About us
Our mission is to give value to creativity
The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office (hereinafter "HIPO") is the national authority responsible for protecting intellectual creations and innovative technical solutions, with 129 years of expertise in the field. Its activities cover both industrial property and copyright. In everyday language, it is often referred to by its former name as the Patent Office or the Office of Inventions.
Intellectual property encompasses any creation or solution that is the product of the human mind – from inventions, marks, images, and designs to musical or literary works. This field is divided into two main branches: industrial property, which protects technical and commercially oriented creations (such as patents, trademarks, and designs), and copyright, which safeguards the rights of authors of literary, artistic, and scientific works.
The HIPO’s role is to place these assets under legal protection, maintain their official records, and defend them through appropriate examinations and procedures. It assists creators and businesses in navigating legal options and contributes to transforming intellectual creations into genuine market value. Beyond its official duties, the Office is also engaged in awareness-raising activities, supporting education, and fostering cooperation with international organisations and stakeholders.
The HIPO’s mission is to ensure that every Hungarian inventor, entrepreneur, and artist knows where to turn when they want to protect their creations - because the value born from creativity not only enriches the present, but also shapes the future.
The Minister for Culture and Innovation is responsible for the statutory supervision of the Central Government Office, in accordance with the Annex to Government Decree 182/2022 (24 May), issued by the Government under its original legislative powers.
The history of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office (HIPO)
The Hungarian Intellectual Property Office is the central government office responsible for the protection of intellectual property, which was established in 1896 by virtue of Section 23 of Act XXXVII of 1895 on Patents for Inventions.
The detailed rules 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 "Patent Act"), as well as in Act CXXV of 2018 on Government Administration (hereinafter “Kit”).By virtue of Kit, HIPO, as a central government office, is directed by the Government.
The 125-year history of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office (HIPO).
The tasks and management of the HIPO
The Minister for Culture and Innovation is responsible for the statutory supervision of the Central Government Office, in accordance with the Annex to Government Decree 182/2022 (24 May), issued by the Government under its original legislative powers.
Under the law, the President of the HIPO is appointed and dismissed by the Prime Minister. The three vice-presidents are appointed and dismissed by the Minister on the President’s proposal.
- official examinations and proceedings in the field of industrial property;
- performance of certain tasks in connection with copyright and rights related to copyright;
- central governmental information and documentation activities in the field of intellectual property;
- participation in the preparation of laws regulating the protection of intellectual property;
- evelopment and implementation of the Government's strategy for the protection of intellectual property, initiation and execution of governmental measures required for this purpose;
- performance of professional tasks of international and European co-operation in the field of intellectual property;
- performance of registration tasks related to the tax base reduction benefit that may be claimed by enterprises supporting start-up enterprises.
The responsibilities and competence of the HIPO are set out in detail in Sections 115/H to 115/L of the Patent Act, in other laws, in the Deed of Foundation of the HIPO and in its Organizational and Operational Rules.
The Office's Annual Report 2024
By virtue of Section 115/G of the Patent Act, the responsibilities and competence of the HIPO include:
The HIPO constitutes a separate budgetary title of the Central Budget of Hungary within the budget heading of the ministry directed by the Minister supervising HIPO.
