New authentication solution to replace EPO smart cards now available in our patent services

EPO smart cards issued by the European Patent Office have been used to access the patent services of the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH). However, EPO smart cards will be phased out in the near future. You can now start using the new authentication solution in the Patent Payment Service, the PRH Document Service, and the Deposit Account. You can also use Suomi.fi e-Identification to identify yourself in the PRH’s online services.

You need a username and a password to use the new authentication method. In addition, your login is always verified with a one-time password. We hope that current EPO smart card users will be able to switch to the new authentication method as easily as possible.

If you wish to use the new authentication method, please contact Lasse Koivisto (firstname.lastname@prh.fi).

EPO smart cards to be phased out soon

We will stop offering EPO smart card authentication in our services in spring 2025. We will provide more information about the exact schedule later. The EPO smart card will no longer work with EPO services from 31 December 2024. This means that the EPO will no longer issue new cards or renew existing cards.
We recommend that you start using the new authentication solution as soon as possible.

Identification in the Epoline Online Filing application (eOLF)

The new authentication method cannot be used in the current eOLF application. However, valid EPO smart cards can be used in eOLF on the PRH’s forms as long as the application itself is available. The PRH will release a new, browser-based online service for patents at the start of 2025, after which the current eOLF will no longer be available. We will provide more information about this later.

For further information, please contact

Lasse Koivisto
Application Designer
Email: firstname.lastname@prh.fi
Tel. +358 29 509 5227