Hungary Amends Domain Name Regulations

The amended domain name regulations intending to shorten and simplify the registration process entered into force in Hungary on June 1, 2011.

The trademark owners now have eight instead of fourteen days to object if a third party tries to register a domain that violates their rights. All applications are announced online on the website maintained by the Council of Hungarian Internet Providers, so that trademark owners can easily object to possible infringements.

In addition, the registration of priority requests, i.e. if the domain name to be registered is identical to the registered trademark owned by the applicant or the full or abbreviated company name of the applicant, is no longer available.

As it was before the amendments, the applicants have to be EU citizens and/or private persons with the right of residence in Hungary and/or legal entities registered by the court or other competent authority and/or owners of trademarks registered with the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office or trademarks that have been granted protection in Hungary.

For more information, please contact Zoltan Kovari at our Hungary office.

Source: Hungarian PTO