Insights

Thought Leadership

COVID-19 HUB

COVID-19 HUB

Our COVID-19 HUB is designed to keep our stakeholders updated and help them understand the legal effects of COVID-19 outbreak, and take steps to maintain their businesses in Turkey.

Trademark Law in Turkey Key Developments and Predictions - 2021

Trademark Law in Turkey Key Developments and Predictions - 2021

We have compiled our articles on various topics of trademark law that we deem important for brand owners, which we have developed over the course of the last year.

Patent Law in Turkey Key Developments and Predictions - 2021

Patent Law in Turkey Key Developments and Predictions - 2021

We focus on the key aspects of patent litigation in Turkey, and the most important or challenging issues in Turkish Patent Law.

Life Sciences Law in Turkey Key Developments and Predictions - 2021

Life Sciences Law in Turkey Key Developments and Predictions - 2021

We focus on the key aspects of life sciences in Turkey, the most important and challenging issues in Turkey’s life sciences industry.

Data Protection and Privacy Law in Turkey Key Developments and Predictions 2021

Data Protection and Privacy Law in Turkey Key Developments and Predictions 2021

We focus on the key aspects of data privacy matters and developments in Turkey, and the most important or challenging issues regarding the same.

Copyright Law in Turkey Key Development and Predictions 2021

Copyright Law in Turkey Key Development and Predictions 2021

In the report, we outline seven controversial issues that we often encounter in Turkish copyright Law.

Commercial Dispute Resolution Under Turkish Law Rules, Developments and Insights - 2020

Commercial Dispute Resolution Under Turkish Law Rules, Developments and Insights - 2020

We focus on the four main topics of commercial dispute resolution under Turkish law, and the most important and challenging issues in commercial dispute resolution under Turkish law.

Media and Advertising Law in Turkey Key Developments and Predictions - 2020

Media and Advertising Law in Turkey Key Developments and Predictions - 2020

We focus on the key aspects of media and advertising law in Turkey, and the most important or challenging issues in Turkish media and advertising Law.

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Monthly Newsletters

June 2021

June 2021

We are pleased to publish our monthly newsletters to update our community and clients about legal developments in Turkey.

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A Closer Look at the Turkish Court of Cassation’s Supervisory Power and Its Boundaries

Articles -
Trademarks and Designs || Güldeniz Doğan Alkan and Dilan Sıla Kayalıca

The Turkish Court of Cassation has been one of the most important authorities of the Turkish judicial system, which has been on duty since mid-1800s. Since the establishment of the Court of Cassation, it has served as the supreme court of our judicial justice system. But the recent decisions of the Court of Cassation made us question its supervisory power as the supreme court as well as the boundaries of this power. Until the regional courts of appeal were established in 2016...»

Terms of Termination Ban and Unilateral Unpaid Leave Have Been Extended Once Again March 2021

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Employment || Beril Yayla Sapan

As per the Presidential Decree 3592, published in the Official Gazette (31418) dated 09 March 2021, the termination ban and unilateral unpaid leave have been extended for a further two months as of 17 March 2021. In this regard, the termination ban and unilateral unpaid leave are currently projected to end on 17 May 2021. However, the President is entitled to extend these terms until 30 June 2021....»

IP Court Issues Preliminary Injunction Against Drug in Turkey’s Named Patient Programme

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Life Sciences and Patent and Utility Models || Selin Sinem Erciyas and Aysu Eryaşar

The Istanbul Civil Court for Intellectual and Industrial Rights has granted a preliminary injunction to remove a pharmaceutical product from the foreign drug list of the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (TMMDA). The drug was supposed to be supplied via the named patient programme (NPP) and was removed on the grounds of patent infringement. Further, the supplier company has been prevented from directly or indirectly commercialising the product, which includes its i...»

Significant Amendments to Preliminary Examination

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Dispute Management || Beril Yayla Sapan and Kardelen Özden

Civil Procedure Code No. 6100 (“CPC”) entered into force on 01 October 2011 by replacing the former Civil Procedure Code No. 1086. One of the most significant mechanisms introduced by the CPC was preliminary examination. Under Turkish law, first stage of a trial is the initiation of a lawsuit and exchange of petitions, which is followed by the preliminary examination. During the preliminary examination, the court examines the causes of action, initial objections, points of di...»

Judicial Review of Board Decisions

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Data Protection and Privacy || Gün + Partners

The Data Protection Law does not include an explicit provision concerning the appeal process of Board decisions imposing administrative fines; however, it is accepted that criminal courts of peace are the authorized courts pursuant to Law No. 5326 on Misdemeanours dated 30/3/2005 since the title of Article 18 of the Data Protection Law is “Misdemeanours,” and administrative fines are issued as per Article 18 of the Data Protection Law. Having this in mind, decisions imposing ...»

Consequences of Data Breach

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Data Protection and Privacy || Gün + Partners

The Data Protection Law envisages both administrative fines and criminal liability.   With regard to criminal penalties, the Data Protection Law refers to the relevant provisions of the Turkish Criminal Code that detail sanctions for the unlawful recording, or disclosing, or transferring of personal data. In addition to criminal sanctions, the Data Protection Law also contains provisions detailing administrative fines that are to be applied in the event of a breach. There are...»

Data Controllers’ Registry (VERBIS)

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Data Protection and Privacy || Gün + Partners

Pursuant to Article 16 of the Data Protection Law, an obligation to register in the Data Controllers Registry has been introduced for data controllers. In 2018, the Board issued decisions granting exemptions from registration obligation to certain professional groups, associations, and political parties. The Board also granted a general exemption to local data controllers that have less than 50 employees, and actively less than TRY 25 million on their balance sheets. Data con...»

Data Breach Notification

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Data Protection and Privacy || Gün + Partners

The Data Protection Law requires data controllers to notify the relevant data subject and the Board as soon as possible when being made aware of such data breach. In its decision dated January 24, 2019 and numbered 2019/9, the Board clarified the rules and procedures to be applied in data breach incidents. The Board takes the GDPR approach in terms of timing of breach notifications, and clarified that the term of “as soon as possible” within the Data Protection Law must be in...»

Transfer of Data Abroad

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Data Protection and Privacy || Gün + Partners

Sensitive and non-sensitive personal data can be transferred abroad if the explicit consent of the data subject is obtained. Furthermore, other legal grounds will also apply to the transfer of personal data to the foreign country. However, the destination country must have “sufficient protection” in order to conclude the transfer abroad based on legal grounds (except for having obtained explicit consent). A list of jurisdictions that provide sufficient protection is to be det...»

Transfer of Data to Third Party

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Data Protection and Privacy || Gün + Partners

Sensitive and non-sensitive personal data may be transferred to third parties if the explicit consent of the data subject is obtained, or if one of the additional legal grounds is applicable for such transfer. The Data Protection Law does not provide a definition for a third party; therefore, any individual or entity (other than the data controller and the data subject) may be considered a third party. This creates a problem, especially in relation to transfers between data c...»

Explicit Consent under Data Protection Law

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Data Protection and Privacy || Gün + Partners

Explicit consent has been defined as consent that relates to a specified issue, declared by free will, and based on information. The definition provides that not all kinds of consent will suffice under the Data Protection Law. The data subject must know for what he/she is providing consent, and must clearly express his/her consent. For example, consent obtained in English from non-English speakers in Turkey would not be considered to be explicit consent. Further, implied cons...»

Lawful Data Processing

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Data Protection and Privacy || Gün + Partners

Processing Personal Data Personal data can be processed based on the below specified legal grounds: If explicit consent of the data subject is obtained; If processing is clearly proposed under the laws; If processing is mandatory for the protection of life, or to prevent the physical injury of a person, in cases where that person cannot express consent, or whose consent is legally invalid due to physical disabilities; If processing is necessary for and directly related to th...»