Insights
Interactions with Health Care Professionals, Transfer of Values and Conditions of Payment
Promotion activities for pharmaceutical products for human use are regulated under the Regulation on the Promotion of Medicinal Products for Human Use dated 3 July 2015 (“Promotion Regulation”). The Promotion Regulation stipulates that the promotion of pharmaceutical products can only be conducted with healthcare professionals such as doctors, dentists, and pharmacists. As a result, the interaction of pharmaceutical companies with patients are limited, and direct… »
Medicines and Medical Devices Sectors: Current Status and Evolving Dynamics
The pharmaceutical sector saw a 2.7% increase in production in 2023. However, between January and July of 2024, there was a 5.2% decrease compared to the same period in the previous year. By 2023, pharmaceutical imports increased by 8.8% reaching a value of 5.4 billion USD, while pharmaceutical exports grew by 15.8% to the size of 2.2 billion USD. In the first half of 2024, exports rose by 1.9%, while imports increased by 4.9% [1]. In 2023, the Turkish pharmaceutical market… »
Named Patient Program
Named Patient Programs (“NPP”) is one of the exceptional pharmaceutical importation regimes for products that are not authorized or authorized but unavailable in the Turkish market for various reasons. In cases where a product does not have marketing authorization in Türkiye or has marketing authorization but cannot be found on the market, and patients need the product in question, it is possible to procure the pharmaceutical via this method upon the request of a physician.… »
Insights from ICANN 81 and Domain Name Disputes in Türkiye
The 81st ICANN meeting (ICANN 81) was held in Istanbul, Türkiye, in November 2024, offering a significant platform for global discussions on internet governance, domain names, and online policy. The 81st ICANN meeting underscored the importance of evolving global internet governance, particularly through advancements in the New gTLD Program and initiatives like the Registration Data Request Service (RDRS). While these developments highlight strides toward inclusivity and… »
Data Residency in Turkey for 2025
Executive Summary: Data Residency in Turkey – Q&A Format Overview 1.1 General Personal Data Q: Can personal data be transferred abroad? A: Yes, but under specific conditions. Before June 1, 2024, personal data could be transferred abroad only if explicit consent was obtained or if a legal basis other than consent existed. These legal bases were outlined under Article 5 of the Data Protection Law (DPL). However, the applicability of these bases was limited due to the… »
Work Bearing The Characteristics of Its Author - “Selvi Boylum Al Yazmalım”
The decision of the 11th Civil Chamber of the Court of Cassation dated 24.05.2022 and numbered 2020/8509 E. 2022/3996 K. has been enlightening, both in terms of the examination of the distinctive signs of the work and the works bearing the characteristics of the author, and in terms of the amendments made to the Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works, especially regarding cinematographic works. Following the publication of the previous version of our article, the 16th Civil… »
Recommendations from the Personal Data Protection Authority on the Protection of Personal Data in the Field of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, as one of the fastest-developing and most widely debated fields today, provide significant benefits to individuals and society while also posing various risks in terms of personal data protection. Recently, the widely discussed DeepSeek has been subjected to review by the European Commission and relevant data protection authorities. The Personal Data Protection Authority (“Authority”) has issued the following recommendations for… »
Matters to be Considered in Standard Contracts to be Used in the Transfer of Personal Data Abroad
With the amendment made to Article 9 of the Personal Data Protection Law No. 6698 (“Law”), titled “Transfer of personal data abroad”, standard contracts have been introduced as one of the appropriate safeguards that data controllers and data processors may rely on for the transfer of personal data abroad. With the enactment of the law amendment on June 1, 2024 with a three-month transition period for cross-border data transfers, and the publication of the Regulation on the… »
Changes to Minimum Wage, Severance Payments and Administrative Fines in 2025
At the beginning of each year, the minimum wage, severance payments and administrative fines prescribed by the Labour Act are revised. This article provides an overview of the 2025 changes, which came into effect on 1 January 2025. Minimum wage In 2024 the monthly minimum wage rate was 20,002.50 Turkish liras (gross). As of 1 January 2025, this has increased to 26,005.50 Turkish liras (gross). The new rate applies from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025. The minimum wage… »
SNICKERS v PEANUT & CARAMEL: an Appetising Decision
The IP Court found that there was a likelihood of confusion between a figurative mark containing the words ‘Ankara çikolata peanut & caramel’ and earlier SNICKERS marks The Regional Court of Appeals agreed, and the Court of Cassation dismissed the appeal The well-known status of the opponent’s marks in the food sector enhanced the likelihood of confusion between the marks A recent IP Court decision has highlighted the impact of conceptual similarity and well-known… »
Domain Name Disputes and Online Enforcement in Türkiye
In a follow-up to their post on the Class 46 blog about the 81st ICANN meeting, Mutlu Yıldırım Köse and Baran Güney explore domain name disputes and online enforcement in Türkiye. The Role of TRABIS TRABIS (the .tr Network Information System), established by the Turkish Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK), became operational on 14 September 2022 and undertook the management of .tr domain names. Upon the introduction of TRABIS, the first-come… »
Guidelines on Cross-Border Transfer of Personal Data Published
The long-awaited Guidelines on Cross-Border Transfer of Personal Data (“Guidelines”), prepared to serve as a guiding document regarding the cross-border data transfers under the Personal Data Protection Law (“Law”), was published on the website of the Personal Data Protection Authority (“DPA”) on January 2, 2025. With the amendments made in the Law effective as of June 1, 2024, along with a three-month transition period, and the publication of the Regulation on the Procedures… »
News and Events
Begüm Yavuzdoğan Okumuş Have Been Recognised as a Lexology Legal Influencer
We are delighted Begüm Yavuzdoğan Okumuş, partner in our TMT practice, have been recognised as a leading author in the Lexology Legal Influencers Q2 2023 for TMT - Europe. Lexology Legal Influencers recognises the thought leaders who over the past months have been consistently providing Lexology with useful, insightful legal analysis within their particular work area grouping and region or country in the legal industry every…
Gün + Partners Top Ranked by IP STARS 2023
We are proud to be listed as top tier firm and our five practitioners are listed among trademark stars and patent stars by Euromoney Managing IP’s IP STARS 2023 which is the leading specialist guide for companies or individuals looking for experienced legal practitioners to deal with contentious and non-contentious intellectual property issues. Managing IP has been covering IP law and practice since 1990. https://www.ipstars.com/Jurisdiction/Turkey/Rankings/8546#rankings
Mehmet Gün, Özge Atılgan Karakulak and Selin Sinem Erciyas are Listed in IAM Global Leaders 2023
Our founding partner Mehmet Gün, and our partners Özge Atılgan Karakulak and Selin Sinem Erciyas are listed in IAM Global Leaders 2023. To qualify for inclusion in the IAM Global Leaders, individuals must be ranked in the gold tier of the IAM Patent 1000, the market-leading annual directory that identifies the top law and attorney firms and individuals in the world’s most significant patent…
Our IP Partners Are Listed in WIPR Leaders 2023
Mehmet Gün, Aysel Korkmaz Yatkın, Güldeniz Doğan Alkan, Mutlu Yıldırım Köse, Selin Sinem Erciyas and Uğur Aktekin, partners in our intellectual property practice, are listed in the WIPR Leaders 2023 from Turkey. The guide profiles the leading IP executives across the world. The handbook lists over 2,500 lawyers across patent, trademark, and copyright practices after an extensive nomination period. In order to reach the WIPR Leaders 2023, please click here.
Baran Güney Spoke at Hot Topics in Global Environmental Marketing Webinar
Baran Güney, managing associate in our TMT practice, spoke at Hot Topics in Global Environmental Marketing webinar hosted by Practicing Law Institute in cooperation with the Global Advertising Lawyers Alliance.
IAM Patent 1000 - The World's Leading Patent Professionals Rankings 2023 Announced
The 2023 edition of the IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals has been released online. 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 2023. The IAM Patent 1000 focuses exclusively on patent practice and has firmly established itself as the definitive 'go-to' resource for those seeking world-class…
Selin Sinem Erciyas Spoke at Intellectual Property and Innovation Summit 2023, Europe
Managing IP’s Intellectual Property and Innovation Summit - Europe, took place at The Leonardo Royal Hotel London City, London on 7 - 8 June. Selin Sinem Erciyas, partner in our patent and utility models practice, spoke at "What are the latest legal developments impacting the life sciences industry?" panel.
Özge Atılgan Karakulak Co-chaired 9th Annual IBA World Life Sciences Conference
The 9th Annual IBA World Life Sciences Conference took place on 1 - 2 June 2023 in Washington DC, USA. Özge Atılgan Karakulak, partner in our Life Sciences practice and Advisory Board Member of IBA Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law Committee, was the co-chair of the conference and she co-moderated the “Significant International pos-pandemic IP policies. A worldwide review” panel on 2nd of June.
Better Justice Association presents judicial reform proposals to politicians and global legal experts at the European Parliament and UK House of Lords
Gün + Partners believes that it will be possible for Turkey to achieve an advanced level of welfare for its citizens and for it to take its position among the developed countries by asserting the rule of law and through promoting an advanced democracy. The Turkish judiciary needs to be efficient, transparent and totally independent in order to ensure the rule of law. In keeping with this belief, we make every possible effort support Better Justice Association’s activities…
Congratulations to Our Practitioners Recognized by WWL, They Have Listed Among the Best Professionals in Their Expertise
Congratulations to our practitioners recognized by WWL, they have listed among the best professionals in their expertise. WWL findings are based on recommendations and feedback from eminent private practitioners in the sector or industry in question as well as from corporate counsel or other clients who have worked closely with the nominees. Over the past 24 years, WWL is one of the most trusted resources for in-house counsel, government, agency and other legal…
We Are the "Firm of the Year" by Managing IP EMEA Awards 2023
We are honored to have been selected as the "Firm of the Year" in "Patent Prosecution", "Patent Disputes" and "Copyright" categories in Turkey by Managing Intellectual Property EMEA Awards 2023 which are presented to firms, individuals and companies behind the most innovative and challenging IP work of the past year, as well as those driving the international IP market. The award ceremony attended by representatives of the world's leading law firms and consultancy firms…
Baran Güney Spoke at "Global Advertising Law Year in Review" Webinar by GALA
Baran Güney, senior associate in our TMT practice, talked about ''Overview of some of the key developments in advertising law over the last year in Turkey at "Global Advertising Law Year in Review" webinar by GALA