100,000 patents now in force in Finland – patent knowledge is highlighted and the risk of infringements increases

The number of patents valid in Finland has doubled in just under two years – the number of patents surpassed 100,000 on 27 February 2025. The reason for the upsurge is the unitary patent system, which took effect on 1 June 2023. This increases the importance of patent knowledge and patent activity with respect to the success of companies. At the same time, companies’ risk of unintended patent infringements increases, including for companies that operate solely in the Finnish market.

Before the unitary patent system, there were approximately 50,000 patents in force, a number that remained fairly stable. Patent number 131339, submitted by the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT), became the 100,000th patent in force at the end of February. Congratulations!

Pauli Laitinen, VTT’s IPR Manager, highlights the importance of patenting in business operations based on innovations: “For a technology company, patent protection is a solid foundation that makes innovations a strategic competitive advantage for their business operations compared to competitors.”

Patent-infringing business operations

Patent holders have the exclusive right to exploit their inventions commercially. Without the holder’s permission, others cannot manufacture, use, sell, market, import or possess a patented product or method. If your company’s business operations infringe someone else’s patent, the business could be interrupted or suffer significant financial and reputational damage.

In case of infringements, we recommend that you hire a patent attorney or an advocate familiar with intellectual property rights. You can use the PRH’s information service and the European Patent Office’s (EPO) register to follow patents in force in Finland.

What is a unitary patent?

The unitary patent offers a new alternative alongside the classic European patent to protect inventions in Europe. A classic European patent has to be separately validated in each of the European Patent Convention (EPC) contracting states, whereas a unitary patent is valid in all the EU countries participating in the new patent system at the same time. The EPO grants European patents and registers unitary patents.

A unitary patent provides geographically comprehensive and unitary protection for your invention. From 1 September 2024, there are 18 EU states in the unitary patent system: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Sweden. Further EU states will gradually be included.

Go to the PRH’s Patent Information Service.Open link in a new tab

Go to the EPO’s register service.Open link in a new tab

For further information, please contact

Jorma Lehtonen
Customer Relations Manager
firstname.lastname@prh.fi
+358 29 509 5904