Insights
OneTrust DataGuidance - Employment
Beril Yayla Sapan and Begüm Yavuzdogan Okumuş have contributed to Data Guidance Turkey - Employment, which is published by OneTrust. OneTrus Data Guidance Turkey - Employment provides detailed information on employee privacy and data protection regulations in Turkey, covering key legislation, official guidelines, supervisory authorities, and case law. It outlines the absence of a specific employee privacy law in Turkey but emphasizes the importance of the Personal Data… »
New Legal Provision Addressing Counterfeit and Unauthorized Practices in the Medical Device Industry
The Law No. 7557 on the “Amendments to Certain Laws Related to Health and to the Decree Law No. 663”, which entered into force on 24 July 2025, introduced numerous changes that directly affect the healthcare sector. One of these changes is the Additional Article 20, which was added to the Basic Law on Health Services. This article aims to address critical areas such as the placement of counterfeit medical devices on the market, unauthorized sales and technical service… »
From the Perspective of Data Protection and Cybersecurity: Increasing Need for Regulation in Artificial Intelligence
The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and the widespread use of generative artificial intelligence systems also bring the need to regulate artificial intelligence. The steps taken and the issues discussed in European Union member states within the scope of the European Union’s AI Act have also begun to clarify the legal framework applicable to those systems and applications. Despite the lack of any specific regulation applicable to AI in Türkiye… »
Surprise Boxes: Mystery or Risk for Consumers?
In recent years, the concept of “mystery boxes” or “surprise boxes” has become increasingly popular, taking a central place in the marketing strategies of many companies. While the element of surprise and intrigue offered by these products is highly appealing, it also raises various legal questions regarding whether the delivered items actually meet consumer expectations. The Advertisement Board (“Board”), at its meeting dated September 11, 2025, placed on its agenda mystery… »
Turkish Courts Invalidate Trademark for Similarity to Madran Mountain Spring Water
In Turkey, absolute grounds for refusal in trademark registration are regulated under Article 5 of the Industrial Property Code No 6769 (the IP Code). According to Article 5(1)(f) of the IP Code, signs that may mislead the public about matters such as the nature, quality or geographical origin of the goods or services are one of the absolute grounds for refusal, meaning that those signs shall not be registered as trademarks. Background In an opposition proceeding before the… »
Artificial Intelligence and Pharmaceutical Industry: The Transformation in the Technology and Patent System Shaping the Future
Artificial intelligence influences every aspect of our lives and creates revolutionary effects in the pharmaceutical industry as well as in many other sectors. From DeepMind's AlphaGo success to Tempus' personalized approaches to cancer treatment, AI-enabled innovations offer not only scientific achievements, but also wide-ranging advantages such as operational efficiency, cost reduction and risk reduction. However, this technological leap also raises critical questions about… »
Court of Cassation Renders Controversial Decision on Likelihood of Confusion in Dispute Over Pharma Marks
Background A Turkish company operating in the pharmaceutical sector, which owns the registered trademarks BATIKAR and BATISOL in Class 5, filed an infringement action against a pharmaceutical company selling antiseptic disinfectants under the trademark MIRADERM BATIMER. The plaintiff argued that the expression ‘batimer’ was similar to their BATIKAR and BATISOL trademarks, particularly due to the shared ‘bati’ element, and that there was a likelihood of confusion. Decisions In… »
Turkish Patent and Trademark Office’s 2024 Revisions:Updates to the Trademark Classification System
At the end of 2024, Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (“the Office”) made a significant move by publishing a revised communiqué on the classification of goods and services for trademark registration applications. The changes, which came into effect following their publication in the Official Gazette on 20 December 2024, align the Turkish classification system with the latest updates made to the Nice Classification. These revisions aim to make the trademark application… »
Update on the Well-known Trademark Registry Debate in Türkiye
The well-known trademark registry of the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (“the Office”) became a discussion topic after the Turkish Court of Cassation decided in 2020 that the Office has no authority to create and maintain a registry for well-known trademarks (see (Turkey well-known trademark registry is again open for debate) First-instance intellectual property courts and regional courts of appeals adopted this decision immediately and changed their practice, while the… »
How Automotive Associations and Law Firms Can Combat Counterfeit Auto Parts Together
Auto Spare Parts and Distribution Ecosystem The automotive industry relies on highly technical products that do not reach end users directly. Instead, these products are distributed through dealers, service centres, mechanics, and authorised resellers, who play a critical role in ensuring that genuine products reach the end user. For instance, essential annual maintenance activities such as spare part replacement, oil refilling, and system updates are carried out by these… »
Trademark Protection for Work Titles: Challenges and Insights
Article 83 of Law No. 5846 on Intellectual and Artistic Works stipulates that the names of works can be protected independently of the works themselves under the provisions on unfair competition. Our assessment of this protection is discussed in our article, 'Protection of Work Titles'1. An important aspect of work title protection is their registration as trademarks. In practice, it is common for elements of cinematographic works, such as characters and locations, as well as… »
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 ICANN 81 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… »
News and Events
Gün + Partners Top Ranked by IP STARS 2024
We are thrilled to announce that Gün + Partners has been top-ranked by Managing IP’s IP STARS 2024! Our team has been recognized as a top-tier practice for trade mark disputes, trade mark prosecution, and copyright & related rights. Four of our practitioners have been listed among the trade mark stars by IP STARS 2024. A special congratulations to Hande Hançar for being recognized among the Top 250 Women in IP in the 2024 edition. Our patent team has been recognized as…
Meet us at the 2025 AIPPI World Congress in Yokohama
Gün + Partners' AIPPI team is excited to attend the AIPPI World Congress in Yokohama this year. The AIPPI World Congress brings together professionals, experts, and stakeholders from around the world in the field of intellectual property (IP) to network, exchange knowledge, and foster business development. Representing Gün + Partners at the conference will be Aysel Korkmaz Yatkın (Partner in patents and utility models practice) and Zeynep Seda Alhas (Partner in trademarks…
We Are the Firm of the Year Türkiye – LMG Life Sciences Awards EMEA 2025
Congratulations to our Life Sciences team on being named "Türkiye Firm of the Year" at the LMG Life Sciences Awards 2025 EMEA! This prestigious award reflects the team's commitment to excellence and innovation in life sciences law. The LMG Life Sciences Awards honor the region’s leading practitioners and firms for their standout work over the past year—recognizing the most impactful cases, deals, and legal strategies across the industry. We're proud to see our team’s…
Begüm Soydan Sayılkan and Atacan Yılmaz Delivered Presentations on Customs During the In-Service Training in Doğubayazıt
Our managing associate Begüm Soydan Sayılkan and our associate Atacan Yılmaz conducted presentations during the in-service training sessions organized by the General Directorate of Customs, held on May 28-29, 2025, in Doğubayazıt, Ağrı. These sessions, attended by customs officers from the Gürbulak and Eastern Anatolia Customs and Foreign Trade Regional Directorate, centered on the protection and enforcement of intellectual and industrial property rights at customs.…
Hande Hançar Listed in Top 250 Women in IP 2025
Congratulations to Hande Hançar on her recognition in the Top 250 Women in IP by IP Stars! This prestigious list highlights senior female intellectual property practitioners who are highly recommended by clients and peers, and who have made a significant impact on the IP field through their work, leadership, and influence. The Top 250 Women in IP is part of IP Stars’ annual research, which identifies outstanding women across the global IP profession.
We are Attending the INTA’s 2025 Annual Meeting in San Diego
Our team - Barış Kalaycı, Güldeniz Doğan Alkan, Hande Hançar, Mutlu Yıldırım Köse, Uğur Aktekin, Zeynep Seda Alhas, and Pınar Arıkan are attending INTA’s 2025 Annual Meeting in San Diego, California. As always, the Annual Meeting will be a great opportunity to engage with fellow IP professionals, discuss the evolving global IP landscape, and reconnect with friends and colleagues from around the world. If you’ll be there and would like to connect-whether to explore…
INTA Pre-Annual Meeting Reception 2025 Istanbul Co-hosted By Gün + Partners
This reception is planned exclusively for you and your colleagues to learn more about INTA’s upcoming 2025 Annual Meeting. Feel free to bring a friend, colleague, or prospective member to find out more about this year's educational program, Business Development offerings, and more. Plus, learn about all the benefits of becoming an INTA member! Speaker: Şerif Yenen - Turkish tour guide, travel writer, and international speaker, Guest Lecturer at the Smithsonian, renowned…
Our Lawyers Have Been Recognised as Mondaq Thought Leading Authors
We are delighted our lawyers have been recognised as Mondaq Thought Leading Authors for the below categories at the Mondaq Spring 2025 awards. Arbitration & Dispute Resolution - A New Regulation on the Sanction for Non-Attendance to Mandatory MediationEmployment and HR - Changes to Minimum Wage, Severance Payments and Administrative Fines in 2025Compliance - Developments About Corporate Sustainability in TürkiyeEnvironmental Law - Developments About Corporate…
We are Attending the 11th AIDA Europe Conference in Madrid
We are pleased to announce our participation at the 11th AIDA Europe Conference, which will be held in Madrid on 29-30 May 2025 and extend an invitation for a potential meeting during the event. Aysel Korkmaz Yatkın, 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 her. We eagerly anticipate the prospect of meeting you face-to-face at…
We are Attending the 22nd IBA Annual International Mergers & Acquisitions Conference in New York
We are pleased to announce our participation at the 22nd IBA Annual International Mergers & Acquisitions Conference, which will be held in New York on 4-5 Jun 2025 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…
Kendal Basut Was Recently Featured in the RAI Documentary, Punti di Vista – The Threat of Counterfeiting to Made in Italy
We are pleased to share that our Senior Associate, Kendal Basut, was recently featured in the RAI documentary program Punti di Vista, aired on April 9, 2025. In this episode, Kendal participated in a discussion addressing the increasing threat that counterfeiting poses to Italian industries amid rising protectionist measures and new tariffs. Alongside government officials, economic experts, and industry leaders, Kendal provided insights into the legal implications and…
Güldeniz Doğan Alkan Spoke at the Webinar Organized by TOBBUYUM
Our partner Güldeniz Doğan Alkan spoke at the webinar titled 'Dispute Resolution Mechanism in Domain Name Disputes,' organized by TOBBUYUM. The “Dispute Resolution Mechanism in Domain Name Disputes” webinar provided participants with valuable information on the methods that can be followed and the current legal procedures for resolving domain name disputes. With contributions from experts in domain name registration, infringements, and resolution methods, participants had…