Invitation and Welcome

	A tradition with more than thirty years' history in the IP field in Central Europe. This is the starting point for our 12th International AIPPI-MIE Conference. Following the general success of the 1st International Conference organized in 1970, the meeting was repeated regularly every third year, and it has become a living tradition of the Hungarian IP community. Keeping up the tradition, the coming event of 2003 is also jointly organized by the Hungarian Group of AIPPI and MIE, the Hungarian Association for the Protection of Industrial Property and Copyright.     Those of you who have been to Budapest before, already know that the venue, the program, and the genuine Hungarian hospitality combines into a memorable experience. Those of you who have not yet visited our country, may wish to find out personally, why colleagues from all over the world return regularly to these triennial meetings - actually, quite a few of them have made it no less than five, six or even seven times.     Besides the domestic IP experts, the Budapest conferences regularly attract approximately 100-120 foreign participants, which lends the conference an atmosphere of familiarity. The professional and social programs supplement each other in a well-harmonized manner, providing ample opportunities to make, develop and maintain personal and professional contacts.     With the above in mind, I cordially invite you to come to Budapest and take part in our conference in September 2003. Dr. Tamás Bokor, Chairman of the Conference Organizing Committee