About the Office

The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office (hereinafter referred to as "HIPO"; former name: Hungarian Patent Office; change of name effective from 1 January 2011 pursuant to Article 265 of Act CXLVIII of 2010) is the government office responsible for the protection of intellectual property established in 1896 by virtue of Article 23 of Act XXXVII of 1895 on Patents for Inventions.

Detailed rules currently in force concerning the legal status, the financial management, the responsibilities and the competence of the HIPO are contained in Articles 115/D to 115/L of Chapter XIV/C of Act XXXIII of 1995 on the Protection of Inventions by Patents (hereinafter referred to as the "Patent Act") and in Act XLIII of 2010 on central state administrative organs and on the legal status of Government members and state secretaries (hereinafter referred to as the "CO Act").

Pursuant to the CO Act, the HIPO, as a government office, is directed by the Government. The Minister of Public Administration and Justice designated by the Prime Minister exercises the rights of supervision over the government office as laid down by law.

The President of the HIPO is appointed and relieved by the Prime Minister. The President's two deputies are appointed and relieved by the Minister of Public Administration and Justice on a proposal from the President. The employer's rights over the Director General for Economic Affairs, who is the head of the economic departments of the HIPO, are exercised by the President.

The HIPO manages its incomes independently, and covers its operational costs out of its own revenue. The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office constitutes a separate budgetary title, namely Title 2 within Chapter X of the State Budget pursuant to the Act on the 2011 Budget of the Republic of Hungary.

By virtue of Article 115/G of the Patent Act, the responsibilities and competence of the HIPO include:

a) provision of official examinations and conducting procedures in the field of industrial property;
b) performance of certain duties concerning 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 strategy for the protection of intellectual property; initiation and execution of governmental measures required for this purpose;
f) performance of professional duties within the confines of international and European cooperation in the field of intellectual property protection.

The responsibilities and competence of the HIPO are set out in detail in its Deed of Foundation and in its Rules of Procedure.

Budapest, 22 December 2010

Address:

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

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