Szabadalmat

Szabadalmat is a patent granted by a state to an inventor or assignee, conferring exclusive rights to exploit a new, inventive, and industrially applicable solution for a limited period. The term szabadalom designates the instrument itself; szabadalmat is the accusative form used in Hungarian law. A szabadalom protects the invention by excluding others from making, using, offering for sale, selling, or importing the covered invention without the holder's permission. Rights may be transferred or licensed.

To obtain a szabadalom, a patent application (bejelentés) is filed with the national patent office (in Hungary the Szellemi Tulajdon Nemzeti Hivatala, SZTNH). The office conducts examinations for novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability, and the application is published. If the invention meets the criteria, a szabadalom is granted. The grant is typically valid for twenty years from the filing date, subject to payment of annual renewal fees.

Enforcement of a szabadalom is by civil action; infringement can be stopped, and damages awarded. The owner may license the rights, pledge them, or assign the szabadalom. In some jurisdictions, compulsory licensing may be allowed under specific conditions, such as public interest or failure to work the invention.

A szabadalom can be challenged and revoked if it fails to meet grant requirements, if it is obtained through fraud, or if it falls into the public domain after expiry. Once expired, the invention becomes public property and may be used by anyone.