Trademark Services in Turkey
Trademark services in Turkey include trademark searches, national applications, Madrid Protocol matters, oppositions, renewals, recordals, watching and enforcement. These procedures are handled before the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT) under the Turkish Industrial Property Code No. 6769.
Optimum Patent assists international companies, entrepreneurs and intellectual property professionals with trademark searches, classification, filing, prosecution, oppositions, renewals and trademark watching in Turkey.
Key Information
- Official authority: Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT)
- Protection term: 10 years from the application date
- Renewal: Renewable for successive 10-year periods
- Territorial scope: A Turkish registration provides protection within Turkey
- Foreign applicants: Applicants domiciled outside Turkey must appoint an authorized Turkish trademark attorney for direct national applications.
- Use requirement: A registered trademark may become vulnerable to cancellation if it is not put to genuine use in Turkey within the applicable five-year period
Who Can Apply for a Trademark in Turkey?
Individuals and legal entities may apply for trademark protection in Turkey if they meet the eligibility requirements established by Turkish law and applicable international agreements.
Applicants domiciled outside Turkey must be represented by a trademark attorney authorized to act before TÜRKPATENT when filing a direct national application. This requirement does not apply in the same way to an international application designating Turkey through the Madrid System.
What Can Be Registered as a Trademark?
A trademark may consist of words, personal names, letters, numbers, logos, shapes, colors, sounds or other signs, provided that the sign:
- distinguishes the goods or services of one undertaking from those of others; and
- can be represented clearly and precisely in the trademark register.
A sign may be refused if it lacks distinctive character, directly describes the relevant goods or services, is misleading, conflicts with public order or falls within another legal ground for refusal.
Trademark Search and Classification
Before filing, it is advisable to search for earlier identical or similar trademarks and assess the legal risks associated with the proposed mark.
The application must also identify the goods and services for which protection is requested. These are organized according to the Nice Classification system. The wording and scope of the list should reflect the applicant’s present or reasonably planned commercial activities.
A trademark search does not provide a 100% guarantee of registration. However, it can significantly reduce the risk of refusal or opposition by identifying foreseeable conflicts before the application is filed.
Trademark Registration in Turkey
A trademark can be registered in Turkey through a direct national application before TÜRKPATENT. Foreign applicants may also seek protection in Turkey through the Madrid System, depending on their international trademark strategy.
For filing requirements, application stages, examination and registration procedures, see our Trademark Registration in Turkey guide.
Publication and Opposition
If an application passes the initial examination, it is published in the Official Trademark Bulletin. Owners of earlier rights may oppose the application within the statutory opposition period.
An opposition may be based on earlier trademark rights, likelihood of confusion, reputation, bad faith or other grounds recognized under Turkish law. Applicants may submit observations in response to an opposition.
Trademark Protection and Renewal
A registered Turkish trademark is protected for ten years from its application date and may be renewed for successive ten-year periods. For renewal deadlines, late renewal and fee calculation, see our Trademark Renewal in Turkey guide.
Trademark protection is territorial. Registration in Turkey does not automatically create enforceable trademark rights in other countries.
Non-Use Cancellation Risk
A trademark registered in Turkey should be put to genuine use for the goods and services covered by the registration.
If the trademark is not genuinely used in Turkey within five years following registration, or if its use is interrupted for an uninterrupted period of five years, the registration may become vulnerable to cancellation unless there is a justified reason for non-use.
Cancellation does not automatically transfer ownership of the trademark to a third party.
Madrid Protocol Applications Designating Turkey
Applicants may seek trademark protection in Turkey through an international registration under the Madrid Protocol. When Turkey is designated, TÜRKPATENT examines the designation under Turkish trademark law and may issue a provisional refusal or consider oppositions filed by third parties.
For a comparison of international and direct national filing routes, see our Madrid Protocol vs. National Trademark Application in Turkey guide.
Trademark Watching After Registration
Registration does not mean that TÜRKPATENT will automatically refuse every later application that resembles an earlier trademark.
Trademark watching helps identify potentially conflicting applications published in the Official Trademark Bulletin. Early detection allows the trademark owner to assess the risk and, where appropriate, file an opposition within the legal time limit.
Our Trademark Services in Turkey
Optimum Patent provides assistance with:
- Trademark availability and similarity searches
- Classification of goods and services
- National trademark applications
- Madrid Protocol designations of Turkey
- Responses to provisional refusals
- Third-party oppositions and counter-statements
- Appeals against TÜRKPATENT decisions
- Assignment, license and recordal procedures
- Trademark renewals
- Trademark watching
- Non-use cancellation proceedings
- Customs recordal for trademarks and designs
- Trademark infringement and enforcement support
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Turkish trademark attorney?
If you are domiciled outside Turkey and wish to file a direct national application, you must appoint a trademark attorney authorized to act before TÜRKPATENT.
How long does trademark protection last in Turkey?
A registered trademark is protected for ten years from the application date and may be renewed for successive ten-year periods. See our Trademark Renewal in Turkey guide for renewal deadlines and procedures.
Does a trademark search guarantee registration?
No. A search cannot guarantee registration, but it can substantially reduce foreseeable refusal and opposition risks.
Is a foreign trademark automatically protected in Turkey?
No. A registration obtained in another country does not automatically provide protection in Turkey. A national application or an international registration designating Turkey is required.
Does a Madrid registration guarantee protection in Turkey?
No. TÜRKPATENT examines each designation under Turkish law, and a provisional refusal or third-party opposition may arise.
Must a registered trademark be used in Turkey?
Yes. A registration may become vulnerable to cancellation if the mark is not genuinely used in Turkey within the legally relevant five-year period.
Request a Preliminary Trademark Assessment
Tell us about the trademark you wish to protect, the relevant goods or services and your preferred filing route. Our authorized trademark attorneys can assess the proposed mark, identify the appropriate classes and explain the available application options in Turkey.