This Q&A was written in scope of the legal provisions introduced as of 13 March 2020 to combat COVID-19, after the first COVID-19 case in Turkey was announced on 11 March 2020. The restrictions included in the Q&A have been removed as of 15 June 2020. However, considering the highly increasing number of patients as of September 2020, and the fact that certain enforcement offices have been shut down due to COVID-19, we are of the opinion that several measures may be…
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1. What are the measures to be taken by the employer at the workplace during the COVID-19 outbreak?
Under the duty to protect the employee, the employer is obliged to take occupational health and safety measures and to protect the employee’s health, physical and mental integrity. Also as per the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the employer is obliged to ensure the occupational health and safety of the employees.
In this scope, it is advised that the employer (if exists…
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1. Within the context of the measures taken for combating COVID-19, how will Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TURKPATENT) function?TURKPATENT is open and active. In order to keep the number of physically working personnel of TURKPATENT at minimum, flexible working methods such as remote or shift working will continue to be implemented. However, as TURKPATENT is a paperless office and has a functional e-filing system, the services of TURKPATENT are not interrupted in this…
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Impacts of Covid-19 on intellectual property in Turkey
Has the intellectual property office/IP Registry of your jurisdiction taken any measures due to Covid-19 and government/state actions to prevent spread of the virus?
The Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TurkPatent) is open and active. According to the Presidential Circular No 2020/4, published in the Repeated Official Gazette dated 22 March 2020 and numbered 31076, it has been decided that the number of personnel…
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A global legal compendium of the laws related to privacy law and data protection relating to advertising and marketing in 70 countries around the globe. Written by members of the Global Advertising Lawyers Alliance (GALA) a network of the leading advertising lawyers in the world.
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Regulatory Framework
1. How does national law regulate sales promotions?
Sales promotions in Turkey are regulated by:
Law on the Protection of the Consumer No. 6502 (Consumer Law).
Turkish Commercial Code numbered 6762 (TCC).
Law on Regulation of Retail Trade No. 6585 (Retail Law).
Regulation on Commercial Advertisements and Unfair Practices (Advertising Regulation).
Regulation on Lotteries and Drawings for Non-Cash Rewards (Prize Regulation).
2. What obligations or…
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1. What are the current major trends in the private M&A market?
In recent years, Turkey has enacted several laws designed to improve its investment environment. In 2012, the Turkish Commercial Code (TCC) and the Turkish Code of Obligations entered into force to replace their previous versions and create a transparent and sustainable commercial environment.
In 2016, Turkey enacted the Law Amending Certain Laws for Improvement of the Investment Environment numbered 6728…
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1. Are there specific measures taken at the courthouses due to COVID-19?
YES. The courthouses across the country are open and active – yet;
As per the decisions of the Directorate of Administrative Affairs of the Presidency, the public employees – which covers judges, prosecutors and further courthouse personnel - who are pregnant, taking breastfeeding leave, disabled, over 60 years old (except managers), or those having a chronic disease, will be deemed on administrative…
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Corporate entities and acquisition methods1. What are the main corporate entities commonly involved in private acquisitions?In private acquisitions the main companies used are joint stock companies and limited liability companies.
2. Are there any restrictions under corporate law on the transfer of shares in a private company? Are there any restrictions on acquisitions by foreign buyers?Restrictions on share transferUnder the Turkish Commercial Code numbered 6102 there are no…
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Distribution
Pre-conditions for distribution
1. What are the legal pre-conditions for a drug to be distributed within the jurisdiction?
Authorisation
Under the Regulation on Licensing of Medicinal Products for Human Use (Official Gazette No. 25705 of 19 January 2005), no medicinal product for human use can be marketed unless it is licensed in Turkey. The licence is issued by the Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (Agency) of the Ministry of Health
For placing the product on…
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Q: What options are open to a patent owner seeking to enforce its rights in your jurisdiction?
Article 149 of the Industrial Property Code 6769 (IP Code) sets the legal framework for claims that can be asserted by the rights holder and the scope of the injunctions that can be granted by the court.
Accordingly, a person can request the court to:
determine whether the third party infringes the patent;
decide on the prevention of the infringement;
decide to stop the action that…
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1. Are foreign plaintiffs who wish to initiate legal proceedings in Turkey subject to any bond requirements?
Pursuant to the International Private and Civil Procedure Law, foreign persons or legal entities who initiate or intervene in legal actions or initiate execution proceedings are required to deposit a guarantee to be determined by the court that will be used to bear the judicial expenses as well as to compensate the counterparty for any damages that may occur.
However…
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