Patenttojen

Patenttojen is a Finnish term that translates to "patents" in English. Patents are a form of intellectual property that grants the patent holder exclusive rights to an invention for a limited period. These rights typically prevent others from making, using, selling, or importing the patented invention without the patent holder's permission.

In Finland, as in many other countries, patents are granted by a national patent office, which in Finland is Patentti- ja rekisterihallitus (PRH), the Finnish Patent and Registration Office. To be granted a patent, an invention must meet specific criteria, including being novel, involving an inventive step, and having industrial applicability. Novelty means the invention has not been disclosed to the public before the filing date. An inventive step implies that the invention is not obvious to a person skilled in the relevant technical field. Industrial applicability means the invention can be made or used in some kind of industry.

The process of obtaining a patent typically involves filing an application with the patent office, which then examines the invention against the patentability criteria. If the application is successful, the patent is granted and published. The duration of a patent is generally 20 years from the filing date, provided that the required renewal fees are paid. Patents play a crucial role in encouraging innovation by providing inventors with a way to protect their creations and potentially profit from them, thereby incentivizing further research and development.