Intellectual Property Laws at Turkey

20 May 2025 --
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Turkey has a comprehensive and modern intellectual property (IP) legal framework, primarily governed by Law No. 6769 on Industrial Property, which came into effect on January 10, 2017. This law consolidates and updates previous regulations concerning patents, trademarks, utility models, industrial designs, and geographical indications, aligning Turkey's IP system with international standards.

📜 Key Provisions of Law No. 6769

1. Patents and Utility Models

Patents:Protect inventions that are novel, involve an inventive step, and are capable of industrial application. Protection lasts for 20 years from the filing date

Utility Models: Offer protection for inventions that are new and capable of industrial application but do not require an inventive step. Protection lasts for 10 years

2. Trademarks

Definition: Trademarks are signs capable of distinguishing goods or services. This includes words, logos, sounds, and colors

Protection: Registered trademarks are protected for 10 years from the application date and can be renewed indefinitely for additional 10-year periods

3. Industrial Designs

Protection: Designs that are new and have individual character are protected for 5 years from the application date, renewable up to a total of 25 years

Unregistered Designs:Also protected under unfair competition and copyright provisions

4. Geographical Indications

Definition: Indications that identify goods as originating from a specific place, where a given quality, reputation, or characteristic is essentially attributable to its geographical origin

Protection:Geographical indications are protected under the IP Code, ensuring that only products genuinely originating from a specific place are allowed to use the name

🏛️ Enforcement and Legal Remedies

Enforcement of IP rights in Turkey is both administrative and judicia:

Administrative Enforcement Rights holders can register their IP with customs authorities to prevent the importation of counterfeit good.

Judicial Enforcement Specialized IP courts in Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir handle cases of infringement, validity, and enforcement of IP rights. These courts are staffed with judges and legal professionals experienced in IP matter.

Legal Remedies Include:

Preliminary injunctios, Damags, Seizure and destruction of infringing goos Criminal sanctions, including imprisonment and fines for willful infringemet

🏢 Administrative Body

The Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT) is the central authority responsible for the registration and protection of industrial property rights in Turky, Established in 1994, TÜRKPATENT operates under the Ministry of Industry and Technology and is authorized to represent Turkey in international organizatios.