Legal Updates

The European Commission employs a new procedure to remove obstacles to the free movement of goods

The Commission has, on 30 September 2021, adopted the first opinion in a new problem-solving procedure that aims to improve the free movement of goods within the EU. According to the opinion, national authorities incorrectly refused a company’s application to sell food supplements that were lawfully marketed in another Member State. The new procedure facilitates a cost-efficient way to challenge unfounded restrictions imposed by Member States. Read more

The Finnish Supreme Administrative Court rejected penalty payment in high-voltage transmission line cartel case as time-barred

The main legal issue in the case was the determination of the duration of the infringement period. The Supreme Administrative Court found, after consulting the Court of justice of the European Union, that the restrictive effects to the competition of the cartel ceased to exist when the contract was concluded. Read more

Quarterly Financial Sector Newsletter 3/2021

We understand that it may be difficult to stay up-to-date with the boundless financial news flow. We have therefore compiled an update on the season’s key highlights and regulative changes in the financial sector, which we hope will help you stay on track.

Below you will find key highlights on a more general level and down below more detailed highlights concerning different types of licensed companies operating in the financial sector. Read more

New GDPR standard contractual clauses available for use as of 27 June 2021

On 4 June 2021, the European Commission published the final version of the implementing decision on the below two sets of standard contractual clauses that may both be used by businesses as of 27 June 2021: Read more

Quarterly Financial Sector Newsletter 2/2021

We understand that it may be difficult to stay up-to-date with the boundless financial news flow. We have therefore compiled an update on the season’s key highlights and regulative changes in the financial sector, which we hope will help you stay on track.

Below you will find key highlights on a more general level and down below more detailed highlights concerning different types of licensed companies operating in the financial sector. Read more

Partial revocation of a trade name in administrative proceedings possible as of 1 May 2021

In connection with the reform of the Finnish Trademarks Act in 2019, the Finnish Trade Names Act was also amended. The amendment introduces a possibility to partially revoke a trade name due to non-use by filing an action in administrative proceedings with the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (“Office”), as an alternative to civil proceedings. Read more

Quarterly Financial Sector Newsletter

We understand that it may be difficult to stay up-to-date with the boundless financial news flow. We have therefore compiled an update on the season’s key highlights and regulative changes in the financial sector, which we hope will help you stay on track.

Below you will find key highlights on a more general level and down below more detailed highlights concerning different types of licensed companies operating in the financial sector. Read more

Mehiläinen/Pihlajalinna tie-up falls apart in the Market Court

The Market Court has rendered its much awaited, albeit brief, decision in the case concerning the proposed “3 to 2” merger in the Finnish health care market between Mehiläinen Yhtiöt Oy and Pihlajalinna Oyj on 29 December 2020. The Market Court did not rule on the merits of the proposed merger due to the deal having been abandoned. Read more

The Effects of UK leaving the EU on EU Trademarks and Community Designs

After 1 January 2021, UK is no longer part of the EU. Consequently, EU trademark applications and Community design applications filed after 31 December 2020 will no longer receive protection in the UK.

In relation to existing EU trademarks, Community designs, unregistered Community designs as well as any pending applications, the UK trademark authority has agreed to take following measures: Read more

International transfers of personal data – recent developments post CJEU Schrems II judgement

In July 2020 the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) delivered its judgement in the Schrems II case where the CJEU declared that the Privacy Shield mechanism, enabling a legal transfer of personal data from the EEA to the US, is invalid. This mainly because US laws, not following the principle of proportionality included in the GDPR, allow excessive access and use by US surveillance authorities to personal data. Also, there is no remedy available to EU data subjects to ensure protection of their personal data after it has been transferred to the US. Organizations that have relied on the Privacy Shield mechanism must post Schrems II have alternative transfer mechanisms in place in order to be able to legally transfer personal data from the EEA to the US. Such alternative transfer mechanisms may, amongst others, include Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC). Read more