Anlar Grup Editorial Team 4 min read Patents and Utility Models
Table of contents
Why is the patent process managed by a calendar?
Industrial Property Law No. 6769 (SMK) sets a time limit for each stage of a patent and utility model application. For many of these time limits, the consequence of a missed step is serious: the application may be deemed withdrawn. The summary below is a simplified version of the Law's articles; in your own file, the dates need to be calculated from the filing date and monitored.
Step-by-step calendar
| Stage | Time limit | If the time limit is missed | SMK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Completion and Turkish translation, if one of the application elements is missing or was filed in a foreign language | 2 months from the filing date | The application is deemed withdrawn | Art. 95/2 |
| Correction of formal deficiencies | 2 months from the notification date | The application is refused | Art. 95/4 |
| Exercise of the right of priority (first application in another country) | 12 months from the first application | The right of priority is lost | Art. 93 |
| Search request (together with the fee) | Together with the application or within 12 months from the filing date | The application is deemed withdrawn | Art. 96/1 |
| Publication of the application | 18 months after the filing (or priority) date; early publication can be requested | — | Art. 97 |
| Examination request (together with the fee) | 3 months from the notification of the search report | The application is deemed withdrawn | Art. 98/1 |
| Submitting observations or amendments in response to examination notifications | 3 months from each notification (at most 3 notifications) | The application is deemed withdrawn | Art. 98/3-4 |
| Amendment requested for the grant of the patent | 2 months from the notification | The application is deemed withdrawn | Art. 98/6 |
| Third-party opposition (with the fee) | 6 months from the publication in the Bulletin of the decision to grant the patent | The opposition is deemed not to have been made | Art. 99 |
| Objection to the Office's decisions | 2 months from the date of notification of the decision | The decision becomes final | Art. 100 |
What the stages mean
- Formal examination: The Office first examines the application for formal requirements. If it finds deficiencies, it gives the applicant a time limit.
- Search report: Prior art similar to the invention that is the subject of the application is searched and a report is prepared. The report is notified to the applicant and published in the Bulletin. Based on the search result, an idea is formed about the status of the invention in terms of novelty and inventive step.
- Publication: The application is published in the Bulletin at the end of the 18th month (or earlier, on a request for early publication). With publication, third parties may submit observations on patentability; however, at this stage they cannot become a party to the proceedings before the Office. The protection granted to the patent application is provisionally recognized from the publication date.
- Examination: On an examination request, the Office examines the conformity of the application and the invention with the Law. For points that are not compliant, notifications are made at most three times; at each notification, the applicant may submit observations or make amendments that do not exceed the scope of the application.
- Decision to grant the patent: If the report is favorable, a decision is made to grant the patent; the decision and the patent are published in the Bulletin. The patent certificate is given to the owner if it is requested and the certificate issuance fee is paid.
After the patent is granted
- Opposition window: For six months, third parties may file an opposition on the grounds that the patentability requirements are not met, that the invention is not sufficiently disclosed, or that the subject matter of the patent extends beyond the original content of the application. The opposition is examined by the Board; the patent owner may submit observations or amend the patent within three months from the notification.
- Protection period: From the filing date, a patent is protected for 20 years and a utility model for 10 years, and these periods cannot be extended.
- Annual fees: Starting from the date on which the second year from the filing date ends, they are paid each year on their due date (the due date is the month and day corresponding to the filing date). If the due date passes, payment can also be made, with an additional fee, within six months following the due date.
- Restoration: If the additional period is also missed, the patent right ends as of the due date. If a restoration fee is paid within two months from the notification of termination, the right becomes valid again; the notification is made at the latest within one year from the due date.
How does the process differ for a utility model?
For a utility model, protection is 10 years and there is no examination stage. The applicant requests a search report; for a utility model, the Law provides that this request is made, with a fee, within two months from the application. Within three months from the publication of the report, an objection or observation can be submitted by filing the relevant documents. After a utility model is granted, invalidity can be sought only in court. For choosing between the two rights, see our guide patent or utility model?
Plan the cost together with the calendar
Each stage has an official fee: application, search report, examination report, certificate issuance and annual fees. In the general schedule, the total of the application, search report and examination report is 10.980 TL; for the SMEs and artificial intelligence discounts, see our related article, and for all amounts, see our fee schedule guide. While preparing for the application, our pre-filing checklist may be useful to you.
Setting up and monitoring a calendar so as not to miss the time limits is the most important part of patent management. Under our patent registration service, this monitoring can be carried out together throughout the file, and you can request a quote.
Sources and date of verification
- Industrial Property Law No. 6769 (Legislation Information System): Art. 84, 93–101 (patent); Art. 142–144 (utility model)
- TÜRKPATENT — Patent/Utility Model Information
- TÜRKPATENT — Patent Transaction Fees
This summary is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for legal advice; the information was compiled on November 14, 2026.
Anlar Grup Editorial Team
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For an assessment specific to your application, you can consult our experts for free.