How to Protect Color Marks in Turkey
The introduction of Industrial Property Code No. 6769 (IP Code) in Turkey in 2017 changed the definition of a trademark and explicitly listed colors as one of the signs that can be registered as trademarks using international color codes. But practice is showing that some color marks are easier to register than others. Registering single color marks can be more difficult, which can also be the case when it comes to enforcing them. Even before the legislative change… »
Arbitration Proceedings Regarding Determination of Reasonable Amount for Employee’s Invention
In 2020, an arbitration judgment was held in accordance with the ISTAC serial arbitration procedure regarding the compensation request for employee invention and, as far as it is known, this is the first and pilot file in which the Regulation on Employee Inventions, Inventions in Higher Education Institutions and Public Funded Projects, will determine the price tariff for employees’ inventions and the arbitration procedure to be followed in case of dispute. Within the scope… »
Declaration of Use and Compulsory License
The new IP Law (the “Law”) numbered 6769 abolished the provisions on “The use requirement of patents,” and “The evidence of use” of the Decree Law Pertaining to the Protection of Patent Rights. The Law now focuses on the requirements of use for patents within the provision of a Compulsory License. Accordingly, a patent owner must make use of the patented invention within three years following publication of its granted decision in the Official Bulletin (‘the Bulletin’), or… »
A New Era for Domain Names Under the ‘.tr’ Extension
Registering and managing ‘.tr’ domain names was previously carried out by Nic TR, but will now be performed by the ITCA The long-awaited TRABIS system, which replaces the Nic TR system, is expected to become effective in the near future In contrast to the old system, the new system allows domain name sales transactions Background Since 1998 and until recently, Nic TR, under the Middle East Technical University, had been responsible for the registration and management of… »
COVID-19’s Impacts on Trademark Prosecution
1. Within the context of the measures taken for combating COVID-19, how will Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TURKPATENT) function?TURKPATENT is open and active. In order to keep the number of physically working personnel of TURKPATENT at minimum, flexible working methods such as remote or shift working will continue to be implemented. However, as TURKPATENT is a paperless office and has a functional e-filing system, the services of TURKPATENT are not interrupted in this… »
FICPI Turkish Section under the Spotlight
The initiative for the foundation of the FICPI Turkish section was started in 2012 by a handful of Turkish practitioners, who were individual members of FICPI. The aim of founding the National Section was to be more active within FICPI as Turkish members and to help shape the IP system in our country by keeping abreast of the developments in the world. With the support of President of FICPI at that time, Mr Bastiaan Koester, the FICPI Bureau and the FICPI officers, various… »
COVID-19’s Impacts on Criminal Raids and Customs Suspensions Based on Trademark Infringement
1. Are there specific measures taken at the courthouses due to COVID-19? YES. The courthouses across the country are open and active – yet; As per the decisions of the Directorate of Administrative Affairs of the Presidency, the public employees – which covers judges, prosecutors and further courthouse personnel - who are pregnant, taking breastfeeding leave, disabled, over 60 years old (except managers), or those having a chronic disease, will be deemed on administrative… »
Key Developments and Predictions for Patent Law in Turkey – 2020
It has been three years since the Industrial Property Law, which combined different Decree Laws on specific IP rights, came into force. The fourth book of the Law introduces relatively new provisions regarding the patent system in Turkey that bring the national law into line with the European Patent Convention (EPC). Although it is too early for the implications of the new law to have come to light, working requirements and compulsory licensing remain the most questioned… »
Declaration of Use and Compulsory License
The new IP Law (the “Law”) numbered 6769 abolished the provisions on “the use requirement of patents,” and “the evidence of use” of the Decree Law Pertaining to the Protection of Patent Rights. The Law now focuses on the requirements of use for patents within the provision of a Compulsory License. Accordingly, a patent owner must make use of the patented invention within three years following publication of its granted decision in the Official Bulletin (‘the Bulletin’) or… »
Difficulties of Enforcing Patent Rights on NPP Products
The supply of pharmaceutical products to Turkey via the named patient programme (the “NPP”) is one of the exceptional importation regimes for pharmaceutical products. Where a pharmaceutical product is not granted marketing authorisation in Turkey, but patients are in need of it, it can be supplied via this special route. The entities that are authorised to import pharmaceuticals within the scope of the NPP are the Turkish Pharmacists’ Association (the “TEB”) and the Ibn-i… »
Ex Parte Injunctions in Turkish IP Law
Although ex parte injunctions are legally available, are quite rare in Turkish Patent Law practice. The IP Courts almost always reject requests for ex parte injunctions, preferring to evaluate the alleged infringement only after hearing both parties. However, in 2019, the Turkish IP Court unexpectedly granted a request for an ex parte injunction, due to the urgent nature of the matter. The request for this ex parte injunction was filed against a company in Argentina. The… »
Discovery of Evidence Is Not Subject to Bolar Exemption
Discovery of evidence and actions for determination of evidence are separately regulated under the Civil Procedural Law. Discovery of evidence is a preliminary step taken before any action on the merits, and it only serves to discover and record the evidence that may be relevant to an ongoing or future action on the merits. It must be emphasised that unlike the US and UK systems, there is no full and frank disclosure procedure under Turkish civil law. In other words, the… »