Insights
Registration of Trademarks Containing The Raki Geographical Indication as Court of Cassation Quashes Court of Appeal Judgment
Article 5(1)(i) of Industrial Property Code No 6769 (the IP Code) prohibits the registration as trademarks of signs consisting of, or containing, a registered GI. The provision’s broad wording raises the question of whether the mere presence of the protected name in the sign applied for is sufficient to justify refusal. Answering this question requires an assessment of the relationship between the collective nature of GIs and the function of a trademark in distinguishing the… »
Five Court of Cassation Decisions From 2026 Help to Define Threshold of Indistinguishable Similarity Under Turkish IP Code
Five decisions delivered by the Turkish Court of Cassation in 2026 provide a useful basis for examining the boundaries of the indistinguishable similarity standard. Across the disputes, the presence of a common word element did not in itself establish indistinguishable similarity. Instead, the court attached significance to differences in the marks’ overall visual presentation. This article considers the five decisions together, focusing on the role of the overall impression… »
Existing Facilitations for Capital Loss and Over-Indebtedness Calculations Extended until 1 January 2028
Article 376 of the Turkish Commercial Code numbered 6102 (the “TCC”) regulates the measures to be taken and the precautions to be implemented by the management of the company, and the procedures to be followed in cases where the company suffers capital loss or becomes over-indebted, in order to ensure the protection of the financial structure of the company and to secure the rights of creditors of the company. The Communiqué on the Procedures and Principles for the… »
Discreationary Reductions in Overtime Pay Claims
In employment disputes, the application of discretionary reductions (equitable reductions) in calculating claims for overtime pay, weekly rest day pay, and national holidays and public holidays has become an established judicial practice. Applying such a reduction falls directly within the judge’s duties and powers. The main rationale for this reduction is that an employee’s working continuously at the same pace over a prolonged period, without interruptions due to illness… »
New Regulations in Türkiye on Age Verification and Provision of Seperate Services for Children by Social Network Providers
The Regulation on the Provision of Separate Services for Children and Age Verification by Social Network Providers (the “Regulation”), published in the Official Gazette dated 10 October 2026 and numbered 33396, will enter into force on 1 November 2026. The Regulation was issued pursuant to Additional Article 4 of Law No. 5651 on the Regulation of Publications on the Internet and Combating Crimes Committed through Such Publications. It covers domestic and foreign social… »
When Does Registration Amount to Authorization? Rethinking Article 6ter of the Paris Convention in Turkish Trademark Law
Background An American multinational television channel filed two trademark applications in Türkiye, where the signs at issue both incorporate a stylized background partially incorporating the national flag of the US with additional verbal elements in the front. Both filings were provisionally refused by the Turkish Trademark and Patent Office (“the Office”) pursuant to Article 5/1(g) of the Turkish IP Code (“the IP Code”) reading as “signs that are to be refused pursuant to… »
An assessment on the Competition Authority’s Preliminary Report on the Pharmaceutical Sector Review and the Workshop on Competition in the Pharmaceutical Sector
The Competition Authority’s Preliminary Report on the Pharmaceutical Sector (“Preliminary Report” or “Report”), published in August 2026, and the Workshop on Competition in the Pharmaceutical Sector (“Workshop”), held on 21 September 2026, have facilitated a comprehensive discussion on the dynamics of competition in the pharmaceutical sector for the first time in a long while. The Preliminary Report is a significant study in that it assesses the mechanisms of patent… »
Increase in the Minimum Capital Amounts for Joint Stock and Limited Liability Companies - Deadline Extended to 31 December 2027
With the Presidential Decree No. 7887, published in the Official Gazette dated 25 November 2023 and numbered 32380, the minimum capital amounts prescribed for joint stock and limited liability companies were increased, and this regulation entered into force on 1 January 2024. Accordingly, the minimum capital amount for limited liability companies was increased from TRY 10,000 to TRY 50,000, for joint stock companies from TRY 50,000 to TRY 250,000, and for non-public joint… »
A Global Guide to Policyholder Insurance Disputes 2026: Türkiye
Legal and regulatory framework What are the primary sources of insurance law in your jurisdiction (statute, case law, regulatory codes)? The legal framework of insurance law in Türkiye is established by the Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102 (TCC) and the Law on Insurance No. 5684 (the Insurance Act). The TCC is the principal source of rules governing the parties’ contractual rights and obligations in an insurance contract. The Insurance Act, on the other hand, mainly regulates… »
Zeynep Seda Alhas Contributed to “Reputed Trade Marks and Their Protection” by Wolters Kluwer
Our Partner Zeynep Seda Alhas contributed to the recently published book “Reputed Trade Marks and Their Protection”, upon the invitation of AIPPI.… »
Insurance Litigation 2026 in Turkey
Legal and procedural framework Legal framework What legal framework applies to insurance coverage disputes, including legislation or judicial precedents? 08 December 2025Insurance coverage disputes in Türkiye are primarily governed by the Turkish Commercial Code (Law No. 6102) (TCC) (articles 1401to1520) and the Insurance Act (Law No. 5684), which regulate insurance contracts, coverage limits, exclusions, duties of disclosure and the authority of the Insurance Arbitration… »
The Silent Crisis in Trademark Law: Inconsistencies in Actions for the Cancellation of Higher Board Decisions
Actions brought against decisions rendered by the Re-Examination and Evaluation Board (“Higher Board”) concerning trademark applications constitute an important part of Turkish trademark law practice. In practice, particularly in actions brought following the refusal of an opposition filed by the owner of an earlier trademark, it is common for plaintiffs to seek not only the cancellation of the Higher Board decision but also the invalidation of the trademark at issue if it is… »
News and Events
Gün + Partners: Forty Years in the Making
A Four-Decade Journey: Building a Legacy from 1986 to Today On 15 October 2026, we proudly marked our 40th anniversary, celebrating four decades of commitment to our values and our vision for the future. Since 1986, we have sought to create lasting value for our country through an uncompromising ethical stance, a strong market reputation and service excellence. Beyond sharing our institutional knowledge and expertise, we have actively shaped the public sphere—founding and…
Gün + Partners’ 40th Anniversary Celebration: Keynote Address by Mehmet Gün
On Thursday, October 15, we gathered at the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus to mark the 40th anniversary of Gün + Partners—a milestone that reflects four decades of institutional story and shared achievement. The opening keynote address delivered by our founding partner, Mehmet Gün, is available to download and watch below.
Gün + Partners to Join Patent Litigation Europe 2027 as Platinum Partner
Patent Litigation Europe 2027, will take place on 18–20 January 2027 at Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Bringing together more than 850 senior IP leaders from around the world, the summit covers developments affecting patent litigation across different sectors and jurisdictions. The 2027 programme will address UPC strategy and case law, cross-border enforcement, FRAND licensing, biosimilar disputes and the growing impact of AI and quantum computing on IP…
Begüm Yavuzdoğan Okumuş Spoke at the Workshop on the Protection of Personal Data in Clinical Research
Our Partner and Data Protection Association Board Member Begüm Yavuzdoğan Okumuş spoke at the Workshop on the Protection of Personal Data in Clinical Research, organized by the Personal Data Protection Authority (KVKK) at its Conference Hall on 6 November 2026. Following opening remarks by Prof. Dr. Faruk Bilir, President of the KVKK, Begüm gave a talk on “Cross-Border Data Transfers in Clinical Research” in the session “Legal Framework for the Protection of Personal Data…
Welcome to Our 2026–2027 Legal Trainees!
We are pleased to announce that our 2026–2027 legal trainees have commenced their traineeship at our firm following the successful completion of their exams. We congratulate them and welcome them on board!…
An interview conducted by the internationally renowned publication Managing IP with Mehmet Gün and Uğur Aktekin on our firm's 40th anniversary
Mehmet Gün and Uğur Aktekin discuss four decades of change in Türkiye’s legal market, the firm’s commitment to independence and the challenge of building an institution that can outlast its founders. Forty years ago, Mehmet Gün visited the London office of what was then Lawrence Graham, a firm of solicitors, while on a business trip from Türkiye. “I was impressed by the way it operated and developed the ambition to create an institutional firm similar to those in developed…
Forty Years in the Making: Our Story Since 1986
1986 First Steps: Early Innovation Our journey began in 1986 at Barbaros Boulevard No. 3. At the time, securing a standard telephone line required years on a waiting list. Telex was the norm, and fax machines were an outright luxury. We invested in both, assigning a dedicated line specifically for early fax technology. These choices were driven by a clear imperative: to move faster, communicate seamlessly, and connect our practice directly with the global legal market. It…
A Retrospective on Our Forty Years
Established in 1986 by Mehmet Gün, Gün + Partners proudly celebrates its 40th anniversary. Beyond our institutional evolution, these four decades embody the collective journey of our people. Many who joined us as interns or junior associates have grown alongside the firm—taking on broader responsibilities, mentoring new talent, and today shaping our executive leadership. Our institutional strength rests on collective wisdom, anchored by a merit-based, transparent career…
Dilan Sıla Kayalıca Spoke at the “From Innovation to the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Creating Strategic Value Through Intellectual Property” Panel
Our Managing Associate, Dilan Sıla Kayalıca, spoke at the panel - “From Innovation to the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Creating Strategic Value Through Intellectual Property” organized by the young members committees of LES Türkiye and AIPPI Türkiye and held at our office on October 21, 2026. During the panel, she shared her insights on “Being an Intellectual Property Professional in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”…
Mehmet Gün, Aysel Korkmaz Yatkın, Özge Atılgan Karakulak and Selin Sinem Erciyas Are Listed in IAM Global Leaders 2027
We are proud to announce that our Senior Partner Mehmet Gün and our Partners Aysel Korkmaz Yatkın, Özge Atılgan Karakulak and Selin Sinem Erciyas have been recognized as IAM Global Leaders 2027. IAM Global Leaders is reserved for individuals who achieve a gold ranking in IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals. We congratulate our lawyers on this achievement.
40 Years + One Unforgettable Evening at Lincoln’s Inn
What a magnificent evening! We are still buzzing from the energy at our reception in the Great Hall of Lincoln’s Inn during INTA 2026. It was a true privilege to see this historic hall filled with such a vibrant international community of IP professionals. Hosting our guests within one of the four prestigious Inns of Court—an institution that has stood at the heart of the UK’s legal tradition and the training of barristers for centuries—provided a truly distinguished…
Hande Hançar to Speak at the Regional Conference on Intellectual Property and the Green Transition
Our Partner Hande Hançar will participate as a speaker at the Regional Conference on Intellectual Property and the Green Transition: IP Tools for Sustainable Innovation, taking place on 23 October 2026 at the Istanbul Chamber of Industry Conference Hall in Odakule, Beyoğlu, Istanbul. The conference is organized in cooperation between the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT) and the French National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), with the support of the…