An electronic future in the Finnish Patent Office

Initially, the article describes how the Finnish Government has developed telecommunications and Internet use by launching initiatives, such as electronic identity cards for Finnish citizens to enable clear authentication for e-commerce. In addition, Finnish law for e-commerce in the public administration already provides the legal basis for filing, e.g. patent applications, electronically. Against this backdrop, the article describes the way in which the Finnish Patent Office is moving forward rapidly in the provision of services on the Internet. These include both statutory and legal filing and like actions, as well as, in cooperation with the EPO, the dissemination of patent information. On patent information, the plans to make all Finnish patents and the corresponding legal status accessible through the Internet, to expand the patent information centres and to heighten public awareness, are outlined.