The short answer
A trademark in Turkey lasts 10 years from the application date and can be renewed for further 10-year periods. Ask for renewal in the 6 months before expiry, or in the 6 months after expiry if you pay an additional fee. Anyone with a relevant interest can oppose within 2 months of publication, and a mark that has not been genuinely used for 5 uninterrupted years after registration can be revoked. The office is TÜRKPATENT, and the law is the Industrial Property Law, No. 6769.
Trademark deadlines in Turkey at a glance
These periods come from the Turkish Industrial Property Code, Law No. 6769, in the English translation published by a Turkish legal publisher. The authority is TÜRKPATENT (the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office). We re-check every deadline against the current Turkish text before we file.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How long does a trademark last? | 10 years, renewable for periods of 10 years (Article 23(1)). |
| Which date does the term count from? | The application date. The term of protection is ten years from the date of application (Article 23(1)). |
| When can I renew? | Make the renewal request within the 6 months before the expiry date and submit the fee payment information within the same period (Article 23(2)). |
| Is there a grace period? | Yes. A renewal request can be made within 6 months after expiry if an additional fee is paid (Article 23(2)). |
| Can I renew for only some goods? | Yes. A trademark can be renewed for part of its goods or services (Article 23(3)). |
| Opposition period | 2 months following the publication of the application. The opposition must be in writing with grounds, and the fee must be paid within the same period (Article 18). |
| Appeal against an Office decision | In writing with grounds within 2 months from notification of the decision, with the appeal fee paid in that period (Article 20). |
| Non-use revocation | If the mark has not been put to genuine use in Turkey for 5 uninterrupted years after registration, without proper reasons, it can be revoked (Article 9(1) and Article 26). |
| Invalidation | A court decides invalidation on absolute or relative grounds. People with an interest, public prosecutors and relevant public bodies can ask (Article 25). |
| Effect of renewal | Takes effect the day after the previous registration expires, and is published in the Bulletin (Article 23(5)). |
Who can register a trademark in Turkey
Individuals and companies can apply to TÜRKPATENT. Applications are examined, published in the Bulletin and opened to opposition before registration.
Representation. A foreign applicant without an address in Turkey normally acts through a Turkish trademark attorney. The exact requirements are in the Code's attorney provisions and TÜRKPATENT's rules, so we confirm them before filing.
Trademark registration process in Turkey
Search
- Search TÜRKPATENT's database for identical or similar marks in your classes.
- Check the grounds for refusal in Articles 5 and 6.
File the application
- File with TÜRKPATENT with the mark, goods or services and classes, through your attorney if you are abroad.
Examination and publication
- The Office examines the application. If it passes, the application is published in the Bulletin (Article 16).
Opposition
- Opposition must be filed in writing with grounds within 2 months of publication, with the fee paid in the same period (Article 18).
- The Office asks the applicant for observations on any opposition (Article 19).
Registration
- If there is no opposition or it fails, and the registration fee is paid on time, the mark is recorded and published. If the registration fee is not paid within the prescribed period, the application is abolished.
Official fees are set by TÜRKPATENT and change every year. We confirm the current fee for your classes before we quote, so the figure you see is the one that applies on the day.
Turkey trademark validity and renewal
- The term is 10 years from the application date, not from the registration date.
- Renew within the 6 months before expiry, and submit the fee payment information in the same period.
- If you miss it, the Code allows a late request within 6 months after expiry, with an additional fee.
- A mark can be renewed for part of its goods or services.
- Renewal takes effect the day after the old registration ends.
Count from the application date. If registration took a year, the registration certificate is dated later but the 10 years started when you filed.
Assignment, licence and changes to a Turkish trademark
Licence
Exclusive and non-exclusive
A trademark can be licensed for some or all of its goods or services. Unless the contract says otherwise, a licence is non-exclusive (Article 24).
Exclusive licence
Effect on the owner
With an exclusive licence the licensor cannot license another person, and cannot use the mark himself unless that right was clearly reserved (Article 24(2)).
Assignment
Transfer of the mark
Ask us for the current TÜRKPATENT recordal procedure. We record the transfer so the register shows the new owner.
Name or address
Change of the owner's details
Record the change with TÜRKPATENT so renewal and opposition notices reach the right address.
Revocation and non-use of a Turkish trademark
If the owner has not put the mark to genuine use in Turkey for the registered goods or services during 5 years following registration, or if use has been suspended for an uninterrupted 5 years, the mark is liable to revocation unless there are proper reasons for non-use (Article 9(1)). Use in a form that differs in elements which do not alter the distinctive character, and use on goods or packaging solely for export, both count as use (Article 9(2)). The Office decides revocation on request (Article 26).
Keep dated proof of use in Turkey: invoices, packaging, advertising and website pages that show the mark with the goods or services.
How to check a trademark in Turkey
Search applications and registrations in TÜRKPATENT's online database. Publications appear in the Bulletin, and the 2-month opposition period runs from the publication date.
Sources used
- Turkish Industrial Property Code, Law No. 6769, English translation: Articles 9, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25 and 26.
- TÜRKPATENT (Turkish Patent and Trademark Office) for fees, the database and the Bulletin.
Turkey trademark FAQ
How long does a trademark last in Turkey, and from when?
10 years from the application date, renewable for periods of 10 years (Article 23).
When should I renew a Turkish trademark, and is there a grace period?
Request renewal in the 6 months before expiry. A late request is allowed within 6 months after expiry if an additional fee is paid (Article 23(2)).
What is the opposition period in Turkey?
2 months following the publication of the application, in writing with grounds and with the fee paid in that period (Article 18).
How much does it cost to register a trademark in Turkey?
The official fee is set by TÜRKPATENT and changes each year. We confirm the current fee for your classes and quote the full cost before filing.
Can a foreign company register a trademark in Turkey?
Yes. It normally acts through a Turkish trademark attorney. We confirm the current requirements before filing.
Can I renew a Turkish trademark for only some goods?
Yes. The Code allows renewal for part of the goods or services (Article 23(3)).
What happens if I miss the renewal window?
You can still request renewal within 6 months after expiry by paying an additional fee. After that the registration is not renewed.
Can a Turkish trademark be revoked for non-use?
Yes. If it is not genuinely used in Turkey for 5 uninterrupted years after registration, without proper reasons, it can be revoked (Article 9).
How can I check the status of a Turkish trademark?
Use TÜRKPATENT's online database and the Bulletin.
How do I appeal a TÜRKPATENT decision?
In writing with grounds within 2 months from notification, with the appeal fee paid in the same period (Article 20).
Protect your brand in Turkey
SUPREMEiP® files trademarks worldwide through its network and checks every Turkish deadline against the law. Send us your mark and we will tell you the route, the deadlines and the cost.
