Applying for a patent

1. Before applying for a patent, find out whether your invention is new and inventive. You can use the Finnish Patent and Registration Office’s (PRH) free databases and, if you wish, order search services from our experts or other service providers, such as patent agencies.
2. Prepare a patent application. Your application must include the application form, explanation, patent requirements, abstract, and a drawing of the invention. You should reserve plenty of time for writing and prepare your application with care. For more information about applying, please visit our website. You can also use the services of a patent agency.
3. Submit the patent application to PRH on the online service or by sending it by post.
4. Wait patiently for the application to be processed and respond to any formal or technical interim decisions by PRH. A formal inspection verifies that the application includes all the required documents, and that the application fee has been paid. After this, the application is inspected technically, which declares whether the invention is new and patentable.
5. After PRH has approved the patent application, you must pay the publication fee and PRH makes a patent publication of the application text. The patent has been granted once a public notice is given of it on Patent Gazette.
6. Pay annual fees. Your patent remains valid if you pay the annual fees on time. You can make the payments in the PRH’s Patent Payment Service.

Patents can only be granted to new, inventive, and industrially applicable inventions. You cannot obtain a patent on a mere idea. Instead, the actual realisation of an idea – device, product, or method – can be patented.

An individual, several persons, a company, or a community may apply for a patent.

Applying for and maintaining a patent are subject to fees.