Privacy statement for the Finnish Designs Register
Controller
Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH)
Mailing address: Finnish Patent and Registration Office, FI-00091 PRH, Finland
Street address: Sörnäisten rantatie 13 C, Helsinki, Finland
Tel. +358 29 509 5000
Representative of controller
Jorma Lehtonen
jorma.lehtonen(at)prh.fi
Tel. +358 29 509 5904
Data protection officer
tietosuojavastaava(at)prh.fi
Tel. +358 50 413 6500
Purpose of and legal basis for processing personal data
The Finnish Designs Register processes personal data under Article 6.1(c) of the General Data Protection Regulation, i.e. the processing is necessary to comply with the legal obligation of the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH).
Under sections 9 and 44a of the Finnish Registered Designs Act (Mallioikeuslaki 221/1971), the PRH keeps the Designs Register, which contains information on design rights granted by the PRH, and a record of international registrations in force in Finland.
Under section 6 of the Finnish Registered Designs Decree (Mallioikeusasetus 252/1971), the PRH keeps an official register of applications for registration of designs.
The PRH processes matters related to design rights and provides information services in connection with this duty under section 2 of the Act on the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (578/2013).
Matters to be announced in accordance with the Registered Designs Act and the Registered Designs Decree are published in the Industrial Property Gazettes service.
Personal data and categories of data subjects in the register
The data to be entered into the Designs Register, the record of international design registrations in force in Finland, and the official register of applications are the name, domicile and address of the design right applicant or owner, the name, domicile and address of the agent, and the name and address of the creator of the design.
When registering the pledging or licensing of a design right, the name, domicile and address of the owner of the right are also entered into the Designs Register and the record of international registrations. When a design right application is transferred, the name, domicile and address of the owner of the right are entered into the official register of applications.
(Sections 23a and 23b of the Registered Designs Act; sections 6 and 7 of the Registered Designs Decree)
In addition, the name, domicile and address of the person lodging an opposition and the name, domicile and address of their agent are entered into the register and the record.
The telephone numbers and email addresses of the above persons are also collected in order to make communication easy.
Sources of information
The details are entered into the Designs Register, the record of international registrations and the official register of applications based on registration applications or applications about registered designs and their supplementary details. This information is supplied by the applicants, owners or their representatives and – in the case of an opposition – by the opponent or their representative.
Disclosure of personal data to third parties
Anyone is entitled to obtain information about the entries made in the Designs Register, the record of international registrations and the official register of applications, as long as the information is public in accordance with section 19 of the Registered Designs Act.
Details from the Designs Register, the record of international registrations and the official register of applications can be obtained online via the Design Information Service on the PRH website or by ordering extracts, certificates and documents, and by telephone enquiry. It is also possible to study documents concerning designs at the PRH in Helsinki, as long as they are public.
Details stored in the Designs Register are regularly disclosed to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and to information service companies.
Transfer of personal data to countries outside the EU or the EEA or to international organisations
Personal data connected to international design registrations are also disclosed to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) based on sections 44 b and 44 f of the Registered Designs Act.
Storage periods of personal data
The storage periods of the registered personal data are based on a filing plan, which allows the data to be stored permanently.
Profiling and automated decision-making
The registered data are not used for profiling, and no automated decision-making is performed on the data.
Right of access to personal data
The data subject has the right to check what personal data about them have been entered into the register, or to find out that there are no such register entries. The data subject can ask the controller for access to their personal data. Read our instructions on how to request access to data.
Right to restriction of processing
The data subject has the right to demand that the controller restrict the processing of data, if the data subject contests the accuracy of the personal data. The idea is to restrict the processing for a period during which the controller can verify the accuracy of the personal data.
Right to rectification of data
The data subject has the right to demand that the controller rectify without undue delay any inaccurate or incorrect personal data concerning them. Read our instructions on rectification of data.
Right to lodge complaint with supervisory authority
If the data subject considers that the processing of their personal data infringes the relevant legislation, the data subject has the right to lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority (the Data Protection Ombudsman).