Quick guide for trademark applicants
This page is a summary of the most important aspects you must consider before drawing up your trademark application. For more information about applying, go to How to apply.
Decide on the trademark you want to register
File a separate application for each mark. A single application must not include more than one version of your mark. If you have several alternative versions of the trademark, file a separate application for every one of them or decide on one version that you include in your application. You must pay an application fee for every single application.
Read more about how to present your trademark in the application.
Determine the goods and services you intend to use the trademark for
You get an exclusive right to use the trademark only in combination with the goods and services listed in your application. For this reason, it is crucial that the contents of the list of goods and services are correct. Make sure you allow enough time for compiling the list because it defines the scope of protection for the trademark. The list is also used for assessing the registrability of the mark.
First think through what it is that you do or your company does: do you manufacture goods, offer services or both? If your company produces software, for example, and also offers services to develop them, you need protection both for the software as goods and for the software development services. You should also consider your future needs and think about the goods and services you are likely to offer within the next five years.
Think out how you intend to use the trademark. If your products labelled with the mark are on sale in shops but you do not carry on retail trade yourself, you do not necessarily need protection for retail trade services. You can also advertise your products without having to apply for protection for marketing services, if marketing services are not included in your business activities.
All goods and services are divided into 45 classes that include classification terms. For the basic application fee, you can register your trademark in one class. Extra classes raise the application cost by 100 euros per class. There is no limit for the number of terms within the classes.
Read more about the classes and what they include. Please note that the list of terms is not exhaustive.
Read more about trademark classification.
The mark must not merely describe the goods or services
Your trademark must be able to distinguish your goods and services from any similar goods and services of other traders. In other words, the trademark must have a distinctive character.
We always assess the distinctive character of a trademark as a whole and separately in each case. We consider all parts of your mark together and the goods or services you are applying to register it for.
The proposed mark must not merely describe the goods or services or state their qualities directly. If the mark contains descriptive elements, it must always also include a distinctive part in order to be approved. For example, figurative elements can contribute to the mark’s distinctive character.
Your mark must do more than merely indicate, for example
- kind, i.e. what product or service you are offering (“Fitness instruction" as such cannot be a trademark for sports and fitness services)
- quality, i.e. what the product or service is like (“Good", “Affordable", “Comprehensive" etc.)
- geographical origin (“Finland", “European", “from Kokemäki" etc.); or
- use (“Garden" for tools).
The mark cannot consist of a common name for the goods or services in question, and it cannot be a commercial expression that is widely used in the field. There can also be other obstacles to registration.
Distinctive character is an absolute requirement for registering the mark.
Read more about the distinctive character of trademarks.
Search databases to see if there are obstacles to the registration
The mark you are applying for must not be too similar to earlier trademarks, company names or other rights. In other words, it must not cause a risk of confusion.
A risk of confusion may arise due to earlier
- domestic trademarks and trademark applications
- EU trademarks and trademark applications
- international registrations designating Finland (WIPO)
- domestic company names applied for entry or entered into the Finnish Trade Register.
These can be obstacles to registering your mark if
- the marks or company names are identical or similar and
- the marks or company names cover identical or similar goods or services.
We always assess the risk of confusion separately in each case and consider the trademark as a whole. A general guideline is that there is a risk of confusion if the compared trademarks are so similar that an average consumer can be assumed to confuse them with each other.
Example: You are applying for the trademark “Tiger" for clocks and watches (class 14). The Trademark Register already contains a “Tiger watches" trademark registered for clocks and watches in class 14.
- the marks are very similar and
- the goods are identical.
Consumers would probably assume that both “Tiger" products and “Tiger watches" come from the same company. This means there is a risk of confusion between the marks.
Read more about the risk of confusion and how we assess it.
Search free databases in advance to see if there are obstacles to your trademark.
Applicant and representative
In the field for the applicant’s details in your trademark application, write the party who you want to become the owner of the trademark registration. There can be several applicants and, similarly, several owners. In contrast, there can only be one representative.
As a rule, it is not obligatory to have a representative when applying for a trademark.
Only applicants who have neither a domicile nor a registered office within the European Economic Area (EEA) must appoint a representative.
Read more about filing a registration application.
How to apply
In Finland, you must apply for a trademark using our online service.
The application form comprises these steps:
- Identify yourself by logging in with your internet banking codes.
- Enter the details of the trademark you are applying for.
- Indicate the goods or services you intend to use the trademark for.
- Enter the applicant’s (and the representative’s) details.
- Pay for the application via your online bank.
- Wait for a submission receipt.
Please note that you cannot usually change the trademark or add extra goods or services after filing the application.
Read further instructions on how to file a registration application.
Application fee
The basic application fee for a Finnish trademark is 240 euros (in 2024). You must pay the fee when filing the application. The basic application fee covers one class of goods or services. If you want to include several classes in your application, you must pay an additional fee of 100 euros for each extra class.
Example: You are applying for the trademark "Example" for the following goods and services:
Basic fee 240 euros
Classes:
- Education and coaching services – class 41 (included in the basic fee)
- Clothing, footwear, headwear – class 25 (+ 100 euros)
- Services for temporary accommodation and for providing food – class 43 (+ 100 euros)
Total cost 440 euros
See the current prices in the price list.
Please note: We will not refund the application fee if your application is rejected or the processing is ended for some other reason.