Turkey has updated classification of goods and services for trademark application purposes, to be compatible with the World Intellectual Property Organization's ("WIPO") 11th edition of the Nice Classification. Additional explanations are introduced for some subclass headings, along with introduction of new sub-classes (such as "Electricity Energy" and "Social Network Creating Services"). The changes resolve certain issues which arose from Turkey's national classification system being incompatible with WIPO practices.
Communiqué Number 2016/02 on Classification of Goods and Services for Trademark Applications before the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office ("Communiqué"), was published in Official Gazette number 29934 on 30 December 2016, entering into effect on 1 January 2017.
Goods and services which are not specifically indicated in the Classification List (attached to Communiqué) will be deemed to be similar goods and services. Similarity will be considered by taking into account their legibility, functionality and purpose.
Please see this link for the full text of the Communiqué (only available in Turkish). Changes are written in bold.
Information first published in the MA | Gazette, a fortnightly legal update newsletter produced by Moroğlu Arseven.
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