• Design fees

Fees associated with filing industrial design applications in Finland as well as other design fees are available in the fee calculator.

• Multiple design applications in Finland

Multiple design applications are possible in Finland.

• Filing requirements of a design application in Finland

Applications in Finland can be filed in Finnish or Swedish.

To obtain the filing date, an industrial design application in Finland must contain:
- the designer's and applicant's name and address;
- the drawings of a design;
- indication of the product, for which registration of the design is sought;
-  the country, filing date and number of the priority application (if any);
- payment of the filing fee;
- when the applicant is not the inventor, the applicant must prove his title to the design.

It is necessary to submit the Priority Document for an industrial design in Finland only if requested by the Office.

The Power of Attorney must be provided on filing or in response to an Office Action. The term for submission is two months from the Office Action.

• Examination of a design application in Finland

The substantive examination of a design application in Finland is conducted automatically. No specific request needs to be filed.

• Novelty grace period

Disclosure of information about an industrial design within 12 months before the filing of the application or priority date thereof, in case of claimed priority, does not disprove the novelty of the industrial design according to the Finnish legislation.

• Grant, validity term and design renewal fees

The official registration fee must be paid within two months from the invitation by the Office. The renewal fees must be paid within one year before the expiration of the current period of validity at the earliest and six months after the expiration at the latest. Renewal within six months after the expiration of the validity term will require payment of an additional fee.

The validity term of a design registration in Finland is five years from the date of filing. On request of the applicant, it can be renewed for further five-year periods up to a maximum of 25 years. For the design that is a part of a complex product and is used to restore the original appearance of the complex product, the maximum term of protection is 15 years from the date of filing.

• Duration of registration procedure

Average time from filing up to registration of a design in Finland is 5 months.

• Representation by a patent attorney

For foreign applicants not domiciled in the European Economic Area (EEA), it is necessary to conduct design prosecution in Finland through an agent residing in the EEA.

• Notes

1. Online Search Databases: Finnish Designs, Community Designs (EUIPO), International Designs.
2. Industrial design protection in Finland may also be obtained via registration of a Community Design.

Brief summary is based on the information provided by Patentia Oy on 14.02.2024
Please contact us if the above information is not in conformity with Finnish IP Laws