Finland accedes to the London Agreement

At its plenary session on 4 March 2011, Parliament approved the government proposal about Finland’s accession to the London Agreement. The agreement will most likely enter into force this autumn but the exact date is yet to be confirmed.

Aims to reduce translation costs

Article 65 of the European Patent Convention (EPC) gives any state which is party to the convention an opportunity to require a translation of a European patent into its national language when the patent is validated, i.e. given effect. However, EPC contracting states that have acceded to the London Agreement undertake to waive, either partly or in full, such translation requirements, with the aim of reducing the costs of European patents.

After Finland’s accession, the description of a European patent that is to be validated in Finland does not have to be translated into Finnish if the description in the granted patent is in English. Instead, only the patent claims have to be translated into Finnish. If the description is in German or French, it has to be translated into English.

So far almost 20 of the total of 38 EPC contracting states have joined the London Agreement prior to Finland.

National patents may be applied for and granted in English

The language requirements for national patent applications will also change when Finland accedes to the London Agreement. When the law amendment enters into force, national patent applications can be filed with us in English, and the overall processing, i.e. until the patent is granted, will also take place in English. The result will be a patent with its description in English, and its claims and abstract in English and in Finnish. Finnish applicants may also file their application in Finnish or in Swedish, depending on their mother tongue.

Our office has concluded Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) co-operation agreements with a number of patent offices. As we will be processing national patent applications in English, it will facilitate collaboration between these patent offices and improve the position of Finnish patent applicants.

Government proposal (175/2010) to Parliament about Finland’s accession to the London Agreement in Finnish and in Swedish (pdf)

Read more about the London Agreement

Further details:

Mr Pekka Launis, Deputy Director General
Tel. +358 9 6939 5443
Email: pekka.launis(a)prh.fi

Ms Laila Jungfelt, Head of Division
Tel. +358 9 6939 5663
Email: laila.jungfelt(a)prh.fi