Hungary

• Available Market Research
• Best Prospects in the ICT Market
• Chambers of Commerce
• Channels of Distribution
  • Agents / Distributors
    • Hardware
    • Software
    • Telecommunications
  • Business to Business (B2B)
    • Airlines
    • Banks
    • Newspapers
    • US Subsidiaries
  • Consultants
  • E-Commerce
    • ASP
    • Internet Service Providers
  • Educational
  • Governmental
  • Leasing
  • Retailers
    • Chain Stores
  • Telecommunications Systems Operators
  • Used / Reconditioned
  • VARs, ISVs, Resellers and System Integrators
    • System Integrators
    • VARs
• Directories and Databases
• Duties, Tariffs & Taxes
• General Country Information
• Intellectual Property Rights
• Legal Issues
• Market Research
• Search Engines
• Technical Standards
• Trade Associations
• Trade Publications
• Trade Shows, Exhibitions and Seminars
• Trade Statistics
• User Groups
• E-Mail Links to the Respective Industry Specialist(s)

Available Market Research

Industry Sector Analyses are industry specific reports prepared either by US Commercial Service Staff or local market research contractors.  Typical reports include:

• A Market Overview
• Market Highlights and Best prospects
• Statistical Data
• Best Sales Prospects
• Competitive Analysis
• End-User Analysis
• Market Access (includes information on duties, taxes, standards etc.)
• Trade Promotion Opportunities
• Trade Publications
• Market Research Companies
• Trade Associations
• Agents, Distributors and Manufacturers

International Marketing Insights (IMI) contain industry specific information and are short, concise reports.  

For a listing of available ISAs and / or IMIs, please click here.

This information is available free of charge to all US companies. 

Welcome to the U.S. Commercial Service

The U.S. Department of Commerce is represented worldwide by the Commercial Service.  The Commercial Service supports U.S. commercial interests and assists American businesses in their export marketing efforts.

Our offices offer business counseling and a wide range of tailored services to assist American firms to identify business opportunities throughout the world. Our offices foreign companies who wish to partner with American companies in areas of distribution of American products, joint ventures, and licensing. While some services are fee-based, many are provided free of charge. We welcome you to our site and encourage you to visit other websites that are likely to be of interest to you.  To find the country of interest, please visit:  http://www.buyusa.gov/home/.

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Best Prospects in the ICT Market

For further information about the Hungarian market, please consult the Country Commercial Guide.

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Chambers of Commerce

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Channels of Distribution

For further information of the definitions of the channels of distribution, please click here. The following are known ICT sales channels.   They may or may not be available in all markets.

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Agents / Distributors

Hardware

Software

Telecommunications

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Business to Business (B2B)

Airlines

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Banks

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Newspapers

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US Subsidiaries

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Consultants

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E-Commerce

ASP

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Internet Service Providers

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Educational

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Governmental

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Leasing

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Retailers

Chain Stores

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Telecommunications Systems Operators

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Used / Reconditioned

Please see: http://web.ita.doc.gov/.

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VARs, System Integrators, ISVs and Resellers

System Integrators

VARs

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Directories and Databases

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Duties, Tariffs & Taxes

Hungary will soon become a member of the European Economic Union. 

For Tariffs and Taxes on Computer Hardware and Software, please see  http://web.ita.doc.gov/.

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General Country Information

http://www.budapest.hu/Engine.aspx	BudapestPortal - General Information and governtment facts
http://www.emcoinc.com/	E&M Travel - Culture and Attractions
http://www.gotohungary.com/	General Information & Facts About Hungary
http://www.gyaloglo.hu/	Gyalogló - Walk Around Hungary!
http://www.filolog.com/	Hungarian Culture - General overview of Available Hungarian resources
http://www.idg.hu/	IDG Magyar Pavilon
http://www.oecd.org/	OECD - Reports and Statistics
http://en.apeh.hu/	Tax Info on Hungary
http://www.rev.hu/	The Institute for the History of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution
http://www.itds.treas.gov/	Trade and Economic Profile For Hungary
http://www.traveltohungary.com/	Travel to Hungary.com
http://www.apvrt.hu	State Privatization and Holding Co.
http://www.state.gov/	US Dept. of State's Background Notes
http://travel.state.gov/	US Dept. of State's Consular Information Sheet
http://www.fsz.bme.hu/	US Embassy, Budapest
http://www.odci.gov/	CIA Factbook
http://www.europeonline.com/	Europeonline - web portal.
http://www.hungary1.com/	Hungarian web portal
http://www.bookaplace.co.za/	Hungary Travel directory
http://www.hungarytourism.hu/	National tourist office
http://www.magyartelekom.hu/	Phone directory
http://www.aneki.com/	Provides all information about Hungary
http://www.property.hu/	Provides an investment guide for all of Hungary.
http://geography.about.com/	About's guide to Hungary
http://www.fodors.com/	Fodors is known for being the best site for travel offering hotel, restaurant reviews and their series of mini-guides to specific destinations.
http://travel.lycos.com/	Lycos  Guide for Hungary

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Intellectual Property Rights

The Hungarian constitution and legal system provide strong protection for the acquisition and disposition of property rights.
 
The Act on Bankruptcy Procedures, Liquidation Procedures and Final Settlement, as amended in 1993, covers all commercial entities except banks (which have their own regulatory statutes), trusts, and state-owned enterprises.  Bankruptcy proceedings can be initiated only by the debtor provided he has not sought bankruptcy protection within the previous three years.  Within 90 days of seeking bankruptcy protection, the debtor must call a settlement conference to which all creditors are invited.  Majority consent of the creditors present is required for all settlement plans.  If agreement is not reached, the court can order liquidation.  The Bankruptcy Act establishes the following priorities of claims to be paid: 1) liquidation costs; 2) secured debts; 3) claims of individuals; 4) social security and tax obligations; 5) all other debts.  Creditors may request the court to appoint a trustee to perform an independent financial examination.  The trustee has the right to challenge, based on conflict of interest, any contract concluded within 12 months preceding the bankruptcy.
 
Intellectual Property Rights
 
Although the government of Hungary has taken steps in recent years to strengthen protection of intellectual property rights, further improvement is needed.  On January 1, 2003, Hungary acceded to the European Patent Convention and has amended the Hungarian Patent Act in accordance.  It is party to the WTO TRIPS agreement and most other major international IPR agreements, including the most recent WIPO copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performance and Phonograms Treaty.  It is in the process of amending its copyright law to conform to the EU Information Society Directive. 
 
The United States and Hungary signed a Comprehensive Bilateral Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Agreement in 1993 that addresses copyright, trademarks and patent protection.  A new Copyright Law passed in June 1999 made necessary technical changes required by the WTO's TRIPS agreement.  A subsequent industrial property and copyright law entered into force on July 1, 1994, that significantly strengthened the domestic patent system.
 
The 1993 IPR agreement recognizes an exclusive right to authorize the public communication of works, including the performance, projection, exhibition, broadcast, transmission, retransmission or display of these works.  It also requires that protected rights be freely and separately exploitable and transferable (contract rights), and recognizes an exclusive right to authorize the first public distribution, including import, for protected works.
 
Patent protection in Hungary covers the use, sale, offering for sale, and import of a patented product or products made using a patented process.  The definition of infringement has been extended to include "supplying the means."  A person who sells or offers to sell the means of producing a patented product is liable if that person is proven to have known that the means could be used for infringement.  An example is the sale of decoder boxes that would allow the user to pirate a cable signal.
 
Under the revised Patent Act, effective January 1, 1996, an invention may be patented if it is novel and has industrial application.  The patent application process takes from six months to one year, and patents are issued for a period of twenty years from the filing date.  Foreigners applying for a Hungarian patent must be represented by an authorized Hungarian patent agent.  Hungarian patent law conforms to the guidelines of the European Patent Convention, to which Hungary is a signatory.
 
Trademarks may be granted for any product-distinguishing sign capable of being graphically represented.  They are issued for ten years and are renewable.  The Hungarian Patent Office has original jurisdiction on both patent and trademark disputes.
 
In May 2003 the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced that Hungary had been placed upon the Special 301 Watch List of countries with intellectual property practices or barriers to the market that are of particular concern, but more narrow in scope than those of countries on the Priority Watch List.  The government of Hungary has taken some positive steps towards more complete implementation of its international obligations by putting into effect a ministerial decree to provide data exclusivity protection for pharmaceutical products authorized in the EU or Hungary after April 11, 2001.  Data exclusivity protection in Hungary is linked to the existence of a patent, a practice of continuing concern to USTR and the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

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Legal Issues

None Noted

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Market Research

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Search Engines

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Technical Standards

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Trade Associations

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Trade Publications

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Trade Shows, Exhibitions and Seminars

Additional information on how to prepare for and select an international trade show can be found at

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Telecommunications Equipment