Discovery of Evidence Requests and the Scope of Bolar Exemption
Discovery of evidence requests are specially regulated under the Turkish Code of Civil Procedure No. 6100. The discovery of evidence enables determining a fact that is not yet examined in an ongoing action or a fact that will be put forward in a future action. 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 parties may decide, at their discretion, which documents they will… »
Impact of EPO Proceedings and EPC Provisions on National Actions
Since Turkey’s inclusion as a member of the EPC, a hot topic has been the enforcement or invalidity of Turkish validation of European Patent(s) (“EP”) while proceedings before the European Patent Office (the “EPO”) are pending. Once an EP is validated in Turkey, it becomes a national patent. For EPs, the Office seems to have transferred its powers and duties to the European Patent Office; therefore, it functions as an institution that carries out only some procedural… »
Assessment of Individual Character of a Design in Turkey
A recent case clarifies the role of the informed user and freedom of choice in Turkish design law. Mutlu Yıldırım Köse and İrem Girenes Yücesoy explain. Design law enables designers to protect the appearance of a product. According to the Turkish Industrial Property Code (IP Code), to obtain design protection, a design must be new and have individual character. In order to consider whether the design has individual character, the overall impression produced by it on the… »
Influencer Marketing and Social Media Influencers
In Turkey, until recently, there were no special provisions, laws, regulations or self-regulating rules relating to advertising through social media. In this respect, general advertising rules and principles were to apply. The control and supervision of advertisements on social media were also subject to the laws, regulations and provisions which apply to advertisements conducted through other media channels. It was considered that the advertisements published on social media… »
18+ Markings for Products with Rainbow Themes
Advertisement Board, with its highly controversial decision on November 2020; deemed the promotions and the sales of products such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, coffee mugs, phone cases, beach towels offered for sale on various e-commerce sites with expressions ”normal”, “LGBT”, “LGBT Power”, “Equality, Bisexual, Freedom, Lesbian, Gay, Love is Love, Homosexual”, LGBT Relationship”, “Love is Love”, “Pride”, “Peace”, “Love is Love”, and rainbow themes without +18 markings against… »
Coronavirus Related Health Claims
After the first COVID-19 case encounter in our country, the advertisements of the food supplements and foods with health claims and nutrition claims have increased. The said products have been advertised and promoted to consumers on diverse platforms, including TV, radio and online platforms. Competent legal authorities launched investigations since some food supplements advertised are not even authorised for sales, and some made misleading health claims in their advertising.… »