Who can apply?

A trademark can be applied for by

• a private person, i.e. a natural person
• a legal person, such as a company, an association, or any other organisation.

What details do I need to give about the applicant?

The application must always contain:

• the applicant’s name or company name
• domicile or place of registered office, and
• contact details including address, phone number and email address.

Provide the Finnish Business ID for each company and the personal identity code for each private person to be registered.

If the applicant is a foreign company, provide the register number of the company or any other identification detail comparable with a Business ID. If the applicant is a private person and has no Finnish personal identity code, indicate the date of birth.

Private traders applying for a trademark

A private trader’s company name alone can be neither an applicant for nor the owner of a trademark, because private traders are not independent legal persons. Whatever your company name may be, you should use either your own name or the following form in your application: ‘Smith, John, as the owner of company name XXX’.

Several applicants

A trademark can be applied for by a single applicant or by a group of applicants. A trademark can therefore be owned jointly by several persons or companies.

If there are several applicants, only one of them needs to sign the application. Please note that we will send our letters and decisions only to the applicant listed first.

Foreign applicants

If the applicant is a foreign company, provide the register number. If the applicant is a private person and has no Finnish personal identity code, indicate the date of birth.

If you as the applicant have neither a domicile nor a registered office within the European Economic Area (EEA), you must appoint a representative residing in the EEA.

If you have a representative, you must give their name, domicile or place of registered office, and contact details including address, phone number and email address in your application. If your representative is a private person, also provide their personal identity code. Indicate the date of birth if the representative has no Finnish personal identity code. If the representative is a company, indicate the register number. Your representative must have the right to represent you in all matters concerning the mark.

In general, no power of attorney is required. The PRH will request a power of attorney, if necessary.

Read more about having a representative.

Underage applicants

If the applicant is a minor, the application must also be signed by the applicant’s parent or guardian.