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 Ranked in The Legal 500 2025
We are proud to have achieved Top Tier rankings in 3 out of the 9 practice areas in which we are ranked. This recognition reflects the strength and dedication of our team across a broad range of practices. We are also pleased to share that: 2 of our lawyers are listed in the 'Hall of Fame', 3 are recognized as 'Leading Individuals', 2 are ranked among the 'Next Generation Partners', and 5 are named 'Leading Associates'. The Legal 500 is one of the most prestigious…
Beste Turan Kurtoğlu Spoke at the Patent Report LIVE #9 Event
The 10 patent topics that stood out in patent law in 2024 were discussed at the PatentEffect Patent Report LIVE #9 event held on March 26. Our senior associate Beste Turan Kurtoğlu from the Patent and Utility Models team evaluated the impact of the CJEU's long-arm jurisdiction interpretation on the patent world, the Italian Supreme Court's assessment of the Bolar Exception, and the importance of evidence collection in patent disputes.
Begüm Yavuzdoğan Okumuş and Yalçın Umut Talay spoke at the ARTED Webinar on Artificial Intelligence in the Medical Device Industry
Our partner Begüm Yavuzdoğan Okumuş and our managing associate Yalçın Umut Talay spoke at the "Artificial Intelligence in the Medical Device Industry Webinar" organized by ARTED. The webinar explored the rising role of artificial intelligence technologies in the medical device sector and the impact of developments in this field on the industry.
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.