New Ways of Working in Turkey
Has the government introduced any laws and/or issued guidelines around remote-working arrangements? If so, what categories of worker do the laws and/or guidelines apply to – do they extend to “gig” workers and other independent contractors? Article 14 of the Turkish Labour Act (TLA) defines remote working as a contractual employment relationship in which employees carry out their duties from home or other locations outside the workplace, sometimes through digital platforms.… »
Comparing the Role of the DPO Under the GDPR and Turkish law
Appointment of a data privacy officer is regulated in detail under the EU General Data Protection Regulation. Mandatory DPO appointment is imposed under certain circumstances, and legal requirements are determined for the DPO role in terms of qualification as well as authorization. Under the Law on Protection of Personal Data numbered 6698 in Turkey, there is no legal requirement to appoint a DPO for data controllers, but there is a role introduced for the purposes of… »
Processing of Personal Data Related to COVID-19 Test Results and Vaccination-Infection Status of Employees
During the Covid-19 pandemic, when many companies provide opportunities to their employees to work remotely, hybrid working models are also being considered recently. For many purposes related to occupational health and safety, reduction of infection risks at workplaces and determination of new working conditions, the employers need to collect personal data of their employees such as their PCR/antibodies test results and information about whether they are vaccinated and had… »
Should the Lawyer Follow the Judge’s Misdirection?
Judges represent the state while exercising their judicial power on behalf of the nation. In this respect, it is the principle that the judge, who is expected to be independent first to the state and then to the parties, should be bound only by the rules of law. A thinker has said in this direction, “Judges are both masters and slaves of the law”. A lawyer, on the other hand, is self-employed, but also serves in the public sector as he/she participates in the distribution of… »
Declaration of Ultimate Beneficial Ownership in Turkey
In order to prevent tax evasion and ensure financial transparency, the Turkish Revenue Administration under the Ministry of Treasury and Finance issued General Communiqué No. 529 on Tax Procedure Law (the “Communiqué”) imposing an obligation to make ultimate beneficial ownership declaration on a wide range of entities, notably, corporate taxpayers. The Communiqué was published in the Official Gazette on July 13, 2021, and entered into force the same day. The deadline for… »
Higher Board Decides in Favour of UGG Based on Well-known Trademark Status and Principle of Interdependence
The Re-examination and Evaluation Board (the Higher Board) of the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office has issued its decision in a case involving the marks UGG and UGG WATCH, applying the principle of interdependence and considering the well-known status of the UGG mark as a criterion for the likelihood of confusion analysis. Background The trademark application for UGG WATCH was filed for “jewellery (including imitation jewellery); gold, jewellery, precious stones and… »
COVID-19: Update on Precautions to be Taken in Clinical Research in 2021
On 20 March 2020, the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency published an announcement (Turkish language) titled "Precautions to be Taken in Clinical Research Due to COVID-19 Pandemic". This announcement was updated on 24 July 2020. On 19 July 2021, based on the normalisation process regarding COVID-19, the Agency published a further updated version of the announcement. According to the latest update, for initial applications for clinical research and applications… »
Guidelines on Named Patient Programme Amended in 2021
The Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency's guidelines on the Named Patient Programme (Turkish language) explains the procedure for the supply from abroad of drugs that are not authorised in Turkey or not available on the Turkish market. The guidelines were first published in 2014, amended in 2015, 2017 and 2020, and finally published in the most current version on 9 August 2021. The latest amendment made to the guidelines introduces the definition of generic products… »
Red Bull Triumphs in Opposition Before the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office
The Turkish Patent and Trademark Office has upheld Red Bull’s opposition against an application for a composite mark intended for energy drinks. Background The applicant, a food company established in 1996, sought to register the below trademark in Class 32 – particularly for energy drinks. (BLACK TALLBOSS mark) This application passed the initial examination and was published in the Official Trademark Bulletin of the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office, for possible… »
Medical Device Regulation Has Been Published
Medical Device Regulation (“Regulation”) has been published in the Official Gazette numbered 31499 on 2 June 2020. With the Regulation prepared in accordance with the EU Medical Device Regulation numbered 2017/745 (“MDR”), it is aimed to provide a safer use for manufacturers and medical device users with a transparent and sustainable system. In this context; new noteworthy provisions are the definition of a medical device, classification of products, distance sales… »
Significant Amendments to the Administrative Jurisdiction Procedure Law
The Law Amending the Criminal Procedure Code and Certain Other Laws No. 7331 (“Law No. 7331”) -known as the 4th Judicial Reform Package - which entered into force by publication in the Official Gazette dated July 14, 2021, significantly reduced the time limits foreseen in the Administrative Jurisdiction Procedure Law No. 2577 (“Law No. 2577”) in terms of the administrative authorities in the application procedures before filing of administrative actions. Accordingly: As per… »
Transition Process for Product Tracking System
The announcement clarifies the status of certified documents, product registration and movement requirements relating to medical devices in the context of the transition to the Regulation. The announcement states due dates for the certified documents and new product registrations that take into consideration the Product Tracking System registrations. The announcement also sets out rules for the status of: · Products certified by British notified bodies. · Products with… »