FINLAND
Legislative Texts
Unofficial translation
L sopimattomasta menettelystä elinkeinotoiminnassa – L om otillbörligt förfarande i näringsverksamhet,
No. 1061/78
of December 22, 1978
UNFAIR BUSINESS PRACTICES ACT
as amended by Laws No. 405/86 of May 30, 1986 (in force from July 1, 1986) and No. 810/90 of October 24, 1990 (in force from January 1, 1991)
Section 1
Good business practice may not be violated nor may practices that are otherwise unfair to other entrepreneurs be used in business.
Section 2
A false or misleading expression concerning one’s own business or the business of another may not be used in business if said expression is likely to affect the demand for or supply of a product or harm the business of another.
An expression that refers to irrelevant circumstances or that is presented or formulated in an unsuitable manner may not be used in business if said expression is likely to harm the business of another.
Section 3
A benefit that depends on a lottery or that is otherwise based on chance may not be promised in business if receipt of the benefit requires the sale, purchase or ordering of a product or otherwise requires consideration.
The provision in the first paragraph shall not apply to prize contest tasks organized in newspapers and periodicals as customary entertainment.
Section 4
No one may unjustifiably obtain or seek to obtain information regarding a business secret or use or reveal
information obtained in such a manner.
Whoever obtains information regarding a business secret while in the service of an entrepreneur may not
unjustifiably use or reveal it while still in service in order to obtain personal benefit or benefit for another or
in order to harm another.
Whoever receives information regarding a business secret while performing a function on behalf of an
entrepreneur, or who has been entrusted with a technical model or technical instructions so that he can carry
out work or a function or otherwise for business purposes, may not unjustifiably use or reveal this.
Whoever has been informed by another of a business secret, a technical model or technical instructions in
the knowledge that said person has unjustifiably obtained or revealed the information may not use or reveal
this.
Section 5
(Repealed through No. 810/90)
Section 6
An entrepreneur may be prohibited from continuing or repeating practices that violate sections 1 through 3.
The prohibition may be reinforced through a conditional fine unless this is unnecessary for a special reason. If there is a special reason for this, the prohibition may also be directed at a person in the service of an entrepreneur referred to in the preceding first paragraph, or at another person acting on his behalf.
FI032EN Undisclosed Information (Unfair Business), Act, 22/12/1978, No. 1061 page 1/2
FINLAND
Legislative Texts
An entrepreneur who in violation of section 4 has used the business secret, technical model or technical instructions of another or revealed any of these may be prohibited from continuing or repeating such practice. The prohibition shall be reinforced through a conditional fine unless this is unnecessary for a special reason.
Section 7
The prohibition referred to in section 6 shall be imposed by the Market Court. The Market Court may also
impose a temporary ban, which shall remain in force until the case is finally decided.
In addition to the above provisions, the Market Court Act (41/78) shall apply to the Market Court and to
proceedings in the Market Court.
Section 8
In imposing the prohibition referred to in section 6, the Market Court may order the entrepreneur to undertake appropriate remedial action within a specified period if this is deemed necessary on the grounds of the evident harm caused by the act. The order may be reinforced through a conditional fine.
On the motion of the plaintiff, the Market Court may order that the decision in a case involving a prohibition shall be published in one or more newspapers or periodicals at the expense of the defendant. The publication of a decision on a temporary ban may not be ordered.
Section 9
(No. 810/90)
Whoever violates deliberately or out of gross negligence the provisions of section 2 or 3 shall be sentenced
to a fine for a violation of fair business practices unless a more severe sentence is provided for elsewhere in
law for the act or omission.
Whoever deliberately violates the provisions of section 2 or 3 shall be sentenced for violation of fair
business practices to a fine or to imprisonment for at most six months unless a more severe sentence is
provided for elsewhere in law for the act or omission. Whoever violates the provisions of section 2 or 3 out
of gross negligence shall be sentenced for an offence against fair business practices to a fine.
Section 10
(No. 810/90) Whoever in violation of the provisions of section 4 deliberately uses or reveals a technical model or technical directions shall be sentenced to a fine for abuse of a technical model or technical directions or to
imprisonment for at most six months unless a more severe sentence is provided for elsewhere in law for the act or omission. Whoever otherwise in violation of the provisions of section 4 deliberately commits an offence referred to
in sections 4 to 6 of chapter 30 of the Penal Code shall be sentenced for industrial espionage or for breach or disclosure of a business secret in accordance with the Penal Code.
Section 11
Charges for a violation referred to in this Act shall be brought before a lower court of general jurisdiction. The public prosecutor may not bring charges unless the injured party has reported the matter for the bringing of charges. (No. 810/90)
When considering cases referred to in sections 2 and 3 of this Act, the court shall reserve the Consumer Ombudsman an opportunity to be heard.
Section 12
This Act shall enter into force on 1 January, 1979. It repeals the Act on the Prevention of Unfair Competition of 31 January, 1930 (No. 34/30).
FI032EN Undisclosed Information (Unfair Business), Act, 22/12/1978, No. 1061 page 2/2