The importance of trademark registration lies in the legal protection it provides, preventing others from violating its rights or using it unlawfully. A trademark serves to establish an identity for a company and its various activities, as well as the goods bearing the same mark, confirming their origin from a single source.

To learn everything about trademarks, how to register a trademark in Turkey, and the required documents, follow this information provided by Trustus Consultancy.

What is a trademark?

A trademark can be defined as a distinctive symbol or sign used by individuals, businesses, or legal entities to indicate that the products or services bearing this brand come from a single source. This helps distinguish their products or services from those offered by other parties.

The importance of establishing a trademark

The trademark provides the private company with several advantages, such as:

1. Distinguishing the company's products and services from competitors in the market.
2. Building trust, loyalty, and achieving uniqueness.
3. Providing protection for the company and the products it offers.
4. Facilitating communication between the company and its customers.

What are the types of trademarks?

There are several types of trademarks, which vary depending on the specialization of the brand and its purpose. They are:

1. Private Trademark.
2. Media Trademark.
3. Event Trademark.
4. Service Mark, which is specific to restaurants, banks, and tourism companies.
5. Trade Mark, which indicates the source of sale rather than the source of manufacture.
6. Manufacturing Mark, which indicates the product and the place where it was manufactured.

Trademark registration (brand registration)

Registering a trademark for a company is not mandatory, but it does protect the company from infringement of its rights and products. The primary benefits of registering a trademark lie in securing legal protection for companies, especially competitive ones. There are two main methods for trademark registration, depending on its scope of operation, and they are:

Registering a trademark in Turkey

You can register a trademark in Turkey with the Directorate of Industrial Property (TPE), which provides legal protection to the company and its activities against imitation and fraud.

Global trademark registration

Highlighting the importance of registering a trademark globally stems from the ability to protect it beyond the Turkish borders in case your business activities extend beyond Turkey. Registering a trademark in Turkey only provides protection within its borders.

To register a trademark globally, you can do so through the Madrid Protocol by filling out the registration form. This protocol ensures commercial entities' protection in all countries that are part of this agreement.

Conditions for trademark registration

There are several conditions that must be met before beginning the trademark registration process, namely:

1. Payment of the fees and taxes associated with the trademark.
2. The selection of a unique trademark that does not coincide with any other company's trademark.
3. Defining the specific business activity of the company.

Trademark registration steps

The steps for trademark registration are as follows:

1. Company Name and Activity: Determine the company's name and specify its activities, as mentioned.
2. Logo Creation: Create a unique logo (if applicable).
3. Trademark Certificate Application: Submit an application for the issuance of the trademark certificate.
4. Temporary Certificate: Obtain a temporary certificate after paying the initial fees.
5. Processing Time: Your application will be processed for a period of 5 months. Communication will be established if there are any deficiencies in the official documents.
6. Issuance of Trademark Certificate: Receive a trademark certificate valid for 10 years after obtaining final approval.

Documents required for trademark registration

It is essential to ensure that all the necessary documents are in place for trademark registration to avoid any obstacles during the registration process.

Individual trademark registration

Registering a trademark in the name of a specific individual requires the following:

• A copy of the individual's personal identification card.
• Logo (if applicable).
• Contact information and address.

Companies trademark registration

Registering a trademark for companies requires the following:

• A unique logo for the trademark.
• The tax certificate.
• Contact information.

Finally

If you are in the process of establishing your company in Turkey and need assistance with registering its trademark and defining its specific activities, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help you during this stage and answer any questions you may have regarding trademark registration.

We are also pleased to offer you a variety of services tailored to assist startups, and we look forward to providing them to you. We hope to help you achieve your ambitions and expectations.

So, please get in touch with us and request our services.

Edited by: Trustus Consultancy Company©

Source: General Directorate of Industrial and Intellectual Property in Turkey