The 2026 Intellectual Property Conference of the Hungarian Association for the Protection of Industrial Property and Copyright (MIE) brought together leading intellectual property professionals, government representatives, academics, and practitioners from Hungary to discuss current developments in patents, trade marks, artificial intelligence, sustainability, and IP policy.
The conference took place from 28-29 May in Balatonalmádi and provided a platform for international dialogue on shared challenges within the intellectual property community.
FICPI's presence at the conference underscored its commitment to supporting independent IP attorneys worldwide and fostering cooperation among national and international professional associations. FICPI President Elia Sugrañes and Treasurer General and Membership Committee President Uwe R. Borchert presented valuable insights into how FICPI works to strengthen and promote the profession at both European and global levels.
The MIE programme
The conference programme addressed many of the challenges currently shaping the IP landscape, including accelerated patent examination procedures, artificial intelligence implications for inventorship and patent drafting, trade mark law developments, design reform, sustainability issues, and compulsory licensing.
Dr. András Szecskay and Imre Ravadits of the Hungarian Industrial Property and Copyright Association gave a warm welcome.
Szabolcs Farkas, President of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office, presented the opening speech about the Office’s results and plans.
The two days concluded with a presentation from the Danubia Orchestra on tradition, innovation and AI in music, followed by closing thoughts from Imre Ravadits of MIE.
Against this backdrop, FICPI's contribution highlighted the essential role that independent IP attorneys play in helping innovators, businesses, and creators navigate an increasingly complex legal and technological environment.
FICPI: from ongoing advocacy to SPLH
During their session, Elia Sugrañes presented FICPI's ongoing advocacy activities and demonstrated how the Federation engages with legislators, intellectual property offices, international organisations, and professional stakeholders to ensure that the voice of private practitioners is heard. Elia emphasised that independent IP attorneys serve as a critical link between innovators and the intellectual property system, contributing not only legal expertise but also strategic guidance that supports innovation and economic growth.
Uwe R. Borchert highlighted the importance of the SPLH work, particularly with regards to the grace period, which plays a crucial role in protecting inventors' rights. The presentation emphasised that any public disclosure by the applicant or its legal predecessor before the priority date or filing date could be covered by the grace period.
The colloquium held in 2024 proposed two notable compromise solutions to address concerns regarding the grace period: (1) a dual scheme for both 6-month and 12-month prior to filing dates, and (2) the submission of a candid declaration providing transparency on pre-filing disclosures. Uwe emphasised that FICPI believes these proposals could help achieve consensus among stakeholders quickly and effectively.
FICPI's view
The participation of Elia Sugrañes and Uwe R. Borchert reflected the importance FICPI places on engagement with national associations and regional conferences.
They actively interacted with conference participants, exchanging perspectives on current challenges facing the profession, including digital transformation, artificial intelligence, evolving client expectations, and the need to attract and support the next generation of IP professionals.
The MIE conference once again demonstrated the value of international dialogue in addressing shared challenges within the intellectual property community. FICPI's contribution provided participants with a broader global perspective while reinforcing the importance of professional advocacy and international cooperation.
FICPI continues to champion the interests of independent IP attorneys and promote a strong, effective, and innovation-friendly intellectual property framework worldwide.
Next steps
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