Slight decline in the number of patent applications
The number of national patent applications declined slightly after the high levels recorded over the past few years. However, the number of applications varied by technology sector.
The number of international PCT applications examined by the PRH has decreased for several years and the downward trend continued in 2022.
Decline in the number of national patent applications
The number of national patent applications declined: In 2022, they totalled 1,447 compared to 1,662 in 2021.
Finalised national patent applications
The number of finalised national patent applications increased: In 2022, the PRH processed 1,731 applications compared to 1,552 in 2021.
Processed PCT applications (PCT/RO)
The number of international PCT applications processed at the PRH declined: In 2022, they totalled 855 compared to 974 in 2021.
Conducted novelty searches (PCT/ISA)
There was a slight decline in the number of conducted novelty searches: In 2022, they totalled 316 compared to 391 in 2021.
European patents validated in Finland (EPO)
The number of European patents validated in Finland decreased significantly during the year: In 2022, they totalled 4,473 compared to 6,609 in 2021.
Finalised utility model applications
The number of finalised applications for utility models remained at previous year’s levels: In 2022, they totalled 259 compared to 251 in 2021.
Overhaul of the patent legislation launched
In June 2022, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment appointed a working group to prepare an overhaul of the Finnish patent legislation. The task of the working group is to assess the need to change the Patents Act, Patents Decree and the Act on Utility Model Rights and to prepare a Government proposal for the new legislation. The term of the working group will expire at the end of 2023.
The PRH is represented in the working group and we were actively involved in its work during the year.
PRH is represented in the steering group for national IPR strategy
The overhaul of the Finnish patent legislation is one of the measures listed in the national intellectual property rights strategy (IPR). The Government issued a resolution on the strategy in March 2022.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment appointed a steering group to support the implementation of the strategy and the key ministries and agencies (including the PRH) are represented in the group.
System reform was finalised during the year
The system for processing patent and utility model applications and the new online services were finalised in 2022.
In addition to the processing system, the new services also include information, Industrial Property Gazette, document and payment services. The system and the new services were introduced at the start of 2023.
Anniversary year for patents and utility models
There were plenty of reasons to celebrate in 2022: the first Finnish patent was granted 180 years ago and the first Finnish utility model 30 years ago.
The Imperial Finnish Senate granted the first Finnish patent in 1842 and the first utility model in Finland was granted in 1992.
A utility model has a shorter term of protection than a patent, and the degree of invention required for a utility model is lower than that required for a patent.
We published articles about utility models on our anniversary year blogOpen link in a new tab (the articles are in Finnish).
Preparations were made for the introduction of the unitary patent
The preparations for the unitary patent and the unified patent court reached the implementation stage in 2022. However, the launching of the unitary patent system and the unified patent court still requires that Germany will ratify the agreement on them.
The unitary patent will offer a new alternative to the European patent. Patent holders may request the validation of their patents on a one-stop-shop basis in all countries that have joined the unitary patent system.
After the entry into force of the unitary patent system, the number of patents valid in Finland will increase in the coming years.