Collaboration across the Gulf of Bothnia improves data flows

Every week, the Finnish Patent and Registration Office receives dozens of trademark, design and patent applications as well as related supplements and inquiries. The processing goes smoothly when the documents have been delivered by an expert, often an IP administrator.

"Irrespective of the title, the basic principles of the administrator’s job description are the same: The customer wants to protect the company’s intellectual property, think about suitable solutions and take care of the matter,” summarises Camilla Udd, Chairperson of the Finnish Association of Intellectual Property Administrators.

Vice Chairperson Maria Lahdenranta adds that the job description depends on which intellectual property rights the administrator manages and whether they manage the affairs of their own organisation or external customers.

An IP administrator is not only responsible for the formal accuracy and time limits of documents, but participates in the management of the entire life cycle of the protected right with their partner – a lawyer or patent or trademark attorney.

“So the customer knows who to contact,” Udd says.

Training backgrounds range from commercial and administrative to technical

The European trademark and patent offices (EUIPO, EPO) have their own administrative qualifications, but in Finland qualifications for the field are obtained at work, often through internships. In Lahdenranta’s experience, the PRH’s basic courses provide a good foundation for professional skills.

She and Udd list other useful competences:

“Language skills are beneficial in the international field. On the patent side, a degree in technology benefits. The ability to perceive large entities is needed along with a special interest in details, even in the work of a private detective, such as when going through registers of holders.”

In a world of ever-changing systems and rules, IP administrators receive advice and specific training from their association. If possible, everyone participates in the IP Administrator Day organised with the PRH in autumns.

Camilla Udd (Roschier, At­tor­neys Ltd.) and Maria Lah­den­ranta (Krogerus At­tor­neys Ltd) also en­cour­age peo­ple man­ag­ing in­tel­lec­tual prop­erty rights as a part-time job to join the Finnish As­so­ci­a­tion of In­tel­lec­tual Prop­erty Ad­min­is­tra­tors, which pro­vides train­ing, ad­vice and a con­tact net­work.

Cooperation benefits both

Udd and Lahdenranta praise cooperation with the PRH even when it is challenging to investigate the matter. Therefore, Jorma Hanski, retiring director of the PRH, and Tuulimarja Myllymäki, Head Legal Adviser, received the Association’s first award in the IPR gala 2024.

“Hanski had a strong influence on the establishment of the association, and the PRH has provided support for the entire activities. We are asked for feedback, ideas and people in the renewal of services. Of course, we hope that this cooperation will continue,” says Camilla Udd.

Original text in Finnish: Päivi Helander
Photos: Nina Kaverinen