A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Å Ä Ö

A

Absolute novelty is one of the most important conditions for applying a patent or a utility model in Finland. Additionally, exposing the invention prematurely prevents its protection.

D

Design protection usually protects the appearance of a developed product, some externally visible element thereof, or else to e.g. a certain type of ornament or pattern. An advantage of design protection is its long validity time.

E

EUIPO , the European Union Intellectual Property Office

EPC, the European Patent Convention is a European application system. It is possible to have a patent in over 30 European countries by means of EPC.

EPO is the The European Patent Office that handles European patent applications.

European patent application system see EPC.

Examination of novelty is an examination that is done after submitting the application. Its purpose is to study the invention to see is it new and can it be granted a patent.

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F

Finnish Patent and Registration Office is the official that handles and grants patents and utility models. It also registers trademarks and designs in Finland.

G

Grace period in Finland means the period in which the creator of a design can test the developed item in the market before submitting the application for design protection, although revealing the design before the design protection application has been submitted is not recommended.

I

Idea is a thought that leads to a new invention. An unconcretised idea can't be protected.

Immaterial rights are usually divided into intellectual property rights and copyrights. They concern immaterial property.

Innovation usually refers to an invention that has been commercialized.

Intellectual Property Rights/ IPR see. Immaterial rights.

International patent application system, see PCT

IPR management is taking care and maintenance of domestic and foreign IPR-matters

IPRP, the International Preliminary Report on Patentability, is a preliminary statement on patentability of an invention given during an International Patent (PCT-) application proceeding in its final stage

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L

License is a permit which the creator of an invention, for example, the owner of an intellectual property right grants to a licensee to utilise the invention. For allowing licencees utlilise the invention the licensor often receives royalties.

London agreement is an agreement, which Finland joined on 1st of November 2011. Thus, the need for a translation of a European Patent in its national phase is abolished or decreased (e.g. in Finland only a translation of the claims is needed in Finnish from now on)

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O

OHIM is now known as EUIPO, the European Union Intellectual Property Office

P

Patent Cooperation Treaty, the PCT-system is an international patent application system. Its purpose is to facilitate international patent application process.

Patent is the most efficient and advisable option for protectng an invention. In Finland, patent remains valid for 20 years. See also Examination of novelty and absolute novelty.

Patent attorney in Finland is a professional registered by National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland who has to have enough knowledge of techical matters and good experience in IPR matters.

Patent application has to be done in written form. In addition to Patent claims it includes description that demostrates the operation of the invention with drawings and an abstract. .

Prior art is recommended to be examined during early product development. The examination provides information for the product developer about current and latest technology and solutions for knows technical problems.

PRH See Finnish Patent and Registration Office.

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R

Royalties are license fees that are paid to, for example, an owner of an intellectual property right. See also license.

T

Trademark is one of the most important ways to protect word marks, word/figure combinations, figures, or else e.g. sound effects of a certain type, or image sequences. Trademark provides a possibility of naming e.g. a product, a service or a new invention to make it clearly distinctive, even by its name, from ther competitive products in the marketplace. After registering a trademark will remain valid for as long as needed by revising it every 10 years.

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U

Utility model provides in some cases adequate protection. Such inventions include conrete implementations of technical nature (except solutions dealing with techniques for carrying out a method), which are not perceived to possess a very high inventiveness or have a life expectancy of no more than a few years.

A major benefit of utility model protection, is it's prompt office handling. See also absolute novelty.

W

WIPO is the World Intellectual Property Organization that currently has 183 member states..

WO, the written opinion, is a preliminary statement on inventiveness of an invention given during an International Patent (PCT-) application proceeding in its early stage

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