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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

September 2021

September 2021

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

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Does Technical Function Impede Copyright?

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Copyrights || Gün + Partners

The question of whether appearance features of utilitarian objects with technical functions can benefit from copyright protection has become a debated issue in recent years, and it has also started to find a place in the decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). In the decision of the CJEU, dated June 11, 2020, and numbered C-833/18, it was evaluated how appearance features of products with technical functions can benefit from copyright protection. The d...»

Assignment of Copyrights

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Copyrights || Gün + Partners

Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works No. 5846 (the “LIAW”) takes a very formalistic approach regarding the transfer of copyrights arising from these types of work. Under Turkish copyright law, the general principle is that the person who actually creates a work is the author of that work. The “work made for hire” concept is not accepted under Turkish law. The right transfers should be made in writing, once the work is embodied, indicating, expressly, which rights are transf...»

Notice and Takedown Procedure for Copyright Protection

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Copyrights || Gün + Partners

Copyrights are amongst the most infringed-upon rights in the internet environment. On this account, Turkey applies a notice and takedown system in online copyright infringement cases as a practical tool, which is also widely recognized in many jurisdictions around the globe. In Turkey, copyrights are protected under Law on Literary and Artistic Works No. 5846 (“Law No. 5846”). According to Law No. 5846, if a work is adapted, duplicated and circulated, performed or broadcast t...»

Artificial Intelligence and Copyright

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Copyrights || Gün + Partners

Artificial intelligence (“AI”) is defined as “The ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings.” With the advancement of technology, AI systems have learned to create music and art and, furthermore, today, AI can write poems, novels, stories, and legal articles. As a result of these developments, discussions have begun regarding AI-created works of art, as well as the notion of ownership and enforcemen...»

Ownership of the Works Created by the Employee

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Copyrights || Gün + Partners

Pursuant to Law No. 5846 on Intellectual and Artistic Works (“LIAW”), the owner of the work, in principle, is the person who creates the work, and this person is the exclusive owner of the material and moral rights arising from the creation of the work. According to the LIAW, although material rights may be waived by the author or transferred to third parties, the transfer of moral rights, or waiver of these rights, are not possible in accordance with the mandatory provisions...»

Ownership of the On-Demand Works

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Copyrights || Gün + Partners

The General Assembly of the Civil Court of Cassation (GACoC) made important determinations with its decision dated 16.01.2020 and numbered E. 2019 / 11-474, K. 2020/26, concerning the scope of the ordering party’s use of the work created within on-demand work agreements, and whether a separate contract is required for the transfer of the economic rights of the author in terms of related uses. In this case, the plaintiff was working as the purchasing manager in the defendant c...»

Compensation Liability for Copyright Infringement

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Copyrights || Gün + Partners

The author or the owner of a work is entitled to claim compensation in the case of violation of economic and moral rights arising from the ownership of the work protected under Law No. 5846, the Intellectual and Artistic Works (the “LIAW”), in addition to other legal remedies.  Article 70 of the LIAW regulates compensation that may be claimed based on violation of economic and moral rights, separately. Accordingly, the author whose moral rights have been infringed, is entitle...»

A Brief Review of the Karalis Case

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Copyrights || Gün + Partners

Mr. Yannis Karalis (“Plaintiff”), a Greek composer and lyrist who is the copyright owner of the “Eclipse” song, which was released in 1997, brought an infringement action against the famous Turkish singer and lyrist, Ms. Sezen Aksu, as well as against other lyrists and several music record and production companies (“Defendants”) due to their infringing use of the cited song in 2003. The Musical Work Owner’s Society of Turkey (“MESAM”) was also informed and involved in the law...»

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

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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...»