Using Trademarks In Turkey On Goods Manufactured For Export Purposes

In Turkey, court interpretations of the Trademark Decree Law have created a grey area for foreign companies using Turkey as a production location, as well as for Turkish contract manufacturers. A disconnect exists between seemingly clear legislation and the interpretation applied by the courts. Under the current approach adopted by Turkish courts, a foreign company which manufactures its goods in Turkey will only be deemed to be using its trademark in Turkey if the goods are introduced into the Turkish market.

Turkey is an important contract manufacturer, particularly for the textile and clothing industries. The country has relatively high standards for working conditions. It is also a notable transport hub for land, sea, and air. Finally, Turkey has a Custom Union Agreement with the European Union. Due to these factors, global brands based out of the European Union and United States regularly cooperate with Turkish contract manufacturers to have products manufactured