Press release
01 July 2010
Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications
Accreditation and professional secrecy for patent agents
The Government today approved a new accreditation system under public law for patent agents. The decision, which involves the introduction of accreditation and a duty of professional secrecy for patent agents, means that Swedish agents will be able to compete on the same terms as Swedish lawyers or patent agents in other countries, for example.
"In the long term, this means an improvement to the climate of innovation in the Swedish market - and thereby also growth," says Minister for Enterprise and Energy Maud Olofsson
The new system means that accredited patent agents will be bound by professional secrecy that is regulated in law, and that, during legal proceedings, they may not be examined concerning confidential information relating to matters of patent law that has come to their knowledge in the course of their professional activities. The accreditation system also contains rules concerning disciplinary action for misconduct.
At the same time, a new government agency, the Patent Agents' Board, will be established to administer the actual accreditation process and supervise patent agents.
"We anticipate that there will be a great deal of interest in the beginning as the existing civil law accreditation systems are transferred to the new system. We expect between 350 and 500 cases in the first year of activities," says Ms Olofsson.
The new agency will be financed through fees and its office functions will be provided by the Swedish Companies Registration Office in Sundsvall. The new agency will be chaired by former Auditor-General Karin Lindell.
