Our solutions /  Patents

Freedom to operate

The Freedom of Action Survey is a comprehensive study of a company's room for maneuver and competitors' patents in the environment of intellectual property rights. It clarifies the protections in force in other areas or areas of other operators. Determining freedom of action secures business and prevents patent litigation.

Why

  • Extensively investigate the company’s intangible freedom of action in relation to third parties.
  • Provides an accurate picture of patents and protections held by competitors in defined product groups and territories.
  • brings security when moving to new markets and helps defend your own intellectual property rights.
  • prevents unintentional patent infringement and thus additional litigation costs.
  • helps to target product development and resources correctly, for example to products with greater freedom of action.
  Before starting product development, it is important to know the intangible environment of the product or product family. Based on this, it is possible to create an overview of future product development prospects. Our Freedom Mapping identifies potential IP rights held by third parties that may constitute a barrier to business or product development. The inventory can also be used to eliminate investment in unprofitable product development and marketing, as well as to prevent infringements of rights against third parties. Once the probable risks have been identified, we propose alternative ways to neutralize or address them, such as through licensing, cooperation, or other agreement.
Contact
The client will contact Boco IP regarding a freedom of action survey, a new product launch plan or a transition to a new market area.
Definition of the assignment
The object and area of the freedom of action survey for which the freedom of action is examined are defined with the client.
Research, analysis and reporting
The service will be implemented in two phases. In the first, fixed-price phase, database searches are performed, as well as a review and listing of the result set. An accurate workload estimate will then be provided for the analysis of the key Found patents and patent families selected from the result set, based on e.g. how large patent families can be found in the set of results (for example, the workload for the validity and review of a single U.S. patent is less than the investigation of the validity and scope of patents in multiple countries).
End meeting and next steps
The end result of the service is a statement with recommendations for action on the company's freedom of action in the domestic or international market. The statement is reviewed with the client and possible follow-up actions are agreed upon.

Pricing examples

First phase - light

2270 €
First phase - normal

4275 €
Second phase

The cost for second phase is dependent on the size of the result set achieved in the first phase and agreed together before commencing the work.

Would you like to get a preliminary price estimate for a service that best meets your needs?

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If you are concerned about anything, we are here for you. Pressing the button below you can see all our experts.
Mia Niemelä
IP Specialist, administration and formalities
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Antti Pörhönen
Patent Attorney
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Boco IP - Petri Nieminen profiilikuva
Petri Nieminen
Consulting Director, Partner
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Boco IP:n toimitusjohtaja Karri Leskinen profiilikuva
Karri Leskinen
Managing Director, Partner
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Jonna Sahlin profiilikuva
Jonna Sahlin
European Patent Attorney, Chairman of the board, Partner
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Boco IP - Marja-Liisa Autti profiilikuva
Marja Liisa Autti
European Patent Attorney, Partner
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Boco IP - Nina Virolaisen profiilikuva
Nina Virolainen
European Patent Attorney
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Mia Niemelä

IP Specialist, administration and formalities

I am Mia Niemelä, the newest IP Specialist (IPSU) at Boco IP. I have previously worked in the IPR field for 16 years. However, I spent the last seven years working elsewhere, so there is much to both learn and refresh my memory on. Fortunately, I still retain a good amount of knowledge from what I learned before.

It is a pleasure and an honor to return to a field where there is always something new to learn, and the opportunities for growth are limitless.

In my free time, I spend a lot of time in nature, on sports fields, and at the gym. I am also a passionate traveler, having visited over 50 countries.

The best part of this field is the people who make our work community a pleasant place to grow and develop into an even stronger professional in the industry. My tasks at Boco include all customer correspondence, reporting, handling assignments, preparing and delivering documents to various parties, maintaining contact with foreign partners and patent offices, as well as monitoring deadlines and managing billing activities.

Education
Bachelor of Hospitality Management, Specialist Vocational Qualification of Foreign Trade, Further Vocational Qualification of Advertising
Languages
Finnish, Swedish, English
Activities
Exercise, Travelling
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Suvi Haavisto

IP Lawyer

Hello! I am assisting clients in diverse legal issues relating to intellectual property rights. Trademarks and brand protection are close to my heart, and I am also happy to assist in matters relating to commercial agreements.

Prior to joining Boco IP, I worked as a senior legal counsel in a technology company. Before that, I have worked as an attorney-at-law focusing especially on trademark and copyright related matters.

In my freetime, I love to spend time with family and friends. You can see me at cafés, movie theatres, museums, or walking by the seaside in Helsinki.

I joined Boco IP in 2024.

Education
M. Sc. in Economics and Business Administration (Hanken School of Economics), Master of Laws (University of Helsinki)
Languages
Finnish, English, Swedish
Activities
Finnish Association for Industrial Property Rights (STY) Finnish IT Law Association PTMG (Pharmaceutical Trade Marks Group)
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Antti Pörhönen

Patent Attorney

I have handled patenting of mainly mechanical solutions in various fields of technology. Additionally, I conduct patentability searches and patent evaluations, and I also have experience with design applications. In my work, I value long-term cooperation with clients, striving to understand their business and relevant technologies. My background is in materials technology with a specialization in metallurgy and steels, and I have also worked in research and development as well as mechanical design of electrical machines. I have been working in the field of patents since 2021, and I am a registered patent attorney in Finland.

Education
M. Sc. (Tech.)
Languages
Finnish, Swedish, English, Italian, German
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Boco IP - Petri Nieminen profiilikuva

Petri Nieminen

Consulting Director, Partner

How can I help you! My job at Boco includes managing our consulting and training services. In my role as an expert, I do strategy consulting as an accredited Design IP Strategy expert, I also do market and competitor surveys, as well as training and workshop events. My special expertise is in valuing patents. I have previous work experience in consulting and management at Accenture and BEA Systems (now part of Oracle). In addition, as an entrepreneur and owner, I was involved in creating a new kind of commercialization service at Iprbox Oy, the business of which was acquired by Boco in 2008. Employed by Boco IP since then!

Education
ICT field in general, product development, sales and marketing
Languages
Finnish, English, Swedish, German
Activities
Accenture Alumni, BEA Systems Alumni, spending free time outdoors together with family
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Boco IP:n toimitusjohtaja Karri Leskinen profiilikuva

Karri Leskinen

Managing Director, Partner

Welcome to my page! How can I help?

I work at Boco IP as both CEO and patent attorney. As CEO, I want to help my colleagues succeed in their jobs and create a corporate culture where it is great to work. In my role as a patent attorney, I’m active in designing and implementing of clients' IPR strategies. With regard to assignments, I have focused especially on the handling of opposition cases in Finland and at the European Patent Office. I’m easily enthusiastic about everything related to the IP and I am happy to share this enthusiasm by lecturing and training new people in the IP field. In addition, I act as an expert in patent litigations, draft opinions and advise on patent law matters. I started at Boco IP in 2005, but I have been in the patent attorney since 1999. Feel free to contact me and let's talk more.

Education
M.Sc. (polymer chemistry, plant design)
Languages
Finnish, English, Swedish, German
Activities
Expert member of the Market Court, The Association of Finnish Patent Attorneys, FICPI, AIPPI, European Patent Institute, the Finnish Association for Industrial Property Rights, gym, golf, snowboarding, music, reading
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Jonna Sahlin profiilikuva

Jonna Sahlin

European Patent Attorney, Chairman of the board, Partner

I am happy to advise and assist in various matters related to intellectual property rights and strategy, especially in the fields of chemistry, process technology, medicine, and diagnostics. I like problem solving and interaction with customers and colleagues, and I think the best results are usually achieved when the cooperation works smoothly. I handle patenting of inventions both in Finland and internationally, and in addition to prosecution of applications, I, among other things, also draft oppositions, freedom-to-operate analyses, and statements on the interpretation of patents.

I have been employed by Boco IP since 1998 and, after various tasks over the years,  I nowadays mostly work with patent matters. Since 2017, I have represented Finland as a council member of the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office (epi) and as a Finnish member of the epi's Professional Conduct Committee (PCC).

Education
M.Sc. (chemistry, food technology, polymer technology)
Languages
Swedish, Finnish, English, (German)
Activities
Expert member of the Market Court, European Patent Institute (epi, council member 2017-), Finnish Patent Attorneys Association (SPAY, chairman 2010-2013), active in co-operation with Nordic patent attorneys in the field of chemistry, AIPPI, FICPI, UNION, Finnish Association of Industrial Law (STY) and Finnish Chemists Society (SKS), swimming, running, downhill skiing, gardening
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Boco IP - Marja-Liisa Autti profiilikuva

Marja Liisa Autti

European Patent Attorney, Partner

I mainly deal with patenting in the fields of information technology, electronics and radio technology. The invention of many of the patent applications I have handled has been implemented as a computer program or software, but I am also no stranger to mechanical devices. In many cases, the inventions are combinations of devices and their control or processing of signals obtained therefrom. My job includes drafting patent applications, preparing office action reports and office action responses, handling opposition matters as well as performing novelty searches and technology mappings. I work as an authorized patent attorney, authorized by the Finnish Patent and Registration Office PRH. Prior to my career as a patent attorney, I gained 15 years of experience in patenting, IPR strategy and patent portfolio management in telecommunications field, as well as previous experience in research and development in the telecommunications and electronics industry. I have been employed by Boco IP since 2014.

Education
M.Sc. (electrical engineering: applied electronics, metrology, bioelectronics)
Languages
Finnish, English, Swedish
Activities
Orienteering, trail running, swimrun, geocaching, piano, gardening, genealogy
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Boco IP - Nina Virolaisen profiilikuva

Nina Virolainen

European Patent Attorney

I assist and advise our clients in protection of inventions in the fields of chemistry and biochemistry including diagnostics, molecular biology, microbiology, immunochemistry and process chemistry. My area of expertise is also the protection of biotechnology, bioenergy and cleantech processes and solutions. In addition, I assist our clients with employee’s inventions, competitor tracking, freedom to operate assessments and novelty searches.

I have worked in the patent industry since 2017. Before that, I have several years of R&D experience in developing and implementing innovative biotechnology and environmental technology solutions, both as a university researcher and at a startup company. I got interested in the IPR industry after being an inventor in patent applications myself, so I have multifaceted experience in turning research into protected inventions that add value to their owner. The best part of my job is getting a glimpse into pioneering research in many different fields!

Education
PhD (Environmental Biotechnology), M.Sc. (Biotechnology)
Languages
Finnish, English, Swedish, German
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Boco IP:n toimitusjohtaja Karri Leskinen profiilikuva
Karri Leskinen
Managing Director, Partner
+358 40 067 7931
karri.leskinen@bocoip.com
Tomi Salter profiilikuva
Tomi Salter
European Patent Attorney, Partner
+ 358 9 6866 8439
tomi.salter@bocoip.com