In today’s competitive markets, product appearance plays a decisive role in consumer choice. A distinctive design is not only an aesthetic asset but also a key business advantage. When operating internationally, ensuring proper legal protection of that design becomes essential. The Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs offers an efficient solution for securing such protection across multiple jurisdictions.

The protection of intellectual property has undergone significant transformation in recent years. In 2026, several trends can be observed in Hungary and across the European Union that directly affect companies’ IP strategies. The rise of new technologies—particularly artificial intelligence—the increasingly digitalized economy, and regulatory developments at the EU level are creating new challenges and opportunities in the fields of industrial property protection and copyright.

In this article, we have collected the most important IP trends in Hungary for 2026 that businesses, startups, and innovation-driven companies should pay attention to.

Timing plays a crucial role in intellectual property protection. It is no coincidence that one of the cornerstones of the international IP system is the Paris Convention, which grants applicants priority rights in more than 170 countries.

To use this system effectively and safely, it is essential to understand two key concepts: the filing date and the priority date.

But what exactly does a cease and desist letter mean under EU and Hungarian law, and what should your clients do if they receive one?

A cease and desist letter is often the first step in an intellectual property dispute. For many businesses, receiving such a letter can be stressful: it usually alleges infringement of trademarks, designs, copyrights, or patents and demands that you immediately stop using a certain mark, product, or content.

But what exactly does a cease and desist letter mean under EU and Hungarian law, and what should your clients do if they receive one?

The European Union has introduced a major reform to its design protection laws—bringing them in line with today’s digital-first world. If you create, own, or manage designs in the EU, especially ones that live online or in digital formats, this update is important.

The reform, led by the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), took effect on 1 May 2025 and includes new rules, fee structures, and broader protection for digital assets.

In this article, we’ll break down what’s changed, how much it costs, and why it matters—especially when it comes to filing new designs or renewing existing ones.