European Patent (EPO) Validation in Finland

1. Terms for patent validation in Finland

The period for filing the translation in 3 months after the date on which the mention of the grant or the decision to maintain the patent as amended is published in the European Patent Bulletin.

The EP application number and the name and address of the applicant must accompany the translation. Otherwise, the translation is deemed not to have been filed.

2. Conditions for patent validation in Finland

2.1 Translation – Finland has enacted provisions under Article 65(1) EPC and requires a translation of the complete European patent specification if the European patent has not been granted in one of their official languages.

• For provisional protection: it is required a translation of the complete patent specification, in Finnish. If the applicant’s own language is Swedish, the translation may be filed in Swedish. The translation must be certified by the applicant or his representative.
• After grant: a translation of the patent specification into Finnish must be supplied.  If the applicant’s own language is Swedish, the translation may be filed in Swedish. The translation must be certified by the applicant or his representative. Due date is 3 months after the date on which the mention of the grant or the decision to maintain the patent as amended is published in the European Patent Bulletin.

2.2 Payment of patent validation and national registration fees:

There is no special fee to be paid.

3. Effect of the European patent as a national Finnish patent

Under Article 64(1) EPC, a European patent automatically confers on its proprietor from the date on which the mention of the grant is published in the European Patent Bulletin, in each contracting state in respect of which it is granted, the same rights as would be conferred by a national patent granted in that state.

4. Patent annuities in Finland

• Due date: last day of the month in which the date of filing occured. The first renewal fee is not, however, due for payment until the last day of the third month following the month the patent was granted.
• Earliest possible date for payment: payment may not be made more than 6 months before due date.
• Period of grace for payment of fees (with surcharge): 6 months from due date.

In case that your patent was filed not as EPO (European patent) patent but as PCT (WIPO, international patent), in order to obtain the protection on the national level, you may need to open to your patent to the national phase in Finland.