Protection of Industrial Property Strengthened Under New Amendments

摘要

On December 17, 2008, the Riigikogu (Parliament) adopted the Act Amending the Acts Regulating the Legal Protection of Industrial Property and Associated Acts. The amendments mainly pertain to the Patents Act, the Trademarks Act, and the Principles of Legal Regulation of Industrial Property Act.rnThe amendments introduce provisions concerning the secrecy of patent applications and the non-commercial use of a patented invention by the state. The secrecy-provisions enable applicants to keep confidential patent applications for inventions related to national defence (inventions serving significant national defence interests). The provisions for non-commercial use of a patented invention by the state lay down the framework regulation for such use.