Trademark Application

Trademark application

Trademark applications in Turkey are handled through the trademark agent Sistem Patent. Both individuals and legal entities can apply by contacting Sistem Patent directly as an authorised trademark agent, or by starting the process through the online trademark registration application on the website.

One of the most important steps in the application cycle is the pre-search. The pre-search is, in effect, the single most decisive step before registration. It checks whether the name or logo already exists as a registered trademark or as an active application. The result tells the applicant whether the trademark has a realistic chance of being registered, and under what conditions.

Trademarks are grouped into classes. There are 45 classes in total, and each class has its own sub-groups of goods and services. The applicant first identifies the classes relevant to the goods or services the trademark will cover. Next comes the trademark search and the final choice. Filing is not enough on its own: the application has to be managed carefully and filed on the right grounds. A filing for a trademark that is not eligible for registration, or that misses a key legal requirement, leads to both financial loss and the loss of rights.

The trademark application step is a sequence that cannot be reversed once a trademark name is decided, so it needs careful work. The first stage of a process that typically runs around 11 months benefits from specialist handling by an authorised agent.

Trademarks are protected from the moment the application is filed. Once the filing is in, TÜRKPATENT (the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office) examiners review the application documents for accuracy and check the trademark against already-registered and pending trademarks for similarity or identity.

Documents required for application

For an individual applicant:

• Application form
• Power of attorney
• Copy of the applicant's identity card
• Turkish identity number
• Logo sample
• Proof of payment of the application fee

For a company applicant:

• Power of attorney
• Copy of the company's tax certificate
• Copy of the authorised signatory circular
• Logo sample
• Proof of payment of the application fee