Insights
Enforcement of Foreign Judgments 2027 in Türkiye
Legislation Treaties Is your country party to any bilateral or multilateral treaties for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments? What is the country’s approach to entering into these treaties, and what, if any, amendments or reservations has your country made to such treaties? Except for those concerning family law, Türkiye is not a signatory to multilateral treaties for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. However, Türkiye… »
Rights Holders not Liable for Customs Storage of Criminally Seized Counterfeits
A final Turkish judgment has held that a trademark owner cannot be charged for the storage of counterfeit goods after those goods have been seized in criminal proceedings. Background The case concerned 264,740 units of counterfeit Colgate toothpaste, weighing approximately 27.7 tonnes. Following the temporary detention of the goods at customs, a criminal complaint was filed on behalf of Colgate-Palmolive Company. The Criminal Court ordered their seizure, and the destruction… »
Strong Stance Against Trade Mark Squatting in Türkiye
Trade mark squatting has unfortunately become increasingly common in Türkiye in recent years. Bad-faith applicants often identify trade marks that are registered and genuinely used abroad but have not yet been registered in Türkiye, file applications for those marks in their own names and then attempt to sell the registrations or present themselves as the rightful proprietors of the trade marks. In another common scenario, bad-faith applicants use the registrations they have… »
Bolar beyond regulatory preparation: EU Pharma Package, Türkiye’s experience, and TRIPS compliance
The Bolar exemption was originally conceived as a limited mechanism enabling generic and biosimilar manufacturers to complete the regulatory steps necessary to enter the market immediately after patent expiry. The EU Pharma Package now seeks to broaden the exemption substantially, both in terms of the activities covered and the parties entitled to rely on it. This development invites a re-examination of Turkiye’s long-standing – and already notably broad – interpretation of… »
Constitutional Court Annuls the Regime Governing the Exclusion of Shareholders in Two-Shareholder Limited Liability Companies
With its decision published in the Official Gazette on 17 March 2026, the Constitutional Court brought renewed attention to a significant issue that had long been overlooked in relation to limited liability companies. The Constitutional Court held that requiring a general assembly majority for the exclusion of a shareholder in two-shareholder limited liability companies creates a practical deadlock. Accordingly, the Court annulled, in respect of two-shareholder limited… »
Judicial Review of the Board’s Decisions and Legal Remedies
Under the Law, the Board has the authority to impose administrative sanctions. It is stipulated that the Board may impose administrative fines for failure to comply with the duty to provide information, obligations relating to data security, failure to comply with decisions issued by the Board, breaches of registration and notification obligations under the Register of Data Controllers, or breaches of the notification obligation regarding standard contracts. In addition to… »
Data Breaches and Their Consequences
The Law requires data controllers to notify the Board and the relevant data subject as soon as possible upon becoming aware of a data breach. In its Decision No. 2019/19 dated 24 January 2019 (“the Decision”), the Board has clarified the rules to be applied and the procedures to be followed in the event of a data breach. The Board adopts the GDPR approach regarding the timing of breach notifications and has clarified that the phrase ‘as soon as possible’ in the Law should be… »
Data Protection in the Field of Artificial Intelligence
With the rapid spread of artificial intelligence and its integration into every aspect of life, it has become imperative to establish a legal framework governing the secure and ethical development, deployment and use of artificial intelligence systems, taking into account the complexity and specific characteristics of this technology. Aiming not only to promote the safe, transparent and human rights-respecting development of artificial intelligence technologies, but also to… »
Data Controllers’ Register (VERBİS)
Pursuant to Article 16 of the Law, there is an obligation to register with the Data Controllers’ Register (“VERBİS”) for data controllers established in Türkiye that exceed the specified thresholds, as well as for data controllers established abroad that process personal data in Türkiye as data controllers, without being subject to any threshold criteria. The procedures and principles governing the VERBİS system, which is maintained as a public register, are set out in the… »
Data Protection in Türkiye - General Approach, Current Practices and the Processing of Special Categories of Personal Data
The primary legislation governing the protection of personal data in Türkiye is the Personal Data Protection Act No. 6698 (the “Law”), which came into force in 2016. The Law, which was drafted on the basis of the European Council’s Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC, is influenced by the provisions of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (“GDPR”), whilst its implementation is influenced by both the GDPR and the decisions of European data protection… »
Updates in the Field of Personal Data Protection Law in Türkiye
The Personal Data Protection Authority (the “Authority”) has issued guidelines and publications principle decisions and public announcements, with the efforts to raise awareness and enhance effectiveness in the field of personal data protection for the effective implementation of the Personal Data Protection Act No. 6698 (the “Law”), and we have seen significant developments regarding the proper handling of intersections with areas such as competition, cyber security… »
Cumulative Protection of Creativity: The Fine Line Between Design and Work
Introduction Intellectual property law provides for various protection mechanisms aimed at safeguarding creative works; such that, depending on the nature of the product or creative works, it is possible to apply for more than one means of protection simultaneously. In this context, designs that meet the necessary criteria may be protected by both design rights under the Industrial Property Code No. 6769 (“IP Code”) and as work under the Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works… »
News and Events
Mehmet Gün Recognized in IAM Strategy 300 2026
We are pleased to announce that Mehmet Gün has been recognized in IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists 2026. Published annually, IAM Strategy 300 identifies leading professionals in intellectual property strategy, recognizing individuals who develop and implement approaches aimed at realizing and amplifying the value of intellectual property.
Gün + Partners at the IBA Annual Conference 2026 in Copenhagen
We are excited to announce our participation in the upcoming IBA (International Bar Association) Annual Conference in Copenhagen this October, and we warmly invite you to meet with our delegation during the event. Representing Gün + Partners this year: Özge Atılgan Karakulak – Partner | Advisory Board Member of the IBA IP and Entertainment Law Committee; leading our Life Sciences and Patent Litigation practices. Görkem Bilgin – Partner | Leading our Corporate and M&A…
Gün + Partners to Participate in IP.CAMP 2026 as Lead Sponsor
Organized by LES Turkey, IP.CAMP brings together intellectual property professionals, in-house counsel, academics and industry representatives for an intensive programme focused on IP management, licensing, strategy and commercialization. The 2026 edition will take place on 24–26 September 2026 at Boyalık Beach Hotel & SPA in Çeşme, İzmir. This year’s programme will address key topics across the IP landscape, including licensing strategies, IP litigation…
Gün + Partners Participated in the Public Health and Intellectual Property Crimes Workshop in Ankara
On 29–30 July 2026, Gün + Partners participated in the Public Health and Intellectual Property Crimes Workshop organized by the Intellectual Property Rights Department of the Turkish National Police in Ankara.…
Gün + Partners Top Ranked by IP STARS 2026
We are proud to announce that Gün + Partners has been ranked as a top-tier IP law firm by Managing IP’s IP STARS 2026! Our team is recognized as a top-tier practice for trademark disputes, trademark prosecution, and copyright & related rights. Mehmet Gün, Uğur Aktekin, Hande Hançar, and Zeynep Seda Alhas have been listed among the Trademark Stars by IP STARS 2026. A special congratulations to Hande Hançar for being recognized among the Top 250 Women in IP in the 2026…
Proud to Announce Our Recognition in Lexology Index 2025 - 2026
We are pleased to announce that 13 lawyers and attorneys from Gün + Partners have been recognized in Lexology Index 2025 - 2026 across key work areas including Healthcare & Life Sciences, Intellectual Property, Commercial Litigation, Telecoms, Media & Entertainment, M&A and Governance, Data Privacy & Protection, and Information Technology. The following Gün + Partners practitioners have been recognized: Mehmet Gün, Senior PartnerHealthcare & Life…
DPO Club Session 02 Was Hosted by Gün + Partners
We hosted DPO Club Session 02: Liability of E-Commerce Platforms Following the Constitutional Court Decision, organized by Data Privacy Türkiye, at Gün + Partners.…
Gün + Partners Participated in Customs Training on IP Rights Protection for the Automotive Sector
We were pleased to participate in the "Automotive Sector – Customs Training on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights", organized by the Customs General Directorate at the Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TİM) Conference Hall in Istanbul on June 25, 2026.…
Gün + Partners Visits Istanbul Modern’s “Semiha Berksoy: The Aria of All Colors” Exhibition
Yesterday, we visited the “Semiha Berksoy: The Aria of All Colors” exhibition at Istanbul Modern. Semiha Berksoy was not only Türkiye’s first female opera singer, but also one of the powerful symbols of the Republic’s cultural transformation. Seeing opera, theatre, cinema, and painting not as separate disciplines but as parts of a single creative world, Berksoy played the leading role in Özsoy, the first Turkish opera staged in Türkiye, became one of the first Turkish…
We Have Been Recognized in the WTR Global Leaders 2026
We Have Been Recognized in the WTR Global Leaders 2026. We are proud to announce that Mehmet Gün, Güldeniz Doğan Alkan, Hande Hançar, Uğur Aktekin, Zeynep Seda Alhas and Pınar Arıkan have been recognized in the WTR Global Leaders 2026. WTR Global Leaders brings together the world’s foremost law firm and corporate trademark experts, allowing the wider community to benefit from their insight, experience, and perspectives.
Gün + Partners Ranked in the IAM Patent 1000 - The World's Leading Patent Professionals 2026
The 2026 edition of the IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals has been released. We are proud to announce that we have been recognised as the top tier firm and our 8 practitioners are recognized as the leading individuals in the IAM Patent 1000 - The World's Leading Patent Professionals 2026. The IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals is the definitive resource for identifying world-class, private practice patent expertise. The 2026…
Beril Yayla Sapan Featured as Speaker at TEİD Panel – From Silence to Justice: How Should Corporations Investigate Allegations?
We are pleased to share that our Partner and TEİD Board Member, Beril Yayla Sapan, shared her expertise and insights at the panel discussion titled "From Silence to Justice: How Should Corporations Investigate Allegations?". The event was organized by the Ethics and Reputation Society (TEİD) Internal Investigations Working Group on April 21st. Click here for details: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7455536332195549185