WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION  
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DU COMMERCE  
ORGANIZACIÓN MUNDIAL DEL COMERCIO  IP/N/1/FIN/D/4 
9 February 2007 
 (07-0556) 
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 Design Protection 
Decree 2.4.1971/252, as amended up to 2002/620 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 actualisé1 du Décret 2.4.1971/252 sur la protection des 
dessins et modèles, modifié jusqu'en 2002 (2002/620) 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 texto
1 del Decreto 2.4.1971/252 sobre Protección 
de Dibujos y Modelos y sus modificaciones hasta 2002 (2002/620) 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/D/4 
Page 2  
 
   
Design Protection Decree 2.4.1971/252 (Unofficial translation) 
 
(Amendments up to 2002/620 included) 
  
Registration Application and Official Register 
 
Section 1 
 
Applications for registration of  designs shall be delivered to  the National Board of Patents 
and Registration (the re gistering authority). 
 
Section 2 
 
An application for registration of a desi gn shall consist of a written communication 
(application document) with appendices.  The application document shall be signed by the applicant or his agen t and shall contain: 
 (1) the applicant's name, domicile and address and, where the applicant is represented by an 
agent, the agent's name, domicile and address;  (2) the name and address of the creator of the design;  (3) indication of the products for which re gistration of the design is applied for; 
 (4) information as to whether priority in acco rdance with the provisions of Section 8 of the 
Registered Designs Act (221/1971) is requested; 
 (5) information as to whether the applicant re quests deferment of publication of the design 
under Section 18 of the Registered Designs Act;  (6) information identifying the append ices to the application document. 
 The following shall be attached as a ppendices to the application document: 
 (1) a representation or representations of the design;  (2) where the applicant is represente d by an agent, a power of attorney; 
 (3) where the design has been created by a person who is not the applicant, a document evidencing the right of the applicant.  Subsection 4 has been repealed (18.7.2002/620). 
  IP/N/1/FIN/D/4 
 Page 3 
 
 
  Section 3 
 
The application document and appendices shall be  in the Finnish or Swedish language in 
accordance with the legislation in force relating to languages. If  the applicant is a foreigner 
the application shall be in Finnish. If a document attached to the application is in a foreign language, a translation into Finnish  or Swedish shall be deposite d if the registering authority 
so requests.  
Section 4 
 
The representations of the design shall be filed in  triplicate. All representations shall be of a 
size not exceeding A4 (21 x 29.7 cm - 8.2 X 11.6 in).  The representations shall be suitable for 
reproduction in black and white in another size.  Where the applicant deposits a specimen of the design, it shall be of durable material and 
must not exceed 40 centimetres (15.6 in) in any di mension or weigh more than 4 kilograms (8 
lb 13 oz). An object that is subject to de composition or that is dangerous may not be 
deposited as a specimen.  Where an application relates to more than  one design, a separa te representation or 
representations shall be submitted for each desi gn. In the case of such an application, the 
representations and the specimens , if any, shall be clearly mark ed with consecutive numbers. 
 
Section 5 
 
The registering authority shall state on an appl ication for registration th e serial number of the 
application and the date of receipt of the application. 
 
Section 6 
 
The registering authority shall keep an official  register of applications for registration of 
designs received. The official regist er shall be accessible to the public. 
 The following shall be entered in the official register for each application:  (1) the filing date of the app lication and the serial number; 
 (2) the date when a representation or represen tations or a specimen of the design was first 
deposited, if this date is not the filing date;  
(3) the product(s) for which registration of the design is applied for and the class(es) to which 
the design is assigned;  (4) the applicant's name, domicile and address;  (5) where the applicant is represented by an ag ent, the agent's name, domicile and address; 
 (6) the name and address of the creator of the design; IP/N/1/FIN/D/4 
Page 4  
 
   
(7) if priority has been request ed, the place where the previous  application referred to was 
filed, the date and serial nu mber of that application; 
 (8) whether the applicant has requested the deferment of the publication of documents 
disclosing the design in accordance with Se ction 18 of the Registered Designs Act; 
 (9) any specimens deposited, written comm unications received and fees paid; 
 (10) decisions made in the case;  (11) any deferment granted because of conflict u nder Section 14 with an earlier application; a 
corresponding note shall be made on the re cords of the earlier  application.  
 
Section 7 
 
Where a notification is made to the registering authority that a design for which registration 
has been applied for has been transferred to an other person, such person may be entered in 
the official register as an app licant only if the transfer of the right has been confirmed.  
 
Priority 
 
Section 8  has been repealed (18.7.2002/620). 
 
Section 9 
 
The registering authority may order the applicant to substantiate the priority referred to in 
Section 8 of the Registered Desi gns Act within a certain period by filing a certificate from the 
authority that received the basic application re ferred to, attesting to the filing date of the 
application and the applicant's name, and a copy of the application document (certified by the 
said authority) with a representation or represen tations of the design attached to it. The period 
prescribed may not expire earlie r than three months from the date on which the application is 
filed in this country.   If the applicant does not  comply with the order in accord ance with subsection (1), priority 
may not be enjoyed.  
Section 10 
 
Priority may be based only upon the first appl ication of which the design was the subject. 
 
If the person making the first application, or his successor in title, ha s filed with the same 
authority a later application re lating to the same design, the la ter application may be invoked 
as the basis of priority provide d that, at the time of  filing, the earlier application had been 
withdrawn, dismissed or reject ed and the documents filed in the case had not become 
available to the public, and has not left outsta nding any right based upon it and has not served 
as a basis for priority. Where priority is accepted on the basis of the later application, the 
earlier application may no longer be  invoked as grounds for priority.  IP/N/1/FIN/D/4 
 Page 5 
 
 
   
Section 11 
 
Where an application is filed for multiple regi stration in accordance with Section 11 of the 
Act, priority may be obtained fo r one or more of the designs. 
 Where such an application is filed, priority may be invoked on the basis of more than one 
application, even if they have been  deposited in different countries. 
 
Division 
 
Section 12 
 
Where an application relates to more than  one design, the applicant may divide the 
application by filing more than one; in such a ca se, the said applications shall be deemed to 
have been made simultaneously w ith the original application. 
 New application fees and additional fees as provided for in Section 47 of the Registered 
Designs Act shall be paid for such applica tions, if they have not already been paid. 
 
Processing of Applications for Registration 
 
Section 13 
 
In the examination for fulfillment of the conditi ons for registration of a design, the registering 
authority shall take into cons ideration everything of which that authority has knowledge. 
 The registering authority's examination as to novelty shall include ap plications for design 
registration in and for Finland th at are pending with the authority  and that have been received 
before the filing date as well as designs that  have been entered in or removed from the 
Register of Designs.  The eligibility for registration of a design in rela tion to Sections 4, 4 a and 4 b of the Act shall 
be investigated by the registering authority to the extent necessitated by the substance of the 
design and without a substantial delay in the processing of  the application. 
 
Section 14 
 
In the case of conflict with an  earlier application for registration of a design, the registering 
authority may defer the processing of the late r application until a decision has been made 
with respect to the earlier application or until the earlier application becomes available to the 
public or until the conflict has ceased as the result of a change in the application. This 
provision shall also apply where the authority acquires knowledge of  a conflict with an earlier 
application for a patent or for registration of a trademark.  IP/N/1/FIN/D/4 
Page 6  
 
  Publication of Applicat ions for Registration 
 
Section 15 
 
Publication of an application for registration in accordance with Section 18 of the Registered 
Designs Act shall contain:  (1) the serial number of the application;  (2) indication of the date on whic h the application was filed or is deemed to have been filed 
in accordance with Section 10 a of the Registered Designs Act;  (3) the applicant's name, domicile and address and, where the applicant is represented by an 
agent, the agent's name, domicile and address;  (4) the name and address of the creator of the design;  (5) indication of the articles for which registra tion of the design is applied for and of the 
classes to which the design has been assigned;  (6) information regarding prio rity requested and as to where the application to which 
reference is made was filed, the date  and number of that application; 
 (7) a representation or representations of the design;  (8) information as to whether a specimen has been deposited;  (9) information as to whether the represen tation or representations are in color. 
 
Section 16 
 
Any oppositions to app lications for registration and any later communi cations from 
applicants and opponents shall be filed with the registering aut hority in triplicate, together 
with appendices. The grounds for the opposition shall be stated.  
Section 17 
 
Where an opponent is represented by an agent, a power of attorney sha ll be filed with the 
registering authority.  
Section 18 
 
The applicant shall be supplied with copies of  all written communicatio ns and supplementary 
matter from opponents.  Where the applicant submits a statement rega rding the opposition, the registering authority 
shall decide whether a further exch ange of correspondence is required. 
  IP/N/1/FIN/D/4 
 Page 7 
 
 
  Section 19 
 
If, during examination of the application for re gistration but outside the time prescribed for 
opposition, the registering authority receives a written communication th at is of importance 
for the examination, the applicant shall be info rmed thereof. If anyone  sends such a written 
communication before the application has been  published, the registering authority shall - 
except where a better right to the design is in qu estion - draw his attention to the possibility of 
entering opposition if the a pplication is published. 
 
The Register of Designs 
 
Section 20 
 
The Register of Designs shall be kept by the registering authority. 
 
Section 21 
 
When a design is entered in the Register of Designs, it shall be given a regi stration number. 
In the case of multiple registration, all th e designs shall be given a common registration 
number. The registered owner of the design  shall be provided with a certificate of 
registration.  The Register shall contain:  (1) the serial number of the application and the registration number of the design; 
 (2) the name, domicile and address of the regi stered owner of the design and, where he is 
represented by an agent, the agent's name, domicile and address;  (3) the name and address of the creator of the design;  (4) indication of the article(s) for which the desi gn is registered and of the class(es) to which 
the design has been assigned;  (5) indication of the date     (a) on which the application for registration is deemed to have been filed in accordance 
with Section 10 a of the Act,     (b) on which the application docum ents became available to the public, 
 
   (c) on which the application for registration was published, and 
    (d) on which the design was registered;  (6) information as to priority requested, statin g where the application giving rise to priority 
was filed and the date and nu mber of that application; 
 IP/N/1/FIN/D/4 
Page 8  
 
  (7) a representation or representations of the design; 
 (8) information as to whether a specimen has been submitted;  (9) information as to whether the design has been amended under Section 25 a of the 
Registered Designs Act;  (10) information on par tial cancellation of the registration of the de sign under Section 31 of 
the Registered Designs Act.  
Section 22 
 
If one or more applicants have, on the same day, applied for registration of two or more 
designs the overall impressions of which do not differ from one another, this fact shall be 
recorded in the Register of Designs and on the registration certificate for each design 
concerned, when the designs are registered; the application number and registration number 
of each of the other designs shall also be indicated.  
Section 23 
 
Publication in accordance with Section 23(1) of  the Act shall contain information concerning 
the design's registration date and number, and also the application's serial number and the 
date when the appl ication was published. 
 
Section 24 
 
Where anyone has notified the registering author ity that he has instituted an action for 
cancellation of the registration of  a design in whole or in part, for transfer of registration, or 
for the granting of a compulsory license,  this shall be noted in the Register. 
 When a copy of a final decision has been sent to  the registering authorit y in accordance with 
Section 44 of the Act, this shall be noted in the Register. When the decision has gained force 
of law, an entry shall be made in the Regist er showing the principal outcome of the case. 
 
Section 25 
 
An entry in accordance with Sect ion 27 of the Act shall state the name, domicile and address 
of the proprietor of the right, and the date of the transfer of the design right or of a license or 
mortgage. If a request is made to this effect with respect to a license, a note shall be made as to whether the right of the re gistered owner of the design to  grant a further license is 
restricted. 
 If a question concerning a note cannot immediatel y be settled, it shall nevertheless be noted 
in the Register that a note has been requested.   Subsection (1) shall apply correspondingly to a note concerning a compulsory license and the 
right defined in Section 32(2) of  the Registered Designs Act. 
  IP/N/1/FIN/D/4 
 Page 9 
 
 
  On notification that the right to a design is the subject of attachme nt, this shall be noted in the 
Register.  Notification of an amendment regarding an  agent shall be noted in the Register. 
 
Section 26 
 
Where the registered owner of a design gives no tice, in accordance with  Section 33(1) of the 
Act, that he renounces his right to a design and where a license is noted in the Register, the 
licensee shall be informed and allowed sufficient time to safeguard his interests in the matter, 
before the design is removed from the Register.  
Section 27 
 
Where registration of a desi gn is renewed, this shall be noted in the Register. 
 Publication of renewal shall c ontain information as to the de sign's registration number, the 
date of commencement of the renewal period, and the name and address of the registered 
owner of the design.  
Section 28 
 
Where a registration has ceased to be in force, the design shall be removed from the Register 
by the registering authority.  Where a design has been removed from the Register or it has been modified or where a design right has been transferre d to another person or cancelled in part in consequence of a 
judgment having force of law, this shall be published by the registering authority. 
 
Fees 
 
Sections 29 to 32  have been repealed (3.12.1976/943). 
 
Special Rules 
 
Section 33 
 
Designs shall be classified in one or more classes. The cla ssification of designs shall be 
drawn up by the registering authority.  
Section 34 
 
Notices in matters concerning the protection of  designs shall be entered in a Registered 
Designs Gazette issued by the registering authority. 
 IP/N/1/FIN/D/4 
Page 10  
 
  Section 35 
 
A model deposited with the registering author ity in accordance with Section 10 of the 
Registered Designs Act shall be kept by the authority until five years have  elapsed after the 
expiry of the registration. If the registered owner of the design has not, during the five-year 
period, requested its return, the register ing authority may destroy the model. 
 
Section 36 
 
More detailed regulations shall be draw n up by the registering authority regarding 
applications for registration and the processi ng of such applications , matters concerning 
registered designs, the Register of Designs , and publication in matters concerning the 
protection of designs.  
Section 37 
 
Priority in accordance with the provisions of  Section 8 may not be based on an application 
filed in a foreign country before the entry into force of the Registered Designs Act on April 1, 
1971.  This Decree shall enter into force on 1 August 2002. 
 
__________