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Privacy statement for the Finnish Utility Model Register

Controller

Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH)
Mailing address: Finnish Patent and Registration Office, FI-00091 PRH, Finland
Street address: Sörnäisten rantatie 13 C, Helsinki, Finland
Tel. +358 29 509 5000

Representative of controller

Mr Jorma Lehtonen
jorma.lehtonen(at)prh.fi
Tel. +358 29 509 5904

Data protection officer

tietosuojavastaava(at)prh.fi
Tel. +358 50 413 6500

Purpose of and legal basis for processing personal data

The Finnish Utility Model Register processes personal data under Article 6.1(c) of the General Data Protection Regulation, i.e. the processing is necessary to comply with the legal obligation of the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH).

Under section 6 of the Finnish Act on Utility Model Rights (800/1991), the PRH keeps a record that contains information on the utility model applications filed with the PRH.

Under section 17 of the Act on Utility Model Rights, the PRH keeps a Utility Model Register that contains information on the utility models registered by the PRH.

Under section 17 of the Act on Utility Model Rights, the PRH issues a utility model specification once the utility model has been registered.

Under section 26 of the Finnish Decree on Utility Model Rights, public notices in utility model matters are published in the Industrial Property Gazettes service, which is issued by the PRH.

The PRH processes matters related to utility model rights and provides information services in connection with this duty under section 2 of the Act on the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (578/2013).

Personal data and categories of data subjects in the register

The data to be entered into the record include the name, domicile and address of the utility model applicant or assignee, the name and address of the inventor, and the name, domicile and address of the representative.

The data to be entered into the Utility Model Register include the name, domicile and address of the utility model holder, the name and address of the inventor, and the name, domicile and address of the representative.

When registering a transfer, pledging or licensing of a utility model right, the name, domicile and address of the right holder must be entered into the Utility Model Register.

The name and address of the person lodging an invalidation claim and the name and address of their representative, if any, shall be entered into the Utility Model Register.

For easier communication, the telephone numbers and email addresses of the above persons are also recorded.

Sources of information

The details are entered into the Utility Model Register and the record of applications based on registration applications or applications about registered utility models and their supplementary details. This information is supplied by the applicants, holders or their representatives.

Disclosure of personal data to third parties

Anyone is entitled to obtain information about the entries made in the Utility Model Register and the record of applications, as long as the information is public in accordance with sections 6 a and 18 of the Act on Utility Model Rights.

Details from the Utility Model Register and the record can be obtained online via the Patent Informantion Service on the PRH website or by ordering extracts, certificates and documents, and by telephone enquiry. It is also possible to study documents concerning utility models at the PRH in Helsinki, as long as they are public.

Details stored in the Utility Model Register are regularly disclosed to public databases maintained by the European Patent Organisation (EPO) and to information service companies.

Transfer of personal data to countries outside the EU or the EEA or to international organisations

Details stored in the Utility Model Register are regularly disclosed to public databases maintained by the European Patent Organisation (EPO).

Personal data connected to duties deriving from the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) are disclosed to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) based on sections 45 a and 24 b of the Act on Utility Model Rights and - as far as priority information is concerned - section 10 of the Decree on Utility Model Rights.

Storage periods of personal data

The storage periods of the registered personal data are based on a filing plan which allows the data to be stored permanently. For inventions of importance to national defence, the personal data are stored in the record for a fixed period of time (storage period of 5 to 20 years).

Profiling and automated decision-making

The registered data are not used for profiling, and no automated decision-making is performed on the data.

The right to access and process the information is given to persons based on the tasks assigned to them. Access to the system is based on personal user names.

Right of access to personal data

The data subject has the right to check what personal data about them have been entered into the register, or to find out that there are no such register entries. The data subject can ask the controller for access to their personal data. Read our instructions on how to request access to data.

Right to rectification of data

The data subject has the right to demand that the controller rectify without undue delay any inaccurate or incorrect personal data concerning them. Read our instructions on rectification of data.

Right to restriction of processing

The data subject has the right to demand that the controller restrict the processing of data, if the data subject contests the accuracy of the personal data. The idea is to restrict the processing for a period during which the controller can verify the accuracy of the personal data.

Right to lodge complaint with supervisory authority

If the data subject considers that the processing of their personal data infringes the relevant legislation, the data subject has the right to lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority (the Data Protection Ombudsman).

Printable version Latest update 17.07.2023