Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
ACT XXXIII OF 1995
ON THE PROTECTION OF INVENTIONS BY PATENTS
In order to promote technical progress in the Hungarian national economy, to implement up-to-date
technology, to encourage inventors both morally and financially; and in conformity with the international
obligations of Hungary concerning the protection of intellectual property, the Parliament enacts the
following Act:
PART I
INVENTIONS AND PATENTS
Chapter I
SUBJECT MATTER OF PATENT PROTECTION
Patentable inventions
Article 1
(1) Patents shall be granted for any inventions in any field of technology that are new, involve an
inventive step and are susceptible of industrial application.
(2) The following in particular shall not be regarded as inventions within the meaning of paragraph
(1):
(a) discoveries, scientific theories and mathematical methods,
(b) aesthetic creations,
(c) schemes, rules and methods for performing mental acts, playing games or doing business, and
programs for computers,
(d) presentations of information.
(3) Patentability of the subject matters referred to in paragraph (2) shall be excluded only to the
extent to which a patent application or the patent relates to such subject matter as such.
Novelty
Article 2
(1) An invention shall be considered new if it does not form part of the state of the art.
(2) The state of the art shall be held to comprise everything made available to the public by means of
a written communication or oral description, by use, or in any other way, before the date of priority.
(3) The content of any national patent application or utility model application having an earlier date
of priority shall also be considered as comprised in the state of the art, provided that it was published or
announced in the course of the patent granting procedure at a date following the date of priority. The content
of such a European patent application [Article 84/B(2)] and international patent application [Article 84/P(1)]
shall only be considered as comprised in the state of the art on special conditions laid down in this Act
[Articles 84/D(2) and 84/T(2)]. For the purposes of these provisions, the abstract shall not be considered as
comprised in the content of the application.
(4) The provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) shall not exclude the patentability of any substance
(compound) or composition, comprised in the state of the art, for use in methods for treatment of the human
or animal body by surgery or therapy and diagnostic methods practiced on the human or animal body
[Article 6(10)], provided that use for such methods is not comprised in the state of the art.
(5) Similarly, the provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) shall not exclude the patentability of any
substance (compound) or composition, comprised in the state of the art, for use in methods for treatment of
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
2
the human or animal body by surgery or therapy and diagnostic methods practiced on the human or animal
body [Article 6(10)], provided that such use is not comprised in the state of the art.
Article 3
For the purposes of Article 2, a disclosure of the invention that occurred no earlier than six months
preceding the date of priority shall not be taken into consideration as part of the state of the art if
(a) it was the due to an abuse of the rights of the applicant or his predecessors in title or
(b) it was due to the fact that the applicant or his predecessors in title have displayed the invention at
an exhibition specified in an announcement by the President of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
published in the Hungarian Official Gazette.
Inventive activity
Article 4
(1) An invention shall be considered to involve an inventive activity if, in regard to the state of the
art, it is not obvious to a person skilled in the art.
(2) In deciding whether there has been an inventive activity, the part of the state of the art referred to
in Article 2(3) shall not be taken into consideration.
Industrial application
Article 5
(1) An invention shall be considered susceptible of industrial application if it can be made or used in
any sector of industry or agriculture.
(2) [repealed]
Patentable biotechnological inventions
Article 5/A
(1) Inventions meeting the requirements of Article 1 to 5 shall be patentable even if they concern a
product consisting of or containing biological material or a process by means of which biological material is
produced, processed or used. Biological material means any material containing genetic information which
is capable of reproducing itself or being reproduced in a biological system.
(2) Biological material which is isolated from its natural environment or produced by means of a
technical process may be the subject of an invention even if it previously occurred in nature.
(3) The human body, at the various stages of its formation and development, and the simple
discovery of one of its elements, including the sequence or partial sequence of a gene, cannot constitute
patentable inventions.
(4) An element isolated from the human body or otherwise produced by means of a technical
process, including the sequence of partial sequence of a gene, may constitute a patentable invention, even if
the structure of that element is identical to that of a natural element.
Patentability
Article 6
(1) Patent protection shall be granted for an invention if
(a) it satisfies the requirements of Articles 1 to 5/A and is not excluded from patent protection under
the terms of paragraphs (2) to (4) and (10), and
(b) the relevant application complies with the requirements laid down in this Act.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
3
(2) No patent protection may be granted for an invention if the exploitation thereof within the
framework of economic activity would be contrary to public policy or morality; such exploitation may not
be regarded as contrary to public policy merely because it is prohibited by law or regulation.
(3) On the basis of paragraph (2), the following, in particular, shall not be granted patent protection:
(a) processes for cloning human beings;
(b) processes for modifying the germ line genetic identity of human beings;
(c) uses of human embryos for industrial or commercial purposes;
(d) processes for modifying the genetic identity of animals which are likely to cause them suffering
without any substantial medical benefit to man or animal; and
(e) animals resulting from processes referred to in subparagraph (d).
(4) The following shall not be patentable:
(a) plant varieties [Article 105(a)] and animal breeds;
(b) essentially biological processes for the production of plants or animals.
(5) Inventions which concern plants or animals shall be patentable if the technical feasibility of the
invention is not confined to a particular plant variety or animal breed.
(6) Plant varieties may be granted plant variety protection under the provisions of Chapter XIII.
(7) A process for the production of plants or animals is essentially biological if it consists entirely of
crossing, selection or other natural phenomena.
(8) The provisions of paragraph (4)(b) shall be without prejudice to the patentability of inventions
which concern a microbiological or other technical process or a product obtained by means of such process.
(9) Microbiological process means any process involving or performed upon or resulting in
microbiological material.
(10) Methods for treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy and diagnostic
methods practiced on the human or animal body shall not be granted patent protection. This provision shall
not apply to products, in particular substances (compounds) and compositions, for use in such methods.
Chapter II
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS CONFERRED BY AN INVENTION AND BY A PATENT
Moral rights of the inventor and his rights concerning the disclosure of the invention
Article 7
(1) The person who has created an invention shall be deemed to be the inventor.
(2) Unless a final court decision rules to the contrary, the person originally mentioned as such in the
patent application or the person entered as such after the modification under Article 55(2a) of the relevant
entry in the Patent Register shall be deemed to be the inventor.
(3) If two or more persons have made an invention jointly, their shares of authorship shall be
regarded as equal in the absence of an indication originally mentioned in the patent application stating the
contrary.
(4) Unless a final court decision rules to the contrary, the shares of authorship originally stated in the
patent application, those determined under paragraph (3) or those entered after the modification under
Article 55(2a) of the relevant entry in the Patent Register shall be deemed applicable.
(5) The inventor shall have the right to be mentioned as such in the patent documents. Published
patent documents shall not mention the inventor if he so requests in writing.
(6) [repealed]
(7) Prior to the publication of the patent application, an invention may only be disclosed with the
consent of the inventor or his successor in title.
Right to a patent
Article 8
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
4
(1) The right to a patent shall belong to the inventor or his successor in title.
(2) Unless a final court decision or other official decision rules to the contrary, the right to a patent
shall belong to the person who filed the application with the earliest date of priority.
(3) If two or more persons have created an invention jointly, the right to the patent shall belong to
them or their successors in title jointly. Where two or more persons are entitled to the right, it shall be
deemed to belong to them equally unless otherwise provided.
(4) If two or more persons have created an invention independently of each other, the right to the
patent shall belong to the inventor, or his successor in title, who filed the application with the earliest date of
priority, provided that this first application is published or its subject matter is granted patent protection.
Service inventions and employee inventions
Article 9
(1) A service invention is an invention made by a person who, by reason of his employment, is
under the obligation to develop solutions in the field of the invention.
(2) An employee invention is an invention made by a person who, without being under an obligation
by reason of his employment, makes an invention, the exploitation of which falls within the field of business
of his employer.
Article 10
(1) The right to a patent for a service invention shall belong to the employer as successor in title to
the inventor.
(2) The right to a patent for an employee invention shall belong to the inventor, but the employer
shall be entitled to exploit the invention. The employer’s right of exploitation shall be non-exclusive; the
employer may not grant a license to exploit the invention. If the employer ceases to exist or if any of his
organizational units are separated, the right of exploitation shall be transferred to his successor in title; it
may not be assigned or transferred in any other way.
Article 11
(1) The inventor shall notify his employer of any service or employee invention immediately
following its creation.
(2) Within ninety days from receipt of such notification the employer shall make a declaration to the
effect that he does or does not claim title to the service invention, or state his intentions concerning the
exploitation of the employee invention.
(3) The employer may only exploit an employee invention subject to the right of the inventor to
disclose his invention [Article 7(7)].
(4) The inventor may exercise the right in relation to a service invention if the employer gives his
consent thereto or fails to make the declaration under paragraph (2).
(5) The right to a patent for an employee invention shall belong to the inventor and shall not be
subject to the employer’s right of exploitation if the employer gives his consent thereto or fails to make the
statement under paragraph (2).
Article 12
(1) The employer shall file a patent application within a reasonable time following the receipt of the
notification of a service invention; he shall furthermore proceed with all due diligence to obtain a patent.
(2) Provided that the patentability of the invention at the date of receipt of the notification has been
acknowledged by the employer and the invention is kept secret and exploited within the trade as such, the
employer may forego the filing of a patent application or may withdraw the application. The employer shall
notify the inventor of such decision.
(3) In the event of a dispute, the burden of proving that the invention was not patentable at the date
of receipt of the notification shall be on the employer.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
5
(4) Except for the case under paragraph (2), prior to any act – including surrender of provisional
patent protection – or any intentional omission liable to prevent the obtaining of a patent with regard to a
service invention, the employer shall be required to offer to assign to the inventor the right to a patent free of
charge, with or without the right of exploitation applicable to employee inventions. If the employer
surrenders provisional protection, the surrender shall be effective even without the consent of the inventor.
(5) The provisions of paragraph (4) shall not apply where the inventor has already received fair
remuneration having regard to the provisions of this Act.
Remuneration for service inventions
Article 13
(1) Where a service invention is utilized, the inventor shall be entitled to remuneration:
(a) if the invention is protected by a patent or if the subject matter of the invention is granted
supplementary protection (Article 22/A), from the beginning of its utilization up to the expiration of the
definitive patent protection or the supplementary protection;
(b) if the definitive patent protection or – if the subject matter of the invention is granted
supplementary protection (Article 22/A) – the supplementary protection lapses due to surrender or failing to
pay the maintenance fee by the employer, from the beginning of the utilization up to the date on which the
patent or the supplementary protection would have lapsed because of expiration;
(c) if the invention is kept secret from the beginning of the utilization up to the disclosure of the
invention or up to 20 years from the date on which the employer is notified of the invention, whichever
expires later.
(2) The following shall be considered utilization of a service invention:
(a) the exploitation of the invention (Article 19), including failing to exploit in order to create or to
maintain an advantageous market position;
(b) the grant of an exploitation license to third parties;
(c) the total or partial assignment of the right to a patent or of the patent.
(3) The inventor shall be entitled to separate remuneration for exploitation, for each exploitation
license and for each assignment, even if the license is granted or the assignment is made without
consideration. The entitlement to remuneration shall not be affected should one or more elements of the
patent claim be replaced in the product or in the process by improved elements made available by the
inventor.
(4) Remuneration shall be paid by the employer or, in the case of a joint patent and in the absence of
an agreement of the joint patentees to the contrary, by the patentee exploiting the invention. In the case of an
exploitation license or assignment, the acquirer of the rights may assume the obligation to pay remuneration.
(5) Remuneration shall also be due where utilization is based on a foreign patent or other legal title
of protection having the same effect; however, no remuneration for the exploitation shall be due if the
inventor is entitled to remuneration on the basis of a national patent.
(6) Remuneration for the inventor shall be governed by a contract concluded with the employer,
with the exploiting patentee or the person acquiring the rights (contract of remuneration for service
inventions).
(7) Remuneration for the exploitation of the invention shall be commensurate with the royalty the
employer or the exploiting patentee would have to pay on the basis of a patent license agreement, taking into
account the licensing conditions in the technical field of the subject matter of the invention.
(8) In the case of an exploitation license or of an assignment of the patent, the remuneration shall be
commensurate with the value of the license or the assignment or with the benefit deriving from a license or
an assignment without consideration.
(9) In assessing remuneration, the commensuration under paragraphs (7) and (8) shall be determined
taking into account the employer’s contribution to the invention concerned and the duties of the inventor
arising from his employment. Where an invention is kept secret, the disadvantages caused to the inventor by
failing to obtain protection shall also be considered.
Remuneration for the exploitation of an employee invention
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
6
Article 14
(1) Remuneration for the right to exploit an employee invention shall be paid by the employer or, in
the case of more than one employer and in the absence of an agreement to the contrary, by the employer
exploiting the invention.
(2) The remuneration of the inventor shall be governed by a contract concluded with the employer.
(3) The amount of the remuneration for the right to exploit an employee invention shall be equal to
that which would be payable by the employer for a license, on the basis of a patent license agreement, taking
into account the licensing conditions in the technical field of the subject matter of the invention.
Common provisions governing service and employee inventions
Article 15
(1) The contract of remuneration of service inventions, the contract governing remuneration due in
the case of the exploitation of an employee invention, as well as any disclosure, statement, notification or
information relating to service and employee inventions as prescribed by this Act shall be made in writing.
(2) The parties may derogate by mutual consent from the provisions relating to the contract of
remuneration of service inventions, in particular from those laid down in Article 13(7)–(9). A contract of
remuneration may also be concluded in which a remuneration of a fixed amount is stipulated with respect to
the inventions of the inventor to be created or exploited in the future (contract of remuneration of service
inventions aiming at risk sharing).
(3) [repealed]
Article 16
(1) All disputes concerning the service or employee character of an invention, the patentability of an
invention kept secret or the remuneration due to the inventor of a service or employee invention shall be
dealt with by the courts.
(2) The Body of Experts on Industrial Property (Article 115/T) at the Hungarian Intellectual
Property Office shall give an expert opinion also on matters concerning the patentability of an invention kept
secret and remuneration due to the inventor of a service or employee invention.
(3) [repealed]
Article 17
In the case of inventions created by persons working in public service, by persons in service
relationship or by members of a co-operative working within the framework of a legal relationship of an
employment nature, the provisions of Article 9 to 16 shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Establishment of patent protection
Article 18
(1) Patent protection shall begin with the publication of the patent application. The protection shall
be effective retroactively from the date of the application.
(2) Protection resulting from publication shall be provisional. It shall become definitive if a patent
for the invention is granted to the applicant.
Rights conferred by the patent
Article 19
(1) Patent protection shall afford the holder of the patent (patentee) the exclusive right to exploit the
invention.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
7
(2) On the basis of the exclusive right of exploitation, the patentee shall be entitled to prevent any
person not having his consent
(a) from making, using, putting on the market or offering for sale a product which is the subject
matter of the invention, or stocking or importing the product for such purposes;
(b) from using a process which is the subject matter of the invention or, where such other person
knows, or it is obvious from the circumstances, that the process cannot be used without the consent of the
patentee, from offering the process for use;
(c) from making, using, putting on the market, offering for sale or stocking or importing for such
purposes a product obtained directly by a process which is the subject matter of the invention.
(3) On the basis of the exclusive right of exploitation, the patentee shall also be entitled to prevent
any person not having his consent from supplying or offering to supply a person, other than a person entitled
to exploit the invention, with means (instruments, appliances) relating to an essential element of the
invention, for carrying out the invention, when such person knows, or it is obvious from the circumstances,
that those means are suitable and intended for carrying out the invention.
(4) The provisions of paragraph (3) shall not apply when the supplied or offered means are staple
commercial products, except when the supplier or offerer deliberately induces his client to commit the acts
referred to in paragraph (2).
(5) For the purposes of paragraph (3), persons performing acts not falling under the exclusive right
of exploitation, as referred to in paragraph (6), shall not be considered persons entitled to exploit the
invention.
(6) The exclusive right of exploitation shall not extend to:
(a) acts done privately or not involved in an economic activity;
(b) acts done for experimental purposes relating to the subject matter of the invention, including
experiments and tests necessary for the marketing authorisation of the product constituting the subject matter
of the invention or the product obtained through the process constituting the subject matter of the invention;
(c) preparation for individual cases, in a pharmacy, of a medicine in accordance with a medical
prescription, or acts concerning the medicine so prepared.
(7) In the absence of proof to the contrary, a product shall be deemed to have been obtained by a
patented process if the product is new and a substantial likelihood exists that the product was made by the
patented process and the patentee has been unable, despite reasonable efforts, to determine the process
actually used. A substantial likelihood that the product was made by the patented process shall exist, in
particular, when the patented process is the only known process.
Exhaustion of the exclusive right of exploitation conferred by patent protection
Article 20
The exclusive right of exploitation conferred by patent protection shall not extend to acts concerning
a product put on the market in the territory of the European Economic Area by the patentee or with his
express consent, except where the patentee has legitimate interests in opposing the further marketing of the
product.
Provisions concerning rights conferred by patent protection of biotechnological inventions and the
exhaustion of such rights
Article 20/A
(1) Where the subject matter of the invention is a biological material [Article 5/A(1)] possessing
specific characteristics as a result of the invention, the exclusive right of exploitation (Article 19) shall
extend to any biological material derived from that biotechnological material through propagation or
multiplication in an identical or divergent form and possessing those same characteristics.
(2) Where the subject matter of the invention is a process that enables a biological material [Article
5/A(1)] to be produced possessing specific characteristics as a result of the invention, the exclusive right of
exploitation (Article 19) shall extend to any biological material directly obtained through that process and to
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
8
any other biological material derived from the directly obtained biotechnological material through
propagation or multiplication in an identical or divergent form and possessing those same characteristics.
(3) Where the subject matter of the invention is a product containing or consisting of genetic
information, the exclusive right of exploitation (Article 19) shall extend to all material, save as provided in
Article 5/A(3), in which
(a) the product is incorporated, and
(b) the genetic information is contained and performs its function.
(4) The exclusive right of exploitation conferred by patent protection referred to in paragraphs (1) to
(3) shall not extend to biological material obtained from the propagation or multiplication of biological
material put on the market in the territory of the European Economic Area by the patentee or with his
express consent, where the propagation or multiplication necessarily results from the application for which
the biological material was marketed, provided that the material obtained is not subsequently used for other
propagation or multiplication.
(5) By way of derogation from paragraphs (1) to (3), the sale or other form of commercialisation of
plant propagating material to a farmer by the patentee or with his express consent implies authorisation for
the farmer to use the product of his harvest for propagation or multiplication by him on his own farm.
(6) The extent and conditions of derogation to which the farmer is entitled under paragraph (5) shall
be governed by the provisions laid down in Article 14 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2100/94 on
Community plant variety rights.
(7) By way of derogation from paragraphs (1) to (3), the sale or other form of commercialisation of
breeding stock or other animal reproductive material to a farmer by the patentee or with his express consent
implies authorisation for the farmer to use the patented livestock for agricultural purpose. This includes the
use of the animal or other animal reproductive material for the purposes of pursuing his activity but it shall
not extend to sale within the framework or for the purpose of a commercial reproduction activity. The extent
and conditions of derogation to which the farmer is entitled shall be governed by the provisions of specific
legislation.
Limitations of patent protection
Article 21
(1) A right of prior use shall belong to any person who, in good faith, before the date of priority, in
the territory of the country and within the framework of his economic activities, had begun to make or use
the subject matter of the invention or had made serious preparations for that purpose.
(2) A prior user shall be considered a bona fide user until it is proved that the prior use was based on
the inventive activity that led to the patented product.
(3) Patent protection shall have no effect against a prior user in relation to the extent of making,
using or preparation existing at the priority date. The right of prior use may only be transferred together with
an entitled economic organization [Civil Code, Article 685(c)] or with that part of the economic organization
in which such making, using or preparation has taken place.
(4) A right of continued use shall belong to any person who, in the period between a declaration of
lapse of patent protection and restoration thereof, in the territory of the country and within the framework of
his economic activities, has started to make or use the subject matter of the invention or has made serious
preparations for that purpose. The provisions of paragraph (3) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the right of
continued use.
(5) Subject to reciprocity, patent protection shall have no effect with respect to means of
communication and transport which are in transit in the territory of the country or to foreign goods which are
not intended to be put on the market in the country. The President of the Hungarian Intellectual Property
Office shall be competent to give a ruling on matters of reciprocity.
Term of patent protection
Article 22
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
9
Definitive patent protection shall have a term of 20 years beginning on the filing date of the
application.
Supplementary protection
Article 22/A
(1) In the cases, under the conditions and for the period laid down in Regulations of the European
Community, the subject matter of the invention shall be granted supplementary protection following the
lapse of patent protection by reason of expiration.
(2) The detailed rules concerning the implementation of Community Regulations referred to in
paragraph (1) shall be laid down by specific legislation.
(3) In the absence of a provision of Community Regulations referred to in paragraph (1) or of the
specific legislation referred to in paragraph (2) to the contrary, the provisions of this Act shall apply mutatis
mutandis to matters concerning supplementary protection certificates.
(4) Annual renewal fees shall be paid for the term of supplementary protection certificates. Payment
of the annual fee is due in advance on the same calendar day each year as the filing of the application for the
basic patent took place. The annual fee due prior to granting the certificate may also be paid within a six-
month grace period after the granting decision becomes final, while all other annual fees may be paid within
a six-month grace period after the due date of payment.
Maintenance of patent protection
Article 23
(1) Annual patent fees, to be determined by specific legislation, shall be paid during the term of
patent protection. The fee for the first year shall be due on the filing date and the fees for the subsequent
years shall be paid in advance on the anniversaries of the filing date.
(2) The annual fees which become due prior to the publication of the patent application may also be
paid within a grace period of six months from the date of publication, the annual fees which become due
prior to the grant of a patent granted on the basis of an application treated as classified data may also be paid
within a grace period of six months from the date on which the granting decision becomes final, while all
other annual fees may also be paid within a grace period of six months from the due date.
Scope of patent protection
Article 24
(1) The scope of protection conferred by a patent shall be determined by the claims. The claims shall
be interpreted on the basis of the description and the drawings.
(2) Patent protection shall cover any product or process in which all the characteristics of the claim
are embodied.
(3) The terms of the claims shall not be confined to their strict literal wording; neither shall the
claims be considered mere guidelines for a person skilled in the art to determine the claimed invention.
(4) For the purpose of determining whether the patent protection extends to a product or process, due
account shall be taken of any characteristics of the product or process which is equivalent to those specified
in the claims.
Succession in title
Article 25
(1) Rights deriving from an invention and from patent protection, with the exception of moral rights,
may be transferred, assigned and pledged.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
10
(2) A right of pledge shall only be constituted if the mortgage contract is made in writing and the
right of pledge is entered in the Patent Register.
Joint right to a patent and joint patent
Article 26
(1) Where there are two or more patentees for the same patent, each of the joint patentees may
exercise the right over his own share. Where one joint patentee wishes to dispose of his share, the other joint
patentees shall enjoy a right of pre-emption with respect to third parties.
(2) The invention may be exploited by any one of the joint patentees alone; however, he shall be
obliged to pay appropriate remuneration to the other joint patentees, in proportion to their shares.
(3) An exploitation license may only be granted to a third party jointly by the joint patentees.
Collective consent may be replaced by a court decision under the general provisions of civil law.
(4) In the event of doubt, the shares of all joint patentees shall be deemed equal. If one of the joint
patentees surrenders his patent protection, the rights of the other joint patentees shall extend to his share, in
proportion to their own shares.
(5) Any one of the joint patentees may also act individually to maintain and protect patent rights. His
legal acts – settlement, admission of claims and waiver of rights excepted – shall be binding on any other
joint patentee who has failed to observe a time limit or to perform a required act, provided that such other
joint patentee has not subsequently remedied his omission.
(6) Where the acts of the joint patentees are divergent, a decision shall be taken having regard to all
other relevant facts in the procedure.
(7) Costs relating to the patent are to be borne by the joint patentees in proportion to their shares. If,
despite being notified, a joint patentee does not pay the costs for which he is liable, the joint patentee who
has paid those costs may claim assignment to him of the share belonging to the joint patentee having not met
his obligations.
(8) The provisions concerning joint patents shall apply mutatis mutandis to joint patent applications.
Chapter III
EXPLOITATION CONTRACTS
Conclusion of exploitation contracts
Article 27
(1) Under a contract of exploitation (patent license contract) the patentee licenses the right to exploit
an invention and the person exploiting the invention (licensee) is required to pay royalties.
(2)–(3) [repealed]
Rights and obligations of the parties
Article 28
(1) The patentee shall be liable, for the whole duration of the exploitation contract, that no third
parties hold rights in the patent preventing or limiting exercise the right of exploitation. Provisions of the
Civil Code governing warranty of title shall apply mutatis mutandis to this liability, except that the licensee
may, instead of withdrawal, terminate the contract with immediate effect.
(2) The patentee shall also be liable for the technical feasibility of the invention. Provisions of the
Civil Code governing liability for defects shall apply mutatis mutandis to this liability, except that the
licensee may, instead of withdrawal, terminate the contract with immediate effect. The licensee may also
claim damages deriving from the technical unfeasibility under the rules of liability for breach of contract.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
11
(3) The exploitation contract shall cover all patent claims and every form of exploitation, to any
extent whatsoever, without limitation in time or as to territory.
(4) A right of exploitation shall be exclusive only if expressly stipulated by contract. In the case of
an exclusive exploitation license, the patentee may also exploit the invention in addition to the licensee who
has acquired the right of exploitation, unless expressly excluded by contract. The patentee may terminate the
exclusivity of a license, subject to a proportional reduction in the royalty, if the licensee does not begin
exploitation within a reasonable period of time under the given circumstances.
(5) The patentee shall inform the licensee of any third party rights in relation to the patent and of any
other important circumstances. However, he shall be obliged to transfer economic, technical and
organizational know-how only if this has been expressly agreed.
(6) The licensee may transfer the license or grant sub-licences to third parties only with the express
consent of the patentee.
(7) The patentee shall maintain the patent.
Termination of the exploitation contract
Article 29
The exploitation contract shall terminate ex nunc when the contractual period expires or when
certain specified circumstances occur or when the patent expires.
Effect of provisions relating to exploitation contracts
Article 30
(1) The parties may derogate by mutual consent from the provisions relating to exploitation
contracts where not prohibited by law.
(2) [repealed]
Chapter IV
COMPULSORY LICENSES
Compulsory licenses for lack of exploitation
Article 31
If within four years from the date of filing of the patent application or within three years from the
grant of the patent, whichever period expires last, the patentee has not exploited the invention in the territory
of the country to satisfy the domestic demand or if he has not undertaken serious preparations or has not
granted a license for such purpose, a compulsory license shall be granted to the applicant for the license,
unless the patentee justifies the lack of exploitation.
Compulsory licenses in respect of dependent patents
Article 32
(1) If the patented invention cannot be exploited without infringing another patent (hereinafter
referred to as “the dominant patent”), a compulsory license shall be granted, on request and to the extent
necessary for the exploitation of the dominant patent, to the holder of the dependent patent, provided that the
invention claimed in the dependent patent involves an important technical advance of considerable economic
significance in relation to the invention claimed in the dominant patent.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
12
(2) Where a compulsory license has been granted under paragraph (1) with respect to a dominant
patent, the holder of such a patent shall be entitled on reasonable terms to a license to exploit the invention
claimed in the dependent patent according to the common provisions on compulsory licenses.
(3) The provisions of Article 33(1) and (2) shall also apply mutatis mutandis if the subject matter of
a plant variety protection provided for in Chapter XIII cannot be exploited without infringing a patent.
Common provisions governing compulsory licenses granted for lack of exploitation and in respect of
dependent patents
Article 33
(1) An applicant for a compulsory license shall be required to prove that the requirements for a
compulsory license have been complied with, and further that
(a) the patentee was unwilling to grant a voluntary license to exploit the patent under appropriate
conditions and within a reasonable period of time;
(b) he is able to exploit the invention to the required extent.
(2) A compulsory license may only be granted for exploitation necessary to satisfy predominantly
the domestic demand; the compulsory license shall not afford an exclusive right of exploitation. The scope
and duration of a compulsory license shall be established by the court, taking into account the purpose of the
exploitation authorised by the compulsory license; a compulsory license may be granted with or without
limitation. Unless relinquished or cancelled, a compulsory license shall have effect until expiration of the
term of validity fixed by the court or until the lapse of patent protection. Compulsory licenses shall be
recorded in the Patent Register.
(3) The patentee shall receive adequate compensation for the compulsory license, which shall be
fixed, failing agreement between the parties, by the court. The compensation shall take into adequate
account the economic value of the compulsory license. In particular, it shall be commensurate with the
royalty the holder of the compulsory license would have paid on the basis of an exploitation contract
concluded with the patentee, taking into account the licensing conditions in the technical field of the
invention.
(4) The holder of a compulsory license shall have the same rights as the patentee in regard to the
maintenance of the patent and the exercise of the rights deriving from protection.
(5) If the holder of a compulsory license ceases to exist or if any of its organizational units are
separated, the compulsory license shall be transferred to the successor in title. A compulsory license granted
with respect to a dominant patent may only be assigned together with the dependent patent. However, a
compulsory license may not be assigned or transferred to any other person. The holder of a compulsory
license may not grant a license of exploitation.
(6) The holder of a compulsory license may relinquish his compulsory license at any time. If the
holder does not begin exploitation within one year from the definitive grant of the compulsory license, the
patentee may claim modification or cancellation of the compulsory license.
(7) The patentee may request modification or cancellation of a compulsory license if the
circumstances on which it was based cease to exist and are unlikely to occur again. Modification or
cancellation shall take a form that does not prejudice the legitimate interests of the holder of the compulsory
license.
Compulsory licenses to address public health problems
Article 33/A
(1) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall grant a compulsory license for the exploitation
of an invention in the cases and on the terms laid down in Regulation (EC) No 816/2006 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2007 on compulsory licensing of patents relating to the
manufacture of pharmaceutical products for export to countries with public health problems (hereinafter
referred to as “Regulation 816/2006/EC”).
(2) The licensee may not grant a license of exploitation on the basis of the compulsory license under
paragraph (1).
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
13
(3) The licensee may relinquish his compulsory license under paragraph (1) at any time. Unless
relinquished or cancelled, a compulsory license under paragraph (1) shall have effect until expiration of the
term of validity fixed by the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office or until the lapse of patent protection.
Chapter V
INFRINGEMENT OF INVENTIONS AND PATENTS
Infringement of inventions
Article 34
Where the subject matter of a patent application or a patent has been taken unlawfully from the
invention of another person, the injured party or his successor in title may claim a statement to the effect that
he is entitled wholly or partly to the patent and may claim damages under the rules of civil liability.
Infringement of patents
Article 35
(1) Any person who unlawfully exploits a patented invention commits patent infringement.
(2) The patentee may, according to the circumstances of the case, have recourse to the following
civil remedies:
(a) he may request that the fact of infringement be declared by the court;
(b) he may request an injunction that the infringer cease his infringement or any acts directly
threatening with it;
(c) he may demand that the infringer give information on the identity of persons involved in the
production and distribution of the infringing goods or the provision of infringing services and of their
channels of distribution;
(d) he may demand satisfaction from the infringer by way of a declaration or by other appropriate
means; if necessary, the declaration shall be made public by the infringer or at his expense;
(e) he may require surrender of the enrichment obtained by the infringement of the patent;
(f) he may request the seizure, the transfer to a specific person, the recall and the definitive removal
from the channels of commerce, or destruction, of the infringing products, as well as of the means and
materials exclusively or principally used for infringement.
(3) Where a patent is infringed, the patentee may also claim damages under the rules of civil
liability. Where the translation of the specification of the European patent has not been supplied by the
patentee under Article 84/H, and the infringer is resident, or has a seat, in the territory of Hungary, he shall
not be held liable for the infringement until the patentee complies with Article 84/G(2) or until the
Hungarian Intellectual Property Office gives information to the public under Article 84/H(10) on the filing
of the translation under Article 84/H(10a), except where the patentee proves that the infringer may have
understood the specification of the European patent without the translation thereof.
(4) The patentee may submit the claim referred to in paragraph (2)(b) also against any person whose
services were used in the infringing activities.
(5) The patentee may submit the claim referred to in paragraph (2)(c) also against any person who
(a) was found in possession of the infringing goods on a commercial scale;
(b) was found to be using the infringing services on a commercial scale;
(c) was found to be providing on a commercial scale services used in infringing activities;
(d) was indicated by the person referred to in points (a) to (c) as being involved in the production or
distribution of the infringing goods or the provision of the infringing services.
(6) For the purposes of paragraph (5)(a) to (c), the acts are carried out on a commercial scale if it is
obvious from the nature and quantity of the infringing goods or services that these acts are carried out for
direct or indirect economic or commercial advantage. In the absence of proof to the contrary, acts carried out
by consumers in good faith shall not be regarded as acts carried out on a commercial scale.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
14
(7) On the basis of paragraph (2)(c) and paragraph (5), the infringer or the person referred to in
paragraph (5) may be required to provide, in particular, the following information:
(a) the names and addresses of the producers, distributors, suppliers and holders of the infringing
goods or services, as well as the intended or involved wholesalers and retailers;
(b) the quantities produced, delivered, received or ordered of the infringing goods or services, as
well as the prices obtained or given for the goods or services in question.
(8) At the request of the patentee, the court may rule that the infringing nature of the means,
materials and goods seized, recalled or definitively removed from the channels of commerce be removed or,
where this is not possible, that they be destroyed. In justified cases, the court may order, in place of
destruction, that the means and materials seized be auctioned according to the procedure of judicial
execution; in such cases, the court shall decide how the sum obtained is to be used.
(9) Seizure of the means and materials used in infringing activities and of the infringing goods shall
be admissible even if they are not in the possession of the infringer, but the holder knew or had reasonable
grounds to know about the infringement.
(10) The court shall order the measures referred to in paragraph (2)(f) and paragraph (8) at the
expense of the infringer, except when derogation therefrom is justified by the circumstances of the particular
case. In ordering the recall and the definitive removal from the channels of commerce, or destruction, the
court shall decide by taking into account the interests of third parties and by ensuring the proportionality of
the measures to the seriousness of the infringement.
(11) At the request of the patentee, the court may order that its decision be made public at the
expense of the infringer. The court shall decide on the manner of the publicity. Publicity shall mean, in
particular, publication in a national daily newspaper or on the Internet.
Customs action against patent infringement
Article 35/A
Where a patent is infringed, the patentee may, according to the provisions of specific legislation,
request for action by the customs authorities to prevent the infringing goods be put on the market.
Rights of the applicant and the licensee in the case of patent infringement
Article 36
(1) An applicant whose invention enjoys provisional protection may also institute proceedings for
patent infringement; however, the proceeding shall be suspended until the decision to grant the patent has
become final.
(2) In the case of patent infringement, the holder of a contractual license may invite the patentee to
take appropriate action in order to stop the infringement. If the patentee fails to take action within thirty days
from the invitation, the licensee recorded in the Patent Register may institute proceedings for patent
infringement in his own name.
Ruling on lack of infringement
Article 37
(1) Any person believing that proceedings for patent infringement may be instituted against him
may, prior to the institution of such proceedings, request a decision ruling that the product or process
exploited or to be exploited by him does not infringe a particular patent specified by him.
(2) Where a final ruling declaring the lack of infringement has been given, infringement proceedings
may not be instituted on the basis of the specified patent in respect of the same product or process.
Chapter VI
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
15
LAPSE OF PATENT PROTECTION
Lapse of provisional patent protection
Article 38
Provisional patent protection shall lapse ex tunc:
(a) if the patent application is definitely rejected;
(b) if the annual fees have not been paid by the end of the period of grace;
(c) if the applicant has surrendered protection.
Lapse of definitive patent protection
Article 39
Definitive patent protection shall lapse:
(a) when the period of protection expires, on the day following the date of expiration;
(b) if the annual fees have not been paid by the end of the period of grace, on the day following the
due date;
(c) if the patentee surrenders the protection, on the day following receipt of the surrender or at an
earlier date specified by the person surrendering protection;
(d) if the patent is revoked, with retroactive effect to the filing date of the application.
Restoration of patent protection
Article 40
(1) If patent protection has lapsed by reason of failing to pay annual fees, protection shall be restored
at the request of the applicant or the patentee.
(2) Restoration of patent protection may be requested within three months following the expiry of
the period of grace. A fee determined by specific legislation shall be paid within that time limit.
Surrender of patent protection
Article 41
(1) The applicant or the patentee entered in the Patent Register may surrender patent protection by a
written declaration addressed to the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office.
(2) If the surrender affects the rights of third parties deriving from legislation, from rulings of an
authority, from a license contract or any other contract recorded in the Patent Register, or if a lawsuit is
recorded in the Patent Register, it shall take effect only with the consent of the parties concerned, unless
otherwise provided by this Act.
(3) It shall also be possible to surrender certain patent claims.
(4) Withdrawal of the surrender of patent protection shall have no legal effect.
Revocation and limitation of patents
Article 42
(1) The patent shall be revoked ex tunc:
(a) if the subject matter of the patent does not satisfy the requirements laid down in Article 6(1)(a);
(b) if the description does not disclose the invention in a clear and complete manner as required by
this Act [Article 60(1)];
(c) if the subject matter of the patent extends beyond the content of the application as filed at the
accorded filing date or – in the case of division – beyond the content of the divisional application;
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
16
(d) if the patent has been granted to a person who is not entitled to it under this Act.
(2) If the grounds for revocation affect the patent in part only, revocation shall be pronounced in the
form of a corresponding limitation of the patent.
(3) Should the request for revocation be rejected by a final decision, a new procedure for the
revocation of the same patent on the same grounds may not be instituted by any person.
Reclaiming of royalties
Article 43
If definitive patent protection lapses ex tunc, only the portion of the royalties paid to the patentee or
the inventor that was not covered by the profits derived from the exploitation of the invention may be
reclaimed.
Chapter VI/A
APPLICATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE CIVIL CODE
Article 43/A
(1) Matters relating to
(a) the transfer, assign, pledge of rights deriving from an invention or from patent protection, as well
as the joint right to patent and joint patent protection;
(b) the contract of remuneration of service invention;
(c) the exploitation contract (licence agreement); and
(d) other moral and economic issues concerning patents
that are not covered by this Act shall be governed by the provisions of the Civil Code.
(2) The inventor shall be entitled to institute legal proceedings under the Civil Code against any
person contesting his authorship or otherwise infringing his moral rights deriving from the invention.
PART II
PROCEDURES BEFORE THE HUNGARIAN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE
IN PATENT MATTERS
Chapter VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS GOVERNING PATENT PROCEDURES
Competence of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
Article 44
(1) [repealed]
(2) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall have authority in the following patent matters:
(a) grant of patents;
(b) decision on the lapse of patent protection and the restoration of patent protection;
(c) revocation of patents;
(d) decision on lack of infringement;
(e) interpretation of patent descriptions;
(f) keeping the registers of patent applications and patents, including matters concerning their
maintenance;
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
17
(g) official information on patent matters.
(3) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall also have authority in matters deriving from the
application of provisions relating to European patent applications and European patents (Chapter X/A) and
to international patent applications (Chapter X/B).
(4) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall also proceed in matters relating to
supplementary protection certificates provided for in specific legislation.
(5) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall also proceed in matters relating to compulsory
licenses to which Regulation 816/2006/EC [Article 33/A(1)] applies (Articles 83/A to 83/H).
Application of the general rules of public administration procedures
Article 45
(1) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall proceed in patent matters under its own
competence, with the exceptions laid down in this Act, by applying the provisions of the Public
Administration Procedures Act.
(2) In the absence of a provision of legislation to the contrary, the Hungarian Intellectual Property
Office shall proceed in patent matters under its own competence on request.
(3) The provisions of the Public Administration Procedures Act which are related to notifications
and notices – issued ex officio or on request – concerning the start of procedures and first contact shall not
apply in patent matters.
(4) The provisions of the Public Administration Procedures Act relating to succession in title shall
not apply in patent matters.
(5) The provisions of the Public Administration Procedures Act relating to recourse to a mediator
shall not apply in patent matters.
Decisions of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
Article 46
(1) [repealed]
(2) In revocation procedures, in procedures for a decision on lack of infringement and – in the
absence of a provision of this Act to the contrary – in procedures relating to compulsory licenses to which
Regulation 816/2006/EC [Article 33/A(1)] applies (Articles 83/A to 83/H), the Hungarian Intellectual
Property Office shall proceed and shall take a ruling at the hearing in the form of a board consisting of three
members. It shall give an expert opinion on the interpretation of a patent description also in the form of a
three-member board. The board shall take its decisions on a majority.
(3) Decisions of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall take effect on service unless a
review is requested.
(4) Decisions of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall be served by a public notice if
(a) the address or place of business (establishment, branch of establishment) of the party is
unknown, or
(b) the mail is returned with a remark that the whereabouts or the address of the party are unknown.
(5) The public notice shall be published in the official journal and on the website of the Hungarian
Intellectual Property Office on the same day. Decisions served by a public notice shall be considered
delivered on the fifteenth day after the publication of the notice. In any other matters pertaining to the
service of decisions by a public notice the provisions of the Public Administration Procedures Act shall
apply except that posting shall mean the publication of the public notice.
(6) Where the provisions of Article 51(1) apply, all decisions shall be delivered to the representative.
(7) The provisions of the Public Administration Procedures Act related to the publication of
decisions shall not apply in patent matters.
Establishment of facts
Article 47
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
18
(1) In procedures before it, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall examine the facts of its
own motion, with the exception set out in paragraph (2), it shall not be restricted in such examination to the
allegations of the parties.
(2) In revocation procedures, in procedures for a decision on lack of infringement and in procedures
laid down in Articles 83/E to 83/G, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall examine the facts within
the framework of the request, on the basis of the allegations and statements of the parties and data verified
by them.
(3) The decisions of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office may only be based on facts or
evidence on which the parties concerned have had an opportunity to present their comments; however, facts
or evidence not submitted by the party in due time may be left out of consideration.
(3a) In revocation procedures, in procedures for a decision on lack of infringement, in procedures
laid down in Articles 83/B to 83/D and in procedures laid down in Articles 83/F and 83/G, clients shall file
their documents with the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office with a copy for each opposing party in the
procedure plus one additional copy. If multiple clients have one common representative, one copy shall be
taken into consideration; in case of a patent granted for a service invention the inventors shall be considered
opposing parties while defining the necessary number of copies of the request for revocation. Each copy of
the attachments of the request shall be attached to the other copies of the request. If the client filed the
request or its attachments in copies less than prescribed by the law, in case of lack of rectification of the
irregularities defined in paragraph (4), the request for revocation, request for a decision on lack of
infringement, the requests under Articles 83/B(1), 83/F(1) and 83/G(1) shall be considered withdrawn and
the statement of the patentee shall be considered not to have been submitted.
(4) Together with a notice about the legal consequences of the omission, the parties shall be invited
or notified to rectify the irregularities of documents submitted in patent matters. The Hungarian Intellectual
Property Office may ex officio arrange for the rectification of the irregularities of the abstract or the
rewriting thereof in accordance with the requirements.
(5) Public hearings shall not be held in patent matters.
Time limits
Article 48
(1) The time limits prescribed by this Act shall not be extended. Failing to comply with such time
limits shall involve legal consequences without notice.
(2) Where this Act does not prescribe any time limit to rectify the irregularities or to submit a
statement, a time limit of at least two months, but not more than four months, shall be fixed which may be
extended, on request before the expiration of the period, by at least two months, but not more than four
months. In particularly justified cases, more extensions of the time limit and an extension of the time limit of
more than four months, but not more than six months may also be granted.
(3) In the event of failing to comply with a time limit referred to in paragraph (2), continuation of
the procedure may be requested within two months from the date of notification of the decision taken
because of the failure.
(4) The omitted act shall be completed simultaneously with the filing of the request for continuation
of the procedure.
(5) If the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office admits the request for continuation of the
procedures, the acts completed by the party in default shall be considered to have been performed within the
time limit not complied with and the decision taken because of the failure shall be revoked in whole or in
part or modified as necessary.
(6) Continuation of the procedure may not be requested in revocation procedures, in procedures for a
decision on lack of infringement and in procedures provided for in Articles 83/E to 83/G.
(7) The time limits prescribed for administration by the Public Administration Procedures Act shall
not apply to patent matters, neither shall apply the provisions of the Public Administration Procedures Act
prescribing time limits for other measures of the proceeding authority.
(8) In patent matters the filing date of documents submitted by post is the date on which the
document was delivered to the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office. Documents delivered after the time
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
19
limit set by the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall be deemed submitted in due time if the
document was posted by registered mail before the expiration of the time limit, unless the document was
delivered later than two months after the expiration of the time limit.
Restitutio in integrum
Article 49
(1) In patent matters – unless excluded under paragraph (6) or (7) – a request for restitutio in
integrum may be submitted within two months of the unobserved date or of the last day of the unobserved
time limit, if the failure occurred through no fault of the party. The request must render probable the grounds
of failing to comply and that the failure occurred without fault.
(2) Where the failure to comply became known to the party subsequently or the cause thereof was
removed subsequently, the time limit shall be reckoned from the date on which the failure to comply became
known or the cause thereof was removed. The request for restitutio in integrum shall only be admissible
within twelve months of the date not complied with or the last day of the time limit not complied with.
(3) In the event of failing to comply with the time limit of twelve months fixed by Article 4 of the
Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property for filing the application necessary for claiming
priority or prescribed for claiming internal priority [Article 61(1)(c)], a request for restitutio in integrum
shall be admissible within two months of the last day of that time limit.
(4) Where a time limit is not complied with, the omitted act must be carried out simultaneously with
the filing of the request for restitutio in integrum.
(5) If the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office grants restitutio in integrum, the acts carried out by
the party in default shall be considered to have been performed within the time limit not complied with; a
hearing held on the date not complied with shall be repeated where necessary. The decision taken as a result
of the failure shall be revoked in whole or in part, modified or maintained as necessary or depending on the
outcome of the new hearing.
(6) Restitutio in integrum shall be excluded in the event of failing to comply with the following time
limits:
(a) time limits fixed for filing the request for restitutio in integrum and the request for continuation
of the procedure [paragraphs (1) to (3) and Article 48(3)];
(b) time limits fixed for filing and correcting the declaration of priority [Article 61(2) and (6)].
(7) Restitutio in integrum shall not be admissible with respect to time limits the consequences of
failing to comply with which may be averted by a request for continuation of the procedure [Article 48(3) to
(6)].
Suspension of the procedure
Article 50
(1) Where legal proceedings are instituted with respect to the entitlement to file a patent application
or the right to a patent, the patent procedure shall be suspended until the court decision becomes final. If
deciding on the merits of a patent case depends on a previous consideration of such a matter in which the
procedure falls within the competence of another authority, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall
suspend the patent procedure.
(2) In the event of the death of a party or the dissolution of a legal entity, the procedure shall be
suspended until the successor in title is communicated and his claim justified. If the successor in title is not
communicated within a reasonable time according to the circumstances of the case, the Hungarian
Intellectual Property Office shall terminate the procedure or shall decide on the basis of the material at its
disposal.
(3) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall suspend the patent procedure at the request of
the party or ex officio if the case cannot be decided on solid grounds without a decision taken in another,
closely connected procedure under its own competence.
(4) The patent granting procedure cannot be suspended at the request of the applicant, except where
the provisions of paragraph (1) or (3) would apply.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
20
(5) The suspension of the procedure shall interrupt all time limits, and the time limits shall
recommence from the termination of the suspension.
(6) Even in case of suspension of the procedure, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office may
decide that the suspension shall not affect the ongoing procedural actions and the time limits determined for
performing thereof.
Representation
Article 51
(1) In the absence of a provision of an international treaty to the contrary, foreign applicants shall be
represented by an authorised patent attorney or an attorney-at-law in all patent matters within the
competence of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office.
(2) A power of attorney shall be made in writing. As to the validity of a power of attorney given to a
patent attorney, an attorney-at-law, a patent attorneys’ office, a patent attorneys’ partnership or a law office
– either in the country or abroad – the signature by the mandator shall be sufficient for it to be valid. The
power of attorney may also be a general authorization, on the basis of which the representative can proceed
in all patent cases under the competence of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office, to which the
mandator is a party. A power of attorney given to a law office, a patent attorneys’ office or a patent
attorneys’ partnership shall be deemed to be a power of attorney given to any person who certifies that
he/she works within the framework of the office or partnership.
(3) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall appoint a trustee from among the patent
attorneys and attorneys-at-law:
(a) for unknown heirs or for a party whose whereabouts are unknown, at the request of the opposing
party, or
(b) for a foreign party not having an authorized representative, at the request of the opposing party.
(4) Paragraph 1 and paragraph 3(b) shall not apply if the foreigner is a natural person or a legal
entity whose permanent residence or domicile is in the territory of a Member State of the European
Economic Area.
(5) Where the provisions of paragraph (3)(b) and paragraph (4) may not be applied and the foreigner
does not fulfil the provision of paragraph (1), the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall apply the
provisions of Article 68 (2)–(4) mutatis mutandis, except that it shall decide on the request on the basis of
the material at its disposal if the foreigner participating in the procedure as an opposing party does not fulfil
the provisions of paragraph (1).
(6) The party who requested the appointment shall be required to advance the costs and the
remuneration of the trustee.
Use of languages
Article 52
(1) The language of patent procedure shall be Hungarian, the patent description with the claims, any
text matter of the drawings and the abstract – in the absence of a provision of this Act to the contrary − shall
be in Hungarian.
(2) In patent matters, documents in foreign languages may also be filed; however, the Hungarian
Intellectual Property Office may require that a translation into Hungarian be filed. Certified translations may
be required only if the accuracy of the translation or the authenticity of the facts included in the foreign
document is questionable with good reason.
(3) Filing of the Hungarian translation of the priority document [Article 61(4)] may only be required
if the validity of the priority claim can influence the decision on the patentability of the invention. In place
of filing the translation of the priority document, the applicant may declare that the patent application is
nothing else than the translation of the foreign application. The provisions of Article 61(5) shall also apply
to the translation of the priority document.
Access to files
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
21
Article 53
(1) Prior to the publication of the patent application, only the applicant, his representative, the
expert, or the body called upon to give an expert opinion, furthermore – if it is necessary for performing
their tasks prescribed in this Act – the court, the prosecutor or the investigation authority may inspect the
files. The inventor may inspect the files even if he is not the applicant. After publication – subject to
paragraph (2) – anyone may inspect the files of the patent application.
(2) Apart from the cases laid down in the Public Administration Procedures Act, the following shall
also be excluded from inspection even after publication:
(a) documents used for the preparation of decisions and expert opinions that were not communicated
to the parties;
(b) documents indicating the identity of the inventor if the inventor has requested that publication of
his name be disregarded;
(c) personal data not indicated in the Patent Register and not communicated in giving official
information, unless the person concerned explicitly approved the inspection thereof or a third person is
allowed access to documents containing personal data pursuant to the provisions of the Public
Administration Procedures Act.
(3) Upon payment of a fee, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall issue copies of
documents that may be inspected, if they were not asked by the court, prosecutor or investigation authority.
(4) Procedures in patent matters shall be public only if there is an opposing party participating.
(5) If national defence or national security so require, the President of the Hungarian Intellectual
Property Office may classify a patent application in a procedure under specific legislation and on the
proposal of the minister competent under the provisions of the specific legislation.
(6) On the basis of obligations arising from international treaties, the President of the Hungarian
Intellectual Property Office shall classify the patent application without following the procedure mentioned
in paragraph (5).
(7) If the patent application has been classified, the applicant and the inventor remain entitled to
access their patent application even in the absence of an authorisation for use or acquaintance of its content.
(8) If the patent application has been classified, no information may be given to the public thereof
under Article 56 and Chapters X/A–X/B.
(9) If the patent application has been classified, the minister proposing the classification – with the
exception in paragraph (10) – shall conclude an exploitation contract with the applicant ensuring exclusive
rights of exploitation in favour of the ministry headed by him, or in favour of the ministry headed by the
minister responsible for governmental coordination in case of a minister without portfolio, within a
reasonable period of time following the grant of the patent. The exploitation contract expires when the patent
protection lapses or, if it is earlier, when the patent is no longer classified. The licensee shall be responsible
for the maintenance of the patent protection. The fee payable for the exploitation licence shall be
commensurate with the royalties that are common under the licensing conditions in the technical field of the
subject matter of the invention. It shall be stipulated in the contract that this commensurate amount also shall
be paid even if the licensee does not begin exploitation within a reasonable period of time under the given
circumstances. The patentee is also entitled to the fee for the period of time between the filing date of the
application and the date of grant of the patent.
(10) In the case of patent applications classified under paragraph (6), the provisions of paragraph (9)
shall not apply.
(11) Where an international agreement allows it explicitly, prior to the classification of patent
applications under paragraph (6), the President of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall invite the
applicant to waive his rights to claim compensation deriving from the classification of the application in a
written declaration. If the applicant does not waive his rights, or does not reply to the invitation within the
prescribed time limit, the patent application shall be considered withdrawn.
(12) The Hungarian State shall only compensate applicants for the classification of patent
applications under paragraph (6) if the classification was initiated by the Hungarian State including the case
when it requested the prolongation of the classification or when it hindered the filing of the application
outside the European Atomic Energy Community.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
22
(13) If the classified patent application is rejected by the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office, the
President of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall notify the competent minister thereof without
delay, and at the same time he shall request the competent minister to make a proposal either for the
annulment of the classification of the invention described in the rejected application or for the maintenance
of the classification. The President of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall, on the basis of the
competent minister’s proposal, make a decision on the annulment or the maintenance of the classification. In
case of the maintenance of the classification, the Hungarian State shall compensate the applicant for the
classification of the invention.
Legal remedies
Article 53/A
(1) Against the decisions of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office appeals, rehearing and
supervisory procedures and notice of the prosecutor under the Act of Prosecution shall not be admissible.
(2) The decisions of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office in patent matters shall be reviewed
by the court in non-contentious civil procedure laid down in Chapter XI.
(3) In the absence of a provision of this Act to the contrary, the Hungarian Intellectual Property
Office may withdraw or modify its decisions – terminating the procedure – taken in the following matters
only if a request for review is made and only until such request is transmitted to the court:
(a) grant of patents;
(b) decision on the lapse of patent protection and the restoration of patent protection;
(c) revocation of patents;
(d) decision on lack of infringement;
(e) grant, modification and review of compulsory licenses to which Regulation 816/2006/EC
[Article 33/A(1)] applies, as well as access to books and records kept by the licensee (Articles 83/A to
83/G);
(f) publication of the translation of the claims of the published European patent application, filing of
the translation of the specification of a European patent and correction of the translation.
(4) In the absence of a provision of this Act to the contrary, the Hungarian Intellectual Property
Office may withdraw or modify its decision – terminating the procedure – taken in the matters referred to in
paragraph (3)(c) to (e) on the basis of a request for review only if it establishes that its decision infringes the
law or if the parties request unanimously the modification or withdrawal of the decision.
(5) In cases where no opposing parties are involved, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office may
– according to the request for review – withdraw or modify the decisions defined in Article 85(1)(b) to (e) if
the decision does not infringe the law, however the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office agrees with the
content of the request for review.
(6) Decision based on a request for review shall be communicated to the requester and to whom the
decision concerned by the request for review was communicated.
(7) The same legal remedy shall apply against the modifying decision as against the modified
decision.
Judicial execution
Article 53/B
(1) The provisions of the Public Administration Procedures Act relating to execution shall apply to
orders of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office imposing a procedural fine.
(2) Decisions of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office on the apportionment of costs shall be
enforced by applying the provisions of Act LIII of 1994 on Judicial Execution.
Costs and fees
Article 53/C
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
23
(1) Exemption from the payment of costs and fees may not be accorded in patent matters.
(2) Apart from the obligations to pay fees laid down by this Act, fees for administrative services
shall also be paid in patent matters – the amount of which is defined by specific legislation and which shall
be paid pursuant to detailed rules laid down in the specific legislation – for filing the following requests:
(a) requests for amendment, extension of time limits, and requests for restitutio in integrum or
continuation of the procedure;
(b) requests for recording succession in title, and exploitation licence, requests for constitution of
right of pledge.
(3) In justified cases, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office may reduce the amount of the fee of
the professional representative to be borne by the losing party if it is not commensurate with the actual
representation performed. In this case, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall proceed by applying
the provisions on the fees and expenses of attorneys at law and patent attorneys applicable in court
proceedings mutatis mutandis.
Electronic administration and official services
Article 53/D
(1) In patent matters a party to the procedure is not entitled to, except for the case under paragraphs
(2)−(3), communicate with the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office, and the Hungarian Intellectual
Property Office shall not be obliged to communicate with the party by electronic means in writing.
(2) The following may also be filed electronically:
(a) patent applications;
(b) requests for publication of claims and the Hungarian translation of claims;
(c) Hungarian translations of the claims of a European patent, and the English or Hungarian
translations of the text of a European patent;
(d) requests for correction of the translations mentioned in (b) and (c);
(e) requests for the recording of the changes in the facts specified in Article 54, paragraph (2)(d) to
(f) in the Patent Register;
(f) requests for an extract from the Register;
(g) requests for the inspection of the files.
(3) If a party to the procedure initiated proceedings under paragraph (2)(b) to (g) in electronic form
via the identification service provided by the Government, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall
communicate to him its decisions made concerning the request, or send him the certified extract from the
Register in an electronic form.
(4) The documents mentioned in paragraph (2) may be filed electronically by using an electronic
form drawn up by the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office for this purpose.
(5) On receipt of a document filed in electronic form, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
shall send to the party – in the manner laid down by specific legislation – an automatic notification
containing an electronic receipt number.
(6) After receipt of a document filed in electronic form, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
shall examine without delay whether it meets the legal requirements relating to electronic administration.
(7) In the case of electronic sending, the document shall be considered to have been filed when the
automatic notification of the electronic receipt was sent to the party, except where the Hungarian Intellectual
Property Office establishes that the document received is uninterpretable and notifies the party thereof by
electronic mail.
(8) The party sending the uninterpretable document is obliged to acknowledge receipt of the
notification under paragraph (7). If the party does not acknowledge receipt of the notification within fifteen
days, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall forward it to him by mail.
(9) Detailed rules of the electronic filing of documents mentioned in paragraph (2) shall be laid
down by specific legislation.
(10) Requesting and providing information by SMS shall be inadmissible in patent matters.
Application of the Patent Law Treaty
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
24
Article 53/E
(1) In case of conflict between the Patent Law Treaty and Part II of this Act, the provisions more
favourable to the applicant and the patentee shall apply, except where otherwise provided by the Patent Law
Treaty.
(2) If the document filed in a patent matter satisfies the requirements prescribed by the Patent Law
Treaty, the requirements – of the same subject-matter – laid down in this Act or pursuant to this Act shall be
considered to have been met, except for the requirements prescribed by this Act or by other legislation
pursuant to this Act in accordance with the authorization under the Patent Law Treaty.
Chapter VIII
PATENT REGISTER, INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC
Patent Register
Article 54
(1) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall keep a Patent Register of published patent
applications and patents in which all facts and circumstances concerning patent rights shall be recorded in
accordance with Article 55. European patents (Chapter X/A) shall be entered in a separate part of the Patent
Register.
(2) The Patent Register shall contain, in particular, the following entries:
(a) registration number of the patent;
(b) reference number;
(c) title of the invention;
(d) name (official designation) and address (place of business) of the patentee;
(e) name and place of business of the representative;
(f) name and address of the inventor;
(g) filing date of the application;
(h) priority data;
(i) date of the decision on the grant of the patent;
(j) amount of the annual fees paid and date of payment;
(k) legal ground and date of the lapse of protection and limitation of the patent;
(l) exploitation and compulsory licenses;
(m) the fact that the right to a patent or the rights conferred by a patent belong to assets existing
upon trust management.
(3) The Patent Register authentically attests the existence of the rights and facts recorded therein. In
the absence of proof to the contrary, the rights and facts recorded in the Patent Register shall be presumed to
be existent. The burden of proof against the data recorded in the Patent Register shall be on the person who
disputes their correctness or authenticity.
(4) Any right relating to patent protection may be invoked against a third party who acquired his
right in good faith and for a consideration if it is recorded in the Patent Register.
(5) Any person may have access to the Patent Register; the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
shall provide electronic access thereto on its website. Any person may ask for a certified copy of the data
recorded in the Patent Register on payment of a fee.
Entries in the Patent Register
Article 55
(1) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall make entries in the Patent Register on the basis
of its own decisions, the decisions of other authorities or court decisions; it also shall record in the Patent
Register. With respect to the entries made on the basis of the decisions listed in Article 85(1) the Patent
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
25
Register shall contain the date when such decisions have become final. If a request for review was submitted
against any decision listed in Article 85(1), this fact, as well as that such decision is not final, shall also be
recorded.
(2) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall decide on accepting and recording rights and
facts – except for the facts occurred in patent procedures − relating to patent protection on the basis of a
request submitted in writing. An official document or a private document providing sufficient evidence shall
be attached to such request. Where requests are submitted to the same case in a way that their fulfilment
would exclude each other, the requests shall be proceeded in order of their date of receipt.
(2a) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall – on request – modify the entry in the Patent
Register relating to the inventor or the shares of authorship on the basis of a unanimous declaration of all of
the inventors recorded in the Patent Register and all of the persons making the request, or on the basis of the
final court decision attached to the request.
(2b) Paragraph (2a) shall apply before the publication of the patent application, with the exception
that instead of modifying the entry in the Patent Register the modification shall be transferred to the files of
the patent application by the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office.
(3) A request shall be inadmissible if it is based on a document which is invalid due to formal
irregularities or which lacks an official authentication required by law, or if it is clear from the contents of
the document that the legal statement included therein is invalid.
(3a) A request for recording succession in title shall be inadmissible where the right to a patent or
the rights conferred by a patent have been transferred under a trust management contract, which has not been
signed with a trust management company, and the certificate of registration provided by the law on trust
management companies and their activities has not been annexed to the request.
(4) Where the request or its enclosures contain rectifiable irregularities, the applicant shall be invited
to rectify them or to submit comments. The request shall be rejected if, despite the rectification or the
submitted comments, it does not satisfy the requirements. If the applicant does not respond to the invitation
in the stipulated time limit, the request shall be considered withdrawn.
Information to the public
Article 56
The official journal of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office is the Gazette of Patents and
Trademarks, which shall contain, in particular, the following data and facts relating to patent applications
and patents:
(a) [repealed]
(b) on publication of the patent application, the name and address of the applicant and the
representative, the reference number of the application, the filing date and the date of priority where the
latter is different, the number of the international publication in the case of international applications and the
title of the invention, the name of the inventor, the international classification code of the invention, the
abstract with the characteristic figure, as well as a statement whether publication is to take place after the
preparation of the search report;
(c) after the grant of patent, the registration number, the name (official designation) and address
(place of business) of the patentee, name and place of business of the representative, the reference number,
the filing date of the application, the date of priority, the title of the invention, the international classification
code of the patent, the name and address of the inventor and the date of the decision on granting the patent;
(d) legal ground and date of the lapse of patent protection, limitation of the patent, and the
restoration of patent protection.
Article 56/A
Official information on European patent applications and European patents as well as on
international patent applications provided for in Chapters X/A and X/B shall also be published in the Gazette
of Patents and Trademarks.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
26
Chapter IX
PATENT GRANTING PROCEDURE
Filing of a patent application and its requirements
Article 57
(1) The procedure for the grant of a patent shall begin with the filing of a patent application with the
Hungarian Intellectual Property Office.
(2) A patent application shall contain a request for the grant of a patent, a description of the
invention with one or more claims, an abstract, as well as, where necessary, drawings and other relevant
documents.
(3) Detailed formal requirements to be complied with by patent applications shall be laid down by
specific legislation.
(4) A patent application shall be subject to the payment of a filing fee and a search fee determined
by specific legislation; the fees shall be paid within two months after the date of filing.
(5) Where the documents making up the patent application have been prepared in a foreign
language, the patent description with the claims, the abstract and the drawings shall be filed in Hungarian
within four months after the date of filing.
(6) The applicant may withdraw the patent application until its publication, in compliance with the
provisions of Article 41.
Article 57/A
[repealed]
Date of filing
Article 58
(1) The filing date of an application shall be the date on which the application filed with the
Hungarian Intellectual Property Office contains at least:
(a) an indication that a patent is sought,
(b) information identifying the applicant and permitting contacts with him,
(c) a description or a document that can be regarded as a description, even though it does not comply
with other requirements, or instead a reference to an earlier application.
(2) The indications referred to in paragraph (1)(a) and (b) shall also be given in Hungarian for
according a date of filing.
(3) For according a date of filing, the reference to an earlier application shall also be indicated in
Hungarian, the number of the earlier application shall be given and the industrial property authority to which
it was filed shall be identified. It shall appear from the reference that it replaces the filing of the description
and the drawings for the purposes of according a date of filing.
(4) If in place of the description a reference is made to an earlier application for according a date of
filing, a copy of the earlier application shall be filed within two months from receipt of the application
containing this reference and – if it was made in a foreign language – the Hungarian translation thereof. The
provisions of Article 61(5) shall also apply mutatis mutandis to this copy and translation.
Unity of invention
Article 59
A patent application may seek patent protection for one invention only or for a group of inventions
so linked as to form a single general inventive concept.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
27
Disclosure of the invention, the claims and the abstract
Article 60
(1) A patent application shall disclose the invention in a manner sufficiently clear and detailed for it
to be carried out by a person skilled in the art on the basis of the description and the drawings. The industrial
applicability of a sequence or a partial sequence of a gene shall be disclosed in the patent application.
(2) If an invention involves the use of or concerns biological material which is not available to the
public and which cannot be disclosed as required by paragraph (1), the invention shall be considered
disclosed in a sufficient and detailed manner prescribed by this Act, provided that
(a) the biological material has been deposited in compliance with the provisions of Article 63;
(b) the application as filed contains such relevant information as is available to the applicant on the
characteristics of the biological material deposited;
(c) the patent application states the name of the depositary institution and the accession number.
(3) The claims shall define clearly the scope of the protection sought, in accordance with the
description.
(4) The abstract shall merely serve for use as technical information and may not be taken into
account either for the purpose of interpreting the scope of the protection sought or for the purpose of
defining the state of the art under Article 2(3).
Priority
Article 61
(1) The date establishing priority shall be
(a) generally, the date of filing of the patent application (application priority);
(b) in the cases defined by the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, the date of
filing of the foreign application (convention priority);
(c) the date of filing of a previously filed, pending and not yet published patent application for the
same subject matter, which is not earlier than 12 months prior to the current filing, provided that it has not
served as a basis for claiming a right of priority (internal priority).
(2) Convention priority shall be claimed within sixteen months from the date of the earliest priority
claimed by making a declaration to this effect. Correction of the declaration of priority may also be
requested within this time limit. Where the correction would affect the earliest priority date claimed, the
sixteen-month time limit for correction shall be reckoned from the corrected date of the earliest priority
claimed provided that it expires first. Correction of the declaration of priority may be requested in any case
within four months from the date of filing of the application.
(3) Paragraph (2) shall not apply after the applicant’s having requested publication of the patent
application at an earlier date [Article 70(2)], except where this request is withdrawn subsequently still before
the technical preparations for publishing the patent application are completed.
(4) The document establishing convention priority (priority document) shall be filed within sixteen
months from the date of the earliest priority claimed.
(5) The priority document – the copy of the foreign application – shall be deemed to be filed if it is
available to the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office in any other way and if it is considered as an annex of
the patent application, without filing it separately, on the basis of an international treaty or a decision of the
President of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office taken with regard to the international cooperation
and published in the official journal of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office.
(6) Internal priority shall be claimed within four months after the filing of the application. If internal
priority is claimed, the previous patent application shall be considered withdrawn.
(7) Where appropriate, in a patent application multiple priorities may be claimed for any of the
claims.
(8) If one or more priorities are claimed with respect to a patent application, the right of priority
shall cover only those elements that are disclosed by the application establishing the given priority in
accordance with Article 60(1) and (2).
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
28
(9) Convention priority may also be claimed, under the conditions defined by the Paris Convention,
if the foreign application has been filed in a Member of the World Trade Organization which is not party to
the Paris Convention or, subject to reciprocity, in any other State. In the matter of reciprocity, the opinion of
the President of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall be decisive.
Derivation from utility model application
Article 62
(1) Where the applicant has already filed a utility model application at an earlier date, he may, in his
declaration of priority filed within two months after the date of filing of a patent application for the same
subject matter, claim the filing date of the utility model application and the right of priority relating to such
application (derivation).
(2) Derivation of a patent application shall be admissible within three months from the date when
the decision on the grant of utility model protection becomes final, but not later than 20 years from the filing
date of the utility model application.
(3) Derivation shall not be admissible if the utility model application has been derived from a
European patent application or a European patent.
Deposit of and access to a biological material
Article 63
(1) If an invention involving the use of or concerning biological material which is not available to
the public cannot be disclosed in the patent application as required in Article 60(1), it must be proved that
the biological material has been deposited no later than the date of filing of the patent application under the
Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of
Patent Procedure.
(2) [repealed]
(3) The proof referred to in paragraph (1) shall be submitted within a period of sixteen months after
the date of the earliest priority.
(4) Access to the deposited biological material shall be provided through the supply of a sample:
(a) up to the publication of the patent application, to those persons who are authorised to inspect the
files under the provisions of Article 53(1);
(b) between the publication of the application and the granting of the patent, to anyone requesting it
or, if the applicant so requests, only to an independent expert;
(c) after the patent has been granted, and notwithstanding revocation or cancellation thereof, to
anyone requesting it.
(5) The person to whom a sample has been supplied may not make the sample or any material
derived from it available to third parties before the termination of the patent granting procedure or before the
lapse of definitive patent protection and, with the exception of a holder of a compulsory license, he may use
the sample or any material derived from it only for experimental purposes, unless the applicant or the
patentee expressly waives the prescription of such obligation. A material is deemed to be derived if it has
those characteristics of the deposited biological material, which are essential to carry out the invention.
(6) At the applicant’s request, where an application is refused, withdrawn or considered withdrawn,
access to the deposited material shall be limited to an independent expert for 20 years from the date of filing
of the patent application. In that case, the provisions of paragraph (5) shall apply.
(7) The applicant’s requests referred to in paragraph (4)(b) and in paragraph (6) may only be
submitted up to the date on which the technical preparations for publishing the patent application are
deemed to have been completed.
(8) If the biological material deposited in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (1) to (7)
ceases to be available from the recognised depositary institution, a new deposit of the material shall be
permitted on the same terms as those laid down in the Budapest Treaty.
(9) Any new deposit shall be accompanied by a statement of the depositor certifying that the newly
deposited biological material is the same as that originally deposited.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
29
(10) The biological material may be deposited by a person other than the applicant, provided that the
name and address of the depositor are stated in the patent application and a declaration is submitted that the
depositor has authorised the applicant to refer to the deposited biological material in the patent description
and has given his unreserved and irrevocable consent to the biological material being made available to the
public in accordance with paragraphs (1) to (9).
Declaration and certification of exhibition
Article 64
(1) The applicant may request under Article 3(b) that the display of his invention at an exhibition
shall not be taken into consideration when the state of the art is determined, if
(a) he files a statement to this effect within two months after the date of filing of the patent
application and
(b) he files within four months after the date of filing of the patent application, a certificate issued by
an authority responsible for the exhibition attesting to the display and date of the exhibition.
(2) The certificate must be accompanied by a description and, if necessary, drawings bearing the
authentication of the authority responsible for the exhibition.
(3) The certificate may only be issued during the period of the exhibition and only while the
invention or its disclosure can be seen at the exhibition.
Examination on filing
Article 65
Following the filing of a patent application, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall examine
whether
(a) the application satisfies the requirements for according a date of filing (Article 58),
(b) the filing fee and the search fee have been paid [Article 57(4)],
(c) the description, the abstract and the drawings have been filed in the Hungarian language [Article
57(5)].
Article 66
(1) If a date of filing cannot be accorded, the applicant shall be invited to rectify the irregularities
within two months.
(2) If the applicant complies with that invitation within the specified time limit, the date of receipt of
the rectification shall be accorded as the date of filing. Failing to comply with the said invitation, the
document received shall not be considered to be a patent application and the procedure shall be terminated.
(3) In the absence of indications permitting contacts with the applicant no invitation to rectify the
irregularities shall be issued, and the time limit of two months for rectification of the irregularities shall be
reckoned from the receipt of the application.
(4) If parts of the description or drawings referred to in the description or in the claims appear to be
missing from the application, the applicant shall be invited to rectify this irregularity within two months. The
applicant may not invoke the omission of such an invitation.
(5) If the applicant files the missing parts of the description or the missing drawings later than the
date of filing, but within two months from this date or from the invitation issued under paragraph (4), the
date of receipt of the rectification shall be considered as the date of filing and the date of filing shall be
modified accordingly.
(6) If the applicant rectifies the irregularities within the period under paragraph (5), and the
application claims the priority of an earlier application which contains the missing parts of the description or
the missing drawings, the date of filing shall remain the date on which the requirements laid down in Article
58(1) to (3) were fulfilled, provided that the applicant files, within the period under paragraph (5)
(a) a copy of the earlier application,
(b) where the earlier application is in a foreign language, the Hungarian translation thereof,
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
30
(c) an indication as to where the missing parts of the description or the missing drawings are
contained in the earlier application, or in the translation thereof.
(7) The requirements laid down in paragraphs (6)(a) and (b) shall be considered to have been
fulfilled where the provisions of Article 61(5) apply.
(8) If the applicant fails to comply with the requirements referred to in paragraph (6) within the
prescribed time limit, the date on which the missing parts of the description or the missing drawings were
filed shall be considered as the date of filing and the date of filing shall be modified accordingly.
(9) If the applicant fails to file the missing parts of the description or the missing drawings within
the time limit under paragraph (4) or (5), or withdraws under paragraph (11) any missing part of the
description or missing drawing filed under paragraph (5), any references to this part or drawing shall be
deemed to have been deleted from the description or the claims by the applicant. The applicant shall be
informed accordingly.
(10) The applicant shall be notified of the accorded date of filing or the modification thereof.
(11) If, within one month of the notification concerning the modification of the accorded date of
filing under paragraph (5) or (8), the applicant withdraws the missing parts of the description or the missing
drawings filed as rectification of the irregularities, the modification of the filing date shall be deemed not to
have been made. The applicant shall be informed accordingly.
(12) If the filing fee and the search fee have not been paid or the patent description, the abstract and
the drawings have not been filed in the Hungarian language, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall
invite the applicant to rectify the irregularities within the period specified by this Act [Article 57(4) and (5)].
Failing to comply with the said invitation, the application shall be considered withdrawn.
Article 67
[repealed]
Examination as to formal requirements
Article 68
(1) If a patent application satisfies the requirements examined under Article 65, the Hungarian
Intellectual Property Office shall examine whether the formal requirements of Article 57(2) and (3) have
been met.
(2) Where the application does not comply with the requirements examined under paragraph (1), the
applicant shall be invited to rectify the irregularities.
(3) The patent application shall be rejected if, in spite of rectification or comments, it still does not
comply with the requirements under examination. An application may be rejected only for grounds precisely
and expressly stated in the invitation.
(4) Where the applicant does not reply to the invitation within the fixed time limit, the patent
application shall be considered withdrawn.
Novelty search
Article 69
(1) If a patent application satisfies the requirements laid down in Article 65, the Hungarian
Intellectual Property Office shall carry out a novelty search and shall draw up a search report on the basis of
the claims, with due regard to the description and any drawings.
(1a) If the patent application – with regard to all the claims or certain claims – is unsuitable for a
proper novelty search, the search report shall only contain a statement to it and the reasons thereof. If the
patent application also contains claims suitable for novelty search, the Hungarian Intellectual Property
Office shall prepare a partial search report with regard to such claims.
(1b) If the patent applications does not satisfy the requirements of unity of the invention (Article 59),
the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall prepare a partial search report concerning the invention
mentioned in the first place among the claims, or concerning the inventions constituting a uniform group
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
31
with this invention as laid down in Article 59. The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall invite the
applicant for the division of the patent application during the substantive examination (Article 76).
(2) The search report shall mention those documents and data, which may be taken into
consideration in deciding whether the invention to which the patent application relates is new and involves
an inventive activity.
(3) The search report together with copies of any cited document shall be transmitted to the
applicant.
(4) Information shall be published in the official journal of the Hungarian Intellectual Property
Office on the search carried out simultaneously with the publication of the application, or separately if the
search report is available at a later date.
Article 69/A
(1) At the request of the applicant, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall draw up a search
report supplemented with a written opinion.
(2) The written opinion – containing also reasons – is a preliminary establishment whether the
invention, taking into account the documents and the information cited in the search report, appears to meet
the requirements of novelty, inventive activity and industrial application.
(3) The request for a search report supplemented with a written opinion shall be filed within ten
months from the accorded filing date.
(4) A fee fixed by specific legislation shall be paid for a search report supplemented with a written
opinion.
(5) The request for the search report supplemented with a written opinion shall be rejected if it does
not comply with the requirement under paragraph (3).
(6) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall draw up the search report supplemented with a
written opinion – with the exception defined in paragraph (11) - on the basis of the description, claims and
drawings at its disposal on the last day of the fourth month from the filing of the request to this effect and
shall send it to the applicant within six months from the filing of the request for a search report
supplemented with a written opinion.
(7) On request, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall refund the fee for the search report
supplemented with a written opinion if
(a) the applicant withdraws the patent application within four months from the filing of the request
for the search report supplemented with a written opinion;
(b) the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office rejects the patent application within the time limit in
point (a);
(c) the patent application is considered withdrawn for a reason occurring within the time limit in
point (a);
(d) the search report supplemented with a written opinion was mailed after the last day of the sixth
month from the filing date of the request not because the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office admitted a
request for restitutio in integrum concerning a failure to comply with a time limit in paragraph (3).
(8) At the request of the applicant, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall draw up the
search report supplemented with a written opinion in an accelerated procedure. The request for an
accelerated procedure may only be filed together with the request for the search report supplemented with a
written opinion; in such case the double of the fee for the request for the search report supplemented with a
written opinion shall be paid. If the fee paid is less than that, but it reaches the amount of the fee for the
request for the search report supplemented with a written opinion, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
shall draw up the search report supplemented with a written opinion applying paragraph (6).
(9) If the patent application does not satisfy the requirements examined under Article 65 or it is
unsuitable with regard all the claims for a proper novelty search, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
shall reject the request for preparing the search report supplemented with a written opinion in an accelerated
procedure and hereafter proceeds as defined in paragraph (6).
(10) If the applicant amends the patent application after sending the search report supplemented with
a written opinion, a new request for search report supplemented with a written opinion may be filed within
the time limit defined in paragraph (3).
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
32
(11) If the request for accelerated procedure complies with the requirements under paragraph (8), the
Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall draw up the search report supplemented with a written opinion
on the basis of the description, claims and drawings at its disposal on the date of filing the request and shall
send it to the applicant within two months from the date of filing the request.
(12) In case of applying the procedure under paragraph (11), paragraph (7) shall not be applied, but
the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
a) shall refund the fee in excess for the fee for the search report supplemented with a written opinion
on request, if the search report supplemented with a written opinion was drawn up – on the basis of
paragraph (8) – with the application of paragraph (6)
b) shall refund half of the fee paid on the basis of paragraph (8) on request, if the search report
supplemented with a written opinion was mailed after the time limit in paragraph (11) not because the
Hungarian Intellectual Property Office admitted a request for restitution in integrum concerning the failure
to comply with the time limit in paragraph (3), and the entire fee shall be refunded on the request of the
applicant if the applicant indicates in his request filed before the mailing of the search report supplemented
with written opinion that he does not claim the said report.
c) shall refund half of the fee paid on the basis of paragraph (8) on request, if the request for
preparing the search report supplemented with a written opinion was rejected on the basis of paragraph (9).
Publication
Article 70
(1) A patent application shall be published after the expiry of 18 months from the earliest date of
priority.
(2) At the request of the applicant, the application may be published at an earlier date if it satisfies
the requirements of Article 65.
(3) Publication shall be made by giving information to the public in the official journal of the
Hungarian Intellectual Property Office as laid down in Article 56(b).
(4) The applicant shall be notified of the publication.
Observations
Article 71
(1) During the patent granting procedure any person may file an observation with the Hungarian
Intellectual Property Office to the effect that the invention or the application does not comply with a
requirement of patentability.
(2) Such observation shall be taken into consideration when the requirement objected to in the
observation is examined.
(3) The person making the observation shall not be a party to the patent granting procedure. That
person shall be notified of the outcome of his observation.
Amendment and division
Article 72
(1) A patent application may not be amended in such a way that, by introducing new subject matter,
it contains subject matter which extends beyond the content of the application at the date of filing.
(2) The applicant shall be entitled to amend the description, claims and drawings as laid down in
paragraph (1) until the day on which the decision on the grant of the patent is delivered.
Article 73
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
33
(1) If the applicant has claimed patent protection for more than one invention in one application, he
may divide the application, retaining the date of filing and any earlier priority, until the day on which the
decision on the grant of the patent is delivered.
(2) A fee prescribed by specific legislation shall be paid for division within two months from the
filing of the relevant request.
(3) If the fee for division is not paid upon filing the request, the Hungarian Intellectual Property
Office shall invite the applicant to rectify the irregularity within the time limit in paragraph (2). Failing to
comply with the said invitation, the request for division shall be considered withdrawn.
Substantive examination
Article 74
(1) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall carry out a substantive examination of the
published patent application at the request of the applicant.
(2) The substantive examination shall ascertain
(a) whether the invention meets the requirements of Articles 1 to 5/A and whether it is not excluded
from patent protection under Article 6(2) to (4) and (10);
(b) whether the application complies with the requirements laid down by this Act.
Article 75
(1) Substantive examination may be requested simultaneously with the filing of the patent
application or within six months at the latest after the date of the official information on the performance of
the novelty search [Article 69(4)]. Failing this, provisional patent protection shall be considered surrendered.
(2) Withdrawal of the request for a substantive examination shall have no legal effect.
(3) An examination fee prescribed by specific legislation shall be paid within two months from the
filing of the request.
(4) If the examination fee is not paid upon filing the request, the Hungarian Intellectual Property
Office shall invite the applicant to rectify the irregularity within the time limit in paragraph (3). Failing to
comply with the said invitation, the application shall be considered withdrawn or the provisional patent
protection shall be considered surrendered, as the case may be.
(5) The examination fee shall be refunded on request if before the date of the official information on
the novelty search the applicant withdraws the application or surrenders provisional patent protection.
Article 76
(1) If a patent application does not meet the requirements examined under Article 74(2), the
applicant shall be invited, according to the nature of the objection, to rectify the irregularities, to submit
comments or to divide the application.
(2) A patent application shall be rejected in whole or in part if it does not meet the examined
requirements even after the rectification of irregularities or the submitting of comments.
(3) An application may be rejected only on grounds that have been precisely and expressly stated
and duly reasoned in the invitation. Where necessary, a further invitation shall be issued.
(4) If the applicant fails to reply to the invitation or to divide the application, he shall be considered
to have surrendered the provisional patent protection.
Grant of patent
Article 77
(1) If the patent application and the invention to which it relates meet all the requirements of the
examination [Article 74(2)], the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall grant a patent for the subject
matter of the application.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
34
(2) Before the grant of a patent, the text of the description, claims and drawings forming the basis of
the grant shall be transmitted to the applicant who may notify, within three months, his approval of the text
transmitted.
(3) If the applicant approves the text or fails to submit comments, a patent shall be granted on the
basis of the description, claims and drawings as transmitted. If the applicant proposes amendments or files a
new description, claims and drawings, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall decide whether these
shall be taken into account when stating the final text.
(4) Before the grant of a patent, the fee for grant fixed by specific legislation shall be paid within the
period of three months stipulated for the statement under paragraph (2). If the applicant fails to pay this fee,
he shall be considered to have surrendered the provisional patent protection.
Article 78
(1) After the grant of a patent, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall issue a patent
certificate to which the description, claims and drawings shall be annexed.
(2) The grant of the patent shall be recorded in the Patent Register (Article 54), and relevant
information shall be given in the official journal of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office (Article 56).
Chapter X
OTHER PROCEDURES IN PATENT MATTERS
Procedure for declaration of lapse and for restoration of patent protection
Article 79
(1) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall declare the lapse of provisional patent
protection under Article 38(b) and (c) and that of definitive patent protection under Article 39(b) and (c); it
shall restore patent protection under Article 40.
(2) The declaration of lapse of patent protection and the restoration thereof shall be entered in the
Patent Register (Article 54), and relevant information shall be given in the official journal of the Hungarian
Intellectual Property Office (Article 56).
Revocation procedure
Article 80
(1) Any person may institute proceedings for revocation of a patent against the patentee under
Article 42, with the exception laid down in paragraph (2).
(2) Under Article 42(1)(d), revocation of the patent may be requested by the person who is entitled
to it under this Act.
(3) The request shall state the grounds on which it is based and documentary evidence shall be
annexed.
(4) A fee prescribed by specific legislation shall be paid for the request for revocation within two
months from the filing thereof.
(5) If the request for revocation does not comply with the requirements laid down in this Act, the
person requesting revocation shall be invited to rectify the irregularities; if the fee for the request has not
been paid, the person requesting revocation shall be invited to make payment within the time limit fixed by
this Act. Failing to rectify the irregularities shall result in the request for revocation being considered
withdrawn.
Article 80/A
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
35
In the case of a patent granted for a service invention, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
shall send the request for revocation to the inventor informing him that he may be a party to the revocation
proceedings if a statement to this effect is submitted within thirty days from receipt of the request.
Article 81
(1) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall invite the patentee and – in the case of a patent
granted for a service invention – the inventor to submit comments on the request for revocation. Following
the written preparatory work, it shall decide at a hearing on the revocation or limitation of the patent or on
the refusal of the request. The order terminating the procedure may also be taken without a hearing. After
the time limit fixed by the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office for the person requesting revocation, no
ground shall be admissible as ground forming the basis of revocation, which was not stated as ground for
revocation within the said time limit. The ground so stated shall be left out of consideration when taking the
ruling terminating the procedure.
(2) If there is more than one request for revocation of the same patent, they shall be dealt with in the
same procedure if possible.
(3) If the request for revocation is withdrawn, the procedure may be continued ex officio. In such a
case the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall also proceed within the framework of the request,
taking into consideration the statements and allegations made by the parties earlier.
(4) The orders taken in the course of the hearing and the ruling shall be pronounced on the day of the
hearing. The pronouncement may be deferred – for not more than eight days – only in respect of the ruling
and only in the event if it is indispensable because of the complexity of the case. In such a case the time limit
for pronouncement shall be fixed immediately and the ruling shall be put into writing until the day of
pronouncement.
(5) The pronouncement of the decision shall consist of the presentation of the operative part and of
the grounds.
(6) The decision shall be put in writing not later than fifteen days from the day it was taken – except
where the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office deferred its pronouncement – and it shall be delivered
within fifteen days from putting it in writing.
(7) The losing party shall be required to bear the costs of the revocation procedure. If the patentee
has not provided any grounds for the revocation procedure, and he surrenders the patent protection – at least
with respect to the part of the claims concerned – with retroactive effect to the date of filing prior to the
expiration of the time limit for submitting comments under paragraph (1), the costs of procedure shall be
borne by the person requesting revocation.
(8) The revocation or limitation of the patent shall be recorded in the Patent Register (Article 54)
and relevant information shall be given in the official journal of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
(Article 56).
Article 81/A
(1) At the request of any party, revocation procedures shall be accelerated if proceedings were
initiated for patent infringement or a request for provisional measures was filed before initiating an action
and this fact is substantiated.
(2) For the request for accelerated procedure a fee prescribed by specific legislation shall be paid
within one month from the filing of the relevant request.
(3) If the request does not meet the requirements referred to in paragraph (1), the party requesting
accelerated procedure shall be invited to rectify the irregularities or to submit comments. The request for
accelerated procedure shall be rejected if it does not meet the requirements laid down in this Act even after
the rectification of irregularities or the submitting of comments. Failing to comply with the said invitation,
the request for accelerated procedure shall be considered withdrawn.
(4) If the fee for the request has not been paid, the person requesting accelerated procedure shall be
invited to make payment within the time limit fixed by this Act. Failing to comply with the said invitation
shall result in the request for accelerated procedure being considered withdrawn.
(5) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall establish the accelerated procedure by an order.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
36
(6) By way of derogation from the provisions of Articles 48 and 81, in the case of accelerated
procedures
(a) a time limit of fifteen days may also be fixed for rectifying the irregularities or submitting
comments;
(b) an extension of time limits may be granted only in particularly justified cases;
(c) the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall only hold an oral hearing if the clarification of
the facts requires that the parties be heard together or if any of the parties so requests in due time.
Procedure for a decision on lack of infringement
Article 82
(1) To the request for a decision on lack of infringement (Article 37), the description and drawings
of the product or process exploited or intended for exploitation, as well as the description and drawings of
the patent involved shall be enclosed. If the Hungarian translation of the text of the European patent has not
been submitted for becoming effective in the Republic of Hungary, or the patentee has not made available
such translation to the requesting party, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office, on the request of the
person requesting a decision on lack of infringement, shall invite the patentee to submit the translation.
(2) A request for a decision on lack of infringement may be filed only in respect of one patent and in
respect of one product or process exploited or intended to be exploited.
(3) A fee fixed by specific legislation shall be paid for a request for a decision on lack of
infringement within two months from the filing of the request.
(4) If the request for a decision on lack of infringement does not comply with the requirements laid
down in this Act, the requesting party shall be invited to rectify the irregularities; if the fee for the request
has not been paid, that party shall be invited to make payment within the time limit fixed by this Act. Failing
to rectify the irregularities shall result in the request for a decision on lack of infringement being considered
withdrawn.
(5) If the patentee fails to comply with the invitation under paragraph (1) for submitting the
translation, the requesting party may commission the preparation of the translation the cost of which shall be
borne by the patentee, except where the patentee declares in his reply to the invitation that the product or
process exploited or to be exploited by the requesting party does not infringe the patent involved.
Article 83
(1) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall invite the patentee to submit comments on the
request for a decision on lack of infringement. Following the written preparatory work, it shall decide at a
hearing whether the request shall be admitted or refused. The order terminating the procedure may also be
taken without a hearing.
(2) The cost of preparing the Hungarian translation of the text of the European patent shall be borne
by the patentee. The requesting party shall bear the costs of the procedure for a decision on lack of
infringement.
(3) The provisions of Article 81(4) to (6) shall also apply in procedures for a decision on lack of
infringement.
(4) The provisions of Article 81/A shall also apply in procedures for a decision on lack of
infringement.
Procedures relating to compulsory licenses to which Regulation 816/2006/EC [Article 33/A(1)] applies
Article 83/A
(1) Notwithstanding Article 48, in procedures provided for in Articles 83/B to 83/G, a time limit less
than thirty days, but at least of fifteen days may also be fixed to rectify the irregularities or to submit
comments, and an extension of a time limit may be granted only in particularly justified cases.
(2) In procedures provided for in Articles 83/B to 83/H, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
shall proceed out of turn.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
37
(3) The provisions of Article 81(4) to (6) of this Act shall also apply in procedures provided for in
Articles 83/B to 83/G.
Article 83/B
(1) [repealed]
(2) A fee prescribed by specific legislation shall be paid for an application for a compulsory license
under Article 6 of Regulation 816/2206/EC simultaneously with the filing of the application.
(3) The application for a compulsory license shall contain – in addition to the declarations and
details as defined in Regulation 816/2006/EC – the following:
(a) registration number of the patent granted for the invention to be exploited under the compulsory
license;
(b) in compliance with Article 10(5) of Regulation 816/2006/EC the details which distinguish the
pharmaceutical product to be produced under the compulsory license from those produced by the patentee or
by others with his consent (e.g. special packaging, colouring or shaping);
(c) the website address referred to in Article 10(6) of Regulation 816/2006/EC.
(4) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall examine whether
(a) the application contains the details provided for in paragraph (3) and in Article 6(3) of
Regulation 816/2006/EC;
(b) the conditions set out in Article 8 of Regulation 816/2006/EC are fulfilled;
(c) the applicant has provided evidence that he had carried out prior negotiations with the patentee
under Article 9(1) of Regulation 816/2006/EC;
(d) the amount of product to be manufactured under the compulsory license is in compliance with
the condition set out in Article 10(2) of Regulation 816/2006/EC.
(5) If the application for a compulsory license does not comply with the conditions laid down in
Regulation 816/2006/EC and in this Act, or the fee for the request has not been paid in accordance with
paragraph (12), the applicant shall be invited to rectify the irregularities or to submit comments. The
application shall be refused if, in spite of rectification or comments, it still does not comply with the
conditions under examination. Where the applicant does not reply to the invitation within the fixed time
limit, the application shall be considered withdrawn.
Article 83/C
(1) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall invite the patentee to submit comments on the
application for a compulsory license. Following the written preparatory work, it shall decide at a hearing on
the grant of the compulsory license or on the refusal of the application. The order terminating the procedure
may also be taken without a hearing.
(2) The decision on the grant of a compulsory license shall include
(a) the duration of the compulsory license;
(b) in compliance with Article 10(5) of Regulation 816/2006/EC the details which distinguish the
pharmaceutical product to be produced under the compulsory license from those produced by the patentee or
by others with his consent (e.g. special packaging, colouring or shaping);
(c) a notice concerning the provisions of Article 10(4), (5) and (7) of Regulation 816/2006/EC;
(d) a notice concerning the provisions of Article 10(6) of Regulation 816/2006/EC and the website
address communicated by the licensee;
(e) a notice to the effect that the books and records of the licensee must contain the details and
documents referred to in Article 10(8), second sentence of Regulation 816/2006/EC;
(f) the remuneration to be paid to the patentee.
(3) The grant of the compulsory license shall be recorded in the Patent Register, and relevant
information shall be given in the official journal of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office.
Article 83/D
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
38
(1) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall notify the European Commission of the grant of
the compulsory license by indicating the details referred to in Article 12 of Regulation 816/2006/EC, and
shall send a copy of the decision to the customs authority and the pharmaceutical administrative authority.
(2) When a compulsory license has been granted, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall
post on its website the details referred to in Article 12 of Regulation 816/2006/EC as well as those which
distinguish the pharmaceutical product to be produced under the compulsory license from those produced by
the patentee or by others with his consent.
(3) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall regularly inform the customs authority and the
pharmaceutical administrative authority of the details, and the changes thereof, of compulsory licenses
granted in other Member States of the European Union and posted on the website of the World Trade
Organization.
Article 83/E
(1) The request for access to books and records of the licensee under Article 10(8) of Regulation
816/2006/EC shall be filed with the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office in two copies. The request shall
indicate the number of the decision granting the compulsory license and the details to be disclosed.
(2) A fee prescribed by specific legislation shall be paid for the request for access simultaneously
with the filing of the request.
(3) If the request for access does not comply with the conditions laid down in Regulation
816/2006/EC and in this Act, or the fee for the request has not been paid in accordance with paragraph (2),
the requesting party shall be invited to rectify the irregularities or to submit comments. The request shall be
refused if, in spite of rectification or comments, it still does not comply with the conditions under
examination. Where the requesting party does not reply to the invitation within the fixed time limit, the
request shall be considered withdrawn.
(4) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall invite the licensee to submit comments on the
request for access. Following the written preparatory work, it shall decide on the ordering the access or on
the refusal of the request. After the written preparatory work the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall
only hold a hearing if the clarification of the facts requires that the parties be heard together or if any of the
parties so requests in due time.
(5) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall notify the patentee of the outcome of the access
to books and records of the licensee within the framework of the request under paragraph (1). The
notification of the outcome of the access may be used as evidence in the procedure for review of the
compulsory license (Article 83/F).
Article 83/F
(1) The request for review of the compulsory license under Article 16(1) of Regulation 816/2006/EC
shall indicate the number of the decision granting the compulsory license, the grounds for review and
documentary evidence shall be attached. The assessment made in the importing country may also be
attached to the request.
(2) A fee prescribed by specific legislation shall be paid for the request for review of the compulsory
license simultaneously with the filing of the request.
(3) If the request for review of the compulsory license does not comply with the conditions laid
down in Regulation 816/2006/EC and in this Act, or the fee for the request has not been paid in accordance
with paragraph (2), the requesting party shall be invited to rectify the irregularities or to submit comments.
The request shall be refused if, in spite of rectification or comments, it still does not comply with the
conditions under examination. Where the requesting party does not reply to the invitation within the fixed
time limit, the request shall be considered withdrawn.
(4) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall invite the licensee or the patentee – subject to
the person of the requesting party – to submit comments on the request for review of the compulsory license.
Following the written preparatory work, it shall decide at a hearing on the termination or modification of the
compulsory license or on the refusal of the request. The order terminating the procedure may also be taken
without a hearing.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
39
(5) If the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office does not order – pursuant to Article 16(3) of
Regulation 816/2006/EC – destruction, at the licensee’s expense, of the pharmaceutical product in the
licensee’s control and produced under the compulsory license, the decision on the termination of the
compulsory license shall indicate a period of time for the licensee to redirect such pharmaceutical product to
a country in need as referred to in Article 4 of Regulation 816/2006/EC.
(6) Termination of the compulsory license shall be recorded in the Patent Register, and relevant
information shall be given in the official journal of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office.
(7) Of the termination of the compulsory license the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall
(a) notify the European Commission;
(b) notify the customs authority and the pharmaceutical administrative authority by sending them the
decision;
(c) provide information on its website.
Article 83/G
(1) The request for modification of the compulsory license under Article 16(4) of Regulation
816/2006/EC shall contain the number of the compulsory license, the grounds for modification and evidence
to the effect that the licensee has carried out prior negotiations with the patentee under Article 9(1) of
Regulation 816/2006/EC, provided that the additional amount requested exceed 25% of the amount granted
under the original license.
(2) To the request under paragraph (1) documentary evidence shall be attached.
(3) In issues not regulated in paragraphs (1) and (2), the provisions of Article 83/F shall apply
mutatis mutandis to the modification of the compulsory license under paragraph (1), with the following
exceptions:
(a) the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall decide on the modification of the compulsory
license or on the refusal of the request;
(b) after the written preparatory work the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall only hold a
hearing if the clarification of the facts requires that the parties be heard together or if any of the parties so
requests in due time.
Article 83/H
(1) Where the pharmaceutical administrative authority establishes that the import of the
pharmaceutical product is contrary to the provisions of Article 13(1) of Regulation 816/2006/EC, it shall
prohibit distribution of the pharmaceutical product in the country.
(2) The pharmaceutical administrative authority shall send a copy of its final decision under
paragraph (1) to the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office.
(3) There is no appeal against the decisions of the pharmaceutical administrative authority taken
under paragraph (1).
(4) After the decision of the pharmaceutical administrative authority prohibiting distribution in the
country has taken effect, the customs authority shall arrange for the pharmaceutical product to be seized and
destroyed at the expense of the importer, and shall notify the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
accordingly.
(5) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall notify the European Commission of the
decision under paragraph (1) and the arrangements referred to in paragraph (4).
Interpretation of patent descriptions
Article 84
In the case of a dispute concerning the interpretation of a patent description, the Hungarian
Intellectual Property Office shall give an expert opinion at the request of the competent court or other
authority.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
40
PART III
PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE EUROPEAN PATENT SYSTEM AND THE
INTERNATIONAL PATENT COOPERATION
Chapter X/A
PROVISIONS CONCERNING EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATIONS AND EUROPEAN PATENTS
General provisions
Article 84/A
For the purposes of this Act:
(a) European patent: a patent granted in accordance with the Munich Convention on the Grant of
European Patents of 5 October 1973 (hereinafter referred to as the “Convention”);
(b) European patent application: a patent application for the grant of a European patent filed in
accordance with the Convention.
Article 84/B
(1) A European patent application may also be filed and a European patent may also be granted with
effect extending to the territory of Hungary.
(2) The provisions of Articles 84/D to 84/O shall apply to European patent applications designating
Hungary and to European patents granted with effect extending to Hungary.
(3) In the case of any difference between the Convention and this Act, the provisions of the
Convention shall apply to European patent applications and to European patents.
Filing of the European patent application
Article 84/C
(1) A European patent application may also be filed with the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office,
with the exception of European divisional applications.
(2) A European patent application shall be filed with the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office if
the applicant is Hungarian citizen or if his residence or seat is in Hungary, unless, in the European patent
application, the priority of a patent application which was not classified by the President of the Hungarian
Intellectual Property Office and was filed with the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office at least two
months earlier is claimed.
(3) A European patent application may be filed with the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office in
any of the languages prescribed by the Convention, provided that the application contains in Hungarian or in
any of the official languages of the European Patent Office at least the following:
(a) an indication that a European patent is sought;
(b) indications identifying the applicant or permitting contacts with the applicant.
Effects of the European patent application
Article 84/D
(1) A European patent application which has been accorded a date of filing by the European Patent
Office shall – retaining the priority claimed for the European patent application – be considered as having
the same effect as a national patent application filed with the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office with the
same date of filing.
(2) For the purposes of Article 2(3), publication of a European patent application in proceedings
before the European Patent Office or a publication which, by virtue of the Convention, replaces also in this
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
41
respect the publication in proceedings before the European Patent Office shall be considered as having the
same effect as the publication in proceedings before the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office (Article 70).
(3) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall make available for inspection the contents of
the European patent application as published, subsequent to its publication, and shall ensure access to the
entries relating to the European patent application contained in the Register of European Patents.
Provisional protection conferred by the publication of the European patent application
Article 84/E
(1) Provisional patent protection conferred by the publication of the European patent application
shall be effective in Hungary when the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office has published official
information in its official journal (Articles 56 and 56/A) on the filing of the Hungarian translation of the
claims.
(2) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall publish the official information referred to in
paragraph (1) if the applicant has filed a request to this effect. The request shall also contain the Hungarian
translation of the claims as published.
(3) The request and the translation of the claims shall be drawn up according to detailed formal
requirements laid down by specific legislation.
(4) A fee prescribed by specific legislation shall be paid for the publication of the translation of the
claims within two months from the filing of the request.
(5) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall examine whether the request satisfies the
requirements laid down by paragraphs (2) and (3). In the course of this, it shall proceed by applying Article
68(2) to (4) mutatis mutandis.
(6) If the fee for the publication of the claims is not paid upon filing the request, the Hungarian
Intellectual Property Office shall invite the applicant to rectify the irregularity within the time limit fixed in
paragraph (4). In the event of failing to observe this provision, the request shall be considered as withdrawn.
(7) Subsequent to the official information prescribed by paragraph (1), the Hungarian Intellectual
Property Office shall make available for inspection the Hungarian translation of the claims.
(8) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall indicate in a separate list that provisional
protection has been conferred by the publication of the European patent application under the provisions of
paragraph (1). This list may be inspected by any person.
Conversion of the European patent application into a national patent application
Article 84/F
(1) When the European patent application is deemed to be withdrawn pursuant to Article 14(2),
Article 77(3) or Article 78(2) of the Convention, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall, at request
of the applicant and on conditions laid down in paragraphs (2) to (5) of this Article, start the procedure for
the grant of a national patent in accordance with Chapter IX of this Act.
(2) The filing fee and the search fee [Article 57(4)] shall be paid within two months from the filing
of the request referred to in paragraph (1), or – if the request was not filed with the Hungarian Intellectual
Property Office – from the receipt thereof.
(3) If the European patent application has been drawn up in a foreign language, the Hungarian
translation of the application shall be filed with the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office within four
months from the filing of the request referred to in paragraph (1), or – if the request was not filed with the
Hungarian Intellectual Property Office – from the receipt thereof. For the purposes of the provisions of
Chapter IX, this translation shall be deemed to be a translation filed under Article 57(5).
(4) If the applicant requests paragraph (1) to be applied to the text of the European patent application
as amended in the proceedings before the European Patent Office, the provisions of paragraph (3) shall
apply to the translation of the amended text.
(5) If the request referred to in paragraph (1) has not been filed with the Hungarian Intellectual
Property Office, the applicant shall be notified of the receipt of the request simultaneously with the
invitation as prescribed in Article 66(12).
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
42
(6) In any other matters, the provisions of Chapter IX shall apply to procedures started in accordance
with the provisions of paragraph (1).
Effects of the European patent
Article 84/G
(1) A European patent shall have the same effect as a patent granted by the Hungarian Intellectual
Property Office. A European patent shall be regarded as granted when the mention of the grant is published
in the European Patent Bulletin.
(2) If the patentee has not submitted the Hungarian translation of the European patent as laid down
in 84/H, in the event of a legal dispute related to the European patent the patentee shall be required to
provide such a translation at his own expense, upon request of the alleged infringer, or – if necessary upon
invitation – in a procedure before the court or the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office.
Translation requirements concerning the European patent
Article 84/H
(1) The European patent shall become effective in Hungary provided that the patentee supplies
the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office with the Hungarian translation of the claims of the European
patent, and – if the language of procedure before the European Patent Office has been French or German –
the English or Hungarian translation of the text beyond the claims of the European patent within three
months from the date on which the mention of the grant is published in the European Patent Bulletin.
(1a)The Hungarian translation of the text beyond the claims of the European patent may also be filed
together with the Hungarian translation of the claims if the language of procedure before the European
Patent Office has been English.
(2) Where the English or Hungarian translation of the text beyond the claims of the European patent
is also to be filed, the translation shall be deemed to be filed at a date on which the patentee has filed both
translations as laid down in paragraph (1) or has already filed the second one of them.
(3) The act prescribed in paragraph (1) may also be performed within three months from the last day
of the time limit specified in that paragraph, if the surcharge determined by specific legislation is also paid
within the latter time limit.
(4) The translation or translations prescribed in paragraphs (1) and (1a) (hereinafter referred to
together as “translation”) shall be prepared and filed in compliance with the detailed formalities laid down
by specific legislation.
(5) For the publication of the translation a fee fixed by specific legislation shall be paid within two
months from the filing of the translation.
(6) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall examine the translation whether the
requirements of paragraph (4) have been satisfied. In the course of this, it shall proceed by applying Article
68(2) to (4) mutatis mutandis, except that in the cases referred to in Article 68(3) and (4), the translation
shall be deemed not to have been filed.
(7) If the fee prescribed by paragraph (5) is not paid upon filing the translation, the Hungarian
Intellectual Property Office shall invite the applicant to rectify the irregularity within the time limit fixed in
paragraph (5). In the event of failing to observe this provision, the translation shall be deemed not to have
been filed.
(8) If the act prescribed in paragraph (1) is not performed within the time limit specified in that
paragraph and it is not performed even within the time limit specified in paragraph (3) together with the
payment of the surcharge, the European patent shall be deemed – by virtue of this Act – not to have taken
effect ab initio in Hungary.
(9) If the translation laid down in paragraph (1) has been duly filed, the European patent shall be
entered in a separate part of the Patent Register (Article 54).
(10) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall give information to the public on the filing of
the translation in its official journal (Articles 56 and 56/A), and shall make the translation available to the
public.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
43
(10a) Apart from cases laid down in paragraphs (1) and (1a), the patentee may file at any time the
Hungarian translation of the text beyond the claims of the European patent to the Hungarian Intellectual
Property Office. Paragraphs (4)-(7) and (10) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the filing and publication of this
translation.
Article 84/I
The provisions of Article 84/H shall apply mutatis mutandis to European patents maintained as
amended as a result of opposition and limitation procedures under the Convention.
Authentic text of a European patent application or a European patent
Article 84/J
(1) If the extent of the protection conferred by the translation of the claims or of the
specification of the European patent application or of the European patent (Article 84/E, Article 84/H and
Article 84/I) is narrower than that conferred by the claims or by the specification in the language of the
proceedings before the European Patent Office, the extent of protection shall be determined by the
translation.
(1a) If the patentee has also filed the Hungarian translation of the text beyond the claims of the
European patent under Article 84/H(1a) or (10a), paragraph (1) shall apply to this translation after official
information on the filing of the translation was published.
(1b) If the language of procedure before the European Patent Office has been French or German and
the patentee has also filed the Hungarian translation of the text beyond the claims of the European patent
under Article 84/H(10a), Article 84/K(6) shall apply mutatis mutandis, except that the use gives the right of
continued use if it had been commenced before official information on the filing of the translation was
published.
(2) The provisions set out in paragraphs (1)-(1a) shall not apply in matters related to the revocation
of the European patent.
Article 84/K
(1) The applicant for or the holder of the patent may request at any time the correction of the
translation of the claims or the specification (Article 84/E, Article 84/H and Article 84/I). The protection
conferred by such corrected translation shall become effective when the Hungarian Intellectual Property
Office has published official information on the correction of the translation.
(2) The provisions of Article 84/E(2) and (3) and Article 84/H(4) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the
request for correction and its annexes.
(3) A fee prescribed by specific legislation shall be paid for the publication of the corrected
translation within two months from the filing of the request for the correction of the translation of the claims
or the specification.
(4) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall examine the request whether it satisfies the
requirements of paragraph (2). In the course of this, it shall proceed by applying Article 68(2) to (4) mutatis
mutandis.
(5) If the fee for the publication of the correction is not paid upon filing the request, the Hungarian
Intellectual Property Office shall invite the applicant to rectify the irregularity within the time limit fixed in
paragraph (3). In the event of failing to observe this provision, the request shall be considered as withdrawn.
(6) The protection conferred by the European patent shall have – to the extent of the use or the
preparations existing at the date of the official information laid down in paragraph (1) – no effect against any
person who, prior to the said date, in the territory of the country, in good faith and within the framework of
his economic activities, has begun using or has made serious preparations for using an invention the use of
which would not constitute infringement of the patent according to the original translation. Such right may
only be transferred together with the entitled economic organisation [Civil Code, Article 685(c)] or with that
part of it by which such use or preparations are pursued.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
44
Maintenance of the European patent
Article 84/L
(1) Renewal fees in respect of a European patent shall only be paid in accordance with the
provisions of this Act (Article 23) for the years subsequent to the year in which the mention of the grant of
the European patent is published in the European Patent Bulletin.
(2) Any renewal fees falling due within three months after the publication of the mention of the
grant of the European patent in the European Patent Bulletin can also be paid after the due date – without
surcharge – within this period of three months.
(3) Those maintenance fees which – in the case of revocation of a European patent as a result of an
omission or a decision reviewed by the Enlarged Board of Appeal – would have fallen due after the
revocation, may also be paid within a grace period of six months from the communication of the decision re-
establishing the rights or re-opening proceedings before the Board of Appeal.
Revocation of the European patent in opposition procedure
Article 84/M
(1) If the European patent is revoked or maintained as amended in the opposition, limitation or
revocation procedure under the Convention, the provisions of Article 81(8) shall apply mutatis mutandis.
(2) If an opposition has been filed against the same European patent, or the limitation or revocation
of the same European patent was requested in accordance with the Convention the procedure for the
revocation of the European patent shall be suspended in justified cases until the final termination of the
opposition, limitation or revocation procedure in accordance with the Convention.
(3) The suspended revocation procedure shall be continued at the request of any party after the final
termination of the limitation procedure under the Convention or if the final termination of the opposition or
revocation procedure under the Convention does not result in the revocation of the European patent.
Revocation of the European patent
Article 84/N
(1) A European patent shall be revoked on the grounds laid down in Article 138(1) of the
Convention and shall be limited in the event referred to in paragraph (2) of the same Article of the
Convention. In the procedure for revocation of the European patent, the provisions of Article 138(3) of the
Convention shall also apply.
(2) In any other matters concerning the revocation of a European patent, the provisions of this Act
shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Article 84/O
[repealed]
Chapter X/B
PROVISIONS CONCERNING INTERNATIONAL PATENT APPLICATIONS
General provisions
Article 84/P
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
45
(1) For the purposes of this Act, international patent application means a patent application filed
under the Patent Cooperation Treaty done at Washington on June 19, 1970 (hereinafter referred to as the
“Treaty”).
(2) Where this Act refers to the application of the Treaty, it shall be construed as meaning also the
application of the Regulations under the Treaty.
(3) Unless otherwise provided in the Treaty, the provisions of this Act shall apply to international
patent applications.
The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office as a receiving office
Article 84/R
(1) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall act as a receiving Office with respect to
international patent applications, where the applicant thereof is of Hungarian nationality or having residence
or principal place of business in the country.
(2) The international patent application shall be filed with the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
as a receiving Office in compliance with the formal requirements and in the manner prescribed by the
Treaty, in one of the languages accepted by the International Searching Authority chosen by the applicant.
(3) The international patent application, except for the request, may also be filed in Hungarian. In
this case, a translation of the application into a language prescribed in paragraph (2) shall be filed within one
month from the date of receipt of the application.
(4) If the translation of the international patent application is not filed by the date of the notification
containing an accorded filing date, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall invite the applicant to
rectify the irregularity within the time limit fixed in paragraph (3) or within one month from the invitation or
within two months from receipt of the international application, whichever expires later. Failing to comply
with the said invitation, the international application shall be considered withdrawn.
(5) The transmittal of the international patent application shall be subject to the payment of a
transmittal fee determined by specific legislation, and in connection with the international application an
international fee and a search fee provided for by the Treaty shall be paid within the time limit and in the
manner prescribed by the Treaty.
(6) In the official journal of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office the President of the
Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall publish information on the amount of the international fee and
of the search fee and on the prescriptions relating to the payment thereof.
Procedure of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office as a designated or an elected office
Article 84/S
(1) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall act as a designated Office with respect to
international patent applications in which Hungary has been designated under the Treaty, except in cases
where the international application has been filed for the grant of a European patent for Hungary [Article
84/A(a)].
(2) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall act as an elected Office with respect to
international patent applications referred to in paragraph (1) concerning which the applicant has made a
demand for international preliminary examination and has elected Hungary as a Contracting State in which
he intends to use the results of the preliminary examination.
(3) If the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office acts as a designated or an elected Office, the
Hungarian translation of the international application together with the indication of the name and address of
the inventor shall be filed and the national fee determined by specific legislation shall be paid within 31
months from the priority date of the international patent application.
(4) The acts prescribed in paragraph (3) may also be performed within three months from the last
day of the time limit specified in that paragraph, if the surcharge determined by specific legislation is also
paid within the latter time limit.
(5) The translation provided for in paragraph (3) shall contain the description, the claims, any text
matter of the drawings and the abstract. If the claims have been amended under the Treaty or during the
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
46
performance of the acts prescribed in paragraph (3), both the original and the amended claims shall be filed
in Hungarian.
(6) If the acts prescribed in paragraph (3) are not performed either within the time limit specified in
that paragraph or within the time limit specified in paragraph (4) with the simultaneous payment of the
surcharge, the effect of the international patent application shall cease in Hungary which shall have the same
consequences as the withdrawal of a patent application filed with the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office.
(7) Those parts of the international patent application which have not been searched by the
International Searching Authority on the basis of Article 17(3)(a) of the Treaty shall be considered
withdrawn, unless an additional search fee determined by specific legislation is paid by the applicant within
three months from the filing of the translation of the international application with the Hungarian Intellectual
Property Office.
(8) If the additional search fee has not been paid with the filing of the translation of the international
patent application, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall invite the applicant to rectify the
irregularity within the time limit fixed in paragraph (7).
(9) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall establish by an order if the part of the
international patent application determined in paragraph (7) shall be considered withdrawn.
Article 84/T
(1) In compliance with Article 29(1) of the Treaty, publication of the international patent application
shall establish provisional patent protection in Hungary on the day on which the Hungarian translation of the
international application has been published. The provisions of Article 70 shall apply mutatis mutandis to
the publication of the translation.
(2) For the purposes of Article 2(3), the effects of the publication of the international patent
application shall be the same as those of publication in the procedure before the Hungarian Intellectual
Property Office (Article 70), provided that the acts prescribed in Article 84/S(3) are duly performed with
respect to the international application.
Article 84/U
(1) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office as a designated or an elected Office shall carry out
the substantive examination of the international patent application at the special request of the applicant. The
request may be filed simultaneously with the acts prescribed in Article 84/S(3), or within six months at the
latest after the date of the official information on the performance of novelty search.
(2) An examination fee prescribed by specific legislation shall be paid within two months from the
filing of the request.
(3) In any other matters pertaining to substantive examination and to the request therefor, the
provisions of Articles 74 to 76 shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Article 84/V
With respect to the conditions for and the effect of any priority claim, the provisions of Article 4 of
the Stockholm Act of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property shall apply mutatis
mutandis also in the case referred to in Article 8(2)(b) of the Treaty.
Article 84/Z
(1) On the basis of Article 7(2)(ii) of the Treaty, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office may
invite the applicant to file drawings illustrating the invention even if they are not necessary for the
understanding of the invention, but the nature of the invention admits of illustration by drawings.
(2) On the basis of Article 27(2)(ii) of the Treaty, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office may
invite the applicant to furnish documents constituting proof of allegations or statements made in the
international patent application. However, in the cases specified in the Treaty the applicant may only be
required to furnish such evidence if there is reasonable doubt about the veracity of any allegation made in
the application.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
47
(3) At the request of the applicant, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office as a designated Office
shall carry out the review provided for in Article 25 of the Treaty, with regard to the provisions of Article
84/P(3) as well, by applying the provisions of this Act mutatis mutandis.
PART IV
COURT PROCEEDINGS IN PATENT MATTERS
Chapter XI
Review of decisions of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
Request for review
Article 85
(1) Upon request, the court may review the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office’s
(a) decisions referred to in Article 53/A;
(b) decisions suspending procedure or furnishing a basis for entries in the Patent Register;
(c) orders excluding or limiting the inspection of files, against which independent legal remedy is
admissible under the provisions of the Public Administration Procedures Act;
(d) orders denying persons the legal status as a party to the procedure apart from those who have
submitted request for the commencement of a procedure;
(e) decisions imposing procedural fines or ruling on the amount and on the apportionment of
procedural costs and their payment.
(2) A request for review brought against an decision imposing procedural fine or ruling on the
amount and on the apportionment of procedural costs shall have no delaying force with respect to any other
provisions of the decision not contested in the request for review, and shall not prevent them from becoming
final.
(3) Any order of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office not referred to in paragraph (1) may
only be contested in a request for the review of the decisions referred to in paragraph (1).
(4) Review of a decision may be requested by
(a) any party to the procedures before the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office;
(b) any person excluded from, or limited in, the inspection of files;
(c) any person whose legal status as a party to the procedure has been denied.
(5) Review of a ruling on the grant and revocation of a patent may be requested by the public
prosecutor under Article 6(2). Any other participant to the procedures before the Hungarian Intellectual
Property Office may submit, in his own right, an independent request for review of the decision or a
provision of the decision relating to him.
(6) The request for review must be filed or posted by registered mail, with the exceptions laid down
in paragraphs (7) and (8), within thirty days from the date of communication of the decision to the party
concerned or to any other party to the procedure.
(7) The time limit of thirty days for the filing of a request for review shall be reckoned from the
communication of the order refusing, or considering not to have been filed, the request for continuation of
the procedure or the request for restitutio in integrum, if
(a) that date is later than the date of communication of the decision under paragraph (6), and
(b) the request for continuation of the procedure or the request for restitutio in integrum was filed to
avert the consequences of an omission which served directly as a basis for the decision under paragraph (6).
(8) If the review of a decision of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office is requested on the basis
of a decision taken by the Constitutional Court under the provisions of the Public Administration Procedures
Act, the time limit for filing a request for review shall open again for thirty days from the service of the
decision of the Constitutional Court.
(9) The request for review shall be filed with the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office, which shall
forward it, together with the documents of the patent file, to the court within fifteen days, except for the case
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
48
provided for in paragraph (10). Where an opposing party took part in the procedure, the Hungarian
Intellectual Property Office shall simultaneously notify the opposing party of the forwarding of the request.
(10) If the request for review raises legal questions of fundamental importance, the Hungarian
Intellectual Property Office may make a written statement about that question and shall forward it, together
with the request for review and the documents of the patent file, to the court within thirty days.
(11) The rules concerning actions shall apply mutatis mutandis to the requirements for a request for
review.
(12) In the case of a request filed late, the court shall decide on the request for restitutio in integrum.
Jurisdiction and competence
Article 86
(1) In proceedings for the review of decisions taken by the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office,
the Metropolitan Court of Justice shall have jurisdiction and exclusive competence.
(2) [repealed]
Composition of the court
Article 87
The Metropolitan Court of Justice shall sit in a chamber consisting of three professional judges of
whom two shall have technical university degrees or equivalent qualifications.
Rules governing proceedings concerning requests for review
Article 88
The court shall hear requests for the review of decisions taken by the Hungarian Intellectual
Property Office in accordance with the rules of non-contentious civil procedure, subject to the exceptions
mentioned in this Act. Unless this Act or the non-contentious nature of the procedure indicates otherwise,
the rules of Act III of 1952 on the Code of Civil Procedure (hereinafter referred to as “the Code of Civil
Procedure”) shall apply to the proceedings mutatis mutandis.
Publicity
Article 89
The court may, at the request of a party, exclude the public from the hearing notwithstanding the fact
that the requirements prescribed in the general provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure may not be
fulfilled.
Exclusion
Article 90
(1) In addition to the cases determined in the general provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, the
following persons shall be excluded from participating in the proceedings or from acting as judges:
(a) persons who participated in taking the decision of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office;
(b) relatives, as defined in the general provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure relating to the
exclusion of judges, of a person mentioned under (a), above.
(2) The provisions of paragraph (1) shall also apply to the persons drawing up the minutes and to the
experts.
Parties to the proceedings and other participants
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
49
Article 91
(1) The person who filed the request shall be a party to the court proceedings. The public prosecutor
instituting proceedings shall be entitled to all the rights to which a party is entitled, except that he may not
agree to a settlement, admit claims or waive any rights.
(2) Where an opposing party has also taken part in the procedure before the Hungarian Intellectual
Property Office, the court proceedings shall be initiated against that party.
Article 92
Where a joint patentee acts independently to maintain and protect patent rights, or proceedings have
been initiated against one only of the joint patentees, the court shall notify the other joint patentees that they
may join the proceedings.
Article 93
(1) Any person having a legal interest in the outcome of the proceedings for review of decisions
taken by the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office may intervene in the proceedings, until such time as the
court decision becomes final, in favour of the party whose interests he shares.
(2) Save for settlement, admission of claims and waiver of rights, the intervenor may take any
action, which the party he supports is entitled to take, except that his acts shall have effect only where they
do not conflict with the acts of the party concerned.
(3) Any legal dispute between the intervenor and the party concerned may not be decided in the
course of the proceedings.
Representation
Article 94
(1) Patent attorneys may also act as representatives in proceedings.
(2) As to the validity of a power of attorney given to a patent attorney or an attorney-at-law either in
the country or abroad, the signature by the principal shall be sufficient.
Costs of proceedings
Article 95
(1) Where an opposing party also takes part in the court proceedings, the provisions on litigation
costs shall apply mutatis mutandis to the advance and payment of the costs of proceedings.
(2) In the absence of an opposing party, the applicant shall advance and meet the costs.
(3) The expenses and fees of the patent attorney representing the party shall be added to the costs of
proceedings.
Omission
Article 96
Where neither the applicant nor any of the parties appear at the hearing or where none of the parties
respond to the invitation of the court in the fixed time limit, the court shall decide on the request on the basis
of the material at its disposal.
Restitutio in integrum
Article 97
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
50
The provisions of Article 49 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the submission of a request for
restitutio in integrum in non-contentious proceedings.
Measures on the basis of the request
Article 97/A
If the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office has made a written statement concerning the request
for review [Article 85(10)], the chairman of the proceeding chamber shall inform the party or parties of this
statement in writing.
Hearing and taking of evidence
Article 98
(1) The court of first instance shall take evidence and shall hold its hearings in accordance with the
provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(2) If no opposing party takes part in the proceedings and the case can be settled on the basis of
documentary evidence, the court may take a decision without a hearing, but the party shall be heard at his
request.
(3) Should the court consider the case without a hearing, but find during the proceedings that a
hearing is necessary, it may at any time order such hearing. However, where the court considers the case at a
hearing, or has ordered a hearing, it may not revoke such order and consider the case without a hearing.
(4) Settlement may not be reached in the court proceedings if settlement was not possible in the
procedure before the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office.
(5) The provisions of Article 84/M shall also apply mutatis mutandis to the suspension of the court
proceedings.
Decisions
Article 99
The court shall decide both on the merits of a case and on other matters by an order.
Article 100
(1) If the court alters a decision taken in a patent case, its order shall replace the decision of the
Hungarian Intellectual Property Office.
(2) The court shall repeal a decision and order the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office to start a
new procedure if
(a) the decision was taken with the participation of a person who could be objected to on the grounds
of exclusion;
(b) substantive rules of procedure were infringed during the procedure before the Hungarian
Intellectual Property Office which cannot be remedied by the court.
(c) [repealed]
(3) Where a party requests a court decision on a matter which was not the subject of the procedure
before the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office, the court shall refer the request to the Hungarian
Intellectual Property Office, except when, in the revocation procedure, the Hungarian Intellectual Property
Office left the ground for revocation out of consideration under paragraph 81(1) or when the new ground for
revocation was stated in the request for review or after the filing thereof; such ground for revocation shall be
left out of consideration by the court. In the case of the referral of the request the court shall, if necessary,
repeal the decision of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
51
(4) The court shall leave out of consideration any facts, allegations or evidence submitted by the
party in the request for review or after the filing thereof, which the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office –
in compliance with Article 47(3) – duly left out of consideration in the procedure before it.
(5) Where, after the filing of a request for review, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
withdraws any of its decisions referred to in Article 85(1)(b) to (d), the court shall terminate the proceedings.
If the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office has altered its decision, the court proceedings may only
continue in respect of matters still pending.
Article 101
(1) The court order on the merits of a case shall be communicated by service; it shall not be
considered published by the pronouncement thereof. If the court decides on the request for review at a
hearing, the order on the merits of the case shall be pronounced also on the day of the hearing. The
pronouncement may be deferred – for not more than eight days – only in the event if it is indispensable
because of the complexity of the case. In such a case the time limit for pronouncement shall be fixed
immediately and the judgment shall be put into writing until the day of pronouncement.
(2) In deciding on the appeal filed against the Metropolitan Court of Justice’s decision, the
provisions of Article 257 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall apply mutatis mutandis, with the proviso that
in the case of a request to this effect the court of second instance shall also hear the parties orally, except
when the appeal was filed against an order on a request for review submitted against decisions of the
Hungarian Intellectual Property Office referred to in Article 85(1)(c) and (d).
Article 102
[repealed]
Article 103
[repealed]
Chapter XII
PATENT LITIGATION
Rules governing patent litigation
Article 104
(1) The Metropolitan Court of Justice shall have exclusive competence and shall sit in a chamber
composed as laid down in Article 87 in the following court proceedings:
(a) litigation concerning the grant, modification or cancellation of a compulsory license, with the
exception of matters concerning compulsory licenses to which Regulation 816/2006/EC [Article 33/A(1)]
applies (Articles 83/A to 83/H);
(b) litigation concerning the existence of the right of prior or continued use, furthermore the
existence of the right provided for in Article 84/K(6) as well as in Article 112a(6) and Article 122(5) of the
Convention [Article 84/A(a)]; and
(c) litigation concerning the infringement of an invention or of a patent.
(2) In patent litigation, provisional measures – until the contrary is rendered probable – shall be
considered necessary to protect the plaintiff’s rights deserving special appreciation if the plaintiff proves that
the invention is patented, and he is the patentee or an exploiter entitled to institute proceedings for
infringement in his own name. In rendering the contrary probable, all circumstances of the case shall be
taken into consideration, in particular that the patent was revoked by the Hungarian Intellectual Property
Office or by the court of first instance, the European patent effective also in Hungary was revoked by an
opposition division of the European Patent Office or in another Member State of the European Patent
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
52
Organisation. The provision relating to the presumption substantiating the necessity of protecting the
plaintiff’s rights deserving special appreciation shall not apply where six months have already elapsed from
the beginning of patent infringement or sixty days from the date on which the plaintiff became aware of the
infringement and of the identity of the infringer.
(3) In assessing the harm caused, or the advantage obtainable, by the provisional measures, it shall
also be taken into consideration if the measures obviously and considerably prejudice public interest or the
legitimate interests of third parties.
(4) In the case of patent infringement, the request for provisional measures may also be filed before
initiating an action; the Metropolitan Court of Justice shall decide on the request in a non-contentious
procedure. With the exceptions deriving from the particular features of non-contentious procedures, the
provisions of this Act and the general rules of the Code of Civil Procedure shall apply mutatis mutandis to
the non-contentious procedure for provisional measures. If the plaintiff has initiated an action for patent
infringement in accordance with paragraph (8), the amount exceeding the fee paid in the non-contentious
procedure shall be paid as fee for the action.
(5) In addition to civil remedies applicable in the case of infringement, the patentee may request the
court, on conditions relating to provisional measures, to
(a) order precautionary measures in accordance with the provisions of the Act on Judicial Execution,
if he demonstrates circumstances likely to endanger the later satisfaction of his claim for damages or for the
surrender of the enrichment obtained by infringement;
(b) compel the infringer to communicate or present his banking, financial or commercial documents
with a view to ordering the precautionary measures in accordance with point (a);
(c) order the lodging of security, if in place of demanding discontinuance of the patent infringement,
the patentee consents to the continuation, by the infringer, of the allegedly infringing activity.
(6) The court may order the lodging of security under paragraph (5)(c) even in the absence of a
request of the patentee to this effect, provided that the patentee filed a request for the discontinuance of
patent infringement, which the court does not allow.
(7) The court shall decide on the provisional measures out of turn, but not later than within fifteen
days from the filing of a request to this effect. The court of second instance shall decide on the appeal filed
against the decision on the provisional measures out of turn, but not later than within fifteen days from the
filing of the appeal.
(8) At the request of the defendant, the court shall annul its decision on provisional measures –
including paragraphs (5) and (6) as well – requested before the initiation of an action, if the patentee has not
instituted, within fifteen days from the communication of such decision, proceedings for patent infringement
with respect to the claim enforced by the provisional measures. The court shall decide on the request for
annulling the provisional measures out of turn, but not later than within fifteen days from the filing of the
request.
(9) Where, in the course of proceedings for patent infringement, one of the parties has already
produced reasonably available evidence, the court may, at the request of the party producing the evidence,
require the defendant to
(a) present the documents and other exhibits in his possession and to make inspection possible;
(b) communicate or present his banking, financial or commercial documents.
(10) Preliminary production of evidence shall also be admissible before instituting proceedings for
patent infringement if the patentee has made the fact or danger of patent infringement likely to a reasonable
extent. If the proceedings have not yet started, preliminary production of evidence shall be requested at the
Metropolitan Court of Justice. Preliminary evidence shall be taken by the Metropolitan Court of Justice.
Against decisions ordering preliminary production of evidence appeals shall be admissible.
(11) At the request of the defendant, the court shall annul its decision ordering preliminary
production of evidence, if the patentee has not instituted proceedings for patent infringement within fifteen
days from the communication of the decision ordering preliminary production of evidence. The court shall
decide on the request for annulling preliminary production of evidence out of turn, but not later than within
fifteen days from the filing of the request.
(12) Where any delay would cause irreparable harm, it shall be regarded as a case of extreme
urgency and – taking this into account – provisional measures, including paragraphs (5) and (6) as well, may
be taken without the defendant having been heard. Where any delay would cause irreparable harm, or the
risk of the destruction of evidence is likely, it shall be regarded as an urgent case and – taking this into
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
53
account – preliminary evidence may be taken without the defendant having been heard. Decisions taken
without the defendant having been heard shall be communicated to the defendant on execution. After
communication of the decision, the defendant may request to be heard, the review or the annulment of the
decision ordering provisional measures or the preliminary production of evidence.
(13) The court may subject the ordering of preliminary production of evidence and – with the
exception of paragraph (5)(c) and paragraph (6) – of provisional measures to the lodging of security.
(14) If, in the cases referred to in paragraph (5)(c), paragraph (6) and paragraph (13), the party
entitled to compensation from the amount of the security does not enforce his claim within three months
from the date on which the decision annulling a decision on the preliminary production of evidence or
provisional measures or the judgment on the discontinuance of proceedings took effect, the depositor may
demand refund of the security.
(15) Where the patentee has not submitted the Hungarian translation of the text of the European
patent under Article 84/H, and he neither has provided the alleged infringer with the said translation upon
the latter’s request in accordance with Article 84/G(2), it shall be regarded that the defendant has not
provided any grounds for the litigation.
(16) In case of a European patent the Hungarian translation of the text of such patent shall be
annexed to the request for litigation. In case of failure to comply with this requirement an invitation shall be
issued. The cost of translation shall be borne by the patentee.
(17) Any other patent litigation not mentioned under paragraph (1) shall be heard by the court of
justice.
(18) The general provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure shall apply in the court proceedings
referred to in paragraphs (1) and (17), with the exceptions laid down in Articles 89, 94 and 95(3) of this Act.
PART V
PROTECTION OF PLANT VARIETIES
Chapter XIII
PLANT VARIETIES AND PROTECTION OF PLANT VARIETIES
General provisions
Article 105
For the purposes of this Act
(a) plant variety: a plant grouping within a single botanical taxon of the lowest known rank, which
grouping, irrespective of whether the conditions of protection are fully met, can be
1. defined by the expression of the characteristics resulting from a given genotype or
combination of genotypes,
2. distinguished from any other plant grouping by the expression of at least one of the said
characteristics, and
3. considered as a unit with regard to its suitability for being propagated unchanged;
(b) propagating material: entire plants, seeds or other parts of plants suitable for growing the whole
plant or for producing it in any other way.
Object of plant variety protection
Article 106
(1) Plant variety protection shall be granted for varieties that are distinct, uniform, stable and new.
(2) Varieties of all botanical genera and species, including hybrids between general or species, may
form the object of plant variety protection.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
54
(3) The variety shall be deemed to be distinct if it is clearly distinguishable, by the expression of the
characteristics resulting from a given genotype or combination of genotypes, from any other variety whose
existence is a matter of common knowledge at the date of priority. The existence of another variety shall in
particular be deemed to be a matter of common knowledge from the date of filing of the application if
(a) it was already object of plant variety protection or entered in an official register of plant varieties;
(b) an application for the granting of plant variety protection or for state registration was filed,
provided that the application leads to the granting of plant variety protection or to the entering of the said
variety in the official register of plant varieties.
(4) The variety shall be deemed to be uniform if, subject to the variation that may be expected from
the particular features of its propagation, its individuals are sufficiently uniform in the expression of those
characteristics which are included in the examination of distinctness, as well as any others used for the
variety description.
(5) The variety shall be deemed to be stable if the expression of the characteristics which are
included in the examination for distinctness as well as any others used for the variety description, remain
unchanged after repeated propagation or in the case of a particular cycle of propagation at the end of each
such cycle.
(6) The variety shall be deemed to be new if the propagating or harvested material of the variety has
not been sold or otherwise disposed of to others by or with the consent of the breeder [Article 108(1)] or his
successor in title, for purposes of exploitation of the variety
(a) in the country earlier than one year before the date of priority,
(b) abroad earlier than four years or, in the case of trees or of vines, earlier than six years before the
date of priority.
Plant varieties eligible for protection
Article 107
(1) Plant variety protection shall be granted to a plant variety if
(a) it satisfies the requirements laid down in Article 106;
(b) the plant variety has been given a variety denomination meeting the requirements of paragraph
(2); and
(c) the application therefor complies with the requirements laid down by this Act.
(2) The plant variety must be given a variety denomination suitable for identification. A variety
denomination shall, in particular, not be suitable for identification
(a) if it designates an existing variety of the same plant species or of a closely related species or can
be confused with it;
(b) if its use would infringe the earlier rights of others;
(c) if it is liable to mislead or to cause confusion concerning the characteristics, value or identity of
the variety or the identity of the breeders;
(d) if it consists solely of figures except where this is an established practice for designating
varieties;
(e) if its use would be contrary to public policy or morality.
Breeder of the plant variety and entitlement to plant variety protection
Article 108
(1) Breeder is the person who bred, or discovered and developed a variety.
(2) The right to plant variety protection shall belong to the breeder or to his successor in title.
(3) On the basis of this Act, an applicant may obtain plant variety protection if
(a) he is of Hungarian nationality or has his domicile or seat in the country;
(b) he is a national of a State or of a Member State of an international organization party to the
International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (hereinafter referred to as the “UPOV
Convention”), or has his domicile or seat in such a State.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
55
(4) In addition to the cases laid down in paragraph (3), plant variety protection may also be obtained
on the basis of other international treaties or subject to reciprocity. In the matter of reciprocity, the opinion
of the President of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall be decisive.
(5) In any other matters pertaining to the moral rights of the breeder, to the right to plant variety
protection, to service and employee plant varieties and to the remuneration of the breeder, the provisions of
Article 7(2) to (7), Article 8(2) to (4) and Articles 9 to 17 shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Rights conferred by plant variety protection
Article 109
(1) Plant variety protection shall confer on the holder of plant variety protection (hereinafter referred
to as “the holder”) the exclusive right to exploit the variety.
(2) On the basis of the exclusive right of exploitation, the holder shall be entitled to prevent any
person not having his consent from the following acts in respect of the propagating material of the protected
variety:
(a) production or reproduction (multiplication),
(b) conditioning for the purpose of propagation,
(c) offering for sale,
(d) selling or other marketing,
(e) exporting,
(f) importing,
(g) stocking for any of the purposes mentioned in (a) to (f).
(3) The provisions of paragraph (2) shall also apply to harvested material obtained through the
unauthorized use of propagating material of the protected variety or to products made directly from such
harvested material through the unauthorized use of the harvested material, unless the holder has had
reasonable opportunity to exercise his right in relation to the said propagating or harvested material.
(4) The provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) shall also apply in relation to varieties
(a) which are essentially derived from the protected variety, where the protected variety is not itself
an essentially derived variety;
(b) which are not clearly distinguishable in accordance with Article 106(3) from the protected
variety;
(c) whose production requires the repeated use of the protected variety.
(5) For the purposes of paragraph (4)(a), a variety shall be deemed to be essentially derived from
another variety (“the initial variety”) when
(a) it is predominantly derived from the initial variety, or from a variety that is itself predominantly
derived from the initial variety, while retaining the expression of the essential characteristics that result from
the genotype or combination of genotypes of the initial variety,
(b) it is clearly distinguishable in accordance with Article 106(3) from the initial variety; and
(c) except for the differences which result from the act of derivation, it conforms to the initial variety
in the expression of the essential characteristics that result from the genotype or combination of genotypes of
the initial variety.
(6) The exclusive right of exploitation shall not extend to
(a) acts done privately or not involved in an economic activity;
(b) acts done for experimental purposes relating to the plant variety;
(c) acts done for the purpose of breeding other varieties, and, except where the provisions of
paragraph (4) apply, acts referred to in paragraphs (2) and (3) in respect of such other varieties.
(7)–(8) [repealed]
Claim to remuneration arising from plant variety protection
Article 109/A
(1) The farmer may exploit the product of the harvest in his own holding without the permission of
the holder for the purposes of propagation – other than the hybrids and synthetic plant varieties – which he
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
56
obtained by sowing in his own holding the seed or tuber (hereinafter referred to together as the “seed”) of
the plant variety being under plant variety protection and belonging to plant species specified in paragraph
(2). With respect to this exploitation – with the exception defined in paragraph (4) – the holder is entitled to
an equitable remuneration.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall be applied to the following agricultural plant species:
(a) Fodder plants:
1. Chickpea milkvetch – Cicer arietinum L.
2. Yellow lupin – Lupinus luteus L.
3. Lucerne – Medicago sativa L.
4. Field pea – Pisum sativum L. (partim)
5. Berseem/Egyptian clover – Trifolium alexandrinum L.
6. Persian clover – Trifolium resupinatum L.
7. Field bean – Vicia faba
8. Common vetch – Vicia sativa L.
(b) Cereals:
1. Oats – Avena sativa
2. Barley – Hordeum vulgare L.
3. Rice – Oryza sativa L.
4. Canary grass – Phalaris canariensis L.
5. Rye – Secale cereale L.
6. Triticale – X Triticosecale Wittm.
7. Wheat – Triticium aestivum L. emend. Fiori et Paol.
8. Durum wheat – Triticum durum Desf.
9. Spelt wheat – Triticum spelta L.
(c) Potatoes:
1. Potatoes – Solanum tuberosum
(d) Oil and fibre plants:
1. Swede rape – Brassica napus L. (partim)
2. Turnip rape – Brassica rapa L. (partim)
3. Linseed with the exclusion of flax – Linum usitatissimum.
(3) For the purposes of this Act
(a) own holding: any holding or part of an estate which is actually used by the farmer to grow plants,
irrespectively of the fact whether it is his own property or uses it on other legal grounds;
(b) farmer: any natural person, legal person or organization without legal personality who or which
is engaged in growing arable crops.
(4) The obligation to pay a remuneration defined in paragraph (1) shall not be applied to any farmer
who is engaged in growing arable crops in less than 20 hectares, or, in the case of potatoes, in less than 1
hectare.
(5) The rights specified in this Article and in Article 109/B may be exercised by the holders
individually or through their organization. The organization of the holders may proceed exclusively on
behalf of those members or other holders who have given a written authorization to the organization to do
so. If the holder has given a written authorization to an organization, he may not proceed individually to
claim remuneration. When enforcing the claims under Article 109/C and 114/C, the rules of Chapter V of
the Code of Civil Procedure shall apply for the legal representation performed by the organization of the
holders.
(6) The obligation to pay a remuneration defined in paragraph (1) is effective from the date on which
the farmer actually exploits the product of the harvest for the purposes of propagation in the fields.
(7) The rate and the payment of the remuneration is subject to the agreement between the holder and
the farmer. The holders may conclude the agreement – in respect of the members of the farmers’
organizations – with the farmers’ organizations as well.
(8) In the absence of the agreement under paragraph (7)
(a) the basis of the remuneration is the seed quantity recommended by the holder for the propagation
of the respective plant variety multiplied by the size of the field indicated by the farmer under Article
109/B(3)(c); the rate of the remuneration is 50% of the licence fee included in the price of the sealed seed
with the lowest propagation degree of the respective plant variety, applied to the quantity determined above;
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
57
(b) the term of payment reasonable under the circumstances of the case and the method of payment
is determined by the written invitation of the holder addressed to the farmer, directly or through the
organization of the farmers representing the addressee; the farmer is notified of the rate of the remuneration
defined in point (a) by the holder in that invitation.
(9) In respect of each plant variety, the recommended sowing quantity under point (a) of paragraph
(8) and the rate of the licence fee applied to a quantity unit shall be published upon the initiative of the
holder by the ministry led by the minister responsible for agricultural policy in its official gazette annually,
before their respective sowing periods. With the exception of the case specified in paragraph (7), if this
publication has not occurred, the remuneration may not be claimed through public authorities.
Article 109/B
(1) For the purposes of claiming the remuneration under Article 109/A(1), if such data are included
in its records, the authority for plant growing – upon request, against the payment of the costs, and in case of
proving the entitlement – provides the following data to the holder of the plant variety being under
protection and belonging to the plant species specified in Article 109/A(2):
(a) the name, propagation degree and the quantity propagated of the protected plant varieties of the
holder, belonging to the plant species specified in Article 109/A(2), controlled in the holding of the farmers
– who do not belong to the circle of farmers specified in Article 109/A(4) – being engaged in producing
seeds and, as well as the name of the respective farmers and the address of their holding;
(b) the name of the protected plant varieties of the holder processed by the seed processors,
belonging to the plant species specified in Article 109/A(2), as well as the quantity of the processed raw
seed.
(2) For the purposes of claiming the remuneration under Article 109/A(1), if such data are included
in its records, the agency responsible for agriculture and rural development – upon request, against the
payment of the costs, and in case of proving the entitlement – provides the following data to the holder of
the plant variety being under protection and belonging to the plant species specified in Article 109/A(2):
(a) the name of the farmers notifying the growing of plant species specified in Article 109/A(2), not
belonging to the circle of farmers specified in Article 109/A(4), as well as the address of their holding;
(b) the overall size of the field used by the farmer defined in point (a), indicating the size of the field
exploited for each plant variety.
(3) For the purposes of claiming the remuneration under Article 109/A(1), any farmer who – based
on the data under paragraph (1) or other data – may be deemed to have performed an exploitation under
Article 109/A(1) is obliged to deliver the following data to the holder – upon his request – within the
reasonable time limit defined by the holder:
(a) the name of plant varieties belonging to the plant species specified in Article 109/A(2), being
under protection in favour of the holder the harvested product of which he exploited in his own holding for
the purposes of propagation;
(b) in case of plant varieties under point (a) the quantity, the seal number of the seed bearing a seal,
purchased and exploited in the given economic year and indication of the size of the field where it has been
sowed;
(c) indication of the size of the field where the harvested product of the plant varieties under point
(a) has been sowed;
(d) the name and address of the person(s) processing the product of the harvest of plant varieties
under point (a) for the purposes of exploitation under Article 109/A(1).
(4) For the purposes of claiming the remuneration under Article 109/A(1), the seed processor – upon
the written request of the holder – is obliged to give information about the quantity processed for the
purposes of sowing of the harvested product of the protected plant variety of the holder belonging to the
plant species specified in Article 109/A(2), as well as about the name and address (place of business) of the
persons for whom he has fulfilled this activity of processing.
(5) Providing of data specified in paragraphs (3) and (4) may be required in respect of the given
economic year and of that year or those years of the preceding three years in respect of which the farmer had
not provided the data to the holder previously. Any farmer obliged to provide data under paragraph (3) shall
prove the data under point (b) of paragraph (3) related to the quantity of the purchased and exploited seed
bearing a seal by certified documents as well.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
58
(6) In his request under paragraphs (3) and (4) the holder is obliged to give his name and address and
the names of the protected plant varieties belonging to him. In his request under paragraph (3) he shall refer
to the facts upon which he had supposed that the farmer had made exploitation under Article 109/A(1).
Upon request of the farmer or the processor, the entitlement shall be proved.
(7) The holder may also submit the request under paragraphs (3) and (4) to the farmers or to the seed
processors – in case of an agreement to this end – through their organizations.
Article 109/C
(1) In case of the entire or partial failure – in spite of a repeated invitation – to provide data specified
in Article 109/B(3) and (4), or in case of providing false data, the holder may claim the provision or
correction of data specified in Article 109/B(3) and (4).
(2) If the authenticity of the data provided is disputed, the burden of proof shall be on the farmer.
Exhaustion of the exclusive right of exploitation conferred by plant variety protection
Article 110
(1) The exclusive right of exploitation conferred by plant variety protection shall not extend to acts
concerning any material of the protected variety, or of a variety covered by the provisions of Article 109,
paragraph (4), which has been sold or otherwise marketed by the holder or with his consent in the territory
of the European Economic Area, or any material derived from the said material.
(2) The exclusive right of exploitation shall extend to acts referred to in paragraph (1) if such acts
involve further propagation of the variety in question, or involve an export of such material of the variety
which enables the propagation of the variety, into a country which does not protect varieties of the plant
genus or species to which the variety referred to in paragraph (1) belongs, except where the exported
material is for final consumption purposes.
(3) For the purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2), material means propagating material, harvested
material and any product made directly from the harvested material.
Term of plant variety protection
Article 111
Definitive plant variety protection shall have a term of 25 years or, in the case of vines and trees, a
term of 30 years, from the date of the grant of the protection.
Maintenance of plant variety protection
Article 111/A
(1) Maintenance fees, to be determined by specific legislation, shall be paid for each year of the
duration of plant variety protection.
(2) In respect of the maintenance and the maintenance fee of plant variety protection, the provisions
related to the maintenance and the maintenance fee of patent protection shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Remuneration of the breeder of the plant variety
Article 112
The breeder of the plant variety shall be entitled to a remuneration (remuneration for the breeder)
under the provisions relating to remuneration for inventions (Article 13).
Maintenance of the plant variety, use of variety denominations
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
59
Article 113
(1) The holder shall be required to maintain the plant variety during the period of plant variety
protection.
(2) When a variety is offered for sale or is marketed, it shall be permitted to associate a trademark, a
geographical indication or other similar indication with the registered variety denomination. If such an
indication is so associated, the denomination must nevertheless be easily recognizable.
(3) When a variety is offered for sale or marketed, the registered variety denomination must be used,
even after the lapse of plant variety protection, except where such use would infringe the earlier rights of
others.
Other rights and obligations deriving from plant varieties and plant variety protection
Article 114
(1) Rights deriving from plant varieties and plant variety protection may not be transferred to any
person who cannot be granted plant variety protection under the provisions of Article 108(3) and (4). In any
other matters pertaining to the succession in title, the provisions of Article 25 shall apply mutatis mutandis.
(2) If, after the grant of plant variety protection, the holder of plant variety protection obtained a
Community plant variety right [Article 115(b)] for the same variety, he will be exempt from paying the
annual fees until the lapse of the Community plant variety right. If the Community plant variety right lapses
before the expiry of the term of plant variety protection, the holder may request re-establishment of the plant
variety protection in accordance with the provisions of Article 115/B.
(3) With respect to the establishment of plant variety protection, the limitations of protection, the
joint right to plant variety protection and joint plant variety protection, the provisions of Articles 18, 21 and
26 shall apply mutatis mutandis.
(4) Matters relating to the moral and economic issues concerning plant variety protection that are not
covered by this Act shall be governed by the provisions of the Civil Code.
Exploitation contracts
Article 114/A
With respect to contracts of exploitation of plant varieties (plant variety license contracts), the
provisions of Articles 27 to 30, and, in matters that are not covered by this Act, the provisions of the Civil
Code shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Compulsory licenses
Article 114/B
(1) If a patented invention cannot be exploited without infringing a plant variety protection
(hereinafter referred to as the “dominant plant variety protection”), a compulsory license shall be granted, on
request and to the extent necessary for the exploitation of the variety according to the dominant plant variety
protection, to the holder of the dependent patent, provided that the invention claimed in the dependent patent
involves significant technical progress of considerable economic interest compared with the variety claimed
in the dominant plant variety protection.
(2) In any other matters pertaining to the compulsory licenses granted for the exploitation of the
protected plant varieties, the provisions of Articles 31, 32(2) and 33 shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Infringement of plant varieties and of plant variety protection
Article 114/C
(1) An infringement of the plant variety protection is committed by any person who
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
60
(a) illegitimately exploits the plant variety being under protection;
(b) does not fulfil the obligation to pay remuneration prescribed in Article 109/A(1).
(2) In respect of infringement of plant variety and plant variety protection, the provisions of Articles
34 to 36 shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Revocation of plant variety protection
Article 114/D
(1) Plant variety protection shall be revoked ex tunc if
(a) the subject matter of the plant variety protection does not satisfy the requirements laid down in
Article 106(3) and (6);
(b) the grant of plant variety protection has been essentially based upon information and documents
furnished by the breeder or his successor in title and the conditions laid down in Article 106(4) and (5) were
not complied with at the time of the grant of plant variety protection;
(c) the plant variety protection has been granted to a person who is not entitled to it under the Act,
unless it is transferred to the person who is so entitled.
(2) Should the request for revocation be rejected by a final decision, a new procedure for the
revocation of the same plant variety protection on the same grounds may not be instituted by any person.
Cancellation of plant variety protection and of variety denomination
Article 114/E
(1) Plant variety protection shall be cancelled – with retroactive effect to the date of instituting
proceedings for cancellation or to the date on which the conditions for cancellation have already existed,
whichever is earlier – if, after the grant of protection, the conditions laid down in Article 106(4) and (5) are
no longer fulfilled.
(2) In addition to the cases referred to in paragraph (1), plant variety protection shall be cancelled –
with retroactive effect to the date of instituting proceedings for cancellation – if the holder, after being
requested to do so and within a prescribed period,
(a) does not provide the authority with the documents or other means necessary for verifying the
maintenance of the variety;
(b) does not request the registration of another variety denomination complying with the conditions
laid down in Article 107(2), where the previous denomination is cancelled after the grant of plant variety
protection.
(3) The registered variety denomination shall be cancelled if the holder, after being requested to do
so and within a prescribed period, does not verify that it fulfils the conditions laid down in Article 107(2). If,
after the cancellation of the variety denomination, the holder files a request which contains a variety
denomination complying with the conditions laid down in Article 107(2), the new variety denomination
shall be registered.
(4) Should the request for cancellation of the plant variety protection or of the variety denomination
be rejected by a final decision, a new procedure for cancellation of the same plant variety protection or of
the same variety denomination on the same grounds may not be instituted by any person.
Other provisions concerning lapse of plant variety protection
Article 114/F
In any other matters pertaining to the lapse of plant variety protection, the provisions of Articles 38
to 41 and 43 shall apply mutatis mutandis, except that definitive plant variety protection shall also lapse, in
addition to the cases laid down in Article 39, if the plant variety protection is cancelled, with retroactive
effect to the date of instituting proceedings for cancellation or at the date on which the conditions for
cancellation have already existed.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
61
Chapter XIV
PROCEDURES BEFORE THE HUNGARIAN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE IN MATTERS
OF PLANT VARIETY PROTECTION
General provisions governing procedures concerning plant variety protection
Article 114/G
(1) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall have competence in the following matters of
plant variety protection:
(a) grant of plant variety protection,
(b) decision on the lapse and the restoration of plant variety protection,
(c) revocation of plant variety protection,
(d) cancellation of plant variety protection and of variety denomination,
(e) keeping the registers of applications for plant variety protection and of protected plant varieties,
including any particulars pertaining to their maintenance,
(f) official information on matters of plant variety protection.
(2) Experimental testing relating to the conditions laid down in Article 106(3) to (5) shall be carried
out in the territory of the country by an authority (examination authority) designated by specific legislation.
(3) At the hearing, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall proceed and shall take its rulings
in procedures for revocation and for cancellation in the form of a board consisting of three members. The
board shall take its decisions on a majority.
(4) With respect to restitutio in integrum, the provisions of Article 49 shall apply, with the proviso
that restitutio in integrum shall be excluded:
(a) in the event of failing to comply with the time limit prescribed for filing the declaration of priority
[Article 114/L(2)], or with the time limit of 12 months fixed for claiming priority,
(b) in the event of failing to comply with the time limits prescribed for filing a request for restitutio in
integrum and a request for continuation of the procedure [Article 48(3) and Article 49(1) and (2)];
(c) in the event of failing to comply with the time limit of three months prescribed for filing a request
for the re-establishment of plant variety protection [Article 115/B(1)].
(5) The language of procedures concerning plant variety protection shall be Hungarian, the declaration
of novelty of the variety and the provisional description of the variety shall be made in Hungarian and the
common name of the species shall be given in Hungarian. In any other matters pertaining to the use of
languages, the provisions of Article 52(2) shall apply mutatis mutandis.
(6) Prior to the publication of the application for plant variety protection, the examination authority
may also inspect the files. After publication until the grant of protection, only the applicant, his
representative, the expert, the body called upon to give an expert opinion and the examination authority may
inspect the provisional description of the variety. In any other matters pertaining to the access to files, the
provisions of Article 53 shall apply mutatis mutandis.
(7) In the absence of a provision of this Act to the contrary, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
may withdraw or modify its decisions – terminating the procedure – taken in the following matters only if a
request for review is made and only until such request is transmitted to the court:
(a) grant of plant variety protection;
(b) decision on the lapse and the restoration of plant variety protection,
(c) revocation of plant variety protection;
(d) cancellation of plant variety protection;
(e) cancellation of variety denomination;
(f) re-establishment of plant variety protection.
(8) In the absence of a provision of this Act to the contrary, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
may withdraw or modify its decision – terminating the procedure – taken in the matters referred to in
paragraph (7)(c) to (e) on the basis of a request for review only if it establishes that its decision infringes
legislation or if the parties request unanimously the modification or withdrawal of the decision.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
62
(9) In issues not regulated in paragraphs (1) to (8), the provisions of Chapter VII shall apply mutatis
mutandis to general provisions governing procedures concerning plant variety protection, except that in
plant variety protection matters the party to the procedure is not entitled ─ with the exceptions laid down in
paragraphs (10) and (11) ─ to communicate with the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office, and the
Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall not to be obliged to communicate with the party by electronic
means in writing.
(10) The following may also be filed by electronic means:
(a) requests for the recording of the changes in the facts specified in Article 54, paragraph (2)(d) to
(f) in the Register of Protected Plant Varieties;
(b) requests for an extract from the Register;
(c) requests for the inspection of the files.
(11) If a party to the procedure initiated proceedings under paragraph (10) in electronic form via the
identification service provided by the Government, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall
communicate to him its decisions made concerning the request, or send him the certified extract from the
Register in an electronic form.
(12) With respect to the electronic filing of the requests listed in paragraph (10), the provisions laid
down in Article 53/D(4) to (9) shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Register of Protected Plant Varieties, information to the public
Article 114/H
(1) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall keep a Register of applications for plant variety
protection and of protected plant varieties which shall contain all facts and circumstances concerning plant
variety protection. With respect to the Register of Protected Plant Varieties as well as entries therein, the
provisions of Article 54(2) to (5) and Article 55 shall apply mutatis mutandis, except that any reference to
the title of the invention in this Act shall mean the variety denomination, the common name and the Latin
name of the species.
(2) With respect to information to the public relating to applications for plant variety protection and
plant variety protection, the provisions of Article 56 shall apply mutatis mutandis, except that any reference
to the title of the invention in this Act shall mean the variety denomination, the common name and the Latin
name of the species.
(3) In compliance with the relevant provisions of the UPOV Convention, the Hungarian Intellectual
Property Office shall inform the States and intergovernmental organisations party to the UPOV Convention
of the submission, registration and cancellation of variety denominations and of any new variety
denomination registered after cancellation.
Procedure for the grant of plant variety protection;
filing of applications for plant variety protection and its requirements
Article 114/I
(1) The procedure for the grant of plant variety protection shall begin with the filing of an
application with the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office.
(2) The application for plant variety protection shall contain a request for the grant of plant variety
protection, a declaration of novelty of the variety, the definitive description containing the result of the
experimental testing relating the conditions laid down in Article 106(3) to (5), the variety denomination, the
common name and Latin name of the species and, if necessary, other relevant documents.
(3) Detailed formal requirements to be complied with by applications for plant variety protection
shall be laid down by specific legislation.
(4) An application for plant variety protection shall be subject to the payment of a filing fee
determined by specific legislation; the fee shall be paid within two months after the date of filing.
(5) Where the documents making up the application have been prepared in a foreign language, the
provisional description in Hungarian language and the Hungarian name of the species shall be filed within
four months after the date of filing.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
63
(6) Until publication, the applicant may withdraw the application for plant variety protection in
compliance with the provisions of Article 41. The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall take note of
the withdrawal by an order.
Date of filing
Article 114/J
(1) The filing date of an application for plant variety protection shall be the date on which the
application filed with the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office contains at least:
(a) an indication that plant variety protection is sought,
(b) indications identifying the applicant and permitting contacts with him;
(c) a provisional description of the variety, even though it does not comply with other requirements,
(d) a provisional variety denomination,
(e) the common name and the Latin name of the species.
(2) In place of filing the provisional description of the variety, reference to a priority document shall
suffice to accord a date of filing for the application.
Unity; division of the application for plant variety protection
Article 114/K
(1) An application for plant variety protection may seek protection for one plant variety only.
(2) If the applicant has claimed protection for more than one plant variety in one application, he may
divide the application, retaining the date of filing and any earlier priority, if any, until such time as the
experimental testing has begun. In any other matters pertaining to division, the provisions of Article 73(2)
and (3) shall apply.
Priority
Article 114/L
(1) The date establishing priority shall be
(a) generally, the date of filing of the application for plant variety protection,
(b) in the cases defined by the UPOV Convention, the date of filing of the foreign application.
(2) Priority under paragraph (1)(b) shall be claimed on the date of filing of the application for plant
variety protection. The document establishing priority shall be filed within four months after the date of
filing of the application.
(3) On the basis of other international treaties or subject to reciprocity and on conditions laid down
in the UPOV Convention and in paragraph (2), priority may also be claimed if the application has been filed
in a State or with an intergovernmental organization not party to the UPOV Convention. In the matter of
reciprocity, the opinion of the President of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall be decisive.
Examination on filing
Article 114/M
(1) Following the filing of an application for plant variety protection, the Hungarian Intellectual
Property Office shall examine whether
(a) the application satisfies the requirements for according a date of filing (Article 114/J),
(b) the filing fee has been paid [Article 114/I(4)],
(c) the provisional description of the variety in Hungarian language and the Hungarian name of the
species have been filed [Article 114/I(5)].
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
64
(2) In the course of the examination following the filing of the application, the Hungarian
Intellectual Property Office shall proceed by applying the provisions of Article 66(1) to (3) and (10) mutatis
mutandis.
(3) If the filing fee has not been paid or the provisional description of the variety in Hungarian
language or the Hungarian name of the species has not been filed, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
shall invite the applicant to rectify the irregularities within the period specified by this Act [Article 114/I(4)
and (5)]. Failing to comply with the said invitation, the application shall be considered withdrawn.
Communication of certain data
Article 114/N
If an application for plant variety protection satisfies the requirements examined under Article
114/M(1), the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall publish official information in the Gazette of
Patents and Trademarks, which contains the name and address of the applicant and the representative, the
reference number of the application, the date of filing and the date of priority where the latter is different, the
variety denomination mentioned in the application, the common name and the Latin name of the species.
Examination as to formal requirements
Article 114/O
If an application for plant variety protection satisfies the requirements examined under Article
114/M(1), the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall examine whether the formal requirements of
Article 114/I(2) and (3) have been satisfied. In the course of this, it shall proceed by applying the provisions
of Article 68(2) to (4) mutatis mutandis.
Publication, observations
Article 114/P
(1) With respect to the publication of the application for plant variety protection, the provisions of
Article 70 shall apply mutatis mutandis, except that at the request of the applicant the application may be
published at an earlier date if it satisfies the requirements examined under Article 114/M(1).
(2) After publication any person may file an observation with the Hungarian Intellectual Property
Office in the procedure for the grant of plant variety protection to the effect that the plant variety or the
application therefor does not comply with any of the requirements for protection laid down in this Act. In
any other matters pertaining to observations, the provisions of Article 71(2) and (3) shall apply mutatis
mutandis.
Substantive examination of applications for plant variety protection
Article 114/R
(1) The substantive examination of the application carried out by the Hungarian Intellectual Property
Office shall ascertain whether
(a) the plant variety meets the requirements of Article 106(3) to (6),
(b) the plant variety has been given a variety denomination meeting the requirements of Article
107(2),
(c) the application for plant variety protection complies with the requirements laid down in this Act.
(2) The conditions laid down in Article 106(3) to (5) shall be assessed in the course of the procedure
for state registration or on the basis of the results of experimental testing carried out for the purposes of the
procedure concerning plant variety protection.
(3) The results of experimental testing carried out by a competent foreign authority may be taken
into consideration with the consent of such authority. If the applicant files the result of an experimental
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
65
testing carried out by a foreign authority, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall forward the result
of the testing together with the consent of the foreign authority to the examination authority [Article
114/G(2)]. When using the results of experimental testing, the examination authority shall proceed on the
basis of provisions laid down by specific legislation.
(4) The costs of experimental testing shall be borne by the applicant.
(5) The applicant may file the results of experimental testing with the Hungarian Intellectual
Property Office within four years from the date of priority or within three months from the notification of
the results of experimental testing, whichever expires later.
(6) If the results of experimental testing are not filed within three months preceding the expiration of
four years from the date of priority, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall invite the applicant to
rectify the irregularity within the time limit fixed in paragraph (5) or to verify that the results of
experimental testing have not yet been communicated. Failure to comply with the said invitation, the
applicant shall be considered to have surrendered the provisional plant variety protection.
(7) If the application for plant variety protection does not meet the requirements examined under
paragraph (1), the applicant shall be invited, according to the nature of the objection, to rectify the
irregularities, to submit comments or to divide the application. In the course of this, the Hungarian
Intellectual Property Office shall proceed by applying the provisions of Article 76(2) to (4) mutatis
mutandis.
Information to the examination authority
Article 114/S
(1) Simultaneously with the communication of certain data of the application for plant variety
protection (Article 114/N), the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall transmit copies of the documents
indicated in Article 114/J(1) to the examination authority. Copies of documents relating to matters of plant
variety protection and necessary for performing the tasks of the examination authority shall also be sent
subsequently.
(2) If the procedure for the grant of plant variety protection ends without the grant of protection, the
Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall inform the examination authority thereof by sending it the copy
of the decision terminating the procedure.
Grant of plant variety protection
Article 114/T
(1) If the plant variety and the application therefor meet all the requirements of the examination
[Article 114/R(1)], the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall grant plant variety protection for the
subject matter of the application.
(2) The grant of plant variety protection together with the variety denomination shall be recorded in
the Register of Protected Plant Varieties [Article 114/H(1)], and official information shall be published
thereon in the official journal of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office (Article 56). The date of the
grant of plant variety protection shall be the date of the ruling on the grant. The Hungarian Intellectual
Property Office shall inform the examination authority of the grant of plant variety protection and of the
registration of the variety denomination by sending it the ruling on the grant.
(3) After the grant of plant variety protection, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall issue
a certificate to which the definitive description of the variety shall be annexed.
Other procedures concerning plant variety protection
Article 114/U
(1) Any person may institute proceedings for revocation or cancellation of plant variety protection or
for cancellation of variety denomination against the holder of the plant variety protection. Under Article
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
66
114/D(1)(c), only that person may request revocation of plant variety protection who is entitled to it under
this Act.
(2) In any other matters pertaining to other procedures concerning plant variety protection, the
provisions of Articles 79 to 81 shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Chapter XIV/A
COURT PROCEEDINGS IN CASES OF PLANT VARIETY PROTECTION
Provisions concerning court proceedings with regard to plant variety protection
Article 114/V
With respect to court proceedings concerning plant variety protection, the provisions of Chapters XI
and XII shall apply mutatis mutandis, with the proviso that decisions referred to in Article 53/A(3) shall be
regarded as decisions referred to in Article 114/G(7).
Chapter XIV/B
PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE SYSTEM OF COMMUNITY PLANT VARIETY RIGHTS
General provisions
Article 115
For the purposes of this Act:
(a) Community plant variety regulation: Council Regulation (EC) No 2100/94 on Community plant
variety rights;
(b) Community plant variety rights: plant variety rights referred to in Article 1 of the Community
plant variety regulation;
(c) application for a Community plant variety right: an application for the grant of a Community
plant variety right filed on the basis of the Community plant variety regulation.
Forwarding applications for Community plant variety rights
Article 115/A
(1) For the forwarding, pursuant to Article 49(2) of the Community plant variety regulation, of
applications for Community plant variety rights filed with the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office, a
forwarding fee prescribed by specific legislation shall be paid on filing the application.
(2) If the fee for forwarding the application for a Community plant variety right has not been paid,
the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office shall invite the applicant to rectify the irregularity. The Hungarian
Intellectual Property Office shall forward the application for a plant variety upon the payment of the fee.
Re-establishment of plant variety protection
Article 115/B
(1) In the case of the lapse of a Community plant variety right, the holder of the plant variety
protection – having regard to Article 92(2) of the Community plant variety regulation – may request re-
establishment of the plant variety protection from the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office within three
months from the lapse of the Community plant variety right.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
67
(2) The holder shall be required to prove in the request for the re-establishment of plant variety
protection the fact and date of the lapse of the Community plant variety right, and to pay, within two months
from the filing of the request, the proportionate part of the annual fee applicable in the year of the lapse of
the Community plant variety right together with the annual fee applicable in the subsequent year.
(3) If the request for the re-establishment of plant variety protection does not comply with the
requirements laid down in this Act, the holder shall be invited to rectify the irregularities; if the annual fee
prescribed in paragraph (2) has not been paid, he shall be invited to make payment within the time limit
fixed in paragraph (2). Failing to comply with the said invitation shall result in the request being considered
withdrawn.
(4) If the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office allows the request for the re-establishment of plant
variety protection, the plant variety protection shall be re-established on the day following the lapse of the
Community plant variety right.
(5) If the holder does not request re-establishment of the plant variety protection within three months
from the lapse of the Community plant variety right, the plant variety protection shall lapse, by virtue of this
Act, on the day following the lapse of the Community plant variety right.
Sanctions in the case of the infringement of Community plant variety rights
Article 115/C
In the case of an infringement of a Community plant variety right – in compliance with the
provisions of Part VI of the Community plant variety regulation – the same sanctions and remedies shall
apply as in the case of an infringement of a plant variety protection granted by the Hungarian Intellectual
Property Office on the basis of this Act.
PART VI
PROVISIONS ON THE HUNGARIAN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE
Chapter XIV/C
The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
Legal status of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office
Article 115/D
(1) The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office (hereinafter referred to in this Chapter as “the
Office”) is the government office for the protection of intellectual property.
(2) The Office’s President is appointed and released by the Prime Minister; its two vice presidents
are appointed and released – on the President’s proposal – by the minister exercising the rights of
supervision (hereinafter referred to as “the Minister”).
(3) The employer’s rights over the vice presidents – except for the appointment and release – shall
be exercised by the President of the Office.
(4) The seat of the Office is Budapest.
Management of the Office
Article 115/E
(1) The Office shall cover its operational costs from its own incomes.
(2) In industrial property procedures before the Office fees for administrative services laid down by
specific legislation shall be paid. Such fees shall be paid for copies prepared by the Office with or without
legalization, extracts, translation, as well as for legalization performed by the Office. In cases and with
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
68
conditions defined in this Act or in a specific act a fee – the extent of which is defined in specific legislation
– shall be paid for the maintenance and renewal of industrial property protection. The rate of these fees shall
be reviewed regularly. During the review – besides the provisions of paragraph (3) – the operational costs of
the industrial property system, the specialities of each form of industrial property protection and the aspects
of promoting innovation by the means of industrial property protection shall be taken into consideration.
(3) The incomes of the Office consist of the fees for administrative services, the maintenance fees
and renewal fees under paragraph (2), the fees and shares for administrative activities carried out by the
Office on the basis of the international treaties administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization,
and shares from fees paid for European Union or other regional industrial property protection with a unitary
effect extending to the territory of Hungary, taking into account the tasks performed by the Office, the
income from services provided by the Office as well as other incomes. These incomes shall ensure the
continuous and smooth operation of the Office.
(4) The Office shall be entitled to manage its incomes independently, and to use them to cover its
operational costs
(5) The Office shall be entitled to form a financial reserve from its incomes to an extent not more
than 5% of the actual income in the given year. The reserve so formed shall exclusively be used, until the
end of the second year following its formulation, to cover the operational costs of the Office and shall not be
drawn away for any other purposes.
(6) The Office shall annually publish a report on its incomes and their use.
(7) The Office shall involve companies that it exercises control over as holder, and are defined in a
government decree into the performance of its tasks referred to in Articles 115/I and 115/K, furthermore it
may make use of the services of these companies in order to perform its tasks and for supporting its
operation and management.
National Intellectual Property Council
Article 115/F
(1) In the performance of tasks referred to in Articles 115/J to 115/L, the President of the Office
shall be assisted by the National Intellectual Property Council (hereinafter referred to as “the Council”) as a
professional advisory and opinion-giving body. At the request of the President of the Office, the Council
shall give its opinion on the draft of comprehensive measures (programs, strategic plans, national and
Community legal acts, international agreements) concerning the protection of intellectual property. The
Council participates in the elaboration of the national strategy on intellectual property protection, as well as
monitors and facilitates its implementation.
(2) The Council is a body consisting of not more than twelve members having industrial property
and copyright expertise or expertise in disciplines related to intellectual property.
(3) About the persons he proposes as members of the Council, the President of the Office informs
the Minister, who may raise objection against the persons proposed within fifteen days from the date of
receipt of the information. The person objected to may not be appointed as member of the Council. The
members of the Council shall be appointed by the President of the Office subsequently.
(4) The members of the Council shall be appointed for a period of three years. The appointment
extends only to the person himself, and no replacement may take place. The appointment can be extended
for further three-year-long periods.
(5) The membership shall terminate with
(a) the expiration of the defined time period;
(b) resignation;
(c) release;
(d) the death of the member.
(6) The Council shall function according to the rules of procedure established by the President of the
Office.
The functions and competence of the Office
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
69
Article 115/G
The Office’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;
(g) performance of official and expert tasks relating to the assessment of research and development
activity.
Article 115/H
(1) The Office shall perform the following tasks of industrial property authority determined by this
Act and by specific legislation:
(a) the examination of patent, plant variety, utility model, topography, design, trademark, and
geographical indication applications and applications for a supplementary protection certificate, the grant
and registration of protection resulting from these applications as well as the procedures related to the
granted rights;
(b) the examination and transmission of international applications for patents, industrial designs,
trademarks and appellations of origin as well as the performance of search, examination, transmission,
register-keeping and other procedural acts entrusted to a national industrial property authority and deriving
from regional industrial property co-operation based on an international agreement, from other international
treaties and from European Community law.
(2) At the request of the customs authorities, the Office shall furnish information about the holders
of industrial property rights for the purposes of customs proceedings initiated due to infringement of
intellectual property rights.
(2a) On the basis of specific legislation, the Office shall perform the tasks of preliminary assessment
of research and development activity, and it shall participate in deciding specific questions relating to
qualifying an activity as research or development and whether certain expenses may be attributed to a given
research and development activity.
(3) On the basis of specific legislation, the Office shall provide for the operation of the Body of
Experts on Industrial Property.
(4) In connection with copyright and rights related to copyright, the Office shall perform – on the
basis of specific legislation – in particular the following tasks:
(a) it shall grant the licence of use of the works where the author is unknown or resides in an
unknown place (orphan works), and keep a register thereof;
(b) it shall keep a register of organisations performing collective management of copyright and
related rights;
(c) it shall supervise the activity of organisations performing collective management of rights;
(d) it shall prepare the ministerial approval for the tariffs of royalties and levies, the supporting
policy of the organisations performing collective management rights, and the utilisation of the incomes of
these organisations in favour of the right holders and take the necessary measures;
(e) it shall keep the voluntary register of works;
(f) it shall provide for the operation of the Body of Experts on Copyright and the Mediation Board
operating within that Body.
(5) On the basis of specific legislation, the President of the Office shall exercise legality control over
the activity of the Hungarian Chamber of Patent Attorneys.
Article 115/I
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
70
Within the scope of central governmental documentation and information activity in the field of
intellectual property the Office shall perform, in particular, the following tasks:
(a) it shall publish an official journal on industrial property matters;
(b) it shall publish the Hungarian patent specifications, utility model, industrial design and
topography descriptions, and those provided for in international agreements;
(c) it shall collect, process by using information technology tools and make accessible to the public
the industrial property documents in its specialised public library;
(d) it shall render information and documentation services concerning the protection of intellectual
property.
Article 115/J
(1) In issues concerning intellectual property protection, the minister responsible for justice shall
submit a proposal for the adoption Acts or Government decrees and shall represent the Office in these issues
before the Government and the Parliament.
(2) The Office shall be involved in preparing, and giving an opinion of, draft legislation affecting the
protection of intellectual property.
(3) The Office shall study and analyse the implementation of intellectual property legislation, it shall
assess and evaluate the effects and experience concerning the application of that legislation.
(4) In order to improve the protection of intellectual property, the Office shall – in conformity with
international and European Community obligations and the policy objectives of the Government in the fields
of economic strategy, research and development, technology and innovation and culture – initiate the
adoption of new industrial property and copyright legislation, as well as amendments to existing legal rules
and shall participate in the preparation of these pieces of legislation.
Article 115/K
In order to develop and enforce the Government’s strategy aimed at the protection of intellectual
property as well as to initiate and implement governmental measures required for this purpose, the Office
shall perform, in particular, the following tasks:
(a) it shall contribute to the establishment, development and implementation of the Government’s
economic strategy as well as its research and development, innovation, technology and cultural policies by
means of the analysis of intellectual property protection-related domestic, foreign and international trends,
the monitoring of the development of intellectual creative, innovative and industrial property activities, the
preparation of a methodology to evaluate intellectual property and the making available of official
experience;
(b) it shall initiate, establish, execute, and participate in, programs for promoting intellectual creative
and innovative activities;
(c) it shall participate in the development of a system which serves the public recognition of
intellectual creations and innovative results, and it shall launch, organise or promote competitions,
exhibitions and other programs related to intellectual creative activity and intellectual property protection;
(d) it shall disseminate knowledge related to intellectual property protection, develop industrial
property culture, enrich industrial property and copyright knowledge of enterprises – in particular the small
and medium-sized ones – by means of information, customer and advisory service, counselling and by other
means, and it shall promote among them the respect for intellectual property rights;
(e) it shall operate, pursuant to the provisions of specific legislation, the National Board Against
Counterfeiting, and it shall also contribute in other ways to the establishment and development of a system
of conditions required for the effective enforcement of intellectual property rights;
(f) it shall professionally supervise intellectual property training outside public school system,
operate its system, furthermore, it shall provide for the organisation of industrial property and patent
attorney examinations;
(g) it shall provide for the operation of the Hungarian Design Council and participate in the
implementation of awarding national design prizes and scholarships;
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
71
(h) it shall promote that intellectual property protection be used accordingly for the forming of the
country’s image, for the establishment of a uniform nation brand, as well as for the popularisation and the
protection of the reputation of the typical Hungarian products.
Article 115/L
Within the framework of international and European co-operation in the field of intellectual
property, the Office shall perform, in particular, the following representative and other professional tasks, in
co-operation with the central state administrative organs concerned:
(a) it shall participate in the activity of the governing and other bodies of the World Intellectual
Property Organization, the European Patent Organisation, the Office for Harmonization in the Internal
Market, the Community Plant Variety Office, of the Council for TRIPS of the World Trade Organization as
well as, on the basis of a general or ad hoc authorisation of the minister responsible for the subject matter, of
other international organisations;
(b) it shall provide for the exercising of rights due to, and for the fulfilment of obligations incumbent
on, the Member States of the European Patent Organisation and shall carry out the tasks falling upon the
national patent authorities from the operation of the European patent system;
(c) in the field of intellectual property protection it shall carry out the tasks deriving from Hungary
being a Member State of the European Union, it shall participate in establishing the Government position to
be represented in the decision-making processes of the European Union as well as in representing it in the
expert bodies on intellectual property of the Council and Commission of the European Union, it shall
perform the professional tasks of co-ordination involved, furthermore it shall co-operate with the industrial
property authorities of the European Union;
(d) it shall participate in the preparation and implementation of international agreements aimed at
intellectual property protection and shall make proposals to conclude such agreements;
(e) it shall maintain relations with intellectual property authorities of other countries and
international organisations.
Chapter XIV/D
COMMON RULES RELATED TO FEES FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES IN INDUSTRIAL
PROPERTY PROCEDURES BEFORE THE HUNGARIAN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE
AND TO FEES PAYABLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OR RENEWAL OF INDUSTRIAL
PROPERTY PROTECTION
Payment of maintenance fees and the fee of request for restoration of protection
Article 115/M
(1) The maintenance fees of patents, plant variety protection and utility model protection, as well as
the maintenance fees of supplementary protection certificates shall be paid without a surcharge in the first
three months of the six month grace period, and with a surcharge of 50 per cent from the fourth month of
that period. The maintenance fee shall be paid with this surcharge also in case if the maintenance fee is paid
after the expiry of the six month grace period, on the basis of a request for restitutio in integrum.
(2) If the patent application and the application for plant variety protection is divided following the
publication, for the new applications created by the division the grace period in respect of the payment of
maintenance fees that became due by virtue of the division and at a date preceding the division shall begin
when the decision on the acknowledgement of the division becomes final.
(3) The maintenance fee may be paid also within two months before the grace period starts.
Allowance, exemptions and deferment
Article 115/N
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
72
For the fees for administrative services in industrial property procedures and for the maintenance and
renewal fees – with the cases specified in Articles 115/O and 115/P – no allowances and exemptions may
apply.
Article 115/O
(1) If, on the date of payment, the person entitled to the right to protection or the holder of the
protection is exclusively the inventor, the breeder or the designer himself, one fourth of the patent filing and
search fee, examination and granting fees and filing fees for utility model protection, plant variety
protection, design or topography protection shall be paid.
(2) If, on the date of payment, the holder of the patent, utility model or plant variety protection is
exclusively the inventor or the breeder himself, half of the maintenance fee of the patent, utility model or
plant variety protection shall be paid.
(3) If, on the date of payment, the holder of the design protection is exclusively the designer himself,
half of the fee of the request for renewal of the design protection shall be paid.
(4) Inventors, breeders or designers are entitled only to the allowances under paragraphs (1) to (3) if
no priority of a foreign application has been claimed related to the application or if the protection is based on
an application for which no priority of a foreign application has been claimed.
(5) The provisions of paragraphs (1) to (4) shall apply also if – in case of more inventors, breeders or
designers – any of the inventors, breeders or designers has surrendered the right to protection or the
protection itself in favour of the co-inventor, co-breeder or co-designer, or if any of the inventors, breeders
or designers is succeeded by his heir.
Article 115/P
(1) Upon request the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office may accord an exemption from the
patent filing and search fee, the examination fee and granting fees as well as from the fees of applications for
plant variety, utility model, design and topography protection, moreover it may grant deferment of
maintenance fees of patent, plant variety and utility model protection for the period from the first till the fifth
years, if the holder of the right as natural person – due to his wages, income and financial standing – is
unable to cover them; the fees subject to the deferment shall be paid together with the maintenance fee for
the sixth year.
(2) Only those natural persons are entitled to exemption and deferment who can certify that their
income (wage, pension, other regular financial allowance) does not exceed the standard prescribed lowest
wage (minimal wage) and have no assets other than what is necessary for subsistence and furnishing.
Exemption shall be granted to any person who receives a regular social aid, without verifying his income
and financial standing.
(3) Exemption and deferment may be granted exceptionally also if the conditions specified in
paragraph (2) do not exist but the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office – taking other circumstances of the
natural person into consideration – finds that the subsistence of the natural person and his dependents is
endangered.
(4) To the request for the exemption or for the deferment, an income certificate of the applicant and
of his close relatives under the Civil Code (hereinafter referred to as “close relatives”) living in a common
household with him, issued not earlier than thirty days by the employer, or in case of pensioners – instead of
or besides the income certificate issued by the employer – the last month’s pension slip (postal certificate)
or, in case of transferring the pension to a bank account, the last month’s bank account statement shall be
enclosed.
(5) If the applicant and the close relative living in a common household with him have an income
not considered as work-related income or pension (e. g. scholarship, benefits related to education, provisions
based on social insurance, unemployment allowance, other regular pecuniary benefits, withdrawal of
business, letting out of real estate, interest income, exchange gain, dividend income), the postal certificate,
bank account statement, cashier’s certificate of these incomes or other documents suitable for certifying the
income shall be attached.
(6) If the applicant and the close relative living in a common household with him are not employed
and are not pensioners and have no other incomes, this fact shall be declared in the request.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
73
(7) For the purposes of paragraph (3) the applicant may present in the request, besides the
documents suitable for certifying his income or pension, other circumstances (disaster, illness, etc.) upon
which it can be established that the subsistence of the natural person and his dependents is endangered.
(8) If the request for exemption or deferment submitted contains irregularities, the applicant shall be
invited to rectify them within the fixed time limit. In the invitation the applicant shall be warned that failing
to rectify the irregularities shall lead to the refuse of the request.
(9) The request shall be refused if, in spite of a rectification, it still does not comply with the
requirements specified in paragraphs (1) to (7). Where the applicant does not reply to the invitation within
the fixed time limit, the request shall be considered withdrawn.
(10) No individual legal remedy against the order of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office on
the refusal of the exemption or deferment can be made, the review of this order may be requested in the
request for review submitted against the decision terminating the industrial property procedure.
Due date
Article 115/R
(1) Unless otherwise provided by an act, the fees for administrative services and the renewal fees to
be paid in industrial property procedures are due on the filing date of the application or on the filing date of
the request.
(2) The due date of the maintenance fee shall be determined according to the provisions of this Act
and other acts.
(3) In the event of paying the fees for administrative services, the renewal fees and the maintenance
fees by transfer, the date of payment is the second working day of the bank prior to crediting the amount on
the Office’s account defined by specific legislation, in the event of a transfer from abroad, the fifth working
day of the bank prior to crediting. Calculating the working days of the bank the work schedule of the
Hungarian State Treasury shall be decisive. If payment is made by money order, the date of payment shall
be the day of posting the money order.
Consequences of failure to pay the fees
Article 115/S
(1) If the fee has not been paid in the industrial property procedure, the client – with the exception of
the provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) – shall be invited to rectify the irregularities or shall be warned. If
the client still fails to pay the prescribed fees, the application and the request shall be refused or shall be
considered withdrawn unless the relevant law stipulates different legal consequences or different procedural
rules for cases when the fee has not been paid.
(2) Failure to pay the maintenance fee under the rules – pursuant to the provisions of this Act and
specific acts – results in the lapse of protection.
(3) Requests for extension of time limits and requests for continuation of the procedure or restitutio
in integrum and requests for a search report supplemented with a written opinion, furthermore requests for
preparing a search report supplemented with a written opinion in an accelerated procedure shall not be
considered as filed till the fee of the request is not paid.
PART VII
FINAL PROVISIONS
Chapter XV
ENTRY INTO FORCE; TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
74
Body of experts on industrial property
Article 115/T
(1) In professional questions arising in industrial property legal disputes, the courts and other
authorities may request an expert opinion of the body of experts on industrial property at the Hungarian
Intellectual Property Office.
(2) On request, the body of experts on industrial property may, on commission, give an expert
opinion in industrial property questions out of court as well.
(3) Detailed rules of the organisation and activity of the body shall be laid down by specific
legislation.
Rules establishing provisions concerning the entry into force of this Act and transitional provisions
Article 115/U
(1) This Act shall enter into force on January 1, 1996; its provisions shall apply – with the
exceptions set out in paragraphs (2) and (5) – only in procedures started after its entry into force.
(2) The provisions of Article 49 shall also apply mutatis mutandis to pending matters.
(3) Where a contract of remuneration or a patent license agreement was concluded or a service
invention was utilized before the entry into force of this Act, the provisions effective at the time of the
conclusion of the contract or of the utilization shall apply.
(4) Exploitation commenced before the entry into force of this Act shall be subject to the previously
applicable provisions with respect to the scope and limitations of patent protection and patent infringement.
(5) The registration, maintenance, lapse and restoration of patents effective at the date of entry into
force of this Act shall be subject to the provisions of this Act except that, with respect to the conditions of
revocation of the patent, the provisions applicable at the date of priority shall be decisive.
(6) [repealed]
Article 116
Articles 84/G and 84/H of this Act provided for by Act CXLVIII of 2010 on the necessary
amendments relating to Act XLII of 2010 on the listing of the ministries of the Republic of Hungary and on
the amendment of certain industrial property acts shall be applicable to those European patents in the case of
which the mention of the grant has been published in the European Patent Bulletin.
Article 117
(1) Exploitation commenced before 1 January 2003 shall be subject to the provisions previously in
force with respect to the scope and limitation of patent protection and patent infringement, to the extent of
the exploitation on 1 January 2003.
(2) For patents granted for plant varieties under the provisions in force before 1 January 2003 the
provisions regarding plant varieties of this Act shall apply to the extent that
(a) exploitation commenced before 1 January 2003 shall be subject to the provisions previously in
force with respect to the scope and limitation of protection and infringement, to the extent of the exploitation
on 1 January 2003;
(b) Article 110 (2) shall apply only to material placed on market before 1 January 2003;
(c) in case of patents granted for plant varieties, the definitive patent protection of which expired
before 1 January 2003 due to the expiration of the time of protection calculated on the basis of provisions
previously in force, Articles 23, 40 and 21(4) shall apply to the extent that the maintenance fee for the first
of the years remaining from the time of protection of the plant variety calculated according to Article 111,
shall be due on the day when the definitive protection for the plant variety lapsed because of expiration of
protection calculated on the basis of the provisions previously in force;
(d) Article 113(3) shall also apply if the definitive protection of the plant variety lapsed because of
expiration before this Act entered into force;
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
75
(e) to the contract regarding the assignment of rights deriving from a plant variety and plant variety
protection, provisions in force at the time of concluding the contract shall apply;
(f) to the conditions of revocation and cancellation of patents, with a filing date before 1 January
2003, granted for plant varieties and plant variety protection and to the conditions of cancellation of variety
denomination, the provisions – possibly on the revocation of the patent granted for a plant variety and the
cancellation of the variety denomination – in force on the day of the application shall be applicable.
(3) By patent granted for a plant variety, plant variety protection shall be understood after 1 January
2003.
(4) To patents granted for animal breeds, in accordance with the provisions previously in force, the
special provisions for animal breeds as previously in force shall apply even after 1 January 2003.
(5) The provisions laid down of Articles 12(4), 41(2) and 48(2) effective from 1 January 2008 shall
apply to procedures pending on 1 January 2008.
(6) To the conditions of revocation of patents granted with a filing date before 1 January 2008, the
provisions in force on the day of filing the patent application shall apply.
(7) Exploitation commenced before 1 January 2008 shall be subject to the provisions previously in
force with respect to the scope of patent protection, to the extent of the exploitation on 1 January 2008.
Article 117/A
Articles 69/A and 115/S(3) provided for by Act CLIX of 2013 on the amendment of certain
intellectual property acts shall also be applicable in procedures where the time limit for filing a request for a
search report supplemented with a written opinion has elapsed due to the rules applicable before the entry
into force of Act CLIX of 2013 on the amendment of certain intellectual property acts.
Authorizations
Article 118
(1) The Government shall be authorised to establish by decree the detailed rules of the organisation
and activity of the body of experts on industrial property.
(2) The Government shall be authorised to establish by decree the rules concerning the
implementation of Community Regulations relating to the supplementary protection of certain products.
(3) The Government shall be authorised to establish by decree the detailed rules of the deposit and
handling of biological materials for the purposes of patent procedure.
(4) The Government shall be authorised to establish by decree the detailed rules concerning
electronic filing of certain documents in industrial property procedures.
(4a) The Government shall be authorised to establish by decree the rules of organisation and
operation of the National Board Against Counterfeiting.
(4b) The Government shall be authorised to establish by decree the company defined in Article
115/E(7) and to determine the provisions of performing the tasks and utilization of services.
(5) The minister responsible for justice shall be authorised to establish by decree, in consultation
with the President of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office and in agreement with the Minister e, the
detailed formal rules for patent applications, documents related to European patent applications, European
patents and international patent applications as well as for applications for plant variety protection.
(6) The Minister shall be authorised to establish by decree, in consultation with the President of the
Hungarian Intellectual Property Office and in agreement with the minister responsible for tax policy, the rate
of the fees for administrative services to be paid in industrial property procedures before the Hungarian
Intellectual Property Office, taking into consideration the specialities of industrial property procedures and
each form of industrial property protection, as well as the detailed rules related to the handling, registration,
reimbursement and the method of payment of the fees for administrative services to be paid in industrial
property procedures before the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office and of the maintenance and renewal
fees.
(7) The Government shall be authorised to establish by decree the detailed rules of the procedure to
classify a patent application.
Act XXXIII of 1995 on the protection of inventions by patents Consolidated text (15.03.2014)
76
(8) The Minister shall be authorized to establish by decree, in consultation with the President of the
Hungarian Intellectual Property Office, the rate of the fees to be paid for the maintenance and renewal of
industrial property protection, taking into consideration the operational costs of the industrial property
protection system, the specialities of each form of industrial property protection and the aspects of
promotion of innovation by the means of industrial property protection.
Compliance with the law of the European Union
Article 119
(1) This Act serves compliance with the following acts of the European Union:
(a) Directive 98/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 1998 on the legal
protection of biotechnological inventions;
(b) Directive 2004/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the
enforcement of intellectual property rights.
(2) This Act lays down the rules required for implementing the following acts of the European
Union:
(a) Council Regulation (EC) No 2100/94 of 27 July 1994 on Community plant variety rights;
(b) Regulation (EC) No 816/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 on
compulsory licensing of patents relating to the manufacture of pharmaceutical products for export to
countries with public health problems.