On 9 October 2008, the European Court of Justice gave a preliminary ruling on the interpretation of Article 7(2) a of Directive 96/9/EC on the legal protection of databases ("Database Directive").

Finland has a technology-intensive industry both in the traditional mechanical (often paper and pulp related) as well as in the electronic, IT and biotech sectors. The most successful technology company during the past few years has without doubt been Nokia. These industries carefully consider the governance of trade secrets, patent strategy, product design and branding which all are factors having an effect on domestic and international success.

Two working groups set up by the Ministry of Education to examine copyright issues have recently published their reports, together with proposed amendments.

Bundesgerichtshof ("BGH"), the highest civil court of Germany, ruled in a case concerning music sampling on 20 November 2008.

The Roschier Disputes Index comprises a market survey focusing on Northern Europe’s prevailing practices and trends in dispute resolution, as seen from the perspective of the largest companies operating in Sweden and Finland.

The formal legal requirements for an arbitration agreement to be enforceable under Finnish arbitration law are in substance identical to those of the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration (the "UNCITRAL Model Law").

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