About the Office

The Hungarian Patent Office is the government office for the protection of intellectual property that was established in 1896 by virtue of Article 23 of Act XXXVII of 1895 on Patents for Inventions.

Detailed rules currently in force concerning the legal status, management, functions and competence of the Hungarian Patent Office are contained in Articles 115/D to 115/L of Chapter XIV/C of Act XXXIII of 1995 on the Protection of Inventions by Patents (hereinafter referred to as the Patent Act) and in Act LVII of 2006 on central state administrative organs and on the legal status of Government members and state secretaries (hereinafter referred to as the CO Act).

Pursuant to the CO Act, the Hungarian Patent Office is directed by the Government. According to Article 1(f) of Decree 8/2006. (XII. 23.) ME of the Prime Minister, on behalf of the Government the Minister of Justice and Law Enforcement exercises the rights of supervision laid down by law.

The President of the Hungarian Patent Office is appointed and released by the Prime Minister on the the Minister's proposal. The President's two deputies are appointed and released by the Minister on the President's proposal.
The HPO manages its incomes independently, uses them to cover its operational costs and these cannot be subject to a subsidy to the central budget, unless otherwise provided by the Act on Public Finance.

The Hungarian Patent Office is represented in the State Budget as an independent budgetary title within Chapter XXXIV.

By virtue of Article 115/G of the Patent Act, the HPO's functions and competence include:

a) official examinations and procedures in the field of industrial property;
b) performance of certain tasks in connection with copyright and rights related to copyright;
c) central governmental information and documentation activities in the field of intellectual property;
d) participation in the preparation of intellectual property legislation;
e) preparation and implementation of the Government's strategy for the protection of intellectual property, initiation and execution of governmental measures required for this purpose;
f) performance of professional tasks of international and European co-operation in the field of intellectual property protection.

The functions and competence of the Hungarian Patent Office are set out in detail in its Deed of Foundation and in its Rules on Organisation and Operation.

Availability:

H - 1054 Budapest, Garibaldi utca 2.
Hungary
Mailing address: H-1374 Budapest, Pf. 552, Hungary
Central phone: +36 1 312 4400, Fax: +36 1 331 2596
E-mail:
Account number: Hungarian State Treasury
IBAN: HU30 1003 2000 0173 1842 00000000
Swift code: MANEHUHB

Annual Report
2008
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2006
2005
2004