Design Application in Turkey | Registering Industrial Designs with EFOR IP
With the new Turkish Industrial Property Law No. 6769, which entered into force on January 10, 2017, the framework for design registration and protection in Turkey has undergone significant changes.
The updated law modernizes the system in line with EU design regulations, offering both registered and unregistered design protection.
Key Updates in Turkish Design Law
The 2017 IP Law introduced major improvements that make the design application process in Turkey faster and more effective:
The title “industrial design” has been replaced with “design”, broadening the scope of protection.
Registration period shortened from 6 months to approximately 3 months.
Novelty search is now conducted for each application by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TPTO).
Applications contrary to public order or morality, or not novel, are automatically rejected.
Design descriptions are no longer required, and the scope of protection depends on the design itself.
Opposition proceedings before TPTO are now free of official fees.
Unregistered designs receive 3 years of protection once disclosed publicly.
Only visible parts of complex products are eligible for design protection.
University researchers now share commercialization income for academic designs.
Civil proceedings only apply for design disputes — criminal actions are no longer available.
Design Application Procedure in Turkey
The design registration process in Turkey is conducted before the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TPTO) and includes several key stages:
Filing the Application
Applicants must submit all required documents and visual representations of the design. TPTO examines whether the application meets formal standards, including clarity, dimensions, and classification.Formal Examination
TPTO checks compliance with procedural requirements, such as the number of views, priority claims, and whether the design reflects novel and distinctive characteristics.Novelty Search and Publication
After the formal check, TPTO carries out a novelty search.
If the design meets the required conditions, it is published in the Official Designs Bulletin for a 3-month opposition period.Opposition and Registration
If no opposition is filed, the TPTO issues a registration decision and a Design Registration Certificate.
Once registered, the design owner can prevent others from using identical or confusingly similar designs in Turkey.
Duration and Renewal of Design Protection
A registered design in Turkey is protected for 5 years from the filing date.
This protection can be renewed every 5 years up to a maximum of 25 years, as long as renewal fees are paid.
Unregistered designs benefit from 3 years of protection from their first disclosure date, under Article 11 of the EU Community Designs Regulation.
Required Documents for Design Application
To file a design application in Turkey, the following documents are required:
Name and address of the applicant and designer
Visual representations of the design (preferably 80×80 mm)
Power of Attorney, simply signed (no notarization required)
Priority document (if applicable) with English translation
Why Choose EFOR IP for Design Registration in Turkey?
At EFOR IP, our team of experienced attorneys and design experts provide end-to-end assistance, including:
Preliminary design searches
Filing and prosecution before TPTO
Monitoring and opposition management
Renewal and portfolio management
Enforcement and litigation of design rights
We ensure that your design protection in Turkey is secure, compliant, and efficiently managed.
You may send us your instructions on-line via efor@eforpatent.com
