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How to apply for a utility model abroad
A utility model registered in Finland only protects the invention in Finland. If there are markets for the invention only in Finland, that will suffice. In most cases, however, an invention might sell also elsewhere, in Europe and maybe even in more distant countries. The invention should then be protected outside the Finnish borders.
In Europe and elsewhere in the world, there are utility model systems similar to the one in Finland. The system is not, however, as widely used as the patent system. If a country does not have a utility model system, you can always apply for a patent instead.
You need not file your utility model applications in foreign countries on the same day as they are filed in Finland. You have to, however, file the applications abroad within 12 months from the date of filing of the Finnish utility model application. The reason is that an application normally quickly leads to registration, usually already in a couple of months, and then the invention becomes available to the public. After that, you can only apply for a utility model during the priority year.
Because a utility model application is registered without the National Board of Patents and Registration examining the novelty of the invention, the utility model application does not provide the same kind of security than a patent application, when applying abroad. Before you apply abroad, do examine or let someone else examine the novelty of your invention.
You can apply for a utility model abroad in the same way as you apply for a patent abroad, see under General Information on Applying for a Patent Abroad.
The application process can, however, be begun by an international patent application, a PCT application. In the application, you can indicate ‘utility model’ for those countries that have a utility model system. If the market is in Europe, you can file for a European patent. If the market is merely for example in the Nordic countries, the most favourable solution in the economic sense may be to file a national application in each of those countries. Please note that apart from Finland, the utility model system is only to be found in Denmark. Therefore, you have to apply for a patent in the other Nordic countries.