{"id":116724,"date":"2025-11-10T09:39:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T09:39:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/?post_type=comparative_guide&#038;p=116724"},"modified":"2025-11-10T09:54:31","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T09:54:31","slug":"hungary-patent-litigation","status":"publish","type":"comparative_guide","link":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/chapter\/hungary-patent-litigation\/","title":{"rendered":"Hungary: Patent Litigation"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-116724","comparative_guide","type-comparative_guide","status-publish","hentry","guides-patent-litigation","jurisdictions-hungary"],"acf":[],"appp":{"post_list":{"below_title":"<div class=\"guide-author-details\"><span class=\"guide-author\">Danubia Legal<\/span><span class=\"guide-author-logo\"><img src=\"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1\/2023\/10\/Danubia_Legal_eng_02_RGB.jpg\"\/><\/span><\/div>"},"post_detail":{"above_title":"<div class=\"guide-author-details\"><span class=\"guide-author\">Danubia Legal<\/span><span class=\"guide-author-logo\"><img src=\"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1\/2023\/10\/Danubia_Legal_eng_02_RGB.jpg\"\/><\/span><\/div>","below_title":"<span class=\"guide-intro\">This country specific Q&amp;A provides an overview of Patent Litigation laws and regulations applicable in Hungary<\/span><div class=\"guide-content\"><div class=\"filter\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" placeholder=\"Search questions and answers...\" class=\"filter-container__search-field\">\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<ol class=\"custom-counter\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What is the forum for the conduct of patent litigation?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>For patent infringement litigation the Metropolitan Court of Budapest has exclusive first instance competence. They proceed in a panel of 3 judges out of which at least 2 have technical backgrounds. For patent revocation actions either the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office (HIPO) has competence, if it is a standalone revocation action, or the Metropolitan Court if the revocation request is filed as a direct counterclaim in an infringement lawsuit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What is the typical timeline and form of first instance patent litigation proceedings?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>In infringement actions the Metropolitan Court decides typically within 1-2 years, depending on the technical complexity of the matter and if experts need to be appointed. From the submission of the statement of claim the defendant\u2019s statement of defence is obtained usually within 2-3 months. Then the court holds a preparatory hearing the purpose of which is to discover the facts and collect motions for evidence. In the meritorious phase the court obtains evidence and decides on the merit.<\/p>\n<p>However, the timeline can be significantly altered if there is a revocation challenge. Namely if there is a pending revocation action at the HIPO, the court stays the infringement procedure and also may do so if an EPO opposition is pending. In that case the first instance judgement on infringement may be delayed by 3-5 years. If patent revocation action is filed as a direct counterclaim in the infringement action the court may make an interim decision on validity and only proceed with the infringement part if the decision on validity becomes final.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Can interim and final decisions in patent cases be appealed?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Final and interim judgments of the Metropolitan Court can be appealed as well as decisions on preliminary injunctions, termination of the proceeding and also certain procedural decisions. The decisions of the first instance court can be appealed at the Metropolitan Appeal Court. Regarding questions of law a request for judicial review can be filed with the Curia (Supreme Court).<\/p>\n<p>The decisions of the HIPO can be appealed at the Metropolitan Court and then at the Metropolitan Appeal Court and the Curia (in questions of law). So in practice, revocation actions, when started at the HIPO have one more adjudication instance compared to infringement cases.<\/p>\n<p>Appal can be filed by the parties. Filing an appeal stays the enforcement of the first instance decision. This is not the case, though, for preliminary injunctions which is enforceable regardless of appeal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Which acts constitute direct patent infringement?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Direct acts of infringement are listed \u2013 exhaustively &#8211;\u00a0 in Art. 19 (2) of Act XXXIII of 1995 in the Protection on Inventions by Patents (Hungarian Patent Act).<\/p>\n<p>\u2018On the basis of the exclusive right of exploitation, the patentee shall be entitled to prevent any person not having his consent<\/p>\n<p>(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;<\/p>\n<p>(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;<\/p>\n<p>(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.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Do the concepts of indirect patent infringement or contributory infringement exist? If so, what are the elements of such forms of infringement?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>The Hungarian Patent Act recognizes indirect patent infringement, whereby the patentee shall also be entitled to prevent any person not having his consent from\u00a0supplying\u00a0or\u00a0offering\u00a0to supply a person, other than a person entitled to exploit the invention, with means (instruments, appliances) relating to an\u00a0essential element of the invention,\u00a0for carrying out the invention, when such person\u00a0knows, or it is obvious from the circumstances, that those means are suitable and\/or intended for carrying out the invention. These provisions shall not apply when the supplied or offered means are\u00a0staple commercial products, except when the supplier or offeror deliberately induces his client to commit the infringing acts.<\/p>\n<p>There is scarce court practice, however, related to the application of this provision.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">How is the scope of protection of patent claims construed?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>According to Art 24\u00a0 of the Hungarian Patent Act \u2013 which is a provision aligned with Art. 69 of the EPC &#8211; 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. Patent protection shall cover any product or process in which all the features of the claim are embodied. The contents 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.<\/p>\n<p>The Hungarian Patent Act also recognizes the doctrine of equivalence, stating that when assessing if patent protection applies to a product or technology, it shall be determined taking into account the equivalent attributes of the product or technology in question, as laid down in the respective claim.<\/p>\n<p>Judicial practice has adopted the so-called function-way-result test, when assessing equivalence, that is equivalence is met when the replacing feature performs (1) essentially the same function; (2) in essentially the same way with (3) essentially the same result (the so-called \u201ctriple identity test\u201d).<\/p>\n<p>Prosecution history estoppel is not codified, but given the court\u2019s freedom to assess evidence, its application is not excluded.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What are the key defences to patent infringement?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>The most common defence is of course the invalidity of the patent which can be asserted both in a standalone patent revocation action and as a direct counterclaim in infringement proceeding. A proceeding for the declaration of non-infringement is also available, starting at the HIPO. Prior use, continued use, research and Bolar exemption, private use as well as transit exemption are also available defences, codified in the Hungarian Patent Act, but less often occurring.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What are the key grounds of patent invalidity?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Revocation action may be based on (Art. 42):<\/p>\n<ol style=\"padding-left: 0\" type=\"a\">\n<li>lack of novelty (Art. 2)<\/li>\n<li>lack of inventive step (Art. 4)<\/li>\n<li>lack of industrial applicability (Art. 5)<\/li>\n<li>lack of patentability (as defined in the Hungarian Patent Act, e.g. animal species, computer programmes, mathematical methods, etc) \u2013 (Art. 1, Art 6)<\/li>\n<li>broadening amendment (Art 42)<\/li>\n<li>lack of entitlement (Art. 42, conditions apply)<\/li>\n<li>lack of sufficient disclosure (Art. 60)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If the conditions of invalidity are only partially met, the patent may be limited.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">How is prior art considered in the context of an invalidity action?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>According to the Hungarian Patent Act prior art is any solution that was made available to the public before the effective date of the right of priority by means of written publication, oral presentation, practical application or any other way.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Guide to Patent Examination there are no spatial or temporal limits to what counts as accessible (i.e., disclosed) information, and it makes no difference whether the disclosure that forms the state of the art occurred in Hungary or abroad. The manner of disclosure is likewise irrelevant. In addition, the entire content of earlier, priority-establishing patent applications is treated as part of the state of the art even if those applications became public only after the priority date of the application under examination, when the HIPO published them during prosecution. However, such earlier applications belong to an extended state of the art that may be used only for assessing novelty, not for assessing inventive step.<\/p>\n<p>There are also statutory exemptions regarding prior art, e.g. relating to infringement or exhibitions.<\/p>\n<p>For novelty\u2014as opposed to inventive step\u2014separate prior-art disclosures cannot be combined. Lack of novelty exists only if a single prior-art item discloses every feature of the examined claim.<\/p>\n<p>For inventive step (unlike novelty), teachings from multiple sources\u2014different documents, parts of the same document, or materials from other technical fields\u2014may be combined, but only if such a combination would have been obvious to the skilled person before the priority date.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Can a patentee seek to amend a patent that is in the midst of patent litigation?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>The patentee may suggest amendment of the patent during the revocation action, if it is considered as a restriction. The HIPO or the court will then examine the validity of the amended claims. Third parties, who are not party to the revocation action, may not object or comment on such amendment. However, amendment is not possible in infringement action.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Is some form of patent term extension available?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>With Hungary being and EU member state supplementary protection certificates are available as provided by Regulation (EC) No 469\/2009\u00a0, Regulation (EC) No 1901\/2006\u00a0and Regulation (EC) No 1610\/96.<\/p>\n<p>These SPCs are applied for and granted in Hungary by the\u00a0Hungarian Intellectual Property Office (HIPO), but they are governed by the above EU regulations with national procedural provisions applying in a supplementary manner.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">How are technical matters considered in patent litigation proceedings?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>There are technical members both in the senate of the HIPO and the senate of the Metropolitan Court so an expert is appointed only if no member of the panel has the required expertise. It is common that the parties provide party expert opinions though. If a judicial expert is appointed by the court, the court invites the parties to agree on the expert and in the absence of this the court will choose from the list of forensic expert individuals or institutions or in lack of any person with the required expertise on the list \u2013 which can happen in patent cases often &#8211;\u00a0 any other person or institution (i.e., university department) which has the knowledge to act as an expert. The court may appoint the Body of Experts on Industrial Property attached to HIPO, as well.<\/p>\n<p>The court will send written questions to the expert and allow the parties to suggest questions too. The expert provides their opinion in writing with the possibility for the court to ask for a completion or clarification of the expert opinion. If needed the expert can be heard at the hearing as well, where it is the judge who primarily asks questions but may allow the parties to ask questions directly, too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Is some form of discovery\/disclosure and\/or court-mandated evidence seizure\/protection (e.g. saisie-contrefa\u00e7on) available, either before the commencement of or during patent litigation proceedings?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>There is no\u00a0<em>saisie-contrefa\u00e7on<\/em><sup> \u00a0<\/sup> or similar measure in Hungary. An alternative is a measure called pre trial evidence collecting which the plaintiff may seek even before commencing main infringement action. This is in principle available even ex-parte. Its precondition is, however, that the plaintiff renders infringement probable, so it is not suited for \u201cfishing\u201d for evidence. There are no statutory constraints of the use of documents obtained by way of discovery\/disclosure or evidence seizure in other jurisdictions. This measure has no judicial practice up to date.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Are there procedures available which would assist a patentee to determine infringement of a process patent?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>According to a statutory presumption of the Patent Act 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.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, \u00a0according to a procedural rule of the Hungarian Patent Act, where a party in a patent infringement action has already substantiated its statements to a reasonable extent, upon the request of the party providing proof, the court may require the opposing party to present and allow for review the documents and other physical evidence in his possession \u2013\u00a0 a provision that may also assist the patentee.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Are there established mechanisms to protect confidential information required to be disclosed\/exchanged in the course of patent litigation (e.g. confidentiality clubs)?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Yes, in patent litigation, upon the reasoned request of a party, the judge may order that the opponent must designate individuals (among its employees and legal representatives) who shall form a confidentiality club and sign written declarations of confidentiality before they get access to the documents concerned. In addition, the judge may exclude the audience at the trial in part or in whole for the purpose of protecting business secrets. When judgments are published the concerned information are redacted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Is there a system of post-grant opposition proceedings? If so, how does this system interact with the patent litigation system?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>There is no post-grant opposition system in Hungary. Once a patent is granted it can only be challenged by a request for revocation, before the HIPO or as direct counterclaim in infringement action.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">To what extent are decisions from other fora\/jurisdictions relevant or influential, and if so, are there any particularly influential fora\/jurisdictions?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>It is common for parties to present decisions of other judicial for on certain legal questions in particular when there are parallel litigations in other EPC countries. However, both the HIPO and the courts are consistent in regarding those as a possible interpretation rather than having any influential effect. When it comes to preliminary injunctions, though, the Patent Act requires that in the context of necessity of the preliminary injunction the court considers with particular significance \u2013 among the entirety of the circumstances of the case \u2013 if the litigated patent has been revoked by the EPO or in another EPC state.<\/p>\n<p>Obviously, in case of the validated EP patents, if the EP patent is revoked as a result of the opposition procedure, the validated patent is automatically revoked.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">How does a court determine whether it has jurisdiction to hear a patent action?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>The HIPO and the Hungarian courts have exclusive jurisdiction for deciding on a patent\u2019s validity (national or validated EP patent). They also have jurisdiction for infringement cases if the defendant is domiciled in Hungary, furthermore may have jurisdiction for foreign patents too on the basis of Brussels I Regulation as interpreted by the CJEU in the C-339\/22 BSH judgment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What are the options for alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in patent cases? Are they commonly used? Are there any mandatory ADR provisions in patent cases?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Mediation and arbitration are both available for the parties but are rarely used options (due to the patent\u2019s validity almost always being challenged as a defence).<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What are the key procedural steps that must be satisfied before a patent action can be commenced? Are there any limitation periods for commencing an action?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Revocation action can be generally initiated by anyone with no prior condition to be fulfilled. As for patent infringement lawsuit only the patentee or a licensee recorded in the patent register of the HIPO has standing to sue. There is no requirement of sending warning letters or any out of court settlement attempt. The limitation period is generally five years. However, court practice has confirmed that claims for declaration of infringement and injunctive relief have no limitation period. On the other hand claims for monetary compensation do.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Which parties have standing to bring a patent infringement action? Under which circumstances will a patent licensee have standing to bring an action?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Patent infringement lawsuit may be brought by the patentee or the licensee recorded in the register of the HIPO.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Who has standing to bring an invalidity action against a patent? Is any particular connection to the patentee or patent required?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Anyone may bring an invalidity action. The only limitation is with respect to entitlement grounds, where only the person alleging entitlement may bring the action.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Are interim injunctions available in patent litigation proceedings?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Yes, preliminary injunctions are available in patent litigation and can be requested even before the commencement of the main action. Ex parte proceedings are available as well, but have not yet been applied in practice.<\/p>\n<p>In order to obtain a preliminary injunction the plaintiff must render infringement probable, the threshold of probability being quite high in the judicial practice. Then necessity must be demonstrated as well. A legal presumption of necessity exists if the plaintiff files the request within 60 days from learning of the injunction and no more than in 6 months from the start of the infringing acts. The presumption is rebuttable and in this context the court must take into account invalidity arguments, in particular if the patent has been revoked in another EP member state or at first instance in Hungary or by the EPO in opposition. The court must also assess proportionality of the injunction and in the context of this take into account interest of third parties and public interest. The court may make the effect of the preliminary injunction conditional of the payment of a security deposit by the plaintiff.<\/p>\n<p>The first instance preliminary injunction is rendered typically within 4-8 weeks from filing and is enforceable regardless of appeal. If the preliminary injunction was requested prior to the commencement of the main action, the plaintiff must file the main action with 15 days from the receipt of the positive preliminary injunction order.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What final remedies, both monetary and non-monetary, are available for patent infringement? Of these, which are most commonly sought and which are typically ordered?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>In the event of an infringement, or an imminent threat of infringement, the patentee may \u2013 in accordance with the circumstances of the case \u2013 have the following civil law claims:<\/p>\n<ol style=\"padding-left: 0\" type=\"a\">\n<li>establishment of the fact that patent infringement has occurred;<\/li>\n<li>cessation of the infringement or threat of infringement and an injunction from further infringement;<\/li>\n<li>provision of data on parties taking part in the manufacture of and trade in goods or performance of services which infringe on the patent, as well as on business relationships established for the use of the infringer (to found the claims under g) and h) below);<\/li>\n<li>making amendments to the infringement \u2013 by declaration or in some other appropriate manner \u2013 and, if necessary, that such amendments should be made public by and at the expense of the infringer;<\/li>\n<li>appropriate measures for the dissemination of the information concerning the decision, at the expense of the infringer, in a way as decided at the discretion of the court;<\/li>\n<li>in relation to those assets and materials used exclusively or primarily in the infringement \u2013 seizure, the delivery thereof to a particular person, the recall and the definite withdrawal thereof from commercial circulation, or destruction;<\/li>\n<li>recovery of economic profits achieved through the infringement (enrichment); and<\/li>\n<li>compensation for damages other than the financial profit achieved by the infringer in the case of culpable infringement (under the Civil Code).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Compensation for damages is awarded on a fault basis while other remedies including the recovery of economic profits is objective, i.e based on strict liability.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">On what basis are damages for patent infringement calculated? Is it possible to obtain additional or exemplary damages? Can the successful party elect between different monetary remedies?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>On the basis of the Hungarian Patent Act, the patentee may claim recovery of the infringer\u2019s business profit irrespective of culpability. The profit to be recovered is often calculated as the net revenue attributable to the infringement minus directly related costs, and the infringer bears the burden of proving those costs.<\/p>\n<p>The patentee may also seek fault-based damages under the Civil Code if the infringement was culpable, with the infringer bearing the burden to rebut culpability. Full compensation covers the patentee\u2019s actual loss (damnum emergens), lost profits (lucrum cessans), and reasonable expenses incurred to mitigate loss. If the extent of damage cannot be determined with sufficient precision, the court may award general (estimated) damages.<\/p>\n<p>Punitive damages are not allowed in Hungary.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">How readily are final injunctions granted in patent litigation proceedings?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Final injunctions are granted quasi-automatically, proportionality is not assessed regarding eg. declaratory judgment or injunctive relief. On the other hand proportionality may play a part when it comes to making public amends, eg. in the way the infringer is obliged to publicise the judgment declaring infringement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Are there provisions for obtaining declaratory relief, and if so, what are the legal and procedural requirements for obtaining such relief?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>A declaration of non-infringement is available via the proceeding of the HIPO. Any person who anticipates of being charged for an alleged patent infringement may request, before the proceedings are opened, a finding to the effect that the product or process exploited &#8211; or proposed to be exploited &#8211; by him does not infringe upon the patent he has specified. The final resolution adopted for the declaration of non-infringement precludes that proceedings be instituted for patent infringement on the basis of the specified patent, for the same product or process.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What are the costs typically incurred by each party to patent litigation proceedings at first instance? What are the typical costs of an appeal at each appellate level?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>In Hungary, the duty fee of patent infringement actions and patent revocation actions are fairly low. The duty fee in patent infringement, if no monetary claims are asserted is under EUR 100 and the fee of a patent revocation action before the HIPO is under EUR 500. The same volume applies for appeal instances. When it comes to claiming damages or recovery of profits, the duty fee is proportionate to the claimed amount. The substantial part of the costs typically consists of the fees of representatives, which must be proven to the court by appropriate documentation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Can the successful party to a patent litigation action recover its costs?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>By default, the successful party must compensate the losing party\u2019s costs, including fees of the representatives. There is no ceiling to the costs. The court however may share the costs if the plaintiff was only partially successful. According to a recent decision of the Curia (Supreme Court) the court has only limited room to decrease the fees of the representatives, although justification of the costs can be challenged by the other party and scrutinized.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What are the biggest patent litigation growth areas in your jurisdiction in terms of industry sector?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>In Hungary pharmaceutical patent litigation cases are dominating. Other industries, such as the automotive and battery industry may become prevalent with respect to growing industry activity in Hungary.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What do you predict will be the most contentious patent litigation issues in your jurisdiction over the next twelve months?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>A key issue may be related to the he fallout from the CJEU\u2019s BSH ruling\u2014we expect attempts to use the defendant\u2019s domicile to bundle multi-country infringement claims in Budapest and to press for broader in-personam relief, while HU courts refine stays and proof on foreign law\/validity.\u00a0On the reverse side it may be an issue when foreign courts apply Hungarian substantive law to rule on infringement of Hungarian patents on the basis of the same CJEU judgement and how that will affect the practice in Hungary.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What are the biggest challenges and opportunities confronting the international patent system?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Key challenges include the speed, quality and transparency of decision across offices and courts as well as forum competition\u00a0in SEP\/FRAND disputes (US, UK, EU\/UPC, China) that invites tactical filing. Fragmentation between national actions and the UPC will persist in the short term, yet if the\u00a0UPC\u00a0proves consistently fast, predictable, and commercially sensible on remedies, it is likely to establish itself as a key venue.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n<div class=\"word-count-hidden\" style=\"display:none;\">Estimated word count: <span class=\"word-count\">4060<\/span><\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/ol>\r\n\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/twentyseventeen\/src\/jquery\/components\/filter-guides.js\" async><\/script><\/div>"}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comparative_guide\/116724","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comparative_guide"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/comparative_guide"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=116724"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}