How Turkey Tackles Trademark Applications Infringing Upon Copyrighted Works

We love iconic movies, animated TV series, comics, cartoons, and platform games, and enjoy making them a part of our daily life, perhaps by drinking a cup of coffee with a mug bearing a Hogwarts logo or wearing pyjamas featuring Mickey Mouse. They are not just fictional works but also symbols with a cultural effect and commercial value. This often leads to unauthorised use of the titles and characters of these copyrighted works and any other associated signs, both at a trademark registry level and in commercial life; for example, as a name of a cafe or a tobacco brand.

The Turkish legislation protecting copyrighted works

People who wish to use copyrighted works in Turkey should be aware that their usage is subject to the authorisation of the copyright holder(s) and unauthorised usage and/or trademark applications can be prevented by the copyright holder(s) based on the provisions of Law No. 5846 on Intellectual and Artistic Works (Law No. 5846) and Law No. 6769