Coronavirus: deadlines for patents and utility models
In patents and utility models, there are various deadlines that have to be met. We understand that the coronavirus causes difficulties for our customers and therefore want to support applicants in all ways permitted by law. Below you will find more instructions on the deadlines.
The deadlines for responding to an office action or for filing statements are set out in our Patent Regulations and Utility Model Regulations. We can, at the request of the applicant, extend the deadline for special reasons. If you cannot meet the deadline because of the coronavirus, we consider it a special reason. The request, together with a statement of reasons, must be filed before the deadline the request concerns expires.
If the deadline is laid down by law, for instance concerning due dates of annual fees, priority year, or validation of European patents in Finland, we cannot extend the deadline. If an applicant suffers a loss of right, they can request restoration of rights as set out in the Finnish Patents Act and Act on Utility Model Rights (section 71a of the Patents Act and section 26a of the Act on Utility Model Rights).
Coronavirus: deadlines at EPO and WIPO:
Go to the EPO website.
Go to the WIPO website.
For more information, please contact:
Patent Advisory Service
advice.patents(a)prh.fi
Tel. +358 29 509 5858
Mon–Fri 9.00–16.15
About us
We work for the benefit of companies and organizations.
We register companies, associations, foundations and other organizations and corporations, as well as enterprise mortgages and LEI codes. We examine and grant patents and register utility models. We also register trademarks for products and services and provide design protection. We oversee and approve auditors and monitor foundations and the collective management of copyright.
We offer our customers advisory services and courses. We give information about companies, organizations, corporations and immaterial rights.
Our office is an International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) for international PCT patent applications.
Our office comes under the administrative sector of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (MEAE), and we negotiate each year with the MEAE on our performance targets. Our office is subject to net budgeting, meaning that about 95% of our expenses are covered by the income we make from our services.
Read more: https://www.prh.fi/en/presentation_and_duties.html
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