Piracy: According to the Business Software Allliance ( BSA ) the piracy rate in Finland has been reported at 53% in 1994 and 50% in 1995.
Patents: Patents are granted for a non-renewable, twenty year period. Process patent protection for pharmaceuticals and product patents are currently offered.
Trademarks: Registration is valid for ten years and is renewable in ten year periods. Use of a trademark is not a prerequisite for its registration in Finland. Registration may be forfeited after five years if unused without a valid reason.
The Finnish patent and trademark laws are in compliance with the Agreement of Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIP agreement). This provides the highest possible protection on intellectual property right (IPR) infringement. Trade secrets are protected by the Law of Inappropriate Business Behavior. Finland passed a law in 1991 granting specific rights to designers of integrated circuit layouts.
Copyrights: The term of protection is the author's life plus fifty years. The Copyright Informatioin and Anti-piracy Center handles general questions on copyright and copyright infringements.
Import License: The GATT agreement on import licensing procedures has been implemented by Finland. There are only a few requirements for industrial imports. Countries holding most-favored-nation (MFN) status can import goods without a license. The Ministry of Trade has the authority to reject an application, thus prohibiting the import of goods from a country.
Export Controls: The licensing body for COCOM-related goods is the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The Ministry of Defense licenses Missle Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and Australiam Group - Chemnical and Biological Products Control Systems (AG) related goods. Controls on products are based on three acts:
Finland is a memeber of the following organizations:
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Last Update: 5 May 1997