Hungarian Intellectual Property laws are in general based on international treaties of which Hungary is a partner, too.

The Hungarian Copyright grants intangible rights to the author of different literary, artistic, scientific productions. The work of authorship includes: 1.) literary works 2.) dramatic works, in any accompanying words 3.) public speeches 4.) motion pictures, other audiovisual works 5.) pictorial graphic sculptural works 6.) architectural works, plans 7.) artistic pictures 8.) computer software. The Copyright Act grants protection for fifty years for the authors and specifies their immaterial and material rights on the productions. The act also stipulates provisions for the special contracts, like publishing books, making movies and motion pictures etc.

The aforementioned Act contains basically provisions corresponding to the Treaty of Bern of 1928.

The protection of the scientific technical productions and marks contains the following fields: patents, utilities, designs, trademarks.

The Act Nr. 2 of 1962 on Patents determines the discoveries that are suitable to be patented. A patent may be granted for an invention if it incorporates a world-wide new idea or principle not known before which provides the progress of science, which must be distinguished from mere technical skill or knowledge and which may be used in a practical manner. The application must be filed to the Hungarian Patent Office which examines the application in a procedure divided into two part and issues patents. Patents are granted in general for a period of 20 years.
Besides the protection of patents the aforementioned act contains special rules applicable for Licence Agreements in addition to the general rules of Contracts set forth in the Civil Code.
The Patent Act is based on the provisions of several international Treaties also ratified by Hungary.

Act Nr. 9 of 1969 on Trademarks contains provisions regarding the trade mark definition, the trademark registration procedure, the content of the protection and the legal consequences of the mark infringement. The provisions of this Act correspond to the rules of The Trendy of Madrid of 1958 on Trademarks.

A separate decree No. 28 of 1978 contains the rules regarding the protection of industrial designs and Act Nr. 38 of 1991 provides for the protection of utilities.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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