Source: https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/ee/Riigikogu/act/523122014001/consolide
Timestamp: 2020-01-17 15:02:37
Document Index: 690071317

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2', '§ 4', '§ 5', '§ 44', '§ 47', '§ 49', '§ 57', '§ 2', '§ 4', '§ 5', '§ 33', '§ 24', '§ 11', '§ 19', '§ 16', '§ 182', '§ 11', '§ 5', '§ 19', '§ 10', '§ 6', '§ 8', '§ 211', '§ 6', '§ 8', '§ 6', '§ 8', '§ 17', '§ 211', '§ 261', '§ 17', '§ 17', '§ 25', '§ 27', '§ 37', '§ 39', '§ 431', '§ 44', '§ 11', '§ 11', '§ 17', '§ 47', '§ 5', '§ 49', '§ 27', '§ 1043', '§ 1037', '§ 1055', '§ 50', '§ 45', '§ 49', '§ 50', '§ 521', '§ 57', '§ 211', '§ 211']

§ 2 [Repealed]
§ 4 [Repealed]
§ 5 Legal protection of utility models
§ 44 [Repealed]
§ 47 Contestation of utility mode l
§ 49 Protection of rights of applicants
§ 57 [Repealed]
22.04.2010 RT I 2010, 22, 108 01.01.2011, will enter into force on the date specified in the decision of the Council of the European Union regarding abrogation of the derogation established in respect of the Republic of Estonia on the basis of Article 140(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Decision No. 2010/416/EU of the Council of the European Union of 13 July 2010 (OJ L 196, 28.07.2010, pp. 24-26).
§ 2. [Repealed]
§ 4. [Repealed]
§ 5. Legal protection of utility models
(1) Utility models are inventions which are new, which involve an inventive step and which are susceptible of industrial application.
(5) Equipment, processes and materials can be protected as utility models.The scope of legal protection of a utility model is determined by the terms of the claims of the utility model.
(1) The following is not protected as utility models:
(2) For the purposes of this Act, “biotechnological inventions” specified in clause (1) 3) of this section mean:
(3) For the purposes of this Act, “biological material” specified in subsection (2) of this section means any material, including micro-organisms, which contains genetic information and is capable of reproducing itself or being reproduced in a biological system.
(1) An invention will be considered to be new if it does not form part of the state of the art. The state of the art is held to comprise any technical information made available to the public by means of written or oral description, by use, or in any other way, in any part of the world, before the filing date of the registration application of a utility model (hereinafter registration application) or before the date of priority if priority is claimed. In determining novelty, the content of registration applications published pursuant to § 33 of this Act and of patent applications published pursuant to § 24 of the Patents Act prior to the filing date of the registration application or the date of priority, if priority is claimed, will also be taken into consideration if the filing dates or, if priority is claimed, the dates of priority of such applications are earlier.
(2) In determining the state of the art, provided that a corresponding request is submitted, no information disclosing an invention, which is disclosed within twelve months before the filing date of a registration application or, if priority is claimed, before the date of priority, by a person who is entitled to the registration of a utility model pursuant to § 11 of this Act, or by any other person who has received the information from such person against or according to the will of the person, will be taken into consideration. If another person acquired the information unlawfully or the information was published unlawfully or without the knowledge of the person who has the right to apply for the registration of a utility model, the request may be filed in the course of the examination of the registration application or in case the utility model is contested. Evidence supporting the request will be appended to the request.
(3) For the purposes of this Act, an invention is considered as involving an inventive step if, due to difference from the state of the art, beneficial technical characteristics or other beneficial characteristics become evident upon using the invention.
(4) A utility model will be considered as susceptible to industrial application if it can be manufactured or used in the economy.
Legal protection of the utility model on the basis of one and the same registration application may be applied for one invention only.
(3) The claims of a utility model consist of an independent claim and dependent claims. The claims of a utility model may contain more than one independent claim only if the invention consists of several products grouped together and on the condition that the requirement of unity of the invention is complied with.
(2) If a registration application is filed with the Patent Office within twelve months after the filing date of the first registration application or patent application, priority will be established:
2) on the basis of the filing date of the first registration application or patent application in a state which is not a State party to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property or in a state which is not member of the World Trade Organisation if such state guarantees equivalent conditions for first registration applications and patent applications filed in the Republic of Estonia.
(4) If priority is claimed, priority will be established for a registration application on the basis of the filing dates of several registration applications or patent applications filed earlier. In the event of several registration applications or patent applications filed earlier, the twelve-month term specified in subsection (2) or (3) of this section will be calculated as of the earliest date of priority.
(6) If priority is claimed, priority for a registration application filed with the Patent Office after expiry of the twelve-month term specified in subsection (2) or (3) of this section will be established on the basis of the filing date of a first registration application or patent application pursuant to subsection (2) or (3) if:
(7) In case of a registration application filed on the basis of a patent application pursuant § 19 of this Act, the priority valid in respect of the patent application or the corresponding part of the patent application is retained for the registration application.
(2) If an invention is created in the performance of contractual obligations or duties of employment, the right to apply for the registration of a utility model and to become the owner of the utility model is vested in the author or another person pursuant to the contract or employment contract unless otherwise prescribed by the legislation of the country of the residence or seat of the applicant.
(3) Any person who pursuant to subsections (1) or (2) of this section has the right to apply for the registration of a utility model may transfer such right to another person.
(4) The right to apply for the registration of a utility model will transfer to a legal successor.
(5) If two or more persons apply for legal protection of the utility model regarding the same invention independently of each other, the right to apply for the registration of a utility model is vested in the person who is indicated as the applicant in the registration application which has been filed earlier or which has an earlier date of priority, provided that such registration application has not been withdrawn or the Patent Office has not rejected the registration application or deemed the registration application to be withdrawn.
(2) If an invention is created as a result of the joint creative activities of several natural persons, such persons are joint authors.
(4) -(5) [Repealed]
(4) The owner of a utility model may transfer the rights of the owner of a utility model in full or in part to another person or to surrender the rights or to pledge the utility model pursuant to the procedure provided by this Act. The rights to a utility model may be transferred to a legal successor of the owner of the utility model, provided that the registration in the register is valid.
2) manufacture, sell or offer for sale components which form a significant part of the product protected as a utility model or to acquire and export such components for the manufacture or preparation of the product, except if the components are other independent products;
(2) In the case of products manufactured according to a process which is protected as a utility model, the manufacture, use, distribution, sale, offering for sale or acquisition (including by importation) for the aforementioned purposes of a similar product without the authorisation of the owner is considered an infringement of the exclusive right of the owner of the utility model unless it is proved that the similar product is manufactured according to a different process.
1) the use of the utility model on board of ships of other states (within the hull, machinery, rigging, radio-navigation equipment or other equipment) if such ships are temporarily or accidentally in the waters of the Republic of Estonia and the utility model is used solely for the purposes of the ship;
2) the use of the utility model within the construction or auxiliary equipment of aircraft or land vehicles of other states, or in the operation of the vehicles or equipment if such vehicles are temporarily or accidentally in the Republic of Estonia;
4) the private non-commercial use of the utility model if such use does not harm the interests of the owner of the utility model.
The owner of a utility model has no right to prohibit the acquisition (including by importation) or use, distribution, sale or offer for sale of a product which contains an invention protected as a utility a model when the product has been put on the market in the territory of the Republic of Estonia or a State party to the Agreement of the European Economic Area by the owner of the utility model or with the owner’s consent.
(1) An invention is granted provisional protection as of the filing date of a registration application until the date when a notice of registration of the utility model is published in the official gazette of the Patent Office.
(2) A person who commences use of an invention during the period between the filing date of the registration application and the date when the notice of registration of the utility model is published in the official gazette of the Patent Office is not deemed to infringe the exclusive right of the owner of the utility model, unless the person knew or should have known that a registration application has been filed with regard to the invention or the applicant notified the person in writing of filing the registration application.
(3) Persons whom an applicant notifies of the filing of the registration application will be deemed, after the date when the notice registration of the utility model is published in the official gazette of the Patent Office, to infringe the exclusive right of the owner of the utility model as of the date of receipt of the notice concerning the filing of the registration application, unless such persons have the right of prior use pursuant to § 16 of this Act.
1) an authorisation document if the registration application is filed via a patent agent;
2) documents certifying the priority claim, unless a specification specified in § 182of this Act applies.
(3) If the applicant is not the author, the applicant must declare, in the registration application of a utility model or another document annexed to the registration application, the legal basis of the right to apply for the registration of the utility model as specified in § 11 of this Act.
(4) The requirements for the content and format of the documents included in a registration application will be established by the minister responsible for the field. The minister responsible for the field will establish:
(3) The procedure for filing registration applications will be established by the minister responsible for the field.
(1) Procedures related to legal protection of utility models are performed in the Patent Office and in the Industrial Property Board of Appeal (hereinafter Board of Appea l) by interested persons or patent agents who are expressly authorised by the interested persons and who have been awarded patent agent qualifications for operation in the area of inventions pursuant to the Patent Agents Act. An interested person or patent agent may involve, at own expense, an interpreter or adviser without the right of representation in oral proceedings in the Patent Office or in the Board of Appeal.
(2) A person whose residence or seat is not located in the Republic of Estonia will authorise a patent agent as the person’s representative for the performance of procedures relating to legal protection of a utility model in the Patent Office and in the Board of Appeal, except for filing a registration application, filing a request for acceptance of an international application for national processing specified in subsection 30 (1) of this Act and payment of all the state fees specified in this Act.
(3) If procedures related to legal protection of a utility model are performed in the Patent Office or in the Board of Appeal by several persons together, they may authorise a patent agent as their representative or choose a representative from among themselves (hereinafter joint representative) whose residence or seat is in the Republic of Estonia. A joint representative has the right to perform all procedures relating to the legal protection of the utility model, unless it follows otherwise from the authority granted to the joint representative.
(2) Documents certifying the priority claim are filed together with the priority claim or within sixteen months as of the date of priority. Documents certifying the priority claim need not be submitted if priority is claimed on the basis of a first registration application or patent application in the Republic of Estonia.
(3) Translations of foreign language documents certifying the priority claim are submitted at the request of the Patent Office pursuant to the provisions of subsection 21 (2) of this Act during the term determined by the Patent Office.
(1) A person who has filed a patent application may file a registration regarding the same invention, taking into account the restrictions provided for in §§ 5-9 of this Act.
(1) The Patent Office will establish as the filing date of a registration application the date on which the Patent Office has received all of the following elements in a set of documents:
(2) Where, upon review of the documents received, the Patent Office finds that an element of the registration application of a utility model listed in subsection (1) of this section is missing from the set of documents, the Patent Office will notify the person who filed the registration application thereof. The missing elements will be filed within two months as of the date of the notice of the Patent Office.
(3) The Patent Office does not have the obligation to give notice of deficiencies as specified in subsection (2) of this section if the missing element of the registration application is the information referred to in clause (1) 2) of this section. In such case, the applicant must submit all the missing elements of the registration application as specified in subsection (1) on the applicant’s own initiative within two months from the date on which the initially submitted documents were received by the Patent Office.
(4) In the case specified in subsection (2) of this section, the Patent Office will establish the date on which the applicant has eliminated all the deficiencies in the initially submitted documents as listed by the Patent Office as the filing date of the registration application and, in the case specified in subsection (3) of this section, the Patent Office will establish the date on which the applicant submitted all the missing elements of the registration application as listed in subsection (1) on the applicant’s own initiative as the filing date of the registration application.
(5) Where the Patent Office finds that a part of the description of the invention appears to be missing from the set of the documents of the registration application, or that the claims of the utility model refer to a drawing which appears to be missing from the application (hereinafter missing part), the Patent Office will promptly notify the applicant thereof. If the applicant wishes to add the missing part to the registration application, the applicant, whether notified by the Patent Office or not, must file the missing part within two months from the filing date of the registration application. If the missing part is filed later, it will not be taken into account upon processing the registration application. The Patent Office will establish the date on which the missing part is received by the Patent Office as the new filing date of the registration application.
(6) If, within the term specified in subsection (5) of this section, the applicant gives notice to the Patent Office of declining to file the missing part or fails to file the missing part, the Patent Office will establish the filing date of the registration application pursuant to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section.
(7) Where both the provisions of subsection (4) and subsection (5) of this section apply to the establishment of the filing date of a registration application, the filing date of the registration application will be the later date as established pursuant to the said provisions.
(8) The Patent Office will not establish the filing date of a registration application if the applicant fails:
1) in the event specified in subsection (2) of this section, to eliminate any deficiencies listed in the notice of the Patent Office within two months as of the date of the Patent Office’s notice;
2) in the event specified in subsection (3) of this section, to file, on own initiative, all the elements of the registration application referred to in subsection (1) of this section that are missing within two months from the date of receipt of the initially submitted documents at the Patent Office.
(9) If a registration application has been filed on the basis of a patent application pursuant § 19 of this Act, the filing date of the registration application is set as the filing date of the patent application.
(10) The Patent Office will accept a registration application for processing if the filing date of the registration application has been established.
(11) The Patent Office will notify the applicant of the number and filing date of the registration application accepted for processing.
(1) The Patent Office will refuse to accept a registration application for processing if the filing date of the registration application is not established on the bases prescribed in subsection 20 (8) of this Act.
1) payment of the state fee specified in subsection 18 (2) of this Act;
2) existence of the documents specified in subsections 17 (1) and (2) of this Act;
3) compliance of the priority claim with the provisions of §§ 10 and 18² of this Act, if priority is claimed;
4) information on the author and compliance with the requirement to declare the legal basis of the right to apply for the utility model referred to in subsection 17 (3) of this Act if the applicant is not the author;
5) the right of the patent agent to operate in the area of inventions, if the registration application is filed via a patent agent;
51) the compliance of the registration application with subsection 5 (2), § 6, subsection 7 (4) and § 8 of this Act;
6) compliance of the registration application documents with the requirements for the content and format provided for in subsection 17 (4) of this Act.
(2) If, upon verification specified in subsection (1) of this section or upon carrying out the search of the state of the art pursuant to § 211 of this Act, it is ascertained that a document is missing from the registration application or deficiencies relating to the form or content of the documents exist or if the contents of a document are not sufficient or are unclear for processing the registration application, including for carrying out a search of the state of the art, the Patent Office will notify the applicant thereof in writing and set a term of two to four months or, by way of exception, six months for the elimination of deficiencies or provision of explanations. Not later than one month before the expiry of the set term, the applicant may apply for oral proceedings in accordance with subsection 262 (2) of this Act for providing explanations.
(3) In justified cases, an applicant has the right to request the extension of a term set by the Patent Office, but not over the term of six months specified in subsection (2) of this section. A request for the extension of the term must be filed with the Patent Office before the expiry of the term specified in subsection (2) of this section. The decision of the Patent Office regarding granting an extension of the term is final.
(4) If a registration application is in compliance with the provisions of subsection (5) 2, § 6, subsection 7 (4) and §§ 8 and 17 of this Act, the Patent Office will make a decision to register the utility model and notify the applicant thereof in writing. A registration entry will be made on the basis of the decision.
(5) The Patent Office will refuse to register a utility model, making a decision to reject the registration application, and will inform the applicant thereof in writing if:
1) the object of the registration application cannot be protected as a utility model on the basis of subsection 5 (2) or § 6 of this Act;
2) the invention is not susceptible of industrial application on the basis of subsection 7 (4) of this Act;
3) the registration application does not comply with § 8 or § 17 of this Act and the applicant fails to eliminate any of the deficiencies identified by the Patent Office in the course of the verification specified in subsection (1) of this section or the search of the state of the art pursuant to § 211 of this Act or fails to provide sufficient explanations within the term set in accordance with subsection (2) or (3) of this section or has not applied for oral proceedings in accordance with subsection (2) of this section;
5) in the event specified in subsection 23 (21) of this Act, the applicant refuses to withdraw corrections or amendments altering the invention; or
6) the applicant has not filed an objection pursuant to § 261 of this Act or the Patent Office has not agreed with an objection.
(1) The Patent Office will identify the state of the art preceding the invention in accordance with subsections 7 (1) and (2) of this Act. The claims of the utility model filed by the applicant will be taken into account upon identifying the state of the art.
(2) The Patent Office will draw up a search report of the state of the art (hereinafter search report) and submit it to the applicant so that the applicant could take notice thereof.
(4) The substance and form requirements of the search report and the procedure for drawing up the report will be established by the minister responsible for the field.
(5) Taking into account the terms and conditions provided for in subsection 23 (1) of this Act, the applicant may make corrections and amendments to the registration application on the basis of the search report within two months after the date of issue of the search report by the Patent Office.
(1) If an applicant fails to take a step within a time limit set by the Patent Office under this Act and has not applied for oral proceedings for providing explanations in accordance with subsection 21 (2) of this Act or fails to attend oral proceedings at the agreed time without good reason, the Patent Office will suspend the processing of the registration application and notify the applicant thereof in writing.
(2) If documents certifying the priority claim have not been submitted together with the priority claim pursuant to subsection 18² (2), the Patent Office will suspend the processing of the registration application until the documents are submitted, however not for longer than 16 months as of the date of priority.
(3) The processing of a registration application whose processing has been suspended pursuant to subsection (1) of this section will be resumed if the applicant takes the prescribed step or, in the event of failing to attend oral proceedings, proposes a new time for oral proceedings, pays the state fee and submits information about the paid state fee within two months as of the date of notification of the registration application procedure.
(4) The processing of a registration application the processing of which was suspended pursuant to subsection (2) of this section is resumed if the applicant submits documents certifying the priority claim or, if the applicant has not submitted documents certifying the priority claim, after 16 months as of the date of priority. In the last case mentioned, the Patent Office will refuse to satisfy the priority claim and notify the applicant thereof in writing.
(2) Corrections and amendments are deemed to alter an invention if they contain essential characteristics of the invention which were not included in the description of the invention, the claims of the utility model or the drawings on the filing date of the registration application.
(21) In the event of corrections and amendments altering an invention, the Patent Office will make a proposal to the applicant to withdraw them, granting a term of two to four months for that purpose.
(4) During processing, the Patent Office may correct obvious mistakes, delete excessive data and make wording-related corrections in the documents of a registration application without the approval of the applicant, except in the description of the invention, in the claims of the utility model or in drawings. The abstract of the invention may be altered without the approval of the applicant.
(2) If several persons apply for the registration of a utility model, a request for the withdrawal of the registration application will be filed with the consent of all such persons.
(3) The Patent Office will deem a registration application to be withdrawn if:
1) the Patent Office has suspended the processing of a registration application pursuant to subsection 22 (1) of this Act and the processing cannot be resumed pursuant to subsection 22 (3) of this Act, or
2) the applicant has not paid the prescribed state fee within the two-month term specified in subsection 18 (2) of this Act or within the one-month term specified in subsection 11 (7) of the Convention of the Grant of European Patents Implementation Act or, if the state fee has been paid, has not submitted information certifying payment of the state fee within the aforementioned terms.
(1) The Patent Office will terminate the processing of a registration application which is withdrawn or deemed to be withdrawn.
(2) The applicant will be notified of the termination of the processing of a registration application in writing.
(1) An applicant may request the resumption of the processing of a registration application if the Patent Office has terminated the registration application procedure by having deemed the registration application to be withdrawn pursuant to clause 24 (3) 1) or 2) of this Act, provided that the failure to take the steps occurred due to force majeure or another impediment beyond the control of the applicant or the applicant’s representative.
(2) The Patent Office will resume the registration application procedure if the applicant files a request to resume the procedure, proves the existence of force majeure or another impediment beyond the control of the applicant or the applicant’s representative, and takes the prescribed steps within two months after the impediment ceases to exist, pays the state fee and submits the information certifying payment of the state fee within the specified term.
(3) A request for the resumption of a registration application procedure can be filed within one year after the due date of the step that was not taken.
(1) If the Patent Office finds that circumstances which have become evident in the course of the registration application procedure bring about the rejection of the registration application under this Act, the Patent Office will, before making a decision to reject the registration application, inform the applicant of the intended decision and the circumstances thereof and give the applicant at least one opportunity to file written or oral observations.
(3) The oral proceedings will be conducted at the agreed time.
(4) Neither the Patent Office nor the applicant has the right to request the conduct of oral proceedings sooner than two or later than six months after the date of issue of the Patent Office’s summons or the date of delivery of the applicant’s request or claim to the Patent Office. The Patent Office and the applicant can agree that the oral proceedings will be held before or after the given dates.
The minutes are binding. If no agreement is reached or the parties have dissenting opinions, the Patent Office will continue the procedure. The applicant’s refusal to sign the minutes does not mean that no oral proceedings have taken place. The Patent Office may take into account circumstances that have become evident in the oral proceedings if the circumstances have been recorded in the minutes.
(3) The Board of Appeal has, with a decision, the right to:
1) dismiss an appeal or;
2) require the Patent Office to annul its decision and to continue the proceedings taking into account the circumstances set forth in the decision of the Board of Appeal.
The registration application procedure will terminate as of the entry into force of the registration of the utility model or as of the rejection of the registration application.
(1) For the purposes of this Act, international registration application of a utility model (hereinafter international registration application) is an international application filed on the basis of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (RT II 1994, 6/7, 21) entered into on 19 June 1970 in Washington (hereinafter Patent Cooperation Treaty).
(2) -(4) [Repealed]
(6) International registration applications in which the Republic of Estonia is indicated as the designated state are deemed equal to registration applications filed pursuant to §§ 17 and 18 of this Act.
(3) In justified cases and at the request of an applicant, the applicant may be granted an additional period for filing the translation of an international application specified in subsection (1) of this section, but for not more than until the end of the thirty third month as of the date of priority, and in case of several priorities, until the end of the thirty third month as of the date of the earliest date of priority. An additional period is not granted if more than two months remain until the end of the thirty-one months' period specified in subsection (1) of this section. In case of submission of a translation or in case of expiry of the thirty three months’ period specified in this section, a supplementary state fee must be paid.
(31) A utility model is not registered in the register before the international application is published pursuant to Article 21 of the Patent Cooperation Treaty, except in case twenty months have passed as of the date of priority.
(10.03.2004 entry into force 01.05.2004 - RT I 2004, 20, 141)
(32) If an international registration application to is accepted for national processing, the procedure established on the basis of subsection 33 (3²) of the Patent Act applies.
(4) -(5) [Repealed – RT I 2004, 20, 141 – entry into force 01.05.2004]
(6) An international registration application will lose the effect specified in subsections 29 (6) and (7) of this Act if:
(61) An international registration application is rejected, if:
1) the applicant has failed to observe the term specified in subsection (1) of this section or to pay a state fee in the prescribed amount;
2) the applicant has failed to pay a state fee in the prescribed amount by the end of the additional period specified in subsection (3) of this section;
3) the applicant has failed to comply with the requirements specified in subsection (32) of this section.
(7) -(9) [Repealed]
(10) If the receiving office refuses to accept an international filing date or reports that an international registration application is deemed to be withdrawn, or if the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (hereinafter International Bureau) has made a decision pursuant to Article 12 (3) of the Patent Cooperation Treaty, or if the receiving office reports that the designation of the Republic of Estonia is deemed to be withdrawn, the applicant may, within two months after receipt of the corresponding report or decision, request the review of the international registration application in the Republic of Estonia and request that the International Bureau send a copy of the international registration application to the Patent Office. The applicant must file a translation of the international registration application with the Patent Office and, in the cases prescribed, information concerning the patent agent, and pay a state fee during the term determined by the Patent Office. The Patent Office will verify the correctness of the decision of the receiving office or the International Bureau and notify the applicant of the results. If the decision of the receiving office or the International Bureau is incorrect, the registration application will be reviewed as an international registration application.
(11) If the processing of an international registration application is terminated on the grounds that an applicant has failed to perform an act prescribed by the receiving office, the International Searching Authority, the International Preliminary Examining Authority or the International Bureau or an act provided for in subsection (1) of this section on time due to force majeure or some other impediment independent of the applicant, the Patent Office will resume the processing of the international registration application in the Republic of Estonia, provided that the applicant adheres to the provisions of subsections 26 (2) and (3) of this Act.
(1) The register of utility models is maintained on the basis of this Act and the Principles of Legal Regulation of Industrial Property Act and pursuant to the procedure provided for in the specified Acts.
(2) Notices concerning register entries are published in the official gazette of the Patent Office in the events provided for in the Acts specified in subsection (1) of this section. The Patent Office may, in the public interest and pursuant to the procedure established in the statutes of the official gazette of the Patent Office, publish in the official gazette of the Patent Office notices concerning other register entries and other information whose publication is not prohibited or restricted on the basis of the specified Acts or international agreements.
(3) The statutes of the official gazette of the Patent Office will be established by the minister responsible for the field. The title of the official gazette of the Patent Office is “Eesti Kasuliku Mudeli Leht” [ Estonian Utility Model Paper ].
(1) If a registration application is accepted for processing, the number and filing date of the registration application and the receipt in the Patent Office of the documents submitted on the basis of § 17 of this Act and other documents submitted on the applicant's own initiative, and information contained in such documents pursuant to § 25 of the Principles of Legal Regulation of Industrial Property Act, will be entered in the register.
(2) In the course of processing a registration application, information and notices concerning the procedural acts performed pursuant to this Act, documents received and issued, terms provided for in this Act and terms established by the Patent Office will be entered in the register.
(3) Upon grant of legal protection to a utility model, a registration entry will be made in the register.
(4) A registration entry will be made pursuant to subsection 21 (4) of this Act on the basis of a decision of the Patent Office to register a utility model or, in the events specified in § 27, pursuant to a decision of the Board of Appeal or a court decision made regarding an appeal filed under subsection 63 (1) of the Principles of Legal Regulation of Industrial Property Act on the basis of a decision of the Patent Office to register the utility model. The applicant has the right to request the postponement of the entry into force of the registration entry, but not for more than 18 months as of the priority date. The request may be filed upon filing the registration application or in the course of the registration application procedure before the Patent Office has made a decision to register the utility model.
16) the date of disclosure of information specified in subsection 7 (2) of this Act;
(6) The applicant specified in subsection (4) of this section is entered in the register as the owner of the utility model.
(7) After making a registration entry, the Patent Office will prepare a description of the utility model. The requirements for the format and the procedure for drawing up the description of utility models will be established by the minister responsible for the field.
(8) After making a registration entry, the Patent Office will publish in its official gazette a notice of the registration of the utility model, the description of the utility model and the search report. The date of publication of the notice will be entered in the register.
(9) A registration will enter into force on the publication date of a notice of the registration of the utility model in the official gazette of the Patent Office.
(10) After the notice of the registration of the utility model is published, the Patent Office will issue the owner of the utility model a utility certificate which contains the specification of the utility model.
(12) The formal requirements and the procedure for drawing up and issuing utility model certificates will be established by the minister responsible for the field.
(1) The register is public. Everyone has the right, as of the date of publication of the notice of the registration of a utility model, to examine the registry file concerning of a registration application and data entered in the database record taking account of the restrictions provided for in this Act, including the author's right to prohibit the disclosure of the author's name. The publication date of the specified notice will be the date of the publication of the registration application.
(2) In order to access a registry file or receive copies or printouts from the register, a written request together with information concerning payment of the state fee for each file, copy or printout of a document will be submitted. Applicants, owners of utility models and authors have access to the registry files of their utility models free of charge. Other persons can access the registry free of charge if authorised by the given persons.
(3) At the written request of the applicant or owner of the utility model and if the state fee has been paid, the Patent Office will issue a document certifying priority of the invention consisting of a copy of the registration application and the official confirmation by the Patent Office. The requirements for the format and procedure for drawing up documents certifying priority will be established by the minister responsible for the field.
(4) The procedure for access to the register and release of information from the register will be established by the minister responsible for the field.
(3) A registration becomes prematurely invalid if the owner of the utility model files an application for the termination of the validity of the registration.
(6) The validity of a registration will also be extended if the state fee for the validity of the registration was not paid due to force majeure or due to an impediment beyond the control of the owner of the utility model or their representative. The Patent Office will extend the validity of a registration if the owner of the utility model, within two months after the cessation of the impediment, files a request to extend the validity of the registration, evidences the existence of force majeure or another impediment beyond the control of the owner of the utility model or their representative and pays the state fee for the extension of the registration and the additional state fee specified in clause 2) of subsection (4) of this section. The aforementioned claim can be filed within one year as of the expiry of the term specified in clause 2) of subsection (4) of this section.
The state fee will be deemed as paid if information on the state fee paid has been submitted to the Patent Office. If, by a mistake, the same step has been paid for more than once or if different persons have done it, the information submitted first regarding the state fee paid in the right amount will be considered payment of the state fee.
(1) The owner of a utility model may restrict the scope of legal protection during the entire period of the validity of the registration without altering the invention by amending the claims of the utility model, and correct any bibliographical data and obvious spelling mistakes and calculation errors in the description of the utility model. A request for making amendments and new claims of the utility model and, if necessary, a new description of the invention will be filed with the Patent Office and a state fee prescribed by subsection (2) of this section will be paid. The Patent Office will, on its own initiative or upon request of the owner of the utility model, correct its own mistakes without charge.
(2) If a request for amendments is made, a state fee will be paid for publication of the notice of the amendment of the specification of the utility model in the case of correction of bibliographical data and spelling and calculation mistakes, and a state fee will be paid for the publication of a notice concerning the amendment to the claims of the utility model and publication of a new specification of the utility model in the case of restricting the scope of legal protection.
(21) The Patent Office will publish a notice of making amendments to a utility model in the official gazette of the Patent Office. If the scope of legal protection is restricted, also the new specification of the utility model will be published.
(4) The extension of the scope of legal protection of a utility model caused by amendments made on the basis of subsection (3) of this section will not restrict the rights of persons who had, prior to the publication of the notice concerning the making of amendments to the registration of the utility model, taken into consideration the initial scope of legal protection of the utility model in their economic and commercial activities.
§ 37. – § 39. [Repealed]
(1) The transfer of the right to apply for the registration of a utility model from the author to another person is performed on the basis of a separate written agreement or pursuant to a contract or employment contract as provided for in subsection 11 (2) of this Act. The specified agreement or contract must contain provisions which ensure, pursuant to subsection 12 (8), the right of the author to receive fair proceeds from the profit received from the invention during the entire period of validity of the registration.
(3) The legal basis of the transfer of the right to apply for the registration of a utility model pursuant to subsections (1) or (2) of this section and information concerning the author are indicated in the registration application. In cases of reasonable doubt, the Patent Office and courts have the right to require the submission of documents certifying the right to apply for the registration of a utility model and the authorship of the invention.
(2) In the event of the death of an applicant or dissolution of an applicant who is a legal person, a registration application which is being processed by the Patent Office will transfer to a successor or a legal successor.
(3) In order to amend the applicant’s data in a registration application, the applicant or the person to whom the registration application is transferred will file a corresponding application and a document certifying payment of the state fee with the Patent Office. If the application is filed by the person to whom the registration application is transferred, the person will enclose with the application reliable documents certifying the transfer.
(2) In the event of the death of the owner of a utility model or dissolution of an owner who is a legal person, the utility model will transfer to a successor or a legal successor.
(3) In order to amend the data concerning the owner of a utility model in the registration, the owner of the utility model or the person to whom the utility model is transferred will file a corresponding application and a document certifying payment of the state fee with the Patent Office. If the application is filed by the person to whom the utility model is transferred, the person will enclose with the application reliable documents certifying the transfer.
(4) The application specified in subsection (3) of this section must be filed within one year after the date of transfer of the utility model set in the transaction or after the date of creation of legal succession. If the utility model is transferred pursuant to a court judgment, the application must be filed within one month after the date on which the judgment enters into force. If the terms specified in this subsection are disregarded, the registration is deemed to be invalid.
(5) A utility model is deemed to be transferred to another person as of the date of transfer of the utility model determined by the transaction or court judgment or the date of creation of legal succession.
(6) A person to whom a utility model is transferred pursuant to the provisions of this section may commence use of the rights of the owner of the utility model as of the date on which the entry to amend the registration data becomes valid. A registry entry becomes valid on the date on which it is made. A registry entry will have legal effect with regard to a third person as of the date on which a notice of the making of the registry entry is published in the official gazette of the Patent Office.
(1) The owner of a utility model (licensor) may, pursuant to a written licence agreement, grant the use of the rights of the owner of the utility model listed in subsection 14 (1) of this Act to another person or persons (licensee) for commercial purposes in part or in full or inform of the granting of a public non-exclusive licence via the Patent Office in accordance with § 431 of this Act.
(4) Licences may be registered in the register. A written request of the licensor or the licensee together with a copy of the licence agreement or an extract from the licence agreement which contains information necessary for the registration will serve as the basis for the making of an entry concerning a licence. A state fee is paid for an entry concerning a licence. An unregistered licence has no legal effect with respect to third persons. If there is a conflict of rights granted by different licences to several licensees, preference is given to the licensee whose licence is registered.
(1) A public non-exclusive licence means a licence to which anyone who pays the owner of the utility model the licence fee set by the owner of the utility model is entitled. With the utility model, the licensee has the right to, for commercial purposes, take the steps listed in subsection 14 (1) of this Act throughout the territory of the Republic of Estonia.
4) the given name and surname of the patent agent if the application is filed via a patent agent;
(4) A power of attorney must be enclosed with an application for registration of a public non‑exclusive licence if the application is submitted via a patent agent.
(5) If an application for the registration of a public non-exclusive licence complies with the requirements, the Patent Office will enter the details of the licence in the register and publish a respective notice in the official gazette of the Patent Office.
6) the given name and surname of the patent agent if the application is filed via a patent agent;
(7) A power of attorney must be enclosed with an application for a public non‑exclusive licence if the application is submitted via a patent agent.
(8) If an application for a public non-exclusive licence complies with the requirements, the Patent Office will enter the data of the licensee in the register regarding the grant of the public non‑exclusive licence, publish a respective notice in the official gazette of the Patent Office and communicate the data of the licensee to the owner of the utility model in writing. In legal terms the entry of the data of the licensee in the register is deemed the entry into a licence agreement containing terms and conditions established on the basis of clauses 6) and 7) of subsection (3) of this section between the owner of the utility model and the licensee.
(10) A licensee may waive a public non-exclusive licence by informing the Patent Office and the owner of the utility model thereof in writing. A public non-exclusive licence can be waived on the condition that the licence fee has been paid in the prescribed amount and pursuant to the terms and conditions of payment. If the owner of a utility model has not, within one month after receiving a notice from the licensee, informed the Patent Office of any overdue licence fees, the Patent Office will delete the data of the licensee from the register and publish a respective notice in the official gazette of the Patent Office.
(11) A public non-exclusive licence will become invalid towards a licensee at the request of the owner of the utility model if the licensee fails to pay the required amount of the licence fee within the term or on other terms and conditions of payment entered in the register.
§ 44. [Repealed]
(1) Disputes concerning authorship are resolved in court after the registration of a utility model.
(2) Any person who finds that he or she is, pursuant to subsection 12 (1) or (2) of this Act, the author or joint author of a utility model, may file an action in court against the owner of the utility model for certification of his or her authorship.
(09.02.2000 entry into force 01.07.2000 - RT I 2000, 19, 117)
(4) If authorship is certified, the person may, on the basis of § 11 of this Act, contest the owner of the utility model pursuant to subsection 46 (1) of this Act in the course of the same case.
(1) Any person who finds that the right to a utility model belongs to the person on the basis of § 11 of this Act may file an action in court against the owner of the utility model for recognition of the person's rights. If the action is satisfied, the person has the right to:
(2) A request stating the choice made pursuant to subsection (1) of this section along with a copy of the court judgment which has entered into force and, in the prescribed events, a document certifying payment of the state fee must be filed with the Patent Office within one month after entry into force of the judgment. Upon filing a new registration application, the person must file the documents of the new registration application in accordance with the provisions of § 17 of this Act with the Patent Office within three months from the date of the court judgment which has entry into force. Upon failure to comply with the abovementioned requirements, the registration will be revoked.
(3) Upon satisfaction of an action filed pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the person who has used the invention or made serious preparations therefor may apply to a court for the right to use the invention for a charge or free of charge in the person’s economic or professional activities after the transfer of the utility model, provided that the invention will be used for the same purposes.
(4) -(5) [Repealed – RT I 2003, 18, 106 – entry into force 01.04.2003]
§ 47. Contestation of utility mode l
(1) A person may file an action with the court against the owner of a utility model for the revocation of the registration if the person finds that:
1) the registered utility model does not comply with §§ 5-9 of this Act;
(2) An action specified in subsection (1) of this section may be filed even after the registration has expired.
(3) If a registration is revoked, the Patent Office will delete the registration entry if the owner of the utility model or a person specified in subsection (1) of this section files an application accompanied by a copy of the court judgment which has entry into force with the Patent Office.
(4) The revocation of a registration will not be a basis for the annulment of a court judgment made concerning the protection of the exclusive right of the owner of the utility model or cancellation of a contract, including a licence agreement, before the court judgment on the revocation of the registration enters into force. If the performance of the contract is continued, one party has the right to require the other party to change the payments or make recalculations.
(1) The author of a utility model or, in the event of the author’s death, the author’s successors may file, without a limitation period, an action with court in the event of infringement of the rights provided for in subsection 12 (7) of this Act and for the resolution of other non‑economic disputes deriving from authorship.
§ 49. Protection of rights of applicants
(1) Pursuant to § 27 of this Act, an applicant may file an appeal with the Board of Appeal against a decision of the Patent Office.
(2) Upon disagreement with a decision of the Board of Appeal, an applicant may contest the decision by filing an appeal with a county court within three months as of the date on which the decision is made public.
1) compensation for damage caused by unlawful use of the utility model pursuant to § 1043 of the Law of Obligations Act;
2) the transfer of that which is received as a result of the unlawful use of the utility model pursuant to §§ 1037 and 1039 of the Law of Obligations Act;
3) termination of the unlawful use of the utility model and refraining from further violation pursuant to § 1055 of the Law of Obligations Act;
(3) A person who infringes the exclusive right of the owner of a utility model by a wrongful act and causes the owner proprietary damage is required to compensate for the damage. Upon use of a utility model in good faith, a court may order a compensation which does not exceed the extent of damage caused within five years before the filing of the action.
(4) The owner of a utility model has the right to file an action within three years as of the time when the owner learns who the person is who has infringed the exclusive right.
(5) Upon infringement of an exclusive right prior to the publication of a notice of registration of a utility model, an action will be filed within the term specified in subsection (4) of this section or within one year as of the date of the publication of the notice of registration of the utility model, depending on which one expires later.
(1) A person who used an invention in good faith before a registration application was filed may file a petition with court for recognition of the person’s right of prior use. The court will hear the application by way of proceedings on petition.
(2) A licensee may file an action in court for resolution of a dispute related to the licence.
(3) A licensee may also file an action upon infringement of the exclusive right of the owner of a utility model by other persons, unless otherwise prescribed upon the grant of licence. The licensee will notify the owner of a utility model of the licensee’s wish to file an action beforehand. The obligation to notify is deemed to be performed if the notice is sent to the owner of the utility model by registered mail to the address indicated in the licence agreement or the address entered in the register.
(4) Any person may, upon doubt that the person’s activities may infringe the exclusive right of the owner of a utility model, file an action in court against the owner of the utility model to certify that the existence of the utility model does not hinder the person’s economic or professional activities.
(5) Any person against whom an action has been filed on the basis of § 50 of this Act or misdemeanour proceedings or proceedings relating to a criminal offence have been commenced in connection with an alleged infringement of the exclusive right of the owner of a utility model, has the right, pursuant to subsection 47 (1) of this Act, to file an action with court against the owner of the utility model for the revocation of the registration. The court adjudicating the alleged infringement of the exclusive right may, at the request of the alleged offender, suspend the action, misdemeanour or criminal offence proceedings regarding the infringement of the exclusive right of the owner of the utility model for the period of adjudication of the action aimed at the revocation of the registration. As the prerequiste for the suspension, the court may ask for a security for compensation of possible damage caused to the owner of the utility model, provided that the registration remains in force.
(1) In the cases provided by law, disputes related to utility models are heard by the Board of Appeal or in court.
(2) Actions and petitions referred to in §§ 45-48, subsections 51 (1), (2), (4) and (5) of this Act and appeals referred to in § 49 of this Act fall within the competence of the court in the jurisdiction of which the Patent Office is located. Actions referred to in § 50 and subsection 51 (3) and § 521 fall within the competence of the county court in the jurisdiction of which the infringement occurred. Implementation of provisional measures referred to in Article 50 of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights in Annex 1C to the WTO Agreement falls within the competence of the county court in the jurisdiction of which the infringement occurred.
(3) Courts hear disputes related to utility models pursuant to the procedure provided for in the Code of Civil Procedure, taking into consideration the specifications established in this Act.
(5) The Board of Appeal hears appeals filed with it on the basis of this Act pursuant to the procedure provided for by the statutes of the Board of Appeal.
(1) If an action is filed on the basis of the provisions of subsection 14 (2) of this Act, the defendant is required to prove that the defendant used a process different from the process protected as a utility model for manufacturing a similar product.
(2) If the use of a different process cannot be proved, the product will be deemed to have been manufactured according to the process protected as a utility model provided that, in spite of reasonable efforts, the owner of the utility model has not succeeded in determining the process actually used for manufacturing the product and the use of the process protected as a utility model is likely or if the product manufactured according to the process protected as a utility model is new.
(1) In the event of an action specified in subsection 51 (4) of this Act, a copy of the notice sent to the owner of a utility model will be annexed to the statement of claim. In the event of absence of the copy, the court will not proceed with the statement of claim and will set a term for the plaintiff for performance of the notification obligation.
(2) A court may rule, at the request of the plaintiff, that the products or objects protected as utility models and manufactured without the permission of the owner of the utility model, the use of which infringes the exclusive right of the owner of the utility model, will be removed from circulation for the time of hearing the action filed for termination of an infringement of the exclusive right.
(3) In the event specified in subsection (2) of this section, a court may, at the request of the defendant, rule that the possessor of a product or an object may continue using the product or object for a fair fee payable to the owner of the utility model during the entire or a part of the remaining time of the period of validity of the registration.
(2) A court will send a copy of the judgment made in a dispute related to a utility model to the Patent Office so that the latter could take notice thereof.
(1) In resolution of disputes related to utility models, patent agents may act as representatives in court.
(2) -(3) [Repealed – RT I 2004, 20, 141 – entry into force 01.05.2004]
§ 57. [Repealed]
(1) The Utility Models Act will enter into force on 23 May 1994.
(2) The provisions of clause 10 (2) 1) of this Act apply after the membership of the Republic of Estonia in the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property is restored.
(4) The basis for establishing the priority specified in subsections 10 (2) of this Act may only be patent applications and registration applications filed after the entry into force of this Act.
Section 211 of this Act applies also to all registration applications accepted before the entry into force of § 211 with regard to which no decision to register the utility model in accordance with subsection 21 (4) of this Act or a decision to reject the registration application in accordance with subsection (5) of the same section has been made by the date of entry into force of § 211.