Trademark Registration in Turkey

Registering a trademark in Turkey is essential for establishing ownership, preventing competitors from using similar signs, and strengthening your legal protection as your business expands domestically and internationally.

Turkey is a first-to-file jurisdiction, meaning that trademark rights are obtained primarily through registration—not through prior use. Although in a few exceptional situations extensive prior use may offer limited protection, the general rule is clear: to secure proper rights in Turkey, you must file and register your trademark.

A registered trademark gives you:

• Exclusive rights over your brand for the goods and services covered
• A solid legal foundation to stop infringers and challenge conflicting filings
• A valuable commercial asset that can be licensed, assigned, or franchised

Trademark applications must be filed with the **Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TPTO) (previously known as the Turkish Patent Institute – TPE. Turkey is also a member of the Madrid Protocol, which means you can extend an existing international trademark to Turkey via the Madrid System (see our Madrid trademark services.

If you register a combined trademark (word + figurative element), your exclusive rights apply only to the exact configuration filed. If you also need independent protection for the word element or the figurative part, it is advisable to file additional applications.

Additionally, securing a trademark registration in Turkey can be advantageous if you wish to obtain a .com.tr domain name, as this extension is restricted to companies registered in Turkey or to holders of a Turkish trademark registration.

To register a trademark in Turkey, you will generally need to provide:

• The name or logo you want to register
• The applicant’s details

No documents are necessary.

If any additional information or country-specific formalities apply, your iGERENT consultant will confirm the exact requirements and guide you through each step.

The average time to register a trademark in Turkey is around 4 months for straightforward applications. This is an estimated processing time based on current TPTO practice and may vary significantly depending on the specifics of each case.

The timeline can be extended if:

• The examiner raises objections or requests clarifications
• Third parties file oppositions after publication
• There are delays in responding to office actions or providing additional information

Regardless of how long it ultimately takes, our trademark registration consultants will monitor all deadlines and notify you of every update, so you never have to worry about follow-ups or missed communications.

Once registered, your trademark in Turkey is protected for 10 years from the application date and can be renewed indefinitely in further periods of 10 years.

Renewal can be requested within the six (6) months before the expiration date. There is also a grace period of six (6) months after expiry, during which the trademark can still be renewed upon payment of an additional late renewal fee.

To maintain your rights without worrying about dates or procedures, you can rely on our Turkey Trademark Renewal Service, which ensures your renewals are handled on time and without stress.

Yes. Turkey allows trademark oppositions during the official publication period.

If a third party applies to register or use a mark for similar goods or services that includes a primary or distinctive part of your trademark, you have the right to oppose the application on the basis of confusing similarity. The chances of success will depend on the specific circumstances of each case, including the similarity of the signs, the overlap in goods/services, and the strength of your earlier rights.

After the Turkish trademarks office has completed its examination, the application is published in the Official Trademark Bulletin (Resmi Markalar Bülteni). From the publication date, interested parties have two (2) months to file an opposition.

If you need to oppose a third-party application—or defend your own mark against an opposition—we can help assess your position, define a strategy, and prepare a strong, well-argued case.

Use is not required at the time of application or registration in Turkey. However, actual commercial use becomes very important after registration.

If your trademark is not used in Turkey on a commercial scale within five (5) years after registration, it becomes vulnerable to cancellation actions based on non-use. In addition, prior or ongoing use may sometimes help overcome objections related to lack of distinctiveness.

If evidence of use is ever requested, whether in the context of an objection, opposition, or non-use cancellation action, iGERENT will help you gather and prepare the necessary documentation and guide you through the entire process.

Turkey recognizes three-dimensional (3D) trademarks, allowing protection for distinctive product shapes or packaging. The Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (Türk Patent ve Marka Kurumu) requires that a 3D mark be capable of distinguishing your goods or services from those of others and that it is not purely functional or derived solely from the nature of the goods.

Applications for 3D trademarks must include clear graphical representations from multiple angles (typically up to six views) so the shape can be fully understood. As a non-traditional mark, a 3D trademark is subject to stricter distinctiveness examination. If the shape is considered necessary to obtain a technical result or simply follows the nature of the product, registration may be refused. You can find more information on the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office website: https://www.turkpatent.gov.tr/.

If you’re considering filing a 3D trademark in Turkey, feel free to contact our trademark registration consultants online for a free, no-obligation assessment so we can evaluate your case and recommend the best filing strategy.