EUROPEAN PATENT ORGANISATION
Finland accedes to the London Agreement
On 25 July 2011, Finland deposited its instrument of accession to the Agreement dated 17 October 2000 on the application of Article 65 EPC ("London Agreement", see OJ EPO 2001, 549), which under its Article 6(2) will accordingly enter into force for Finland on 1 November 2011. The London Agreement will then be in force in seventeen EPC contracting states.
For European patents granted with effect for Finland on or after 1 November 2011, no Finnish translation of the European patent specification need be supplied if the patent is granted in English or if an English translation of the patent is supplied in accordance with Article 65(1) EPC; but a Finnish translation of the claims must always be supplied. Applicants will still have the option of supplying a Finnish translation of the patent specification. There are no special transitional arrangements.
The new rules do not apply to European patents amended in opposition, appeal or limitation proceedings which were granted before 1 November 2011 and amended on or after that date.
Further information on the London Agreement may be obtained from the EPO website (www.epo.org).