The Turkish Patent Institute ("TPE") published a list of signs which can not be registered and the well known trademarks in Turkey so far classified.

TPE had started the process to establish a separate list for the Well Known registered trademarks. Well known status of the trademarks is determined according to Court findings in trademark violation and unfair competition proceedings or alternatively, by a committee of TPE officials on examination of the evidence submitted to TPE.

In determination of the well known status TPE, takes into account, the area of coverage by foreign registrations, the advertising budget, the sales revenues over a long period of time, the publications about the trademark, and any other indicator of this status.

TPE, by maintaining a list for well known trademarks aims to guide the industry in creating their trademarks, to help them avoid conflicting registrations with Well known trademarks as well as comparing the new applications for conflicts with well known trademarks. More important, TPE aims to provide preparatory data and experience for the developments in the International forums regarding well known trademarks. However this practice has already been taken as a regulatory procedure although it is only a good will application by TPE.

The content of this article is to provide only a general information on the subject. Legal advice should be sought for any specific circumstances.