Intellectual property in Turkey
Deris Attorneys at Law Partnership
Deris Attorneys at Law Partnership handles a broad range of contentious and non-contentious IP matters for clients, including those concerning anti-counterfeiting, trade marks, patents, copyright, anti-piracy, domain name disputes, privacy and personal data protection. It also handles enforcement matters, including customs enforcement and plant breeders’ rights enforcement. Clients include multinational companies in the luxury brands, life sciences, chemicals, automotive and media sectors. Okan Can is recommended for his experience of patent litigation, technology licensing and transactional IP. Aydin Deris is a member of AIPPI, FICPI, INTA and EPI. Can and Deris jointly lead the team with Serra Coral and Kerim Yardimci. Also recommended are senior associate Muazzez Korutürk and Oya Yalvac, who was promoted to partner.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘There is always more than one member of Deris who has the appropriate knowledge as to have fruitful discussions about possible scenarios’.
‘Comprehensive expertise, highly qualified in the respective judicial processes’.
‘Okan Can is outstanding when it comes to infringement cases including cooperation with authorities and negotiating settlements’.
‘The team worked like a well-oiled machine and was smart and efficient’.
‘I had great confidence in each part of the team and their abilities’.
‘Asli Tireli and Bilge Taskara are both very solution oriented and always clear on the strengths or weaknesses of our legal position in each individual case’.
‘Deris Attorneys benefits from a team with a great experience in all areas of IP’.
‘The team is very responsive and their proposition always fits the clients’ needs’.
Key clients
Dystar
Work highlights
- Advised DyStar on securing the successful destruction of 3.3 tons of textile dyes that infringed one of its patents for reactive red dyes.
- Advised Harvard University (President and Fellows of Harvard College) on multi-party litigation concerning the unauthorised use of the HARVARD trade mark in different parts of Turkey through a franchise system.
- Acted for a group of clients on a joint raid operation connected with making counterfeit perfume products.
Gün + Partners
Gün + Partners handles trade marks, industrial designs, copyrights, anti-counterfeiting, patents, prosecution matters and utility models. It generates mandates from clients in sectors such as food and beverage, automotive, financial services, FMCG, TMT, retail, travel and leisure, and pharmaceuticals. Mehmet Gun, who has 30 years of experience, works with practitioners such as Uğur Aktekin, Zeynep Seda Alhas and Bariş Kalayci. Özge Atılgan Karakulak and managing associate Aysel Korkmaz Yatkın are also recommended.
Practice head(s):
Mehmet Gün; Uğur Aktekin; Barış Kalaycı; Özge Atılgan Karakulak
Testimonials
‘Gun has extensive knowledge and experience of IP law’.
‘They follow up case law/precedents and support their theoretical knowledge with realities’.
‘Range of experience and expertise, very good English, practical when needed, and cost efficient’.
‘Ugur Aktekin is very well travelled, which means he understands the way of working in other countries, very experienced – nothing he does not know about the law in Turkey’.
‘Mutlu Yildirim Kose is very personable, a delight to work with and a very keen knowledge of the law’.
‘Advice given is always clear and coherent and they are very competitively priced’.
‘Zeynep Seda Alhas is not only a good lawyer with a perfect knowledge of IP laws and regulations, she is also very pragmatic, provides advice and suggests options that fit our business needs’.
‘Zeynep Seda Alhas is very responsive and tenacious, she has been able to convince reluctant judges to conduct local raids’.
Moroglu Arseven
Moroglu Arseven's practice covers a wide spread of matters, such as licensing, IP portfolio management, trade marks, copyright, patents, industrial designs, domain names, unfair trade and customs processes. It also advises on enforcement, prosecution, litigation and anti-counterfeiting. Işık Özdoğan leads the team, which acts for clients in sectors such as fashion, retail, luxury goods and pharmaceuticals. Senior associate Ece Berkman is another name to note.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘Excellent strategic advice, practical thinking and great communication’.
‘Responsiveness and precision in providing clear practical advice in navigating the challenging local practice before the Turkish PTO’.
‘Very reliable firm with a highly professional and practical approach, well determined and focused on the results’.
‘A consistent showing of exceptional care and responsiveness, with competitive pricing’.
‘Exceptional expertise in local trademark laws and related careful guidance on significant developments and in connection with possible trademark oppositions’.
NSN Law Firm
NSN Law Firm advises on trade mark filings and maintenance, IP regulation, licensing, technology transfer and freedom-to-operate issues, portfolio management, copyright and patents. On the contentious side, the firm focuses on patent litigation, infringement, enforcement, prosecution and anti-counterfeiting measures. The client roster includes entities from industries such as food and beverages, media, and life sciences and pharmaceuticals. Selma Ünlü, who is experienced in cross-border IP litigation, jointly leads the group with Nazli Selek.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
BSH Ev Aletleri Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş
BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
Vodafone Group Plc
Sandoz
H. Lundbeck AS
Takeda Gmbh
Swdish Match North Europe AB
Swedish Match Industried AB
British Sky Broadcasting
Raspberry PI Foundation
Pirelli C. Spa
Societe Des Produits SA
Chint Group Corporation
Magnetti Marelli
Esin Attorney Partnership, Member of Baker & McKenzie International
Esin Attorney Partnership, Member of Baker & McKenzie International's practice is led by senior associate Mine Güner. The practice covers a wide variety of issues, such as those relating to copyright law, domain name disputes, unfair competition, patent litigation, enforcement and advertising law. It also advises on copyright matters, including digital rights, collecting society regulations and licensing issues. Transactional IP is another area of focus, which includes the IP aspects of acquisitions, joint ventures, reorganisations and franchise agreements. The team acts for domestic and international clients in the consumer goods, e-commerce and healthcare sectors.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
Unilever NV
Swarovski Aktiengeselschaft
Louis Vuitton Malletier
Hasbro
General Motors
General Electric
Bi-Qem Pte Ltd
FedEx
Abbott Laboratories
L Brands
Work highlights
- Acted for Louis Vuitton in a trade mark prosecution matter.
- Ongoing assistance to Hasbro with trade mark prosecution and portfolio management since 2016.
- Acquired the global trademark portfolio management of General Motors in 2018. As a part of a global pitch, the IP team was appointed as authorised representatives of General Motors and began advising the client on all aspects of trade mark prosecution.
Güner Law Office
Güner Law Office's practice is jointly led by Ece Güner Toprak, Ömer Erdoğan and Burçak Kurt Biçer. Its non-contentious work includes registering IP rights, oppositions before the Turkish Patent and Trademark Organisation, licensing and production agreements. In addition, IP litigation is another key strength. Clients include domestic and multinational businesses in the media and entertainment, IT and telecoms, and energy sectors.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
21st Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
The Walt Disney Company
Fox Networks Group Turkey
Schneider Electrics SE
Gunsan Elektrik Malzemeleri Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.
SKY PLC
Man With A Mic LLC
F/S Istanbul
Endemol Shine Group
HTC
The New York Times
Fox Turkey
Work highlights
- Ongoing advice to 20th Century Fox Film Corporation on the management of its IP portfolio, along with that of its group companies in Turkey.
- Ongoing advice to Fox Networks Group Turkey on various trade mark litigation issues, and the management of its trade mark portfolio in Turkey. This includes the registration of IP rights, transfers and oppositions before the Turkish Patent and Trade mark Organization.
- Ongoing advice to The Walt Disney Company Limited on trade mark infringement matters.
Özdirekcan Dündar Senocak Attorney Partnership
The key contacts at Özdirekcan Dündar Senocak Attorney Partnership are Esra Dündar Loiseau and associate Arzu Bekem. The team advises clients on a wide variety of matters, such as patents, trade marks, anti-counterfeiting, and raids and seizure operations. It also advises on unfair competition (relating to industrial rights) and IP litigation. The practice covers a multitude of industries, such as luxury goods, cosmetics, textiles, hotels, healthcare, automotive parts, toys and technology.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘The team dedicates its practice to all aspects of intellectual property and technology law including IP litigation’.
‘The team is experienced and solution-oriented’.
‘Very efficient lawyers, very knowledgeable and always available’.
Key clients
Juul Labs Inc.
Renault
Lancome Parfums Beaute & Cie
LVMH
AK GIDA (Turkish subsidiary of Lactalis)
Superdry-DKH Retail Limited
Volvo
Alchem International
Christian Dior
Work highlights
- Advising Renault S.A.S. on anti-counterfeiting operations.
- Advising LVMH on anti-counterfeiting operations.
- Advising Superdry – DKH Retail Limited on anti-counterfeiting operations.
ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law
ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law advises on various IP matters including trade marks, patents, copyright, industrial designs, IP litigation and IP-related corporate issues. The team is able to offer a full service to clients by working with practitioners in the dispute resolution, corporate and M&A, and TMT departments. Areas of strength for the group include the TMT, IT, pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. Tolga Uluay, who made partner, co-heads the team with Gönenç Gürkaynak and counsel Ceyda Karaoğlan Nalçacı. İlay Yılmaz left the firm for Esin Attorney Partnership, Member of Baker & McKenzie International.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
Foursquare Labs Inc.
Google LLC.
Twitter Inc.
Automattic Inc. (WordPress.com)
YouTube LLC.
Warner Bros.
Google Ireland Limited
Google Turkey
Rolls-Royce plc
Sanko
L’oreal
Work highlights
- Acting for Google in a trade mark infringement case.
- Advising Google on IP matters arising from the launch of the “Google Assistant” in Turkey.
- Advising Rolls-Royce on an IP agreement related to a major aviation joint venture.
Kenaroglu Avukatlik Burosu
Kenaroglu Avukatlik Burosu's key workstreams include portfolio management, trade mark registrations, civil litigation, prosecutions and enforcement. The broad expertise of its team is illustrated by its work for companies in the fashion, automotive, cosmetics, retail chains, electronics, media and entertainment sectors. Group head Yasemin Kenaroglu is experienced in investigations, and trade mark and patent infringement cases. Uğurcan Tekin was promoted to senior associate.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
Giorgio Armani SPA
Discovery Communications LLC
Media-Saturn Holding Gmbh
Grupo Massimo Dutti
Industria De Diseno Textil SA (Inditex S. A.).
Luxottica Group
Crocs Inc
Turkish Telecom
USPA Global Licensing Inc
Avon Products Inc
Lenzing Aktiengsellschaft
Prada SA
Xiaomi Inc
Dsquared2 TM SA
Saat Ve Saat Sanayi Ve Tic
Volvo Group
Essity Hygiene and Health AB
Fila Luxembourg Sârl
SULUK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM
IP specialist SULUK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM covers a wide range of issues connected with trade marks, designs, patents, copyrights and unfair competition. On the contentious side, the firm represents clients before the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office, and before civil and criminal courts and courts of appeal. The team, which acts for Turkish and international companies, is jointly led by Cahit Suluk and Bahattin Çarkacı.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
Kaco New Energy GMBH.
Turksat Satellite Communications and Cable Tv Operations Company
Adobe Systems Incorporated
Automobile Dacia S.A
Daiichi Sankyo
TURUNÇ
TURUNÇ handles trade mark registrations, IP portfolio management, software licensing agreements and IP assignment agreements. On the contentious side, the firm handles various types of IP disputes, including trade mark and patent litigation and enforcement. It is also active in litigation arising from the theft of trade secrets. Counsel Esin Çamlibel, who is the practice head, is also an assistant professor of law at Dokuz Eylül University.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘This team is able to manage our IP portfolio on a global scale at a fraction of the cost of Western European peers’.
‘Kerem Turunc is an excellent listener, has a quick grasp of business issues, is creative in developing solutions and provides good attention to detail’.
‘Esin Çamlibel has proven to be a very knowledgeable lawyer in this area of expertise and with the ability to advise and explain a difficult subject to clients’.
‘Esin Çamlibel’s main asset compared to her competitors is her ability to combine her academic knowledge with hands-on experience’.
Key clients
Al Fakher
Android Industries
Belectric Kuloglu
Better Homes and Gardens
BigChefs
Caffè Nero
Camper Shoes
DeepZen
Kuika
Office 1 Superstore
Opel
Peoplise
SC Johnson
Vektör Tanitim
Work highlights
- Providing ongoing IP advice to leading shisha tobacco company Al Fakher, including representation against counterfeiters and cybersquatters.
- Advising Android Industries on protecting its intellectual portfolio in Turkey.
- Representing a solar power company in a lawsuit against one of its ex-executives for unfair competition using trade secrets.
Balcioglu Selçuk Ardiyok Keki
Balcıoğlu Selçuk Ardıyok Keki is adept at handling all aspects of trade marks, patents and copyright issues. Kağan Dora, who joined from Cigdemtekin Cakirca Aranci Law Firm in November 2018, co-leads the group with Galip M. Selcuk and Özgür Akman. Active in both contentious and non-contentious matters, the team acts for entities operating in sectors such as media, IT and telecoms, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and defence.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘BASEAK manage to response to our needs in a timely manner regardless the kind of request’.
‘BASEAK evaluates the legal and commercial risks and provide us best options and the most available solution with a business-centred approach’.
‘Balcıoğlu Selçuk Akman Keki is a well-known, reputable and very high-qualified law firm’.
‘The legal opinions they gave and litigation knowledge is a stand point that we could easily rely on’.
Key clients
eBay Turkey (Gitti Gidiyor)
Rafineri Advertising Services
Icterra Turkey (Formerly Siemens Enterprise Communications A.S. Turkey)
SDT Space and Defence Technologies
Bidfood Holding A.Ş. and affiliates
Fujitsu Turkey
GroupM (An affiliate of WPP Group Companies)
Mindshare (An affiliate of WPP Group Companies)
Mediacom (An affiliate of WPP Group Companies)
Wavemaker (An affiliate of WPP Group Companies)
The And Partnership (An affiliate of WPP Group Companies)
Connect (An affiliate of WPP Group Companies)
Glasshouse
Advertisement Agencies Association (“Reklamcılar Derneği”)
Bloom and Fresh
Work highlights
- Advising eBay Turkey (Gittigidiyor) on various matters relating to several branches of IP law, such as trade mark and copyright law.
- Advising Mynet Medya on all license agreements, trade mark disputes, unfair competition, content disputes and copyright disputes, and also on all corporate matters and litigation cases.
- Representing Bloom and Fresh in a trade mark infringement lawsuit.
BTS & Partners
BTS & Partners attracts a strong flow of work from clients. Its team has extensive expertise in IP transfer agreements, copyrights, employee inventions and procedures subject to IP issues, and license contracts. The team also handles IP litigation, including trade mark, patent, and industrial design infringement cases. Other areas of strength include anti-counterfeiting, domain name disputes and unfair competition. Clients include foreign and domestic software, telecoms, e-commerce businesses and payment services providers. Tugrul Sevim heads of the practice. Batu Kınıkoğlu left the firm in late 2020.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘BTS’s main advantage is they are good at understanding the technology we use and also they are very helpful in dealing with different regulations’.
‘Tugrul Sevim and his team are fantastic, they are good in crypto algorithms and they have good knowledge of cloud computing’.
‘They are aware of all different licensing models, copyright issues, patents laws and source code issues which is a very critical part of our business’.
Work highlights
- Advising Facebook on copyright and trade mark infringements (including related litigation) in Turkey.
CCAO
CCAO advises clients on trade marks, industrial designs, copyrights and trade secrets. In addition to handling transactional work, IP-related disputes, (litigation, arbitration, mediation) are another bedrock of the practice. Unfair competition cases are a notable area of strength for the team, whose strong credentials see it advise domestic and global companies, and also work with international law firms. Tolga Semiz, who has over 20 years of IP experience, jointly leads the group with Eren Küçükkurt, Özge Güller and Fatma Gülmez.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
MGM Resorts International
Aktieselskabet Af 21.November 2001
Empati Kongre Organizasyon Eğitim ve Turizm Hizmetleri Tic. Ltd. Şti.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited
Metamorfoza d.o.o.
Kartal Çelik Eşya Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi
Pamukkale Şarapçılık Pazarlama Ticaret A.Ş.
Work highlights
- Assisting Metamorfoza d.o.o. with filing new trade mark application, opposition, registration of the trade mark assignment agreement and with consulting services in Turkey.
- Assisting Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited with filings of trade mark applications, responses, opposition, appeals procedures and consulting services in Turkey.
- Acting for Mafag-Reflexa AG in a complex trade mark dispute over a counter party’s cancellation request in relation to the client’s registered trade mark at the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.
Cigdemtekin Cakirca Aranci Law Firm
Cigdemtekin Cakirca Aranci Law Firm's team is sought out for its experience of handling cases before the courts, prosecution authorities and administrative authorities, including the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office. The wide-ranging practice covers trade marks, patents and copyright. Ayça Arancı, who is experienced in dealing with governmental agencies and regulatory bodies, leads the team alongside Tuna Çakırca and Ahmet Münir Yaşar.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
Mikro-Tasarim Elektronik San. Ve Tic.A.Ş.
ODTÜ Teknokent Yönetim A.Ş. (Middle East Technical University Technopolis)
Verifone Elektronik ve Danışmanlık Ltd. Şti. (Verifone Turkey)
eBay Turkey (Gitti Gdiyor Bilgi Teknolojileri San. ve Tic. A.Ş. – eBay’s Turkish subsidiary)
Further Network
Panaroma Bilişim Teknolojileri
Edenred Turkey
Ankara Development Agency
İzmir Biyotıp ve Genom Merkezi
ODTÜ MEMS Researcher Centre
Just Food Ltd. Şti.
ODTÜ Geliştirme Vakfı Okulları A.Ş.
Aimtech Elektronik Tasarim Üretim Savunma Bilişim İnşaat Araştirma Geliştirme Hizmetleri İth. İhr. San. Tic. Ltd. Şti.
APPS Bilgi Teknolojileri Limited Şirketi
Barko-Med Elektronik Ticaret A.Ş.
Brensan Enerji Savunma San ve Tic. A.Ş.
KAREL Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş.
TRLINSTRUMENTS Proses ve Ekipman Teknolojileri Geliştirme Tasarım Üretim San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti.
Work highlights
- Advising Verifone Turkey on IP matters.
- Advising Gitti Gidiyor on IP matters.
- Working on IP structure and bylaw of the ODTÜ MEMS Research Centre.
Hergüner Bilgen Özeke
Hergüner Bilgen Özeke's team advises on a broad range of IP matters involving patents, trade marks, utility models, industrial designs, domain names and copyright. Its services cover the registration, prosecution and enforcement of IP rights. In addition, the group assists clients with licensing, franchising, distribution contracts and IP transfers. Ayşe Hergüner Bilgen, who has over 30 years of experience, co-heads the team with Bige Yücel.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
Board of Directors Association
OBSS Bilişim Bilgisayar Hizmetleri Danışmanlık Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi
Work highlights
- Assisted Gates Europe with negotiating an IP transfer agreement.
- Assisted OBSS Bilişim Bilgisayar Hizmetleri Danışmanlık Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi with implementing measures to protect IP rights.
- Handled three trade mark applications for the Board of Directors Association (a pro bono client).
OFO VENTURA INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND LITIGATION
Boutique IP firm OFO VENTURA INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND LITIGATION focuses on contentious IP matters, including litigation, enforcement and prosecution. It also provides counselling on non-contentious matters. The scope of its team's expertise covers patents, utility models, trade marks, copyright, designs, geographical indications, licensing and domain names. Ozlem Futman leads the team, whose clients include companies active in the fashion, luxury products, sporting goods, stationery and electronics industries. In a recent development, Yasemin Aktas joined as partner.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘Very serious, quick and with a good level of reporting’.
‘This practice is highly professional, knowledgeable, competent, efficient and thorough’.
‘We have complete faith and trust in this firm and can rely on them for our clients’ needs in the same way we rely on our own firm’.
‘The individuals we work with think about matters as a whole and provide advice as to the big picture goals and objectives of the clients instead of merely providing the answers to our direct questions’.
‘Ms. Futman, the founder of the firm, is simply superb and unlike any other foreign counsel with whom we have worked’.
‘A very reactive team which provides accurate opinions and professional advice’.
‘The Trade Mark team at OFO VENTURA are highly skilled and experienced, providing responsive, clear and carefully considered advice’.
‘I have worked with Ozlem Futman, founding partner of OFO VENTURA for many years. She is a font of knowledge, supported by extensive practical experience’.
‘Ozlem is always accessible, and provides thorough, pro-active and carefully considered advice in a cost effective manner’.
‘Ozlem is very attentive and well prepared, she is also proactive and takes into consideration the client’s needs’.