This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
FINLAND


FINLAND


While it is possible to obtain protection for a trademark through use, it is recommended that companies (or individuals) protect their marks by applying for a trademark registration at the NBPR. Te use of agents or legal representatives is not obligatory for applicants with residence or commercial establishment in Finland, but applicants with no establishment in Finland must have an agent domiciled within the EEA.


Te NBPR charges €215 for a trademark application, which includes three classes of goods or services. Filing an opposition to a trademark registration also costs €215.


Te costs of defending a trademark in Finland are moderate when compared to many European jurisdictions or the US. In a typical trademark case, the costs of litigation in the first instance are between €10,000 and €30,000. However, there is room for flexibility depending on how complex the case is. In addition, a successful litigant should have its legal costs covered by the losing party.


Trademark threats


Counterfeiting remains a big problem for right owners, in part because of Finland’s proximity to Russia, which still struggles with intellectual property (IP) enforcement efforts. Furthermore, online infringements present an increasing problem in Finland. Pharmaceutical products are the most vulnerable to counterfeiting, according to customs statistics.


Finnish brand owners and industry groups have established a good working relationship with customs. Using customs and filing for a standing application is highly recommended. Local industry anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy groups also provide effective services and a good first point of contact for trademark owners but trademark owners are still not active enough in monitoring markets and intervening in infringements.


Non-use of a mark and the subsequent risk of cancellation also cause problems. Trademark owners should make sure that their marks are used for all the goods and services they have been registered for. If an owner does not plan to use the mark itself, licensing the mark to a third party should be considered.


Upcoming amendments to trademark law


The Ministry of Employment and the Economy has set up a working group to discuss the need to amend Finnish trademark law. The current trademark law will be updated so that it conforms with Court of Justice for the EU (CJEU) rulings. The CJEU has set several precedents that concern how the EU Trademark Directive should be interpreted. The


126 World Intellectual Property Review e-Digest 2012


Finnish legislator, however, has focused on the most important points, particularly those that concern registration procedures. The working group will publish its report by March 2012. The aim is to prepare a government proposal regarding a new trademark law by the end of 2012.


Copyright and online piracy


Online piracy is a big problem for the music, film and publishing industries in Finland. The Finnish Copyright Information and Anti- Piracy Center (CIAPC), which represents key entertainment industry associations, runs an effective campaign against online copyright infringement. It is recommended that right holders keep in close contact, and coordinate their efforts, with the CIAPC.


Illegal peer-to-peer services, particularly those that use the BitTorrent protocol, are the entertainment industry’s main concern. On the CIAPC’s application, the Helsinki District Court ordered Finnish Internet service provider Elisa to prevent its clients from accessing the Pirate Bay website on October 26, 2011. Pirate Bay is the biggest BitTorrent site in the world and the most visited website in Finland for illegal downloads. Within the EU, similar decisions have been given in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Italy and the UK.


Lauri Rechardt is a partner at Procopé & Hornborg. He can be contacted at: lauri.rechardt@procope.fi


Timo Enroth is an associate at Procopé & Hornborg. He can be contacted at: timo.enroth@procope.fi


Lauri Rechardt specialises in all areas of IP, media and entertainment law, especially international copyright and media law. He has broad experience in IPR-related matters in Finland and internationally, and has participated in the work of various international bodies, including WIPO, WCO, the Council of Europe and the European Commission, as an expert.


Timo Enroth specialises in copyright, trademark, design, media and communications, and contract law. Before joining Procopé & Hornborg, he worked as the legal advisor and Internet investigator for the CIAPC. Enroth is also a graphic designer and has broad experience in design work.


www.worldipreview.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160  |  Page 161  |  Page 162  |  Page 163  |  Page 164  |  Page 165  |  Page 166  |  Page 167  |  Page 168  |  Page 169  |  Page 170  |  Page 171  |  Page 172  |  Page 173  |  Page 174  |  Page 175  |  Page 176  |  Page 177  |  Page 178  |  Page 179  |  Page 180  |  Page 181  |  Page 182  |  Page 183  |  Page 184  |  Page 185  |  Page 186  |  Page 187  |  Page 188  |  Page 189  |  Page 190  |  Page 191  |  Page 192  |  Page 193  |  Page 194  |  Page 195  |  Page 196  |  Page 197  |  Page 198  |  Page 199  |  Page 200  |  Page 201  |  Page 202  |  Page 203  |  Page 204  |  Page 205  |  Page 206  |  Page 207  |  Page 208  |  Page 209  |  Page 210  |  Page 211  |  Page 212  |  Page 213  |  Page 214  |  Page 215  |  Page 216  |  Page 217  |  Page 218  |  Page 219  |  Page 220  |  Page 221  |  Page 222  |  Page 223  |  Page 224  |  Page 225  |  Page 226  |  Page 227  |  Page 228  |  Page 229  |  Page 230  |  Page 231  |  Page 232  |  Page 233  |  Page 234  |  Page 235  |  Page 236  |  Page 237  |  Page 238  |  Page 239  |  Page 240  |  Page 241  |  Page 242  |  Page 243  |  Page 244  |  Page 245  |  Page 246  |  Page 247  |  Page 248  |  Page 249  |  Page 250  |  Page 251  |  Page 252  |  Page 253  |  Page 254  |  Page 255  |  Page 256  |  Page 257  |  Page 258  |  Page 259  |  Page 260  |  Page 261  |  Page 262  |  Page 263  |  Page 264  |  Page 265  |  Page 266  |  Page 267  |  Page 268  |  Page 269  |  Page 270  |  Page 271