Terms of Termination Ban, Unilateral Unpaid Leave and Short-Time Working Allowance Have Been Extended Once Again
With three very recent Presidential Decrees published in the Official Gazette (31343) dated 23 December 2020 and the Official Gazette (31350) dated 30 December 2020: the terms set out for termination ban and unilateral unpaid leave, which were to expire by 17 January 2021, have been extended until 17 March 2021, and In regard to short-time working practices implemented in scope of COVID-19: the term set out for the short-time working allowances granted to workplaces which… »
Sanctions Lined up for Social Network Platforms in Turkey
The law amending the Law No. 5651 on the Regulation of Internet Broadcasts and Prevention of Crimes Committed through Such Broadcasts ("Law No: 5651") known as Social Media Law in Turkey was published in the Official Gazette on July 31, 2020 and became effective as of October 01,2020. Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA), as the competent authority, published the secondary regulation providing further clarification on October 02, 2020. The newly… »
COVID-19: Temporary Ban on Distribution of Promotional Materials Lifted
On 17 November 2020, the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency announced (Turkish language) that physical promotional materials could be provided during visits to physicians, dentists and pharmacists, on their request, in accordance with hygiene rules. A prohibition on physical promotional materials being provided by promotion representatives during visits to physicians, dentists and pharmacists was introduced by the Agency on 5 June 2020 as part of its actions aimed… »
Employing a Trademark As a Domain Name Is Not Genuine Use
The first instance Civil Court for Intellectual and Industrial Rights (IP court) in its decision rendered in October 2020 pointed out that the use of the subject mark as a domain name solely is not deemed sufficient to prove the use of the mark as a trademark. The decision concerns a revocation action due to non-use filed against a trademark which has been registered for more than five years, but has not been used properly and effectively on the relevant services within the… »
Arbitration and Virtual Hearings
Introduction At the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, the world came to a halt, and it had to adjust its day-to-day needs to the present time. Governments adopted dramatic precautions to prevent the transmission of COVID-19: schools were closed, businesses were shut down, curfews were declared, and travel restrictions were adopted. One thing all these measures had in common was that they created greater challenges to holding in-person meetings. This undeniably impacted… »
Business Development in the Digital World
FICPI-Turkey’s final event of 2020, “Office management in the new era and business development in the digital world” took place on November 12, 2020. FICPI-Turkey Board Member Gökçe İzgi and Chairman Uğur Aktekin moderated the webinar while Eraksoy Consulting Management Consultant Reşat Eraksoy and Gün+Partners Strategy and Business Development Director Umut Acar shared their experiences on “Office management in the new era” and “Business development in the digital… »
Parties Can Now Request an Extension to Object to Expert Reports
Introduction Law 7251 on the Amendment of the Civil Procedure Code and Certain Laws (Amendment Law) entered into force on its publication in the Official Gazette (31199) on 28 July 2020. One of the significant amendments introduced by the Amendment Law concerns Article 281 of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC) 6100, which regulates parties' objections to expert reports. With this amendment, parties can now request an extension from the court to file their objections against… »
Recent Developments About the Commercial Electronic Message Management System (“IYS”)
By the amendments made to the Regulation on Commercial Communication and Commercial Electronic Messages ("Regulation") on January 4, 2020, a Commercial Electronic Message Management System ("IYS") was created that allows receiving commercial electronic message approval, the use of the right to refuse, and the management of complaint processes and service providers intending to send commercial electronic messages were obliged to register with the IYS and upload the approvals… »
New IP Court Ruling Sets Precedent For The EPC’s Application in Turkey
A recent ruling from a Turkish IP court breaks new ground in the ongoing battle for the European Patent Convention (EPC, 138/3) to be applied to patents in Turkey. The Turkish IP Law prohibits amendments or limitations of claims or patent documents after a patent has been granted. The only exception to this is changes made by the patentee during the national post-grant opposition phase, which was introduced in 2017. In line with the introduction of a post-grant opposition… »
Constitutional Court's Recent Decision on Reviewing Employees’ Corporate E-Mails by Employers
Reviewing employees’ corporate e-mail addresses by employers and relying on any findings collected during the inspection in a potential termination has been a controversial issue in terms of protection of personal data and privacy. The Constitutional Court rendered two decisions within the last four years regarding the right to privacy and privacy of communication aspects of the matter. Both decisions particularly elaborate on information of employees. Constitutional Court's… »
New Regulation on Processing of Personal Data in Electronic Communication Sector Has Been Published
The New Regulation on Processing of Personal Data and Protection of Privacy in the Electronic Communication Sector (the "Regulation") published in the Official Gazette on December 4, 2020 will come into force as of June 4, 2021. The Regulation sets forth procedures and principles applicable to the operators in in the electronic communication sector with respect to data (including personal data and data related to legal person subscriptions) which they collect within the… »
A Battle to Benefit from EPC 138/3
The IP Law of Turkey prohibits any kind of amendment/limitation of claims or patent documents after the patent has been granted. The only exceptions to this rule are the amendment/limitations made by the patentee during the national post-grant opposition phase, which was introduced to Turkish law in 2017. As per the introduction of a national post-grant opposition procedure, the Law also prohibits any ruling to be made in a revocation action against a national patent, while… »