فنلندا

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Act No. 575 of June 26, 1992 on the Organization of the National Board of Patents and Registration* (as amended on December 13, 1994)

The Position of the Office

1. The National Board of Patents and Registration functions under the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Duties

2. The mission of the National Board of Patents and Registration is to further technical and economic progress. The Board shall deal with matters relating to patents, topographies of integrated circuits, utility model rights, design rights, trademarks, enterprise mortgages, the Trade Register, the Register of Associations, the Foundation Register and the supervision of foundations referred to in the Foundations Act (109/30), trade names and the making available to the public of annual accounts documents; it shall provide information services in the field. Government may by decree also order other matters connected with industrial property rights and the maintenance of registers to be dealt with by the Board. (13.12.1994/1173)

The National Board of Patents and Registration shall carry out any investigations, experiments and monitoring and planning tasks assigned to it by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Board of Directors

3. The National Board of Patents and Registration shall have a Board of Directors, the members of which shall be appointed by the Council of State. The tasks, composition and term of office of the Board of Directors shall be laid down by decree.

FI061EN Patents (National Board of Patents), Act, page 1/2 26/06/1992 (13/12/1994),No. 575

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Taking Decisions

4. Matters pending with the National Board of Patents and Registration shall be decided on by the Board of Directors, the Director General, or other official of the National Board of Patents and Registration, as laid down by decree.

Appealing

5. Any decision by the National Board of Appeal may be appealed to the Board of Appeal of the National Board of Patents and Registration, as laid down by a special Act.

A decision by the National Board of Appeal on a matter not falling under the jurisdiction of the Board of Appeal of the National Board of Patents and Registration may be appealed against, unless otherwise prescribed, to the Supreme Administrative Court, as laid down by a special Act.

Fees

6. Special provisions shall be given in respect of fees collected by the National Board of Patents and Registration and of stamp duties payable on documents.

More Specific Provisions

7. More specific provisions on the implementation of this Act shall be decreed by the Government.

Entry into Force

8. This Act shall enter into force on September 1, 1992.

This Act repeals the Act on the National Board of Patents and Registration issued on December 30, 1965 (749/65), with subsequent amendments.

Any action necessary for the implementation of this Act may be taken before the entry into force of this Act.

* Finnish title: L [Laki] Patentti- ja rekisterihallituksesta 26.6.1992/575. Entry into force (of amending Act): January 1, 1995. Source: Communication from the Finnish authorities. Note: English translation furnished by the Finnish authorities.

** Added by the International Bureau of WIPO.