Insights
Amendments to the Regulation on Commercial Advertisement and Unfair Commercial Practices
The Regulation Amending the Regulation on Commercial Advertisement and Unfair Commercial Practices was published in the Official Gazette dated July 1, 2026. This regulation introduces significant changes in many current areas, such as targeted advertisements, advertising created using artificial intelligence, advertisements by social media influencers, environmental claims, sales with discounts, and consumer reviews. Key amendments A new Article 25/A titled "Targeted… »
Protection of Digital Fonts under Copyright, Design Law and Unfair Competition Regulations
With the digitalisation of commerce, digital fonts are no longer just an element of design; they have become an integral part of brand identity and commercial communication. It is now possible for original digital fonts to enjoy protection under copyright and design law, as explained in our article, https://gun.av.tr/tr/goruslerimiz/guncel-yazilar/dijital-yazi-tiplerinin-telif-ve-tasarim-hukuku-bakimindan-korunmasi. In addition to copyright and design law, digital fonts may… »
Recent Developments in the Protection of Biometric Data
The use of biometric recognition systems has become widespread in recent years across a wide range of sectors, from workplaces to gyms, and from public institutions to digital services. Technologies such as fingerprint recognition, facial recognition and iris scanning are used for purposes such as identity verification, access control and time and attendance tracking. However, the fact that biometric data is unique to the individual, immutable and, in the event of a breach… »
Infringement of Second Medical Use Claims And Proof of Infringement
The patentability of second medical use claims is explicitly regulated under EPC 54(5) with the amendments made to the European Patent Convention (“EPC”) in 2000, which entered into force on 13 December 2007. In Türkiye, although there is no explicit provision on this issue in the Industrial Property Code no. 6769, the discussions regarding the patentability of these claims have ended with the decision of the General Assembly of the Court of Appeal dated October 21, 2021[1].… »
Use of Competitor Trademarks in Google Ads: An Assessment of a Recent Court Decision
With the development of digital advertising, infringements of trademark rights are no longer limited to visible forms of use such as product packaging, signs, catalogues, or website content. The possibility of using competitors’ trademarks as keywords, redirecting codes, search terms, or similar advertising parameters within the Google Ads system, which directs consumers’ access to certain brands and products/services in Google searches, gives rise to disputes lying at the… »
Does the ‘Long Arm’ of the UPC Reach Turkey?
After long years of deliberation, the Agreement establishing the Unified Patent Court (“Agreement”) was accepted on majority of the European Union (EU) member states in 2013 and entered into force on 01 June 2023. The Unified Patent Court (UPC) was envisaged as a common court for the member states party to the Agreement. And thus, the UPC became part of the judicial system of the member states party to the Agreement and was authorised to resolve disputes concerning European… »
Artificial Intelligence from a Copyright Perspective: Global Developments and Reflections in Türkiye
Artificial intelligence technologies have begun to be used by almost everyone and have increasingly become an integral part of daily life. With the widespread adoption of these technologies, which are capable of generating new outputs by processing inputs such as text, images and other forms of data, the question of whether outputs created by artificial intelligence models qualify as “works” and whether they infringe third parties’ copyright has continued to be intensely… »
Publishing Rights in Online Use - 2026
As digital technologies continue to transform the publishing industry, the debate on copyright in online use is intensifying at an unprecedented pace. In particular, the integration of artificial intelligence (“AI”)-driven systems into content creation and dissemination processes is reshaping the balance between publishers and digital platforms. Against this backdrop, it is clear that the regulatory framework established under the 2019 European Union (EU) Directive on… »
Draft Law on Digital Copyright
As emphasized in our recent article[1] on publishing rights in online use, the transformative impact of digitalization on the media and publishing sector has necessitated fundamental changes in copyright law. Within this framework, the Draft Law on Digital Copyright (“Draft”), which aims to protect copyrights in digital media, was submitted to the Turkish Grand National Assembly on 11 December 2025 and is currently under review by the relevant commission. The Draft has been… »
The Long-Awaited Amendment Has Entered into Force: Maternity and Paternity Leave Periods Extended
Significant amendments affecting working life have entered into force with the publication of the Law No. 7578 on Amendments to the Social Services Law and Certain Other Laws (“Law No. 7578”) in the Official Gazette dated 1 May 2026 and numbered 33240. Within the scope of these amendments, both maternity and paternity leave durations have been extended. Maternity Leave Pursuant to Article 74 of the Labour Law No. 4857, female employees had previously been entitled to a total… »
Corporate Governance 2026 in Turkey
Primary sources of law, regulation and practiceWhat are the primary sources of law, regulation and practice relating to corporate governance? Is it mandatory for listed companies to comply with listing rules or do they apply on a "comply or explain" basis? The Turkish Commercial Code (TCC) dated 13 January 2011 (Law No. 6102) entered into force on 1 July 2012. The TCC has important objectives, such as ensuring transparency, adopting corporate governance standards and… »
Startup Legal Playbook - Fourth Edition 2026
Begüm Yavuzdoğan Okumuş and Uğur Erkırlı have contributed to Startup Legal Playbook - Fourth Edition 2026, which is published by ITechLaw. Startup Legal Playbook: A Quick Reference Guide to International Market Entry for Startups (and Their Lawyers) provides startup founders and lawyers with a practical, quick-reference guide to key legal issues startups may face when entering foreign jurisdictions. The Fourth Edition was created to help readers triage important local… »
News and Events
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
We are attending London International Disputes Week (LIDW) 2026
We are pleased to announce that our partners, Beril Yayla Sapan and Asena Aytuğ Keser, will be representing Gün + Partners at London International Disputes Week (LIDW) from June 1st to 5th. Our team is looking forward to connecting with colleagues from across the globe to discuss the evolving landscape of cross-border litigation and arbitration. If you are attending and would like to catch up or coordinate a meeting, please feel free to reach out to Beril or Asena.
We are Attending the 12th Annual IBA World Life Sciences Conference in Lisbon
We are pleased to announce our participation in the 12th Annual IBA World Life Sciences Conference, held in Lisbon from 3–5 June 2026. This year’s agenda addresses the life sciences industry's most pressing challenges, from AI data rights and global patent litigation to M&A strategies in uncertain markets. Our partner, Özge Atılgan Karakulak and managing associate Zeynep Çağla Üstün will be representing Gün + Partners. Özge Atılgan Karakulak, will serve as a conference…
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…
We Are the "Firm of the Year" by Managing IP EMEA Awards 2026
Gün + Partners was awarded the Türkiye Trademark Disputes Firm of the Year at the Managing IP European, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Awards 2026. The Managing IP Awards programme recognises remarkable intellectual property achievements and developments in the last year. The awards cover several IP practice areas and more than 50 jurisdictions.
We are Attending the 10th IBA Global Entrepreneurship Conference in Vienna
We are pleased to announce our participation at the 10th IBA Global Entrepreneurship Conference, which will be held in Vienna on 17-19 May 2026 and extend an invitation for a potential meeting during the event. Görkem Bilgin, partner, will be representing Gün + Partners at the conference. If you are interested in exploring collaboration opportunities or simply reconnecting, please feel free to get in touch with him. We eagerly anticipate the prospect of meeting you…
Özge Atılgan Karakulak Will Be a Speaker at INTA 2026 Annual Meeting in London
We are pleased to announce that Özge Atılgan Karakulak, partner in our Life Sciences and Patents and Utility Models practices, will be a featured speaker at the INTA 2026 Annual Meeting in London. She will be a speaker in the panel session titled 'Leading the IP Charge: Strategic Skills for Non-Patent Professionals,' taking place on May 6, 2026. This session addresses a critical modern challenge: leading a high-performing IP team without a technical patent background.…