Our solutions /  Applying for and registering protection

Trademark

Marks, name and slogans are an important part of companies’ intangible assets and brand. They can be protected by trademark registrations. Registration gives the right to prevent others from using and registering similar marks and reduce the legal risks associated with the use of the mark. If the mark is not registered, it is often freely available for others to use or register.

A company’s trademarks, name and slogans are an important part of the company’s intangible assets and brand.

Benefits of trademark registrations

The proprietor of a trademark registration has the right to prevent others from using similar marks that cover similar products or services. The right to prevent covers using the mark as a label, for example, on the goods or on its packaging, in advertising, marketing and invoicing material. The right to prevent does not only cover identical marks but also confusingly similar marks. The similarity of the marks is assessed on the basis of the overall impressions given by the marks. 

What kind of marks can be registered?

Any sign which enables the distribution chain of the products (goods and services) and consumers to distinguish them from similar products marketed by other undertakings, may in principle be registered as a trademark. A trademark can consist, for example, of a word, logo, slogan or graphic symbol, or even the appearance of a product. 

Conditions for protection

A mark must be distinctive to be registrable. The purpose of distinctiveness is to ensure that a trademark can identify the products and services of its proprietor and to distinguish them from the products and services of other operators. In order to be distinctive, the mark must not describe the product offered or its characteristics. In addition to distinctiveness, the mark must not be confusingly similar with earlier protected similar marks or company names that cover similar goods or services. 

Registration authorities and registration procedure

In Finland, the trademark is registered with an application to the Finnish Patent and Registration Office and in the EU to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).  EUIPO and PRH will investigate whether the mark is distinctive. The PRH will also examine whether the mark can be confused with previously protected marks and company names.  The application process takes about a month in Finland and about five months in the EU if the registration authorities do not find obstacles to the registration of the sign and owner of earlier similar marks do not object the registration of the mark. 
We register designs all around the world
In addition to PRH and EUIPO, we act as our representatives for our clients in Sweden and the United Kingdom, and in the so-called international trademark applications in accordance with Madrid Protocol system. In other countries, we use associated firms to register marks.
Our trademark registration service
Before preparing and submitting the trademark application, we will together with our client discuss and review the objectives of the protection, where the mark shall be protected, for which goods and services and in what form it is advisable to register the marks.
Preparation and submitting of an application for a trademark
Once the mark to be protected and the goods and services have been decided, we will prepare and submit the application to the registration authorities. If the application concerns Finland, the EU, Sweden, the United Kingdom or is an international application under the Madrid Protocol, we draft and file the trademark application ourselves. If the application concerns other countries, we will use associated firms to draft and submit the application. We will after that report and invoice our client.
The registration procedure
During the application procedure, we will report notifications and decisions from the registration authority and advise our client on how to respond to them. We will prepare and submit necessary responses to the registration authority. If the registration authority does not find obstacles to the registration, the mark shall be published after which owner of earlier similar marks may file oppose registration of the mark by submitting an opposition to the registration authority. In Finland, the claim may be based on the lack of distinctive character of the mark or is confusingly similar with earlier protected trademarks or company names. In the EU, the oppositions may be based on confusingly similar with earlier protected trademarks. We take care of the different stages of the opposition procedure.
Services after registration
At the end of the application process, the registration authority will issue a registration certificate, which we will forward to the client. Trademark registration needs to be renewed every 10 years for the protection to remain in force. We will keep record of the renewal deadlines and remind our client when renewal is due.

Pricing examples

The price of an application for a trademark depends significantly on the number of trademark classes in which the mark is to be protected, since the fees of the authorities depend on the number of classes. The number of classes does not affect our package prices for preparing and submitting an application and for handling basic parts of the registration procedure. Our package prices include all consultation and application activities, with the exception of the measures that are needed if the registration authority finds obstacles to registration or oppositions are submitted against the application. 
Trademark in Finland

We applied for a Finnish trademark for a Finnish restaurant company, the price of the registration was 990 € + VAT, including official fees.

990 €
Trademark in the EU

We protected a new EU trademark for a Finnish tool manufacturer. The total price for the registration was 2090 € + VAT, including official costs.

2090 €

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Boco IP - Petri Nieminen profiilikuva
Petri Nieminen
Consulting Director, Partner
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Boco IP:n toimitusjohtaja Karri Leskinen profiilikuva
Karri Leskinen
Managing Director, Partner
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Jonna Sahlin profiilikuva
Jonna Sahlin
European Patent Attorney, Chairman of the board, Partner
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Boco IP - Marja-Liisa Autti profiilikuva
Marja Liisa Autti
European Patent Attorney, Partner
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Boco IP - Nina Virolaisen profiilikuva
Nina Virolainen
European Patent Attorney
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Peter Åkerlund
IP Lawyer, Partner
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Sini-Maaria Mikkilä profiilikuva
Sini-Maaria Mikkilä
Chief Strategy Officer, European Patent Attorney, Partner
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Boco IP - Elina Heikkilä profiilikuva
Elina Heikkilä
IP-Lawyer, Member of the Board, Partner
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Boco IP - Petri Nieminen profiilikuva

Petri Nieminen

Consulting Director, Partner

How can I help you! My job at Boco includes managing our consulting and training services. In my role as an expert, I do strategy consulting as an accredited Design IP Strategy expert, I also do market and competitor surveys, as well as training and workshop events. My special expertise is in valuing patents. I have previous work experience in consulting and management at Accenture and BEA Systems (now part of Oracle). In addition, as an entrepreneur and owner, I was involved in creating a new kind of commercialization service at Iprbox Oy, the business of which was acquired by Boco in 2008. Employed by Boco IP since then!

Education
ICT field in general, product development, sales and marketing
Languages
Finnish, English, Swedish, German
Activities
Accenture Alumni, BEA Systems Alumni, spending free time outdoors together with family
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Boco IP:n toimitusjohtaja Karri Leskinen profiilikuva

Karri Leskinen

Managing Director, Partner

Welcome to my page! How can I help?

I work at Boco IP as both CEO and patent attorney. As CEO, I want to help my colleagues succeed in their jobs and create a corporate culture where it is great to work. In my role as a patent attorney, I’m active in designing and implementing of clients' IPR strategies. With regard to assignments, I have focused especially on the handling of opposition cases in Finland and at the European Patent Office. I’m easily enthusiastic about everything related to the IP and I am happy to share this enthusiasm by lecturing and training new people in the IP field. In addition, I act as an expert in patent litigations, draft opinions and advise on patent law matters. I started at Boco IP in 2005, but I have been in the patent attorney since 1999. Feel free to contact me and let's talk more.

Education
M.Sc. (polymer chemistry, plant design)
Languages
Finnish, English, Swedish, German
Activities
Expert member of the Market Court, The Association of Finnish Patent Attorneys, FICPI, AIPPI, European Patent Institute, the Finnish Association for Industrial Property Rights, gym, golf, snowboarding, music, reading
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Jonna Sahlin profiilikuva

Jonna Sahlin

European Patent Attorney, Chairman of the board, Partner

I am happy to advise and assist in various matters related to intellectual property rights and strategy, especially in the fields of chemistry, process technology, medicine, and diagnostics. I like problem solving and interaction with customers and colleagues, and I think the best results are usually achieved when the cooperation works smoothly. I handle patenting of inventions both in Finland and internationally, and in addition to prosecution of applications, I, among other things, also draft oppositions, freedom-to-operate analyses, and statements on the interpretation of patents.

I have been employed by Boco IP since 1998 and, after various tasks over the years,  I nowadays mostly work with patent matters. Since 2017, I have represented Finland as a council member of the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office (epi) and as a Finnish member of the epi's Professional Conduct Committee (PCC).

Education
M.Sc. (chemistry, food technology, polymer technology)
Languages
Swedish, Finnish, English, (German)
Activities
Expert member of the Market Court, European Patent Institute (epi, council member 2017-), Finnish Patent Attorneys Association (SPAY, chairman 2010-2013), active in co-operation with Nordic patent attorneys in the field of chemistry, AIPPI, FICPI, UNION, Finnish Association of Industrial Law (STY) and Finnish Chemists Society (SKS), swimming, running, downhill skiing, gardening
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Boco IP - Marja-Liisa Autti profiilikuva

Marja Liisa Autti

European Patent Attorney, Partner

I mainly deal with patenting in the fields of information technology, electronics and radio technology. The invention of many of the patent applications I have handled has been implemented as a computer program or software, but I am also no stranger to mechanical devices. In many cases, the inventions are combinations of devices and their control or processing of signals obtained therefrom. My job includes drafting patent applications, preparing office action reports and office action responses, handling opposition matters as well as performing novelty searches and technology mappings. I work as an authorized patent attorney, authorized by the Finnish Patent and Registration Office PRH. Prior to my career as a patent attorney, I gained 15 years of experience in patenting, IPR strategy and patent portfolio management in telecommunications field, as well as previous experience in research and development in the telecommunications and electronics industry. I have been employed by Boco IP since 2014.

Education
M.Sc. (electrical engineering: applied electronics, metrology, bioelectronics)
Languages
Finnish, English, Swedish
Activities
Orienteering, trail running, swimrun, geocaching, piano, gardening, genealogy
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Boco IP - Nina Virolaisen profiilikuva

Nina Virolainen

European Patent Attorney

I assist and advise our clients in protection of inventions in the fields of chemistry and biochemistry including diagnostics, molecular biology, microbiology, immunochemistry and process chemistry. My area of expertise is also the protection of biotechnology, bioenergy and cleantech processes and solutions. In addition, I assist our clients with employee’s inventions, competitor tracking, freedom to operate assessments and novelty searches.

I have worked in the patent industry since 2017. Before that, I have several years of R&D experience in developing and implementing innovative biotechnology and environmental technology solutions, both as a university researcher and at a startup company. I got interested in the IPR industry after being an inventor in patent applications myself, so I have multifaceted experience in turning research into protected inventions that add value to their owner. The best part of my job is getting a glimpse into pioneering research in many different fields!

Education
PhD (Environmental Biotechnology), M.Sc. (Biotechnology)
Languages
Finnish, English, Swedish, German
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Peter Åkerlund

IP Lawyer, Partner

I have a legal background and authorized to represent clients at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Finnish Patent Office, and at Finnish courts. I help clients to create strategies for the protection of brands, designs and other intangible assets. I conduct risk analysis' related to the use and registration of trademarks, and handle trademark registration and design protection worldwide. I also advise on contractual matters related to Intellectual Property and act as clients' representative in negotiations, and deal with trademark and design infringements, prosecute trademark oppositions and trademark and design cancellation procedures, and handle disputes related to domains. I have worked at Boco IP since 1999.

Education
LL.M., Master of Laws trained on the bench
Languages
Swedish, Finnish, English
Activities
The Association of Finnish Patent Attorneys, the Finnish Anti-Counterfeiting Group, IPR University Center Association, the Finnish Marketing Association MARK (several confidential posts in the above-mentioned organizations over the years), INTA, the Finnish Association for Industrial Property Rights, Juridiska Föreningen i Finland, literature, art, economy
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Sini-Maaria Mikkilä profiilikuva

Sini-Maaria Mikkilä

Chief Strategy Officer, European Patent Attorney, Partner

I am happy to help with all kinds of IP matters, and especially with technical inventions, their protection by patents and utility models in Europe and internationally, and with matters related to defending IP rights, such as oppositions, appeals and infringement matters. I have worked as a patent attorney since 2008 and during the time I have helped to protect and defend a wide variety of inventions, but I am most experienced in protecting inventions related to machines and equipment and hydraulic, electrical and software control thereof, as well as components and geometries. I am also interested in hydraulics, measurements, automatic detection, and different types of sensor applications as well as user interfaces and energy technology applications.

I really like the versatility of patent attorney's work. In addition to patent prosecution, I am happy to advise clients on IP issues, such as planning IP and protection strategies, and employment invention matters. I find it interesting to analyse similarities and differences between solutions, and I like preparing expert opinions related to scope of protection and suspected patent infringement cases, for example. I also conduct novelty and technology searches. It is also important for me to increase IP awareness and, therefore, I also like to organize IP trainings and IP workshops.

I would like to encourage you to contact me especially if you work within an industry like industrial machinery or equipment, mobile machinery, automotive industry, mining, consumer products, paper and forestry, public services, freight and logistics, health technology, measuring equipment and technology, renewable energy, or telecommunications. However, please feel free to contact me in any other IP matters, as I am always happy to help you to find the best expert on any matter, whether it is me or someone else.

I started at Boco IP in 2021 opening our Tampere office, but I help clients all over Finland and abroad, in Finnish, English and Swedish. Besides IPR matters, I also have an extensive experience in developing and deploying processes and information system tools.

Education
M.Sc. (Automation Technology)
Languages
Finnish, English, Swedish, German, Russian
Activities
European Patent Institute (member), Finnish Patent Attorneys Association (member), FICPI ​​(member) Crafts and creative writing
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Boco IP - Elina Heikkilä profiilikuva

Elina Heikkilä

IP-Lawyer, Member of the Board, Partner

I work primarily with trademarks and designs. I have years of global experience in IP protection proceedings, opposition, infringement and cancellation proceedings. I conduct availability and risk analyses, contractual matters, and IP strategy planning. Every IP-workday is fascinating! My previous work experience is from the Supreme Administrative Court, the Finnish Patent Office, and from a patent agency. I am authorized to represent clients at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH) and Finnish courts. I have worked at Boco since 2011.

Education
LL.M.
Languages
Finnish, English, Swedish, French
Activities
The Association of Finnish Patent Attorneys, The Finnish Association for Industrial Property Rights, International Trademark Association, The Finnish Anti-Counterfeiting Group, exercise, sailing, reading, antique, design
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Boco IP - Elina Heikkilä profiilikuva
Elina Heikkilä
IP-Lawyer, Member of the Board, Partner
+358 9 6866 8415
elina.heikkila@bocoip.com
Boco IP - Jerry Härkönen profiilikuva
Jerry Härkönen
IP Advisor, ON STUDY LEAVE
+358 40 538 7223
jerry.harkonen@bocoip.com
Mari Nieminen Boco IP
Mari Nieminen
IP Legal Trainee
+358 9 6866 8431
mari.nieminen@bocoip.com
Laura Roselus profiilikuva Boco IP
Laura Roselius
IP Lawyer, Partner
+358 40 738 4475
laura.roselius@bocoip.com
Peter Åkerlund
IP Lawyer, Partner
+358 9 6866 8413
peter.akerlund@bocoip.com