Which is the competent authority for patent applications for inventions in Finland?

yes

no

no

Finnish Patent Registry

English: Finnish Patent and Registration Office, abbreviation: PRH

Website: PRH - Finnish Patent and Registration Office

Finnish Utility Model Patent Search: Kitinet - Patentti- ja rekisterihallitus (prh.fi)

Reinstatement of priority is accepted on the grounds of "due care".

Initial protection for 5 years. It can be renewed 4 times, each time for 5 years, with a maximum protection of 25 years. If the design is part of a complex product and is used to restore the integrity of the product, it is valid for a maximum of 15 years from the filing date.

PRH conducts formality examination and substantive examination of invention patents. In Finland, the substantive examination of patent applications starts automatically without filing a specific request. Generally, it takes 8 months for PRH to issue the first office action notification, and the applicant needs to reply to the office action within 2-4 months. Patent granted can be obtained if the granted conditions are met.

The novelty of the invention will not be lost if the information about the invention is disclosed within 6 months before the filing date or the priority date if the following conditions are met:

• Disclosure due to apparent misuse by the applicant or its predecessor owners
• The invention is disclosed at an official or officially recognized international exhibition

The initial protection period is 4 years from the filing date, and can be renewed twice, 4 years and 2 years respectively, up to 10 years.

20 years