At-a-glance:
Türk Patent Enstitüsü
Hipodrom Caddesi No 115, 06330 Yenimahalle/Ankara, Turkey
Tel: +90 312 303 1000
Fax: +90 312 303 1173
Email: info@turkpatent.gov.tr
Website: www.tpe.gov.tr
One significant change that IP lawyers point to from...
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At-a-glance:
Türk Patent Enstitüsü
Hipodrom Caddesi No 115, 06330 Yenimahalle/Ankara, Turkey
Tel: +90 312 303 1000
Fax: +90 312 303 1173
Email:
info@turkpatent.gov.tr
Website:
www.tpe.gov.tr
One significant change that IP lawyers point to from last year is a legislative basis for criminal prosecution of trade mark infringement. The delayed enactment of the law reportedly led to thousands of abandoned cases. One lawyer comments: "Finally there was a change in the first month of 2010 regarding the criminal provisions of the trade mark law. We know also that the related parties are preparing to change the legislation relating to patent and design. It is possible they will come into force in the next year.
Another adds: "The legal structure of the country is being changed day by day, which is bringing a great many advantages to IP owners new to the market."
Practitioners report a growing IP market with an increasingly European client base. Awareness of the importance of IP is also increasing in the region: "Alongside clients that are coming into Turkey and want to protect their IP rights, which is always interesting, Turkish people are becoming more aware of the importance of IP," comments a trade mark lawyer.
There has also been an increase in patent applications. Reports one patent agent: "Applications are increasing gradually in Turkey and this continued to be the case last year. The trend has been borne out in our own practice."
One of the difficulties facing IP owners in Turkey is the delay in the handling of matters in the courts. With a heavy workload, the courts have been described as painfully slow. Courts of appeal are just as bad. "We have commented about this to government but the authorities haven't made the changes yet," points out one partner.
Another adds, "We have elections in 2011 so IP law will not be a priority at the beginning of the year, but we are optimistic the necessary changes will be made."
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