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Monitor and defend your exclusive right

An essential part of using a trademark is monitoring the trademark right.

As the holder of a trademark you are responsible for making sure that your exclusive right is not infringed by other traders. This monitoring is important in order to keep the exclusive right valid.

We do not monitor the use of trademarks

The PRH is a registering authority and does not monitor the use of trademarks. We cannot answer any questions concerning infringements, trademark disputes, the import or advertising of products, or any other judicial questions.

Keep track of new trademarks

One good way of monitoring your rights is to keep track of your competitors and their trademark applications and registrations. In this monitoring, you can make use of trademark databases available free of charge, or buy monitoring services for example from a trademark agency.

Go to trademark databases available free of charge.

If you spot a similar kind of national trademark pending, you can consider lodging an opposition against this mark after it has been registered and published.

Read more about how to file an opposition with the PRH.

Monitoring new trademarks and filing oppositions is especially important with EU trademarks, since the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) does not, on its own initiative, count even an identical trademark as an obstacle to a later application. The holder of an earlier mark must file an opposition against an EU trademark application within three (3) months after the application has been published. Go to the EUIPO website to read more about how to file an opposition.Open link in a new tab

Defend your trademark right

If you discover that another trader is infringing your trademark right by using an identical mark or a mark causing risk of confusion for similar kinds of goods or services, you can take action as the trademark owner. You can send the infringer a letter where you tell about your own right and ask them to stop the infringement.

In most cases, we recommend that you settle the case through negotiations. It is cheaper and quicker than legal proceedings. New collaboration partners may also be a solution.

If you cannot settle the case through negotiations, you can take it to the Finnish Market Court.

If you are involved in a dispute, it may be worth consulting trademark experts.

See a list of authorised trademark attorneys in Finnish or in Swedish.


Printable version Latest update 07.07.2021