International agreements

International agreements

Protection granted by the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office is effective on the territory of Hungary

The international agreements below make it possible to obtain rights effective in several countries with one application, or help somehow to obtain rights in several countries including Hungary.

For patents

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)

Obtaining rights abroad is facilitated by the Patent Cooperation Treaty, in the framework of which the procedure for grant of a patent (utility model protection) with effect in any or all contracting states may be started by filing a single application, written in one language, with one authority. The procedure in itself does not result in protection, grant of the patent should be applied for within a fixed time limit laid down by legislation in each jurisdiction in which a patent is desired; patents are granted by the national authorities in each country.

European Patent Convention

By virtue of the Munich Agreement of 5 October 1973 on the grant of European Patents (European Patent Convention) protection can be obtained in all countries which are Contracting States of the convention. European patents are granted by the European Patent Office (EPO). Upon granting the European patent shall become effective in those Contracting States, where the required procedural steps (filing of a request and of a translation, payment of the fee, etc.) are carried out within a given time limit.

For trademarks

Madrid Agreement and the related Madrid Protocol

By virtue of the Madrid Agreement on the international registration of trademarks and the related Madrid Protocol, by filing a single international application protection may be obtained in all Contracting Countries.

For an international application a previous national (Community) trademark application or registered trademark is required, the data of which shall be verified for the World Intellectual Property Organization by the national office (or, in the case of a Community trade mark by the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market).

Community Trade Mark

The Community Trade Mark is a trademark which provides protection effective on the whole territory of the European Union. Registration of community trademarks is carried out by the Office for Harmonization in the International Market.

For designs

Hague Agreement

By virtue of the Hague Agreement on the international registration of industrial designs, by filing a single international application one may obtain protection in all Contracting Parties. Registration of international designs is carried out by the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Community Design

By a Community design application one may obtain protection effective on the whole territory of the European Union. Registration of Community designs is carried out by the Office for Harmonization in the International Market.

For geographical indications

Lisbon Agreement

By virtue of the Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration, by filing a single international application protection may be obtained in all countries which are parties to the agreement.

Community (Union) geographical indication

Community geographical indications provide protection for right holders in the whole territory of the European Union.

The geographical indications of agricultural products and foodstuffs have enjoyed exclusively Community level protection since Hungary became a member of the European Union.

Designations of origin and geographical indications of wine products can only be registered at Community level as of August 2009, in a system similar to that of foodstuffs.

Geographical indications which can be attached to spirit drinks, in addition to the national protection, may also enjoy Community level protection based on the national protection granted by the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office.

For plant varieties

Community plant variety protection

By an application for Community plant variety right protection, one may obtain protection effective in the whole territory of the European Union on the basis of the Regulation on Community plant variety rights.

The system of plant variety protection rights is managed by an agency of the European Union, the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO).