As the spread of the corona virus continues, we also observe a
spread of trademark applications filed in relation to COVID-19
around the World, including in Turkey. A few examples found on the
Turkish Online Register are "COVID-19 CORONA VIRUS" /
"CORONAMASK" / "ANTI-CORONA" /
"CORONAREPELLENT". These trademark applications rage from
a variety of classes for different kind of goods and services, but
mostly related to classes 03, 05 and 10 that may apply to
cosmetics, disinfectants, pharmaceutical goods and protective
masks, directly related to the virus itself.
This trend, which seems to have started in early March 2020, is
already seeing some applications in classes 03, 05 and 10 being
refused by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office, most probably
due to the lack of distinctiveness and descriptiveness of these
trademarks. However, other trademark applications, such as
"A.C. Anti-Corona" filed in class 25 for clothing have
been accepted at first instance for 3rd pa
