Hungary Accedes to London Agreement

On September 28, 2010, Hungary deposited its instrument of accession to the London Agreement, which will enter into force in Hungary on January 1, 2011.

Under the Agreement, Hungary will no longer require Hungarian translation of a European patent specification if the patent was granted in English or submitted with an English translation for protection in Hungary. If the patent specification is not available in English, the applicants have the option of providing the Hungarian translation. However, the Hungarian translation of the European patent claims is always required.

The new rules will also apply to European patents granted before January 1, 2011 and amended in opposition, appeal or limitation proceedings on or after that date.

Hungary is the 16th contracting state of the London Agreement, whose other contracting states are France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Croatia, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Latvia, Slovenia and Lithuania.

The Agreement was concluded on October 17, 2000 with the aim to decrease translation costs for European patents granted under the European Patent Convention. It is an optional agreement between European Patent Organization member states.

For more information, please contact Masa Lopicic at our Balkan Regional Office.

Source: EPO