patenttivirastolle

Patenttivirasto, sometimes referred to in English as a patent office, is a governmental or public authority responsible for examining and granting patents, trademarks, and design rights within a particular jurisdiction. The primary mission of a patenttivirasto is to administer and enforce intellectual property rights, ensuring that inventors and creators receive legal protection for their innovations while also maintaining public access to technical information.

In Finland, the patenttiviirtosi is embodied by the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (Finnish: Patentti- ja rekisterihallinto, PRH). Founded in 1865, PRH processes patent applications, conducts novelty and inventive-step examinations, and issues patent grants. The office also manages trademark registrations, industrial designs, and color marks, providing a single point of contact for intellectual property protection in the country. PRH follows international conventions such as the Paris Convention, the Patent Cooperation Treaty, and the Madrid System, allowing Finnish applicants to file applications abroad and vice versa.

Patents granted by the patenttivirasto confer the exclusive right to prevent others from making, using, selling, or importing an invention for a limited period, typically 20 years from the application filing date. The examination process evaluates novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability, ensuring that only genuinely novel and non-obvious inventions receive protection. By cataloguing and publishing granted patents, the office also contributes to the public domain, enabling the dissemination of technical knowledge that can inspire further research and development.

Beyond granting rights, the patenttivirasto serves an educational role, offering guidance on intellectual property strategy, providing public access to databases, and supporting policy development. This dual function helps balance the interests of innovators with the broader public interest, fostering a vibrant environment for technological progress.