Utility Models Act to be amended

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June 2, 2008

Utility Models Act to be amended in Finland

The Finnish Government has given a Government bill to Parliament to amend the Finnish Act on Utility Model Rights. If Parliament approves the proposed new Act, the amendments will enter into force in the autumn 2008.

The Act is proposed to include provisions concerning an electronic claim publication prepared by the Registering Authority and serving as a public information source after a Finnish utility model application has become available to the public in Finland.

The Act would also include provisions concerning the filing date of a Finnish utility model application. In order for the application to be processed, it would still be required that the registration fee be paid but it would no longer affect the accordance of a filing date.

The Government proposes that provisions concerning the grounds of invalidation of a utility model registration and a partial invalidation of a utility model registration be clarified. The extension of the scope of a claim would also be mentioned as a ground of invalidation after the registration of a utility model.

Many of the provisions now proposed for the Act on the Utility Model Rights in Finland follow the corresponding provisions of the Finnish Patents Act. The Government bill includes, among other things, provisions concerning reinstatement of utility model rights and conversion of a pending European patent application into a Finnish utility model application while the European patent application would remain pending.

It is also proposed that the time limit during which an international application can be pursued as a national utility model application in Finland be extended to 31 months, which means that the time limit would be the same as for patent applications.

Protecting an Utility Model

Forssén & Salomaa Oy's patent attorneys, with their expert knowledge and experience, can help you to protect your utility model. From our web pages you will find more information about the ways of protecting your invention, such as a patent and a utility model. In all matters relating to the protection of industrial rights you can contact our attorneys directly or send an e-mail message to our general e-mail address info@fspat.fi. You will also find from our web pages our contact details.