Unified Patent Court and its Local Division in Finland

The Unified Patent Court (UPC) starts its operations 1.6.2023. At the same time, the Finnish Local Division of the Unified Court begins its activities. Therefore, disputes falling within the jurisdiction of the Unified Patent Court can also be resolved in Finland.

The Act on the Local Division of the Patent Court in Finland was already adopted in 2016. The aim of the Act was to establish a local section of the Court of First Instance of the Unified Patent Court in Finland. The threshold for the entry into force of the Unified Patent Court agreement was met in February 2023, when Germany deposited its commitment letter. This is how the Patent Court Agreement and the single patent system forming the second part of the reform of the European patent system enters into force 1.6.2023.

The Finnish Local Division of the Unified Patent Court is in Helsinki and operates within the framework of the Market Court and its premises. Finnish, Swedish or English may be used as court languages in the Finnish Local Division. The Division employs one Market Court Judge on a part-time basis.

The first instance of the Unified Patent Court, i.e. the Court of First Instance, consists of a central division and local and regional divisions. The Court of Appeal of the second instance, on the other hand, is centralised and located in Luxembourg.

The Unified Patent Court is a supranational court established by an international treaty. Consequently, the Finnish Local Division of the Unified Patent Court is not part of the Finnish judiciary.