a copy of an application previously filed with  the Patent Office is tr ansmitted 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 above-mentioned Rule. (16.2.2006/144) 
 
Section 48  (14.6.1985/505)  
International applications to be f iled 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 accepte d by the Patent 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 appl ications filed with 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 re quired to appoint a representative residing in the 
European Economic Area, entitled to represent him befo re the 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 th e international applications it receives to the 
International Bureau of the World Intellectual Pr operty Organization, in accordance with the Patent 
Cooperation Treaty and its Regulations.  Transmitting International Patent Applic ations to the International Bureau 
 
Section 51 a  (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 C ontracting State, the Patent Office shall without 
delay transmit the application to the Internationa l Bureau 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 IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
Page 22  
 
  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  (14.6.1985/505)  
If an international patent application has been filed in a language other than those referred to in the 
fifth paragraph of Section 8 of the Patents Act, a translation of the application shall be required in 
order to pursue the application under Section 31 of the Patents Act or to request a review under the 
first paragraph of Section 38 of the Patents Act. In  such case, the provisions of Section 3 of this 
Decree concerning the translation shall be complie d with, where applicable. The Patent Office may 
issue regulations concerning relaxation for applicants  from the requirement to file a translation in 
cases where an international application is pursued in Finland in part only. 
 Section 52 a  (14.6.1985/505)  
If the applicant has taken all steps 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 Pa tent Office shall notify the International Bureau 
thereof.  Section 52 b  (14.6.1985/505) 
The time limit referred to in Section 34 of the Pate nts Act is four months from the expiry of the time 
limit for pursuing an international patent applicatio n laid down in Section 31, paragraph 1, of the 
Patents Act. (16.12.2004/1200)  Section 52 c  (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 decision referred to in that paragraph.  If the applicant can prove that he received the notifi cation 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 elapsed between the date of the notification and the date on which the applicant received the 
notification. The seven days referred to above sh all nevertheless be subtracted from the term.  
 Supplementary Protection Certificates  (21.3.1997/246) 
 
Section 52 d  (21.3.1997/246) 
'Supplementary protection certificate' refers to th e supplementary protection certificate in accordance 
with Section 70 a of the Patents Act.  'Council Regulation' refers to Co uncil Regulation (EEC) No 1768/92 concerning the creation of a 
supplementary protection certificate for medicinal pr oducts, with the amendmen ts and additions made 
to it by decision No. 7/94 of the joint committee of the EEA, and to the European Parliament and 
Council Regulation (EC) No. 1610/96 concerning the adoption of a supplementary protection certificate for plant protection products.  
Section 52 e  
Applications concerning supplementary protection certificates shall be filed in writing and submitted 
in two copies.  The application document shall be signed by the applicant or his representative and shall state the particulars prescribed in Article 8 of the Counc il Regulation referred to in Section 52 d. If a  IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
 Page 23 
 
 
  supplementary protection certificate is applied fo r by several persons jointly, the application 
document shall also contain a statement as to which of them is entitled or, if the applicants have 
appointed a representative, whom they have jointl y authorised to receive communications from the 
Patent Office on behalf of all applicants.  
In addition, the applicant shall provide the Pate nt Office with any additional information on the 
product necessary for the processing of the application.   Section 52 f  (28.6.1994/595)  
The application shall be written in Finnish or Sw edish in compliance with the applicable language 
laws. If a document accompanying 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 52 g  (28.6.1994/595)  
The Patent Office shall keep a record of applicati ons received. In addition to the details listed in 
Article 9(2) of the releva nt Council Regulation, the following partic ulars shall be entered in the record 
for each application:  1) the serial number and filing date of the application;  2) where the applicant has appointed a represen tative, 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 52 h  (21.3.1997/246)  
Provisions concerning publication of an announcem ent of an application for a supplementary 
protection certificate are laid down in Article 9 of  the relevant Council Regul ation. The announcement 
shall also contain the serial number and filing date of the application for a supplementary protection 
certificate.  Section 52 i  (28.6.1994/595)  
An application for a supplementary protection certif icate may not be amended to relate to another 
product or another basic patent.  Section 52 j  (21.3.1997/246)  
In processing an application, the Patent Office does not verify that the application meets the 
conditions laid down in Article 3(1) (d ) of the relevant Council Regulation. 
 Section 52  k (21.3.1997/246)  
The provisions of Sections 15 and 16 of the Patent s Act apply to the time limits referred to in 
Article 10 (3) of the relevant Council Regulation.  
Section 52 l  (28.6.1994/595)  
The Patent Office shall publish an announcement of the fact that a supplementary protection 
certificate has been granted. The announcement shall contain, in addition to what is laid down in 
Article 11 of the relevant Council Regulation, indication of the serial number and filing date of the 
application and the registration number of the certificate. (21.3.1997/246) 
 
A supplementary protection certificate shall contain th e particulars referred to in paragraph 1 above.  
 IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
Page 24  
 
  Section 52 m  (28.6.1994/595)  
The Patent Office shall keep a register of supplementa ry protection certificates granted. In the register 
shall be recorded the particulars referred to in th e first paragraph of Section 52 l of the Patents Decree 
and, where the proprietor has appointed a represe ntative, the name, domicile and address of the 
representative. In addition the provisions of Secti ons 40 to 42 of the Pate nts Decree shall apply. 
 
Section 52 n  (28.6.1994/595)  
Where an application for a supplementary protection certificate has been rejected or dismissed by a 
final decision, an announcement shall be published of this fact. The announcement shall contain the 
particulars referred to in Section 52 h above. 
 
The Patent Office publishes an announcement of the fact that a supplementary protection certificate has lapsed where such a decision, at the request of a third party, has been taken in accordance with 
Article 14, item d, of the relevant Council Regulation. 821.3.1997/246)  
 
Section 52 o  (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 pa ragraphs 1 and 3 of Section 41 of the Patents Act apply mutatis 
mutandis in respect of the payment of renewal fees.  
 
Section 52 p  (13.7.2000/674)  
An applicant for and a proprietor of a supplementa ry protection certificate not domiciled in Finland 
shall appoint a representative residing in the Europ ean Economic Area, as laid down in Sections 12 
and 71 of the Patents Act. 
 
Receipt of applications for European patents 
 
Section 52 q  (15.2.1996/104)  
If a European patent application is filed with the Pate nt Office, the Office shall enter the date of filing 
on the application documents, issue the applicant a ce rtificate 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 accordance with Article 77 of 
the European Patent Convention, unless otherwise sp ecified in the Act on Inventions of Importance to 
the Defence of the Country (No. 551/67). (29.11.2007/1118) 
 
Converting European Patent Applicat ions into National Applications  (15.2.1996/104) 
 Section 52 r  (29.11.2007/1118)  
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.  Section 52 s  (15.2.1996/104)  
If the Patent Office receives a European patent application which has been transmitted there for 
conversion into a national appli cation under Article 135 of the Eur opean Patent Convention, the 
Patent Office shall immediately notify the applicant thereof. 
 The application fee and the translation under the fi rst and second paragraphs of Section 70 s of the 
Patents Act shall be received by the Patent Office wi thin three months of the date on which the Patent  IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
 Page 25 
 
 
  Office sent the notification under the first paragraph a bove to the applicant. The application fee shall 
be computed in the same manner as the appli cation fee under Section 8 of the Patents Act. 
Record to be kept of European Patent Applications (15.2.1996/104)  Section 52 t  (15.2.1996/104)  
The Patent Office shall keep a separate record , accessible to the public, of European patent 
applications for which translations have been f iled 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 translati on was published. Further, the date which has been 
accorded as the filing date of the app lication 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 para graph of Section 70 h of the Patents Act has been 
filed, an entry shall be made of this in the reco rd, 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 para graph 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 52 u  (15.2.1996/104)  
The filing of the translation and the payment of th e fee under Section 70 h of the Patents Act shall 
take place within three months of the date on which the European Patent Office has published its 
decision to let the patent application proceed to gran t or to maintain the patent in an amended form. 
 The translation under the first paragraph shall co mprise the title of the invention, the description, 
including any drawings where necessary, and the patent claims. (21.3.1997/246)  
 
The translation under the first paragraph, 1st clau se, of Section 70 h of the Patents Act shall be 
accompanied by indication of the application number and the name and address of the applicant. The 
translation under the first paragraph, 3rd clause, of  the said Section 70 h of the Patents Act shall be 
accompanied by indication of the serial number of the patent and the name and mailing address of the 
proprietor of the patent.  
 If the requirements of paragraphs 2 and 3 hereof  are not complied with, the translation under 
Section 70 h of the Patents Act shall be  deemed not to have been filed. 
 Section 52 v  (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 de emed not to have been filed. 
 Section 52 x  (15.2.1996/104)  
Announcements concerning translations under Sec tion 70 h of the Patents Act must contain: 
 (1) an indication of the particulars that pursuan t to the third paragraph of Section 52 u shall 
accompany the translation; (2) the classes of the patent application or the patent;  IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
Page 26  
 
  (3) the title of the invention;  
(4) the filing date of the application; (16.2.2006/144) (5) the date on which the European Patent Offi ce has published its decision to let the patent 
application proceed to grant or to mainta in the patent in an amended form; and  
(6) if priority is claimed, where the previous app lication whose priority is claimed was filed and the 
date of filing and serial number of that application.  
 Public notices concerning translations under Sec tion 70n(2) of the Patents Act shall contain: 
 (1) an indication of the particulars that pursuan t to the third paragraph of Section 52 v shall 
accompany the translation;  
(2) the classes of the patent application;  (3) the title of the invention;  (4) information on the date of filing the patent application; (16.2.2006/144) and 
(5) if priority has been requested, information on where the previous application whose priority is 
claimed was filed and the date of filing and serial number of that application.  
 Public notices concerning translati ons under section 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 the European Patent Office has published its decision to limit the patent and on the date the translation and the publ ication fee were received by the Patent Office. 
(29.11.2007/1118) 
 
Section 52 y  (15.2.1996/104)  
Corrections of translations under S ection 70 q of the Patents Act sh all be made by filing a rewritten 
copy of the document clearly indicating the correct ion. The correction of the translation shall be 
accompanied by an indication of the number of the pa tent application or the patent and the name and 
address of the proprietor of the patent or the applicant,  respectively, at the risk of the correction of the 
translation being deemed not to have been filed. 
 Announcements concerning corrections of translations  under the first paragraph of Section 70 q of the 
Patents Act shall contain:  
(1) the information that pursuan t to the third paragraph of Section 52 u shall accompany the 
translation;  (2) the classes of the patent application or the patent;  (3) the title of the invention; and  (4) the date on which the correction of the translat ion and the publication fee were received by the 
Patent Office.  
 
Announcements concerning corrections of translati ons under the second paragra ph of Section 70 q of 
the Patents Act shall contain:   (1) the information that pursuan t to the third paragraph of Section 52 v shall accompany the 
translation;  
(2) the classes of the patent application;  (3) the title of the invention; and  (4) the date on which the correction of the tr anslation was received by the Patent Office.  
  IP/N/1/FIN/P/15 
 Page 27 
 
 
  Section 52 z  (29.11.2007/1118) 
The translation referred to in section 70 t (2) of th e 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 above sha ll contain the description, drawings, if any, and the 
amended patent claims. Information on the registra tion number of the patent and of the name and 
address of the patent holder shall accompany the translation.  The translation within the meaning of 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. 
 TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS 595/1994  
This Decree shall enter in to force on 1 July 1994. 
 If a supplementary protection certificate has been app lied 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 accordance with  Section 52 (h). In that case, the first annual fee 
falls due for payment two months after said day. 
 
104/1996 This Decree shall enter into force on 1 March 1996.  This Decree is applied to applications file d after the entry into force of this Decree. 
 
246/1997 This Decree shall enter in to 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 eac h other, paragraph 2 of Section 22, which was in 
force when the restriction was made, is applied to the divisional application. 
 
1200/2004 
This Decree shall enter into force on 1 January 2005.  144/2006 This Decree 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 prio rity date serving as a basis for priority has not 
yet expired.   1118/2007 
This Decree shall enter into force on 13 December 2007. 
  
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