Trademark

In Turkey, the current law pertaining to the protection of trademarks is Decree-Law 556 which is in force as from June 27, 1995. This has brought the modern provisions such as protection of service marks, absolute and relative grounds for refusal, publication of the applications and opposition by third parties, infringement procedures and compensation of damages against infringement, establishment of special courts. Beside of registrability of trademarks owned by multi-proprietors, The Decree Law 556 has provided the registration of guarantee and collective marks.

Turkey has also become a party to the Protocol relating to the Madrid Agreement concerning the International Registration of Marks as of January 01, 1999 with the decision of Council of Ministers. The international trademark registrations under the Madrid Protocol can be extended to Turkey and filed from Turkey as from the effective date.

On June 01, 2002, a new classification system according to the international classification of goods and services has been accepted and the service class 42 has been limited by creation of new service classes 43, 44, and 45 which consist eliminated items of class 42.