WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION  
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DU COMMERCE  
ORGANIZACIÓN MUNDIAL DEL COMERCIO  IP/N/1/FIN/T/3 
9 February 2007 
 (07-0601) 
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 Trade Marks 
Decree 29.5.1964/296, as amended up to 2000/370 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 contient le texte actualisé
1 du Décret 29.5.1964/296 sur les marques de 
commerce ou de fabrique, modifié jusqu'en 2000 (2000/ 370) inclusivement, notifié 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 del Decreto de Marcas de Fábrica 
o de Comercio N° 29.5.1964/296 y sus modificaci ones hasta 2000 (2000/370) 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/T/3 
Page 2  
 
   
Trademarks Decree 29.5.1964/296 (Unofficial translation) 
 
(Amendments up to 2000/370 included) 
 
 
Chapter I 
The Trademark Register 
 Article 1  has been repealed (20.3.1992/258). 
 
Article 2 
 
The National Board of Patents a nd Registration of Finland shall enter a trademark into the 
Trademark Register once the mark has been registered. The following particulars shall be registered:  1) the number and filing date or the date deem ed to be the filing date of the trademark 
application;  2) the registration number and the date of registration; 
 3) the name or trade name and the domicile of the proprietor;  4) the classes of goods or serv ices and the goods or services  covered by the registration; 
 5) a note concerning a collective mark, where applicable;  6) an indication of the fact that the registration has no legal effect; 
 7) an entry under Article 56g, paragra ph 2, of the Trademarks Act (7/1964); 
 8) an entry concerning a measure pursuant to Article 56i, paragraph 2, Article 56j, 
paragraph 2, or Article 57 a of the Trademarks Act; 
 9) an entry concerning a measure pursuan t to Article 52 of the Trademarks Act; 
 10) an entry concerning the fact that the regi stration or an applica tion therefor has been 
divided from an earlier applicati on or registration and the number of the earlier application or 
registration.  Exclusion from protection referred to in Article 15 of the Trademarks Act (disclaimer) and a 
right of priority referred to in Articles 18 and 30 of the same law shall also be recorded in the 
Register. Similarly, an entry shall be made of th e colours of the mark and, at the discretion of 
the authority, of other de scription of the trademark. 
  IP/N/1/FIN/T/3 
 Page 3 
 
 
  If the proprietor of the trademark is not dom iciled in Finland, the representative of the 
proprietor shall be entered in the Register. The re presentative shall be recorded also in other 
cases where considered appropriate  by the registering authority. 
 
Article 3 
 
An application for renewal of registration shall be recorded in the Register without delay by 
indicating the filing date. Once a decision has b een taken on the case, the decision shall be 
entered in the Register. If the renewal of the trademark is granted for another party than the 
person last entered in the Regist er as the proprietor, particular s concerning the new proprietor 
shall be recorded at the same time.  When a registration, under paragraph 4 of Artic le 22 of the Trademarks Act, is renewed by 
paying a renewal fee, an entry of the re newal shall be made in the Register. 
 If an application referred to in Article 17a of  the Trademarks Act for division of a registration 
has been filed, an entry of the fact shall promptly be made in the Register. Once the matter has been decided on, the decision sh all be entered in the Register. 
 
Article 4 
 
When a trademark is deleted from the Register under Articles 24 to 26 or Article 31 of the 
Trademarks Act, the date of and reason for th e measure shall be reco rded in the Register. 
 
Article 5 
 
Once a request is made under Arti cle 33 or 34 of the Trademarks Act that the assignment of a 
trademark or the grant of a licen se be recorded in the Register , an entry of the fact shall 
without delay be made in the Register. Once th e registering authority has taken a decision on 
the case, the decision shall be entered in the Regi ster. If the request is granted, an entry shall 
be made of the name or trade name and the dom icile of the new proprie tor or of the licensee 
and of the date of the assignment or license ag reement. In respect of license agreements, the 
registering authority shall, according to its discretion in each separate case, record the 
restrictions on the rights of the license hol der stated in the license agreement.  
 A request for entry in the Register of a mort gage agreement under Article 33, paragraph 3, of 
the Trademarks Act shall be recorded in the Register and a decision taken without delay on 
the case. The decision and the date thereof shall be  recorded in the Register and, if the request 
is granted, also the name or trade name and the domicile of the mortgage holder as well as the 
date of the mortgage agreement and the date at which the mortgage right was established. 
 
When it is shown that a license or mortgage ri ght has expired, an entry of the fact shall be 
recorded in the Register with indication of  the date of and reason for the measure. 
 An entry shall also be made in the Register of  an assignment of a trademark to another party 
in other case than the one re ferred to in paragraph 1. 
 IP/N/1/FIN/T/3 
Page 4  
 
  Article 6 
 
Entries shall also be made in the Register of decisions and measures other than those referred 
to in Articles 2 to 5 taken by the National Board of Patents a nd Registration in respect of a 
registered trademark as well as of court deci sions communicated to th e registering authority 
in trademark cases other than th e one referred to in Article 4, if  the decision, measure or court 
decision directly relates to the Trademark Register.  
Article 6a 
 
A copy shall be given to the applicant of regist er entries other than those referred to in 
paragraph 2 of Article 3 as a document of the registration. 
 
Chapter II 
Applications in trademark matters 
 
Article 7 
 
An application in a trademark matter shall be filed in writing and be signed by the applicant 
or his representative. A certified  translation into Finnish or Swedish shall be submitted to the 
registering authority of an accompanying documen t in a foreign language constituting part of 
the application, if the authority so demands. 
 
Article 8 
 
When registration is sought, a se parate application shall be file d in respect of each trademark.  
The same procedure shall be followed if an app lication concerns other measures to be taken 
in respect of a trademark.  If the applicant wishes to ex tend the registration to cover goods of other art than those 
referred to in the applicati on, he shall file a separate application to that effect. 
 
Article 9 
 
An application for trademark registration shall contain the fo llowing particulars: 
 1) the name or trade name and the do micile and address of the applicant; 
 2) if the applicant has appoint ed a representative, the repres entative’s name, domicile and 
address; 
 
3) the trademark presented in the form of a figure, words, letters or numerals, or as a 
graphical representation of the shap e of the goods or their packing; and 
 4) an indication of the goods or  services for which the registra tion of the mark is requested 
and an indication of the class in  which the article or service, according to the applicant, in 
each separate case is to be classified.   IP/N/1/FIN/T/3 
 Page 5 
 
 
  Paragraph 2 has been repealed (22.3.1996/188). 
 If the application concerns regi stration of a trademark that cons ists of a figure or of a word, 
letter, numeral or combination thereof with  special typography, the application shall be 
accompanied by ten copies of reproducible repres entations of the mark copied on archive-
quality paper, of a maximum size of 8 x 8 cm. If colour registration is applied for, the colours 
of the mark shall also be stated in the application. 
 Paragraph 4 has been repealed (20.3.1992/258). 
 If the applicant does not carry on a business in Finland, the application shall be accompanied 
by an extract from the Trade Register of his home state showing that he has had the 
trademark registered there for the goods that the application concerns in this country 
(certificate of registra tion in country of origin). Provisi ons concerning exemption granted to 
persons carrying on a business in certain count ries from the obligation to present the 
certificate of registration in country of origin are laid down in the Trademarks Act. 
 An application for registration of a collec tive mark shall also be accompanied by the 
documents referred to in Article 3 of the Act on Collective Marks. (795/80). 
 
Article 9 a 
 
When an application is divide d under Article 17a of the Trad emarks Act the applicant shall 
file a new application in respect of the same mark into which part of the goods covered by the 
original application have been divided. In th e same connection a list of the goods remaining 
with the original application (parent applica tion) shall be submitted to be annexed to the 
parent application.  The new application shall state that it is divi ded from an earlier ap plication, and the new 
application shall be filed in compliance with the provisions of Article 17 of the Trademarks Act.  
Article 10 
 
In matters concerning trademark registrations, the applicant shall, where the registering 
authority considers it necessary, submit a written  description of or by technical means show 
what the mark is intended to represent and what , in the applicant’s mind, is characteristic of 
the mark.  If the application concerns re gistration of the shape of goods or their packing, the applicant 
shall, where the registering authority consider s it necessary, submit specimens thereof to the 
authority. IP/N/1/FIN/T/3 
Page 6  
 
  Article 11 
 
An opposition under Article 20, paragraph 2, or Artic le 56c, paragraph 2, of the Trademarks 
Act shall be filed in writing in two copies with the National Board of Patents and Registration. An appendage to the opposition docu ment shall also, where possible, be filed in 
two copies. A statement of the grounds for the opposition shall be given, and the opposition shall specify the goods or se rvices that it concerns. 
 The provisions of paragraph 1 correspondingly appl y to an explanation or a statement given 
on account of an opposition.  
Article 12 
 
An application for renewal of registration shall contain the foll owing particulars: 
 1) the name or trade name and the do micile and address of the applicant; 
 2) the name, domicile and addr ess of a new representative; 
 3) an indication of the restriction on the scope of protection that the applicant desires to be 
effected, and in such a case, of the goods or services and classes that the registration according to the applicant thereafter would concern; and  4) an indication of the class in which, according to the applicant, the article or service in each 
specific case is to be classified, providing that  this has not already been entered in the 
Register.  Where the registration is under Article 22, para graph 4, of the Trademarks Act renewed by 
paying a renewal fee, the registra tion number and the name and a ddress of the payer are to be 
indicated.  
Article 13 
 
An application under Article 23 of the Trademar ks Act concerning alteration of a registered 
trademark shall contain the following particulars:  1) the name or trade name and the do micile and address of the applicant; 
 2) the name, domicile and addre ss of a new representative; and 
 
3) a clear indication of th e alteration that the applicant wishes to be done. 
 If the applicant is other than the person entered as the proprietor of the mark in the Register, the application shall be accompanied by a document providing proof of the applicant’s entitlement to the mark.  The application shall be accompanied by the repres entations or colour re presentations of the 
mark referred to in Article 9.  IP/N/1/FIN/T/3 
 Page 7 
 
 
   
Article 14 
 
An application concerning recording in the Tr ademark Register of an assignment or other 
transfer of a registered trademark shall contain the same particulars of the applicant as those 
referred to in Article 9, paragra ph 1. If the particul ars are furnished by a person other than the 
new proprietor of the trademark, an indication of  the consent of the proprietor to the measure 
requested shall be included in  the application documents. 
 The application shall be accompanied by:  1) a document showing that the trademark has been assigned and containing a statement of 
the goods or services that the assignment of  the trademark concerns where the assignment 
does not concern the regist ration as a whole; and 
 2) a proper certificate of registra tion in country of origin, wher e appropriate under Article 28 
of the Trademarks Act.  
Article 15 
 
An application for registration of a license c oncerning a trademark can be filed by either the 
proprietor of the trademark or the licensee. The application shall contain an indication of the 
name or trade name, domicile and address of the licensee, the date of the licencing agreement 
and also an indication of any restrictions on the rights of the licensee that may have been 
agreed on. The licensing agreement shall accompany the application. 
 
Article 16 
 
An application for entry in the Register of a mortgage agreement sha ll contain an indication 
of the name or trade name, domicile and addre ss of the mortgage holder and the date of the 
mortgage agreement. The mortgage agr eement shall accompany the application. 
 
Chapter III 
Procedure in matters concerning registration 
 
Article 17 
 
If trademark registration has been applied for in a foreign State that is party to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Proper ty (Finnish Treaty Series 43/75) or to the 
Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organi zation (Finnish Treaty Series 5/95) and if 
registration of the mark is a pplied for in Finland within si x months of the filing of the 
application in that foreign State, the applica tion filed in Finland sh all be considered, in 
relation to other applications as well as to th e bringing into use of other trade symbols, to 
have been made at the same time as the appl ication was filed in the foreign State. This 
provision also applies if tradem ark registration has been applied for in such application filed 
outside Finland as the regist ering authority for special r easons considers equal to an 
application filed in a Contracting State.  IP/N/1/FIN/T/3 
Page 8  
 
  To obtain a right of priority refe rred to in paragraph 1, the applicant shall claim it in a written 
statement within one mont h of the date of filing the applic ation in Finland and at the same 
time indicate where and when the application the priority of which is claimed has been filed, and, as soon as possible, the number of that a pplication. If the priority  does not concern all 
goods or services, the goods or services  it concerns shall also be specified. 
 
Article 17a 
 
The registering authority may for special reasons by official action invite the applicant within 
a specified time limit, in order to prove the right of priority claimed, to submit to the 
authority a certification of the filing date of th e application the priority of which is claimed 
and of the name of the applicant, as well as a copy of the application and the trademark it 
concerns. The certification shall be issued by th e authority that has received the application 
the priority of which is claimed and the copy be certified by the same authority. The time 
limit referred to above shall not be ordered to e xpire before three months have passed from 
the filing of the appl ication in Finland.  
 Failure to comply with an official action referred  to in paragraph 1 shall result in loss of the 
right of priority.  
Article 17b 
 
The right of priority in respect of each article  or service can only be granted on the basis of 
the first application for trademark registration filed outside Finland. 
 
Article 17c 
 
A priority claim under Article 18 of the Trademar ks Act shall be filed within the time limit 
laid down in paragraph 2 of Artic le 17. The applicant shall, wh ere necessary, provide proof to 
the effect that the exhibition is  to be deemed international. 
 
Article 18 
 
Where an opposition under Article 20, paragra ph 2, or Article 56c, paragraph 2, of the 
Trademarks Act is filed against a regist ration and the opposition is not manifestly 
ungrounded, the proprietor of the registration shall be invited to submit his statement within a 
specified time limit.  
Article 19 
 
In cases concerning deletion from the Register  of a trademark and in matters concerning 
registration referred to in Articles 23, 33 and 34 of the Trademarks Act, the same procedure 
shall be applied as is laid down in Article 19 of  the same Act in respect of the processing of 
registration applications.  If the proprietor of a trademar k requests that the trademark be deleted, and an entry on a 
licence has been recorded in the Register, the licensee shall be notified of the request, where necessary, and be given an opportunity to submit his statement.  IP/N/1/FIN/T/3 
 Page 9 
 
 
   
Article 20 
 
The registering authority has an obligation to  answer any inquiries by the public as to 
whether or not a particular word mark has been entered into the Trademark Register. 
 
Chapter IV 
Notification 
 
Article 21 
 
Public notices under the Trademarks Act shall be given in the Trademark Gazette published by the National Board of Pa tents and Registration. 
 The application documents with all the ap pendages concerning a registration or the 
documents concerning an international registra tion shall be kept available for two months 
from the publication date of the public not ice at the National Board of Patents and 
Registration to anyone who wishes to obtain information on the registration. 
 
Article 22 
 
A public notice under Article 20 of the Trademarks Act shall contain the following particulars:  1) the date of publication, if a public notice of  the application is give n before registration; 
 2) the number of the trademark application;  3) the registration number;  4) the trademark;  5) the filing date or the date that is deemed to be the f iling date of the application; 
 6) the date of registration;  7) the name or trade name and domicile of the proprietor;  8) if the proprietor has a ppointed a representative, the name of the representative; 
 
9) the classes of goods or services to  be covered by the trademark right; 
 10) a note concerning a collective mark; 
 11) where an application is under Article 56i, paragraph 1, or Article 56j, paragraph 1, based 
on an international regist ration, the number and date  of that registration; 
 IP/N/1/FIN/T/3 
Page 10  
 
  12) if the application has been divided from an  earlier application, the number of the parent 
application;  13) if a new application has been divided from  the application, the number of the divisional 
application;  14) the application number of the Community trad e mark application, if the application under 
Article 57a of the Trademarks Act is based on an application forw arded by the Community 
Trade Mark Office.  The public notice shall furthermore contain a lis t of the colours in the mark and, at the 
registering authority’s discreti on, other description of the mar k, as well as a mention of a 
disclaimer and a right of priority referred to in Article 2, paragraph 2. 
 The public notice shall inform of  the possibility to file an opposition against the registration 
under Article 20, paragraph 2, of the Trademarks Act.  
Article 22 a 
 
A public notice under Article 56c of the Tr ademarks Act shall contain the following 
particulars:  1) the date of publication;  2) the number of the inte rnational registration; 
 3) the trademark;  4) the date of the international registration;  5) the name or trade name and domicile of the proprietor;  6) if the proprietor has a ppointed a representative, the name of the representative; 
 7) the classes of goods or services to be covered by the trademark right; and 
 8) a note concerning a collective mark.  Furthermore, the public notice shal l contain, if the mark is in colour, a mention of that fact 
and, at the registering authority ’s discretion, other descripti on of the mark, as well as a 
mention of a disclaimer or a right of priority. 
 The public notice shall inform of the possibility to file an opposition ag ainst the international 
registration under Article 56c, paragr aph 2, of the Trademarks Act. 
  IP/N/1/FIN/T/3 
 Page 11 
 
 
  Article 23 
 
A public notice under Article 21, paragrap h 1, and Article 56d, paragraph 3, of the 
Trademarks Act shall contain the registration number and the name or trade name of the 
proprietor.  
Article 24 
 
The registration number shall be indicated in  a public notice under Article 24 and Article 56h 
of the Trademarks Act concerning deletion from the Register and restriction of the scope of 
protection of a trademark, and in a public no tice under Article 56k of the Trademarks Act 
concerning renewal of registration.  
Article 25 
 
A public notice under Article 33, paragraph 1, Artic le 34, paragraph 1, and Article 56k of the 
Trademarks Act concerning a transfer of a tr ademark and registration of or notification 
concerning a license shall state the registration number, the name or tr ade name and domicile 
of the new proprietor or the li censee and any other particular s considered necessary by the 
registering authority.  
Article 26 
 
A public notice concerning an alteration in a trad emark shall indicate the registration number, 
the trademark as altered, and the name or trade name and domicile of the proprietor. 
 
Article 26a 
 
A public notice under Article 56g, pa ragraph 2, of the Trademarks Act shall state the number 
of the Finnish registration that has been repl aced and the number of the valid international 
registration. 
 
 
Chapter V 
Articles 27 and 27 a have b een repealed (3.12.1976/ 943). 
 
 
Chapter VI 
Special provisions 
 
Article 28 
 
This Decree shall enter into force on J une 1, 1964. The following are hereby repealed: 
 the Decree issued on Sept ember 30, 1921 (230/21) containi ng amended provisions on 
protection of certain foreign patents and trad emarks, if it continues to be in force; 
 IP/N/1/FIN/T/3 
Page 12  
 
  the Decree issued on July 15, 1963 (383/63) on Fees Payable in Patent and Trademark 
Matters, if it contains provisions on fees payable in trademark matters; and 
 the Declaration on the Protection of Trademarks issued on April 4, 1889. 
 
Article 29 
 
Before a public notice under Article 20 of the Tr ademarks Act is given in respect of an 
application for trademark regist ration that has been filed bu t on which no decision has been 
taken before June 1, 1964, the applicant shall pay the fees referred to in Article 27. The 
amount of the fee is determined by the number of the classes covered by the application at the 
time of publication. The amount that  the applicant has ea rlier paid as regist ration fee shall be 
subtracted from the amount of the fee. Where an application of this kind at the time of giving 
public notice does not cover goods in more than th ree classes, no other fees shall be collected 
from the applicant beyond the registration fee he has paid. 
 Where an application filed before June 1, 1964 is  refused, dismissed or withdrawn, half of the 
amount of the registration fee paid sh all be returned to  the applicant. 
 
Article 30 
 
If an application for renewal of such trademar k registration whose term of registration has 
expired before said date is pending on June 1, 1964, no further fee shall be collected from the 
applicant who already has in the prescribed order paid the fees under the Decree on Fees 
Payable in Patent and Trademark Matters. In othe r cases fees shall be collected in accordance 
with the provisions of this Decree fo r renewal applications  pending on June 1, 1964. 
 
Article 31 
 
The registering authority shall lay down more detailed provisi ons on registration applications 
and the processing thereof, matters concerning re gistered trademarks, the Trademark Register 
and public notices to be gi ven in trademark matters. 
__________