In 2003, Hungary acceded to the European Patent Convention and has amended the Hungarian Patent Act accordingly.  Act CII of 2003 modified the Hungarian Copyright Act and the Hungarian Design Act to bring them in line with the relevant EU legislation.  The Hungarian Patent Office implemented the EU Copyright/Information Society Directive.  Hungary implemented Council Regulation 1383/2003, concerning customs action against goods suspected of infringing certain intellectual property rights.  Further, a government decree established a customs task to accept claims from producers whose trademarks or copyrights were infringed.

Hungary is also a party to the WTO Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement and most other major international IPR (intellectual property rights) agreements, including the most recent World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performance and Phonograms Treaty.

Hungary’s National Board against Counterfeiting and Piracy established in 2008, has promoted collaboration on IPR issues between the Government and the private sector, and issued a two-year IPR strategy to combat counterfeiting and piracy. The United States urges Hungary to take concrete steps to implement its IPR strategy and to improve its IPR enforcement regime. Further improvements are needed to ensure that prosecutors follow through with cases against IP infringers, and that 27 judges are encouraged to impose deterrent-level sentences for civil and criminal IP infringement. U.S. copyright industries also report that internet piracy in Hungary is a major problem and note that the Government of Hungary should provide adequate resources to its law enforcement authorities to combat IPR crime, especially on the internet.

Resources

Hungarian Intellectual Property Office

HIPO Hungarian Intellectual Property Office 

Business Software Alliance (BSA)

To access Hungary’s ICS, which includes information on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, visit the U.S. Department of State Investment Climate Statement website.