Frequently Asked Questions

Trademark registration means having a sign (a name, logo, slogan, shape, etc.) recorded in your name with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT) for specific goods or services. Under Industrial Property Law No. 6769 (SMK), registration gives you the right to use the trademark and to prevent others from using a similar one. Without registration, it is much harder to prove a claim of ownership. For the process, you can review our trademark registration service.

The trademark protection period is 10 years from the filing date. At the end of the term, protection can be extended indefinitely in 10-year periods through renewal. For renewal, an application must be filed within the periods set by the legislation and the relevant fee must be paid; if the deadline is missed, protection may end. For this reason, it is important to track the expiry date in advance. Our trademark renewal and monitoring service tracks these dates for you.

Under the Nice Classification, trademarks are grouped into 45 classes; classes 1–34 are goods classes and classes 35–45 are services classes. Protection is limited to the classes you select and the list of goods and services. For this reason, you need to make your choice by considering not only today's activities but also those you plan in the near future. To find your class, you can use our trademark class guide, and when you are not sure, you can consult us.

The Office examines the absolute grounds for refusal (such as lack of distinctiveness, descriptiveness, and deceptiveness) ex officio. It does not examine the relative grounds, that is, earlier trademark rights, ex officio; the earlier right holder raises them by filing an opposition within 2 months after publication. In the event of a refusal or opposition, there are defense and appeal routes within the periods set by the legislation. Our trademark opposition and cancellation service helps you manage these processes.

If a registered trademark is not genuinely used within 5 years from registration, there is a risk of cancellation for non-use. For this reason, it is important to actually use the trademark after registration and to keep evidence of use. The ® symbol can be used only for a registered trademark; using it at the application stage would be misleading. For details, you can see the related guide article.

Trademark protection is country-based; a Turkish registration alone is not valid abroad. With the Madrid Protocol, multiple countries can be selected through a single application via WIPO. This requires a basic application or registration in Türkiye, and for the first 5 years the international registration depends on the basic trademark. The 6-month Paris right of priority for trademarks and designs should also be taken into account. Details: international trademark registration.

Yes. Under the law, any kind of sign that is distinctive and can be represented in the register in a clear and precise manner can be a trademark. For these types, the type must be expressly stated in the application and an appropriate representation must be submitted: for sound marks, an audio recording that can be listened to and stored; for three-dimensional marks, views from up to six different angles; for color marks, a color image together with a valid color code such as Pantone; for motion marks, an image or sequence of images showing the movement. For details, see our article on non-traditional trademarks.

An opposition to a trademark application published in the Bulletin is filed in writing and with reasons within 2 months of the publication date; the opposition fee must also be paid within the same period (1.150 TL in the 2026 fee schedule). An appeal against a file on which the Office has already ruled is filed within 2 months of the notification of the decision (2.720 TL in the 2026 fee schedule). If the deadlines are missed, the opposition may be deemed not to have been filed; therefore, keeping track of the calendar is important.

Yes. On the Trademark Search screen of the TÜRKPATENT website, you can search by trademark name, applicant, bulletin number, and Nice classes. At least 3 characters must be entered for the trademark name (for names of one or two letters, the "equal to" option is used). However, similarity is not limited to identical names; phonetic, spelling, meaning, and visual similarity, as well as unregistered rights of use, may not appear on the screen. For detailed steps, see our article on how to conduct a trademark search.

A patent is a protection document granted for an invention that solves a technical problem and gives its owner the right to prevent others from making, selling, and using the invention without permission. The invention must be new, involve an inventive step, and be industrially applicable. An abstract idea alone is not protected; the solution must be made concrete in technical terms. For a preliminary assessment, take a look at our patent registration service.

Patent protection lasts 20 years from the filing date. Annual fees must be paid throughout the protection period; if they are not paid, the right may end. When the term expires, the invention enters the public domain and everyone can use it freely. The current amounts of the annual fees should be confirmed with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT). You can read the application process step by step in our patent guide.

As far as possible, you should not tell anyone. For a patent, the invention must be new; an invention disclosed to the public before filing may lose the novelty criterion. Trade fairs, social media posts, sales, or publications may fall within this scope. In unavoidable discussions, a written confidentiality agreement should be signed. Applications, for their part, are generally published to the public after about 18 months. First, see our pre-filing guide.

A patent right is country-based. Within 12 months after the Turkish application, applications can be filed in other countries under the Paris Convention right of priority. Alternatively, a single international application is made through the PCT; entry into the national or regional phase is generally around the 30th month after the priority date and varies by country. The number of target countries determines the cost. For an assessment, contact us.

The search report is the report showing the known state of the art relevant to the subject of the application; it is requested by paying its fee within 12 months of the filing date. The examination report assesses whether the application and the invention meet the requirements of the law; it is requested by paying its fee within 3 months of the notification of the search report. If either request is not made on time, the application is deemed withdrawn. For the full calendar, see our article on the official timetable for a patent application.

Annual fees are paid with the day corresponding to the filing date counted as the due date; in the 2026 table, payments start in the 3rd year (3rd year 3.800 TL, 10th year 10.000 TL, 20th year 26.650 TL). If a fee is not paid by the due date, it can also be paid, together with an additional fee, within 6 months following the due date. If this period is also missed, the patent right ends; if a restoration fee is paid within 2 months of the notification that the right has ended, the right becomes valid again.

A utility model protects product-focused technical solutions; it is a faster and generally more affordable route than a patent. The protection period is 10 years and cannot be renewed. Processes and methods cannot be protected by a utility model; solutions such as devices, apparatus, and product structures are suitable. For details, you can see our utility model registration page.

The decision depends on the type of invention, the budget, and the expected protection period. A patent protects for 20 years, is a more comprehensive process, and can also cover processes and methods. A utility model protects for 10 years and is faster and generally more economical; however, it is suitable only for product-focused solutions. For a comparison, see the related article or get a quote.

An industrial design protects the appearance of a product or part of it (external features such as lines, color, shape, texture, and material); it does not protect the product's function. The design must be new and have individual character. Protection is 5 years; it can be extended in 5-year periods up to a maximum of 25 years. For more, see our industrial design registration page.

Because a logo is a sign that shows commercial identity, it is generally registered as a trademark; trademark protection can be renewed indefinitely. The shape of a product or packaging, on the other hand, is better suited to design protection. A trademark protects the sign's function of indicating origin, while a design protects appearance; for this reason, the two can be used together for the same asset. To determine the right path, request a preliminary assessment.

The protection that arises when a design is first made available to the public in Türkiye, without applying to the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office, is called an "unregistered design," and its term is 3 years from the date the design was first made available to the public. A registered design, on the other hand, is protected for 5 years and can be extended up to 25 years through 5-year renewals. Unregistered protection is harder to prove; for this reason, it is recommended to register designs that are important for the product.

Yes. Together with the application, a request for deferment of publication can be made for a period of 30 months starting from the filing (or priority) date (280 TL per design in the 2026 fee schedule). During this period, the image of the design and the file information remain closed to examination by third parties; this is suitable for those who want to keep the design confidential before bringing the product to market. For details, see our article on unregistered designs, deferment of publication, and multiple applications.

For a utility model, the search request is made by paying its fee within 2 months of the date on which the application is notified as meeting the formal requirements; if it is not made, the application is deemed withdrawn. Within 3 months after the report is published, the applicant can object to the report, and third parties can also submit comments. Unlike with patents, there is no separate examination report stage.

A geographical indication is a sign that protects products whose quality, reputation, or other characteristics are linked to a specific region. In a designation of origin, the product's quality depends largely on the region's geographical environment and human factors, and the production stages take place in that region. In an indication of source, at least one of the production or processing stages is carried out in the region. There is also the concept of a traditional product name. See the geographical indication guide.

The application is generally made by communities representing those who produce the product: producer associations, associations, cooperatives, and relevant public institutions. Individual producers mostly act through such a body. In the application, the product's characteristics, production method, and geographical boundaries are documented. For preparation, review our geographical indication registration service.

Geographical indication protection is indefinite for as long as the registration conditions continue to be met. That said, the product is monitored for conformity with the characteristics and production method stated in the registration, and a producer who does not comply with the conditions of use cannot use the sign. For this reason, it is important that the production conditions be written realistically and workably at the application stage. To discuss your matter, you can contact us.

For applications that proceed without opposition, the process can generally take anywhere from a few months to a year. Stages such as the examination workload at the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT), publication, the 2-month opposition period and the completion of any deficiencies affect the timeline. If there is an opposition, a refusal or a request for correction, the process takes longer. For this reason, we do not promise an exact number of days. You can find the causes of delay in our guide to refusal grounds.

Our service fee varies with the type of application (trademark, patent, design, etc.), the number of classes, the scope of the search and monitoring work, and the complexity of the process, so we do not quote a fixed figure. Official fees are set separately by TÜRKPATENT and may change; we recommend confirming the current amounts with the Office. For a clear price tailored to your needs, you can fill out the quote form.

Official fees are the charges paid to TÜRKPATENT for procedures such as application, publication, registration and renewal; the Office sets the amounts, and current figures should be confirmed with TÜRKPATENT. The service fee, on the other hand, covers consulting work such as search, preparation, filing and follow-up. It is wise to clarify from the start which items are included in the quote. Request a quote.

Your application is first examined for formalities and absolute grounds for refusal. If there is no problem, it is published in the Trademark Bulletin, and a 2-month opposition period runs after publication. If no opposition is filed, or once any oppositions have been resolved and the required fee has been paid, the registration certificate is issued. Additional steps may be required in the event of deficiencies, a refusal or an opposition. For all of the stages, see our step-by-step guide.

Under TÜRKPATENT's 2026 fee schedule, a single-class trademark application costs 2.820 TL, the additional fee for the second class is 2.820 TL, and for the third and each subsequent class it is 3.150 TL. At the registration stage, a registration fee of 7.010 TL is also paid. In this case, the total of the application and registration fees is 9.830 TL for one class and 12.650 TL for two classes. These amounts are official fees only; the service fee is separate. For details, see our 2026 fee schedule guide.

According to TÜRKPATENT's current tables, the application fee is 620 TL for patents and utility models, 2.070 TL for a design registration application, and 550 TL for a geographical indication application. In addition, for patents and utility models, search report fees (and, for patents, examination report fees), document issuance fees, and annual fees are paid; for designs, there is a publication fee. For the full list, you can review our 2026 fee schedule guide.

Yes. With the fee schedule amendment published in the Official Gazette dated October 31, 2026 (issue 33416), discounts began to apply to the application, search report, and examination report fees for the first patent applications of legal entities that are in the SME enterprise category and hold an SME Qualification Certificate; for applications in the field of artificial intelligence (class G06N), the urgent search report fee was also cut in half. We have summarized the conditions and amounts in our article on the SME and artificial intelligence discount.

The amounts in the TÜRKPATENT tables show the total amounts payable. In the patent table, the fee, VAT, and duty are given in separate columns and the total amount is stated separately; in the trademark table, only the total amount appears. Because the table in force on the date of payment applies, the current table should be checked before paying.

TÜRKPATENT collects fees in Turkish lira through its corporate collection accounts at Ziraat Bankası, as well as by credit card and debit card. Payments made by EFT or wire transfer are not accepted. At Ziraat Bankası branches, the "Corporate Collection" ("Kurumsal Tahsilat") screen is used; in internet banking, use the "Payments / Taxes and Official Institutions / Turkish Patent and Trademark Office" ("Ödemeler / Vergiler ve Resmi Kurumlar / Türk Patent ve Marka Kurumu") section. Fees in foreign currency are paid only to the Office's foreign currency accounts. Before paying into any other account number given to you, be sure to review the checklist in our fraud warning article.

If the Office identifies a deficiency during the formal examination, it gives the applicant 2 months to correct it. If the deficiency is not corrected within that period, the application is removed from processing. If the deficiency relates to the application form, the trademark representation, the list of goods and services, or the application fee, the filing date is set as the date on which the deficiency is corrected; this may affect the later ranking of rights.

In the preliminary meeting, we listen to your needs and give a general assessment of the type of protection (trademark, patent, utility model, design or geographical indication) and the possible risks. This way, you learn which step is right for you and which information and documents will be required. This meeting is not a promise of any outcome; the official examination is carried out by TÜRKPATENT. To make a request, you can use the quote form.

In addition to trademark, patent, utility model, industrial design and geographical indication registration, we offer international trademark, opposition and cancellation, assignment and licensing, search, and renewal and monitoring services. In-person meetings are held in Konya and Ankara; if you are in another city, you can receive our services remotely by phone and email. See our services page for the full list.

Searching for similar trademarks before filing lets you see the risk of refusal and opposition up front. Because the Office does not examine earlier trademark rights on its own initiative, this risk can surface after filing in the form of an opposition. A search report helps you assess the suitability of your trademark and possible alternatives, but it does not provide an absolute guarantee. Take a look at our trademark search and clearance service.

No. According to TÜRKPATENT's announcement dated September 16, 2026, the Office never asks any applicant for fees by phone and does not provide information by phone; it communicates through official correspondence. Payment requests from people who introduce themselves as trademark or patent attorneys or as Office employees should raise suspicion. If in doubt, you can call the Office Call Center (0312 303 1 303) to confirm the status of your file and whether the request is genuine. For a detailed checklist, see our fraud warning article.

The Office's only official website is www.turkpatent.gov.tr; its electronic filing system also runs on a subdomain of this domain name (epats.turkpatent.gov.tr). Websites with extensions such as .com or .org that give the impression of belonging to TÜRKPATENT should not be trusted. On a suspicious website, do not enter personal information, e-Devlet information, or bank and credit card information, and do not make payments requested under names such as "fee" or "registration charge."

On the "Attorney Search" page of the TÜRKPATENT website, you can look up the attorneys registered in the Register of Patent and Trademark Attorneys under Law No. 5000 by city, attorney name, or firm name. We also recommend asking, before filing, in what capacity the person or organization providing the service will act before the Office.

Under the law, proceedings before the Office can be carried out by natural or legal persons themselves or by registered trademark or patent attorneys authorized by them. Using an attorney is not mandatory for persons whose place of residence is in Türkiye. Persons whose place of residence is abroad can be represented only through trademark or patent attorneys; transactions made without representation by an attorney are deemed not to have been made. If an attorney is appointed, all proceedings before the Office are carried out by the attorney and notifications are made to the attorney.