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Specialist Guide to the

Global Leaders in Media Law Practice

The Hungarian film industry is on course for another successful year with high-value productions and foreign investment, say media lawyers.

Hungary has been selected as a shooting location by Lionsgate and Disney’s Marvel Studios, with investment expected to reach EUR488 million in 2021. The 30 per cent tax rebate scheme is among incentives contributing to national market growth.

Lawyers say the past year has included mandates from the TV and film market on production and distribution matters, as well as GDPR compliance.

Data protection has been an important focus area with work relating to the handling of data stored on devices, data privacy as well as public interest

data requests. Other areas of work have included advice on regulatory and commercial matters.

Over the past year, the Hungarian DPA begun imposing fines on corporations that breach GDPR rules. The most notable fine in 2021 was that imposed on UPC (Vodafone).

The DPA also issued guidelines relating to the requirements of data processing, namely the processing of health-related personal data of employees and contractual partners.

TIER 1

CMS houses one of the largest TMT groups in the country. Working with its UK office, the local team assisted a Polish telecommunications operator with the launch of its satellite-based television platform. The team works on wider sector-related matters such as advertising tax, regulatory compliance and disputes.

Media lawyers at Lakatos, Köves and Partners provide "timely and pro-active responses”. The team is also described by clients as proactive and reliable. The TMT group worsk on transactional cases connected with cable television, radio, print and online media.

Oppenheim’s industry commitment is evidenced by its media, publishing and entertainment practice group. Covering contentious and non-contentious work, the team advises on contract negotiations, licensing and disputes. The team has extensive knowledge of data protection, copyright and commercial transactions.

TIER 2

Intellectual property is the primary focus of Hegymegi-Barakonyi és Tarsa Baker McKenzie. The team advises a range of clients including games and software producers, television production companies and publishers. Lawyers regularly assist clients from the audio-visual sector on matters ranging from license agreements to litigation.

Lendvai and Partners is one of Hungary’s leading media specialists focussed on corporate transactions. The firm advises onn high profile cases including the cross-border acquisition of a Czech newspaper distributor by the Hungarian subsidiary of a global media company. The team also assisted a London-based television broadcaster on infringement of a television series title.

Lengyel Allen & Overy Ügyvédi Iroda works with audio-visual sector clients, advising on cross-border transactions. The Budapest team is backed by the firm’s global network of lawyers and works closely with neighbouring CEE regions. Key practitioner Hugh Owen represents international clients and has particular experience advising on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and takeovers.

TIER 3

bpv Jádi Németh specialises in info communications and media. The firm advises on wide-ranging issues from sector-related transactions and licensing activities to marketing and regulatory matters. Krisztina Ivanics manages the media pracftice, which works closely with the copyright and data privacy department that is led by Andrea Jádi Németh. Other areas of advice include data processing, digital software and e-commerce.

Focussing on corporate, regulatory and anti-trust matters, PRK Partners’ media and telecommunications division is notably active in all three areas of work. The firm served as counsel to a regional television broadcaster in proceedings involving an intellectual property dispute against a telecommunications operator. The team also advised Ringier Axel Springer on the acquisition of a majority stake in Azet.sk, the most visited internet portal in Slovak.

TIER 4

Balazs & Kovatsits Legal Partnership has a good track record advising on copyright matters connected with software, literary works and compositions. The team has extensive experience drafting license contracts and advising on e-commerce, data protection and competition law.

Copyright and data protection are among core focus areas at VJT & Partners. The team advises global media and entertainment companies on local data protection policy, advertising and marketing. Lawyers also have extensive experience advising on the transfer and assignment of copyright.