One of the key plotlines in Zootopia 2 revolves around a stolen patent. In the story, an innovative technology that regulates the city’s climate is taken from its inventor and later falsely patented under someone else’s name.

While this makes for an engaging storyline, the real patent system works quite differently from how it is portrayed in the film.

For innovative companies operating in the global market, it is increasingly important to protect their inventions with appropriate patent protection in multiple countries. One of the most important tools for achieving this is the PCT international patent application, which makes it possible to initiate the patenting process in several countries through a single procedure.

In this article, we explain the essence of the PCT system and outline the main practical advantages and disadvantages of filing a PCT application.

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?

Software patents are one of the most misunderstood areas of intellectual property law. The European Patent Convention (EPC) explicitly excludes “programs for computers as such” from patentability. Many conclude from this that software cannot be patented at all in Europe.

The truth is more nuanced. If the software provides a technical solution to a technical problem – often by interacting with or controlling hardware – it can be patented. In addition, there are other valuable layers of protection available, such as copyright and voluntary registration in Hungary.

A trademarked brand name or patent has significant value, as long as it is not forgotten to renew it. Indeed, one administrative omission can lead to loss of exclusivity, registration by others or loss of protection of the invention.

But are all time limits final? Fortunately not. Hungarian law provides for a range of remedies if someone has missed a deadline, whether through inattention or force majeure.

In this article, we explain what time limits to bear in mind in trade mark and patent cases, and in which cases and how to restore rights. Let's get started!

Expanding IP protection into Hungary may seem straightforward until the details start to matter. From procedural nuances to language barriers and disclosure expectations, foreign IP firms often stumble on issues that could have been avoided with local insight.

In this article, we highlight the most common mistakes international attorneys make when filing in Hungary and how to avoid them before they become costly setbacks.