Industrial property rights protect intangible assets

Industrial property rights and copyrights belong to intellectual property rights. Industrial property rights are exclusive rights that often registered allowing the operator to protect its investments in product development, a brand or design.

An exclusive right gives the holder the right to prevent others from using a protected sign, invention or design. The holder of an exclusive right can also grant licences for the use of its intangible assets against compensation. The most important industrial property rights are patents, utility models, trademarks and design rights.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is responsible for industrial property rights legislation and takes part in the work on industrial property rights in the EU and at other international forums. The Finnish Patent and Registration Office is responsible for processing the applications and for national registers of industrial property rights.

Further information:

Stiina Löytömäki
stiina.loytomaki(at)gov.fi