Finland Trademark Registration

Finland is a first-to-file jurisdiction, which means you generally only obtain full trademark rights by registering your mark. Only in rare cases (e.g. certain well-known marks) can an unregistered trademark be protected.

To protect a trademark in Finland, you must file an application with the **Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH). A Finnish or EU trademark also grants protection in the Åland Islands.

You can also obtain protection in Finland by registering a **European Union Trademark (EUTM) through EUIPO, or by extending an International Registration via the Madrid Protocol to Finland.

If you register a combined trademark (word + logo), protection is limited to the exact combination as filed. If you want to protect the word and the logo separately, you should file separate applications (a word mark and a figurative mark).

To register a trademark in Finland, you will generally need:

• Original Power of Attorney, signed. No notarization or legalization required. If the owner is a company, an extract from the commercial register showing that the signatory is authorized to sign on behalf of the company is required.
• The name or logo you want to register
• The applicant’s details

Your iGERENT consultant will confirm the exact requirements for your case and guide you through each step.

The average trademark registration time in Finland is about 6 months for straightforward cases.

This timeframe can be longer if:

• The examiner raises objections, or
• Oppositions are filed by third parties.

Once your mark is accepted:

• It is registered for 10 years from the registration date.
• It can be renewed indefinitely in further periods of 10 years.
• Renewal can be requested:
  • Up to 12 months before expiry, or
  • Within a 6-month grace period after expiry (with late fees).

After registration, you may:

• Use ® to indicate registration (where appropriate under local practice).
• Enforce your rights against infringement in Finland (and Åland Islands if covered).

Yes.

• Opposition actions may be filed by third parties within 2 months of the application’s publication in the official bulletin.
• The chances of success depend on:
  • Similarity of the marks
  • Overlap of goods/services
  • Strength and prior use of your earlier rights.

• Use is not required to obtain registration.
• However, if the trademark is not used for 5 consecutive years after registration, it becomes vulnerable to cancellation for non-use.
• Use must be on a commercial scale to count as genuine use.

Finland recognizes 3D trademarks.

• Applications are filed with PRH.
• You must provide clear graphical representations of the 3D shape from several angles (typically six views: front, back, top, bottom, left, right).
• The shape must:
  • Be distinctive,
  • Not be dictated solely by the nature of the goods,
  • Not be necessary to obtain a technical result, and
  • Not give substantial value to the goods.

If the shape is not inherently distinctive, PRH may require evidence of acquired distinctiveness through use in Finland.