Title of initiative

VIVACE Programme ( V állalkozói I parjogvédelmi V A lapozó Cse lekvési Program) ersenyképességet

1. General presentation

1.1 Overview

The VIVACE programme, meaning “ Action Plan Promoting Industrial Property Competitiveness of Entrepreneurs” is a scheme set up and operated by the Hungarian Patent Office (HPO) aiming to foster the awareness of the intellectual property system and the development of an industrial property culture within small and medium-sized enterprises and to improve their competitiveness. A new target set forth by the programme is to support private-public knowledge transfer, technology transfer and cluster formulation.

VIVACE’s mission objectives centre around three main pillars:

· Building networks and user-friendly IP services;

· Raising awareness and expanding education;

· Providing economical (financial and/or tax based) incentives to support SMEs and entrepreneurs.

Organised in co-operation with national and regional partners (the so-called “VIVACE group”), awareness raising measures are offered to a broad public audience, special training sessions and courses on IPRs are held to give SMEs an idea how to manage their IPRs and to keep all interested parties up-to-date with the latest information and developments in the IPR world. Flanking measures, i.e. financial subsidies and economical incentives, have been implemented at various levels.

After careful investigation the program builds on distinctive actors, innovation mediators, information relay centres covering various aspect of innovation to render a higher efficiency of joint networks:

· Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI)

· Members of the Regional Innovation Agencies (RIAs)

· Enterprise Europe Network (EEN)

· European Business Network (EBN)

· Seed Foundation

· University TTOs, and libraries hosting “PATLIB Centres”  (PATLIB).

In a practical manner, VIVACE pools the experience and skills of its partners to offer a networked package of national and regional IPR support services. Integrated package covering IP awareness raising activities, economic incentives, educational measures and economic incentives;

VIVACE targets all phases of the patenting process and the whole spectrum of IPR instruments.

1.2 Sector focus

Sector:

No specific sector

1.3 Institution (managing initiative)

Hungarian Patent Office (financed by Ministry of Economy and Transport)

2. Detailed Information

2.1 Start date

2004

2.2 End date

Ongoing

2.3 Budget

Annual budget for VIVACE: € 140,000 (2008)

2.4 Type of initiative

Initial Information & Signposting

Dedicated Information Provision

Dedicated Services

Professional Advice

Training

International Liaison & Actions by Business Organisations

Funding & Evaluation

Public Access & Co-ordination Measures

Other (specify):

2.5 Type of IPR

All IPR

Industrial Property

Inventions :

Patents

Utility Models

Plant Varieties

Topographies of Semiconductor Products

Distinctive Signs :

Trade Marks

Trade Names

Geographical Indications, Designations of Origin

Aesthetic Creations:

Designs (industrial design)

Intellectual Property

Literary, Scientific, Artistic Creations :

Copyright

Neighbouring Rights

Rights in Common Law, Tort, Competition Law etc.

Trade Secrets, Licensing & Confidentiality Agreements

2.6 Stage in Enforcement Process

All Stages

Registration

Business Planning / Strategy

Investigations

Administrative Procedures

Litigation

Other (specify):

3. Evaluation of Initiative

3.1 Overall appraisal

Austrian Institute for SME Research appraisal:

The VIVACE programme shows the following elements of good practice: expert staff; national distribution of service; strong networking with partners active in innovation support; business orientation; complementary, non-IPR service packages provided by partners (CCIs). Comparatively little historic burdens to cope with, thus plenty of opportunities to do things right from the start.

4. Further Information

4.1 Document References

-

4.2 Web Site

http://www.hpo.hu/English/ugyfel/vivace/

4.3 Contacts

Hungarian Patent Office

Garibaldi utca 2 -1054 Budapest

Mailing address: H-1370 Budapest, PO Box 552, Hungary Central phone: +36 1 312 4400, Fax: +36 1 331 2596

E-mail: mszh@hpo.hu

4.4 Information Source

Austrian Institute for SME Research - PRO INNO Europe Paper: “Benchmarking National and Regional Support Services for SMEs in the field of Intellectual and Industrial Property”

Title of initiative

National Board Against Counterfeiting (NBAC)

1. General presentation

1.1 Overview

The Hungarian government has adopted the Government decision 1002/2008. (I. 25.) Korm. amending Government decision 1074/2007. (X. 1.) Korm. on the appointment and tasks of the Government Commissioner for the “New Order and Freedom” Programme by which a National Board Against Counterfeiting (NBAC) was established in Hungary.

The Government decision entered into force on 1 February 2008, and enlarged the scope of competence of the Government Commissioner for the “New Order and Freedom” programme with certain issues to be presented later. The Government Commissioner shall be assisted by the NBAC as an organ performing advisory, opinion-giving and consultative tasks.

In the NBAC the full spectrum of enforcement and commercial interests are represented including the public administration bodies, public prosecutors, police and customs authorities, trademark and copyright associations, interest groups of commerce and industry, and, not least, the enterprises concerned by counterfeiting.

The main activities of the NBAC include:

· elaborating a national anti-counterfeiting strategy and the related action plan complemented with indicators of results, and coordinate their implementation;

· participating in the elaboration of anti-counterfeiting action plans, promote the implementation of these actions;

· initiating awareness-raising and explanatory programmes and campaigns, follow with attention their execution;

· contributing to the further training for the staff of enforcement and judicial agencies taking part in the action against counterfeiting;

· making proposals to the competent minister concerning the legislative and regulatory activity serving the enforcement of intellectual property rights.

1.2 Sector focus

Sector:

No specific sector

1.3 Institution (managing initiative)

Government Commissioner for the “New Order and Freedom” Programme

and the Hungarian Patent Office

2. Detailed Information

2.1 Start date

March 2008

2.2 End date

Ongoing

2.3 Budget

Annual budget for NBAC: € 30,000 (2008).

2.4 Type of initiative

Initial Information & Signposting

Dedicated Information Provision

Dedicated Services

Professional Advice

Training

International Liaison & Actions by Business Organisations

Funding & Evaluation

Public Access & Co-ordination Measures

Other (specify):

2.5 Type of IPR

All IPR

Industrial Property

Inventions :

Patents

Utility Models

Plant Varieties

Topographies of Semiconductor Products

Distinctive Signs :

Trade Marks

Trade Names

Geographical Indications, Designations of Origin

Aesthetic Creations:

Designs (industrial design)

Intellectual Property

Literary, Scientific, Artistic Creations :

Copyright

Neighbouring Rights

Rights in Common Law, Tort, Competition Law etc.

Trade Secrets, Licensing & Confidentiality Agreements

2.6 Stage in Enforcement Process

All Stages

Registration

Business Planning / Strategy

Investigations

Administrative Procedures

Litigation

Other (specify):

3. Evaluation of Initiative

3.1 Overall appraisal

-

4. Further Information

4.1 Document References

-

4.2 Web Site

http://www.hamisitasellen.hu ( under construction )

4.3 Contacts

Gábor Németh

Hungarian Patent Office

Garibaldi utca 2.

H-1054 Budapest

H-1370 Budapest, PO Box 552, Hungary Phone: +36 1 354 4550, Fax: +36 1 474 5936 e-mail: gabor.nemeth@hpo.hu

4.4 Information Source

IPR Enforcement Support Expert Group

Title of initiative

Promoting industrial property applications of Hungarian inventions and enforcement of industrial property rights abroad

1. General presentation

1.1 Overview

Since 2003, financial support has been available from the budget of the Ministry of Transport and Economy for SMEs and individuals assisting them in obtaining and maintaining/renewing industrial property protection abroad in respect of Hungarian inventions. The support is granted via call for proposals and aimed at covering the costs necessary to obtain patent, plant variety rights, utility model and design protection abroad and furthermore to maintain or renew such protection.

In 2008, the source of funding was transferred to the Hungarian Research and Technology Innovation Fund, and the costs relating to the enforcement of industrial property rights based on Hungarian inventions were also made eligible. The funding covers up to 100% of the costs incurred in connection with obtaining and enforcing IP rights.

1.2 Sector focus

Sector:

No specific sector

1.3 Institution (managing initiative)

National Office for Research and Technology

2. Detailed Information

2.1 Start date

April 2008

2.2 End date

December 2009

2.3 Budget

Annual budget: € 80,000

2.4 Type of initiative

Initial Information & Signposting

Dedicated Information Provision

Dedicated Services

Professional Advice

Training

International Liaison & Actions by Business Organisations

Funding & Evaluation

Public Access & Co-ordination Measures

Other (specify):

2.5 Type of IPR

All IPR

Industrial Property

Inventions :

Patents

Utility Models

Plant Varieties

Topographies of Semiconductor Products

Distinctive Signs :

Trade Marks

Trade Names

Geographical Indications, Designations of Origin

Aesthetic Creations:

Designs (industrial design)

Intellectual Property

Literary, Scientific, Artistic Creations :

Copyright

Neighbouring Rights

Rights in Common Law, Tort, Competition Law etc.

Trade Secrets, Licensing & Confidentiality Agreements

2.6 Stage in Enforcement Process

All Stages

Registration

Business Planning / Strategy

Investigations

Administrative Procedures

Litigation Other (specify):

3. Evaluation of Initiative

3.1 Overall appraisal

-

4. Further Information

4.1 Document References

-

4.2 Web Site

http://www.nkth.gov.hu/palyazatok-eredmenyek/iparjog08/magyar-talalmanyok/

4.3 Contacts

National Office for Research and Technology

Neumann J. u.1/c

H-1117 Budapest

Mailing address: H-1370 Budapest, PO Box 552, Hungary Central phone: +36 1 484 2500, Fax: +36 1 318 7998 318 7998

e-mail: info@nkth.gov.hu

4.4 Information Source

IPR Enforcement Support Expert Group