Rubik created the initial prototype of what would become the Rubik's Cube while teaching at the Department of Architecture at the Budapest College of Applied Arts. His original intention was to create a tool for teaching spatial geometry to his students.

Rubik spent considerable time experimenting with different materials and mechanisms to achieve a smoothly rotating and interlocking puzzle. He faced the challenge of creating a cube that could be scrambled but also solved. It took him a month to solve the cube after he scrambled it the first time.

Rubik applied for a Hungarian patent for his invention, initially called the 'Magic Cube'. This marked the formal recognition of his creation and paved the way for its eventual commercialization.

The Magic Cube was first manufactured and sold in Hungary by Politechnika, a state-owned company. Initial sales were limited to Hungary and surrounding countries.

Ideal Toy Corp. licensed the Magic Cube for international distribution and renamed it the 'Rubik's Cube'. This decision proved crucial for its global success, leveraging Ideal's established marketing and distribution networks.

The Rubik's Cube became a worldwide phenomenon, captivating people of all ages and backgrounds. Its combination of intellectual challenge and tactile appeal drove its immense popularity. Millions of cubes were sold globally within a short period.