Insights
New Developments Regarding the Obligation to Register with the Data Controllers’ Registry
With the decision of the Personal Data Protection Board dated 04.09.2025 and numbered 2025/1572, which entered into force by being published in the Official Gazette on 01.10.2025, the scope of data controllers exempt from the obligation to register with the Data Controllers’ Registry (VERBİS) has been amended. Previously, data controllers whose main activity involved processing special categories of personal data were subject to the VERBİS registration obligation. However… »
Protection of Personal Data and Data Subject Rights in the Context of Artificial Intelligence Technologies
The processing of personal data is inevitable during the use of artificial intelligence technologies. The processing of personal data in accordance with fundamental principles and the protection of the rights of data subjects and the accurate and adequate response to their requests will essentially minimize the risks of harm to individuals arising from the processing of personal data in artificial intelligence technologies and serve to protect their personal rights at all… »
Letter of Commitment For Evictıon: Issues of Proof
Due to economic fluctuations in Turkey in the recent years, landlords have been seeking to increase rent prices and tenants have not responded favorably to these requests which eventually lead to an increase in disputes over eviction. Particularly in residential and commercial property leases, due to the unique and stringent conditions imposed by the Turkish Code of Obligations No. 6698 (“the Code”) on the termination of lease agreements and the eviction of tenants, landlords… »
Legal Issues Arising in Autonomous (Driverless) Vehicles: Liability and Privacy
Rapid technological developments in the automotive sector have led to the increased presence of autonomous (driverless) vehicles in traffic in some countries around the world, thereby bringing related legal issues to the forefront. In this context, there is a need for legal regulations that can keep pace with technological developments and respond to emerging needs, and the adequacy of existing legal regulations in serving technological developments is being evaluated. Among… »
Court of Cassation Issues Controversial Decision on Likelihood of Confusion in Dispute Over Pharma Marks
The owner of the marks BATIKAR and BATISOL in Class 5 sued the defendant for selling antiseptic disinfectants under the mark MIRADERM BATIMER While the IP Court ruled in favour of the defendant, the Regional Court – and subsequently the Court of Cassation – found that the shared element ‘bati’ created a likelihood of confusion Arguably, the courts did not take into account the specifics of the relevant sector and the global appreciation principle in the examination of… »
Update on The Well-known Trademark Registry Debate in Turkey
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, whereas… »
IP and Music: Feel the Beat of Intellectual Property
Music is a universal form of expression that transcends cultures, languages, and generations. From ancient times to today’s digital platforms, music has always served as a powerful carrier of emotions, thoughts, and collective memory. The creation of this powerful form of expression involves the creative efforts of many individuals—ranging from lyricists and composers to performers and sound engineers—and this effort is recognized and protected by means of copyrights. In… »
Assessing the Merits of DRS Provider Decisions on Domain Names in Türkiye
As of September 14, 2022, disputes concerning domain names with the ccTLD for Türkiye – “.tr” – are resolved under the TRABİS (“TR Domain Name Information System”) framework by accredited Dispute Resolution Service Providers (“DRS Provider”). This new system aims to resolve domain name ownership and use disputes more effectively. A notable recent development in this new system and process emerged when a DRS Provider’s decision was brought before the courts. Alternative… »
When Overall Perception Speaks Louder Than Words: Conceptual Similarity
In the cosmetics sector, logos play a crucial role considering that consumers pay close attention to brand image, but they act quickly when buying products. Visual appearance often shapes purchasing decisions more than the verbal elements of a trademark. Decisions of Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (“the Office”) accepting the similarity between the trademarks discussed below provide a compelling case study of how overall perception and conceptual similarity between the… »
Turkish Court of Cassation Underlines Key Factors in Establishing Trademark Bad Faith
In a decision dated March 18 2025 (No. 2024/3844 E. (Merits), 2025/1879 K), the 11th Civil Chamber of the Turkish Court of Cassation upheld a Regional Court of Appeal finding that a trademark application had been filed in bad faith – reversing a ruling that dismissed the claim. Background to the case and the first-instance ruling On April 11 2019, an application was filed for the registration of the trademark ‘Stayer+’ in classes 7 and 35 of the Nice Classification. The… »
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 trade mark 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 trade mark application… »
Similarity Assessment in Trademark Applications Containing Low Distinctive Elements in the Light of the Court of Cassation Decisions
In trademark law, the existence of distinctive character is one of the main criteria for the registration of a trademark, and the overall impression of the trademarks and the elements they contain should be examined in detail when evaluating the likelihood of confusion between trademarks. In cases conducted by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (“EUIPO”), it is mentioned that, in addition to the distinctive elements of a trademark, the low distinctive elements… »
News and Events
We Are Attending the CITMA Spring Conference
We are pleased to announce our participation at the CITMA Spring Conference, which will be held in London on 20-21 Mar 2025. Uğur Aktekin, partner, and Baran Güney, managing associate, 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 them.
We Attended the CITMA Spring Conference: Navigating the Digital Frontier Event
Uğur Aktekin and İrem Girenes Yücesoy participated in the CITMA Spring Conference: Navigating the Digital Frontier event held in London, where approximately 200 speakers and delegates from 25 countries participated in various sessions.
Our Lawyers Met with ELSA Ankara Members
As part of the "Lawyers @ Work" event, we hosted ELSA (European Law Students Association) Ankara member law students in our office. Our lawyers shared their working in a full service and institutional law firm experience with ELSA Ankara members and answered the questions of the participants about our firm.
Begüm Yavuzdoğan Okumuş Recognized in Lexology Index: Data 2025
Congratulations to Begüm to be recognized as one of the world's leading Data Privacy & Protection practitioners in the Lexology Index (formerly Who's Who Legal) Data 2025. Lexology Index: Data recognizes the leading lawyers in the areas of data privacy and protection, data security and information technology. Those selected are experts in ensuring that company and individual data remains private, assisting clients with keeping personal control of their data…
Uğur Aktekin and Zeynep Seda Alhas Will Moderate Sessions at the Sertaç Köksaldı 6th Intellectual Property Law Seminar
As part of the “Sertaç Köksaldı 6th Intellectual Property Law Seminar”, current IP issues will be discussed by judges, lawyers, academics, patent and trademark attorneys, and representatives from the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office, all of whom are experienced and have made significant contributions in their respective fields, both in Türkiye and abroad. Topics to be covered in the seminar: Intellectual Property Law in the Context of Artificial…
Barış Kalaycı and Atahan Erkul Discussed IP Enforcement in Türkiye at JETRO Webinar
Our Partner Barış Kalaycı and Senior Associate Atahan Erkul discussed the current state of combating against counterfeits and provided an overview of effective IP enforcement measures in Türkiye over the past year at the 'Türkiye's IPR System and Enforcement' webinar hosted by JETRO.
We Are Attending the 13th IBA European Corporate and Private M&A Conference in Paris
We are pleased to announce our participation at the 13th IBA European Corporate and Private M&A Conference, which will be held in Paris on 6 - 7 Feb 2025 and extend an invitation for a potential meeting during the event. Görkem Bilgin, partner, and Yalçın Umut Talay, managing associate, 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…
Mehmet Gün Spoke at the TÜSİAD SD2 / STEP Panel
Mehmet Gün, our founding partner, spoke in the TÜSİAD SD2 / STEP Panel - Artificial Intelligence and Data Usage: Legal and Security Dimensions organized by TÜSİAD SD2 on November 28. During the panel, the speakers discussed the areas of application for artificial intelligence and data, the expectations of companies from these technologies, the legal and security risks that may arise while utilizing them, the measures that can be taken, and important warnings. They also…
Baran Güney Spoke at Özyeğin University
Baran Güney, our managing associate, served as a guest lecturer in an Advertising Law class at Özyeğin University Faculty of Law. His lecture focused on the legal regulations governing advertisements on social media.
Özge Atılgan Karakulak Spoke at the Pharma Biotech Patent Litigation Europe Summit
Özge Atılgan Karakulak, partner in our Life Sciences and Patents and Utility Models practices, spoke at the Pharma Biotech Patent Litigation Europe Summit in Amsterdam, which took place on January 21-22, 2025. She spoke at the session titled “Bolar Exemption Safe Harbor Update Across Europe and the USA." The summit provides critical insights, including analyses of the first UPC decisions on the merits, cross-border case law, and refined litigation strategies. Key sessions…
Announcement of New Senior Associate Promotions, 2025
We are pleased to announce the continued growth of our firm with the promotion of Ayşenur Çıtak Bozdağ, Bengü Şen Gürakan, Beste Turan Kurtoğlu, Seda Takmaz, and Utku Süngü to Senior Associate, effective 1 January 2025.
Gün + Partners Top Ranked by WTR 1000 2025
We have been ranked as a top-tier firm in both the “Enforcement and Litigation” and “Prosecution and Strategy” categories in the World Trademark Review (WTR) 1000: The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals 2025. Additionally, 13 of our practitioners have been recognized as recommended individuals. The WTR 1000 identifies the top trademark practitioners and firms worldwide, serving as the definitive ‘go-to’ guide for those seeking legal trademark expertise. WTR…