Isopaikallinen

Isopaikallinen refers to a concept in European patent law that deals with the territorial application of a patent. The term 'isopaikallinen' is Finnish for 'international', but in the context of patent law, it specifically relates to the principle of patent protection extending beyond national borders. Under the European Patent Convention, an international patent application can be filed through the European Patent Office (EPO), which then grants a patent with effect in multiple countries.

An isopaikallinen patent is a type of patent that has been granted this international effect. After a patent application is approved by the EPO, the patent can be enforced in up to 38 member states, providing a broader territorial coverage. However, the patent rights can vary depending on the specific member states in which it is enforced. This concept gives individual inventors and businesses a more substantial protection for their inventions across different countries in the European region.

The isopaikallinen patent system allows better protection for inventors compared to a purely national approach, enabling them to prevent the use of patented inventions in broader geographic areas. Yet, patent holders must be aware of the limitations and variance of patent protection across European countries. In practice, an isopaikallinen patent requires a more complex approach to manage and enforce patent rights across multiple countries.

The main economic purpose of granting an isopaikallinen patent is to increase the coverage area of a patent. However, this can lead to increased complexity and costs in patent enforcement for patent holders.