Intellectual Property Law and Copyright Laws

Turkey protects trademarks, patents, utility models, designs and geographical indications principally under Industrial Property Law No. 6769. Copyright remains subject to the Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works No. 5846.

This article examines the protection of patents, utility models, designs, copyright and related commercial interests in Turkey. It considers territorial protection, filing routes, ownership, employee and commissioned works, licences, infringement, interim remedies, customs measures and the evidence needed for enforcement. The judicial authorities cited in the text illustrate the importance of identifying the particular right and the person entitled to enforce it.

Türkiye has established itself as one of the leading players in the global mobile gaming industry. According to various industry reports, the Turkish mobile gaming market's volume surpassed USD 1 billion in 2025[NF1.1], while Turkish-based [NF2.1]studios such as Peak Games, Gram Games, Rollic Games and Dream Games have achieved remarkable international success. As the industry continues to expand, so do the legal questions surrounding the creation, commercialisation and protection of mobile games.

Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi; yabancı dijital konaklama platformlarının lisans almasını zorunlu kılan, komisyon oranlarını %17 ile sınırlayan ve ihlaller halinde ağır yaptırımlar içeren sıkı faaliyet şartları getiren yasa tasarısını görüşüyor.

The Turkish Grand National Assembly is examining a comprehensive proposal to amend copyright law in response to the digital economy and artificial intelligence era. The proposed legislation introduces extended collective licensing systems for digital uses and establishes a novel two-way licensing mechanism specifically addressing AI systems' use of copyrighted content during both training and output generation phases.

Turkey's proposed amendments to its Intellectual Property Law introduce groundbreaking extended collective licensing systems for digital content and artificial intelligence applications. The draft legislation establishes a dual licensing framework covering both AI training inputs and commercial outputs, while implementing a centralized collective management structure through joint licensing organizations.

Turkey protects trademarks, patents, utility models, designs and geographical indications principally under Industrial Property Law No. 6769. Copyright remains subject to the Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works No. 5846.

This article examines the protection of patents, utility models, designs, copyright and related commercial interests in Turkey. It considers territorial protection, filing routes, ownership, employee and commissioned works, licences, infringement, interim remedies, customs measures and the evidence needed for enforcement. The judicial authorities cited in the text illustrate the importance of identifying the particular right and the person entitled to enforce it.

Following a sector inquiry launched in December 2021 to detect structural competition concerns in the pharmaceutical sector and offer competitive solutions, the Turkish Competition Authority (“TCA”) published its Pharmaceutical Sector Inquiry Preliminary Report on 10 August 2026, opening it for public consultation. The report examines the overall outlook of the sector together with quantitative and statistical data, summarises the TCA's enforcement activities in the sector over the past ten years, and assesses the competitive structure across the full supply chain: production, market entry, and distribution.

Turkish trademark law practitioners face significant procedural challenges when challenging decisions of the Re-examination and Evaluation Board (YİDK), particularly when seeking both the cancellation of administrative decisions and the invalidation of registered trademarks. This article examines the legal complexities arising from combining these distinct legal remedies in a single proceeding, including issues of jurisdiction, party standing, and evidentiary scope.

Actions brought against decisions rendered by the Re-Examination and Evaluation Board (“Higher Board”) concerning trademark applications constitute an important part of Turkish trademark law practice. In practice, particularly in actions brought following the refusal of an opposition filed by the owner of an earlier trademark, it is common for plaintiffs to seek not only the cancellation of the Higher Board decision but also the invalidation of the trademark at issue if it is registered during the proceedings.

What happens when a trademark becomes so recognizable that it can be used to communicate a message beyond the goods or services for which it is registered?