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    Contributors Özdağıstanli Ekici Attorney Partnership

    Contact Information
    • Address: Nidakule Ataşehir Kuzey Begonya Sok. No: 3 K: 17 B: 162 Ataşehir 34746, Istanbul
    • Email: [email protected]
    • Phone: +90 216 230 07 48
    • Website: www.ozdagistanliekici.com
    Contribution
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    Ozdagistanli Ekici is a new generation law firm that combines the values of the traditional law firm, with the values and qualities that are required to stay on top in today’s challenging business environment.

    We believe in change, innovation and disruption while we remain committed to the traditional values of our profession such as accountability and trust.

    We want our clients to stay on top of the changing environment and dynamics of the legal landscape and be the creator of such change instead of reacting to those changes. And if a reaction to a change is required, we strive to make sure that such reaction is based on legal advice that is efficient, objective and applicable to business.

    At Ozdagistanli Ekici, we have a sector specific approach to make sure that we understand the sector specific dynamics and legal landscape that our clients are facing. Thanks to this approach, we are able to provide comprehensive and commercial legal advice to help our clients lead the change or face the issues they are facing with confidence. While doing so, we also prepare our clients for future challenges and issues that they may face in their sector.

    We have a large portfolio of multinational and local clients across different sectors and industries including Automotive, Consumer Goods, Food and Retail, Education, Energy and Natural Resources, Financial Services and Fintech, Information Communication Technologies, Insurance, Life Sciences and Health Care, Media, Sport, Gaming and Entertainment and Technology.

    We are committed to provide the commercially sound legal advice and solutions on a timely and professional manner to continue to support our clients to be leaders in their sectors.   

    Key Contacts

    Burak Özdağıstanli
    Co-Managing Partner
    Technology, Media and Telecom, Data Protection, Electronic Commerce, Fintech, Gaming
    [email protected]
    Hatice Ekici Tağa
    Co-Managing Partner
    Intellectual Property, Media and Entertainment, Consumer Protection, Electronic Commerce
    [email protected]

    Awards

    Burak Özdağıstanli
    Co-Managing Partner
    Technology, Media and Telecom, Data Protection, Electronic Commerce, Fintech, Gaming
    [email protected]
    Hatice Ekici Tağa
    Co-Managing Partner
    Intellectual Property, Media and Entertainment, Consumer Protection, Electronic Commerce
    [email protected]
    Sümeyye Uçar
    Associate
    Technology, Media and Telecom, Data Protection, Intellectual Property, Electronic Commerce, Fintech
    [email protected]
    Öykü Su Sabancı
    Associate
    Technology, Media and Telecom, Data Protection, Intellectual Property, Electronic Commerce, Fintech
    [email protected]
    Ebru Gümüş
    Trainee Associate
    Technology, Media and Telecom, Data Protection, Intellectual Property, Electronic Commerce, Fintech
    [email protected]
    Bensu Özdemir
    Associate
    Technology, Media and Telecom, Data Protection, Intellectual Property, Electronic Commerce, Fintech
    [email protected]

    Recent Developments in Turkish E-Commerce Legislation – 2

    On July 7, 2022, the Law on the Regulation of Electronic Commerce (“Law”) was amended. Accordingly, the Regulation on Electronic Commerce Intermediary Service Providers and Electronic Commerce Service Providers (“Regulation”) was published. In this regard, the obligations of electronic commerce intermediary service providers (“ETAHS”) and electronic commerce service providers (“ETHS”), unfair commercial practices in electronic commerce, illegal content, intermediation agreement, electronic commerce license and other issues related to electronic commerce are regulated.
    Bensu Özdemir
    Hatice Ekici Tağa

    Çevrimiçi Tüketici Yorumları Artık Denetime Tabi

    Reklam Kurulu'nun 12 Eylül 2023 tarih ve 337 sayılı kararına istinaden Tüketici Yorumları Hakkında Kılavuz (“Kılavuz”) 19 Eylül 2023 tarihinde T.C. Ticaret Bakanlığı internet sitesinde yayımlandı. Bu Kılavuz ile Ticari Reklam ve Haksız Ticari Uygulamalar Yönetmeliği'nde düzenlenen genel hususlar örneklerle açıklanmış ve Reklam Kurulu'nun kararlarındaki yaklaşımı somutlaştırılmıştır.
    Hatice Ekici Tağa
    Sümeyye Uçar
    Ebru Gümüş

    Online Consumer Reviews are Now Subject to Audit

    On September 19, 2023, the Turkish Ministry of Trade published the Consumer Reviews Guide, based on the Turkish Advertising Board's recent decision (dated September 12, 2023, and numbered 337). This comprehensive guide elaborates on key aspects of the Commercial Advertisement and Unfair Commercial Practices Regulation. It defines consumer reviews, outlines their scope, and sets rules for their publication. The guide mandates that reviews should be objective, date-stamped, and available for at least a year. It prohibits misleading health claims and misleading reviews for benefits. Furthermore, it requires transparency in publishing criteria and imposes responsibilities on various stakeholders to ensure fair consumer reviews.
    Hatice Ekici Tağa
    Sümeyye Uçar
    Ebru Gümüş

    Elektronik Ticaret Hizmet Sağlayıcılar için Belirlenen Parasal Eşikler Arttırıldı

    07 Temmuz 2022 tarihli 31889 sayılı Resmi Gazete’de yayımlanan bir kanun ile 6563 sayılı Elektronik Ticaretin Düzenlenmesi Hakkında Kanun’da (“Kanun”) önemli değişiklikler yapılmıştı. İlgili değişiklikle, Kanun’a “elektronik ticaret hizmet sağlayıcı” ve “elektronik ticaret aracı hizmet sağlayıcı” tanımları ve bu hizmet sağlayıcıların yükümlülükleri eklenmişti. Ayrıca, bu hizmet sağlayıcılar için Kanun’da farklı eşikler belirlenerek, belirlenen eşikleri aşan hizmet sağlayıcılar için birtakım ek yükümlülükler düzenlenmişti. Yine aynı Kanun’da, belirlenen eşiklerin Cumhurbaşkanı tarafından 2023 Şubat ayı içerisinde yarısına kadar arttırılabileceğine yer verilmişti.
    Hatice Ekici Tağa
    Sümeyye Uçar

    Draft Bill to Amend the Turkish Competition Law

    The Turkish Competition Authority has prepared a Draft Bill to amend the Law on Protection of Competition, aiming to regulate and protect fair competition in the digital sector and align with the European Union's Digital Markets Act. The Draft Bill introduces new definitions, such as "core platform services" and "significant market power" (SMP), and extends the scope of the Authority's supervision to digital platforms providing core platform services. Undertakings with SMP must adhere to certain obligations, and violations may result in administrative fines, while repeated breaches could lead to a ban on mergers and acquisitions for up to five years.
    Hatice Ekici Tağa

    Complaint to the E-Commerce Platforms in Case of Violation of IP Rights

    The Regulation on Electronic Commerce Intermediary Service Providers and Electronic Commerce Service Providers has been published to ensure the development of electronic commerce and establish an effective and fair competition environment. One of the significant amendments to the regulation is the section on the violation of intellectual and industrial property rights. The regulation aims to provide quick results for the protection of intellectual and industrial rights by obligating e-commerce platforms to remove the product subject to the complaint without investigation, thereby taking an active role in protecting intellectual and industrial rights.
    Ebru Gümüş
    Bensu Özdemir
    Hatice Ekici Tağa

    Turkish Data Protection Authority Started Enforcement Against Foreign Controllers

    The Turkish Data Protection Authority (DPA) is investigating unregistered foreign controllers for non-compliance with VERBIS registration requirements. Foreign controllers collecting personal data from Turkey must appoint a local representative and register with VERBIS. Fines, calculated based on Law No. 5326, range from TRY 53,572 to TRY 2,678,863 (approx. USD 2,880 - USD 144,000). Non-compliant controllers may face additional fines or restricted data processing operations under the Law on Protection of Personal Data.
    Burak Özdağıstanli

    Actor Contracts

    Actor contracts in Turkish cinematographic works are governed by Law No. 5846 on Intellectual and Artistic Works. These innominate, consensual agreements involve transfer of financial rights from actors to producers. Legal characteristics of actor contracts vary, with mixed contracts considered most accurate, depending on each case's specific circumstances.
    Hatice Ekici Tağa
    Öykü Su Sabancı

    Regulation on E-Commerce Intermediary Service Providers and E-Commerce Service Providers

    Turkey's amended Law on the Regulation of Electronic Commerce has introduced a new Regulation on Electronic Commerce Intermediary Service Providers and Electronic Commerce Service Providers. The new rules set out the obligations of electronic commerce intermediary service providers (ETAHS) and electronic commerce service providers (ETHS) concerning the provision and verification of information, the handling of orders, the regulation of unlawful content and unfair commercial practices, and the establishment and amendment of intermediation agreements. The regulation also establishes requirements for the advertising and discount budgets of large and very large ETAHS and ETHS and the creation of an electronic commerce license.
    Burak Özdağıstanli
    Hatice Ekici Tağa
    Bensu Özdemir

    The Intellectual Property Review - 1

    Turkey is a significant jurisdiction for intellectual property (IP) law. IP cases are handled by specialized IP courts in major cities. Turkish IP law aligns with EU law and international standards, providing strong protection. Key treaties and conventions are enacted into local law. Trademarks, copyrights, industrial designs, patents, and geographical indications are protected under specific laws. Trademarks distinguish products/services, copyrights protect original works, industrial designs safeguard product appearances, and patents secure inventions. IP registration processes involve applications, examination, opposition, and registration. Protection durations vary. Recent developments include regulations on electronic commerce intermediary service providers and the launch of the TRABIS network.
    Hatice Ekici Tağa
    Burak Özdağıstanli

    The Intellectual Property Review - 2

    Turkish law provides effective enforcement procedures for protecting intellectual property (IP) rights. Cease-and-desist letters are advised, followed by civil or criminal court actions and potential customs confiscation. Specialized IP courts handle civil and criminal cases. Evidence collection involves expert examinations and search warrants. Preliminary injunctions are available. Written documents play a key role in IP litigation. Defence strategies include challenging distinctive character and prior rights. Remedies include cessation of infringing acts, confiscation, and compensation. Appellate review is possible, and alternative dispute resolution methods like mediation and arbitration are encouraged. AI-related patent ownership and changes to domain name dispute resolution are emerging trends.
    Hatice Ekici Tağa
    Burak Özdağıstanli

    Turkey Cracks Down on Rise of Greenwashing in Ads

    Greenwashing is the practice of presenting a product, brand, or institution as environmentally friendly through misleading ads and claims. It challenges transparency in consumer decision-making. In Turkey, misleading ads are regulated under the Regulation on Commercial Advertising and Unfair Commercial Practices, forbidding misleading information on environmental impact. The Advertisement Board oversees and sanctions commercial advertising, including cases of greenwashing. Recent examples include fines imposed on companies for unproven energy-saving claims, false plant-based product statements, unverified CO2 emission savings, and misleading eco-friendly packaging claims. Compliance with regulations and transparency are essential to avoid penalties and protect consumers.
    Burak Özdağıstanli
    Sümeyye Uçar
    Ebru Gümüş

    Data Subject Requests Under Turkish Data Protection Law

    The Law on Protection of Personal Data in Turkey grants data subjects certain rights similar to those in the General Data Protection Regulation. These rights include the right to know if personal data is being processed, the purpose of processing, and the recipients of data transfers. Data subjects also have the right to rectify or erase their data, object to automated decision-making, and seek compensation for unlawful processing. The exercise of these rights is subject to specific requirements outlined in the Communiqué on The Procedures and Principles of Application to Data Controller. Valid data subject requests must contain certain information and can be submitted through various methods. Data controllers are obligated to respond to valid requests within 30 days. Failure to comply with valid requests may result in administrative fines.
    Burak Özdağıstanli

    Dispute Resolution Mechanism for “.tr” Domain Names

    The allocation of ".tr" domain names in Turkey transitioned from the Middle East Technical University to the Information Technologies and Communications Authority (BTK) and the .tr Network Information System (TRABIS) in 2022. This shifted domain name allocation to a "first come, first served" principle, prompting issues about domain name disputes. To address this, Turkey implemented a system similar to the Uniform Settlement Policy of Domain Name Disputes (UDRP) of the World Intellectual Property Organization. Disputes are resolved within approximately a month by Dispute Resolution Service Providers (DRSPs).
    Hatice Ekici Tağa
    Sümeyye Uçar
    Öykü Su Sabancı
    Ebru Gümüş

    “.tr” Uzantılı Alan Adlarında Uyuşmazlık Çözüm Mekanizması

    TRABİS’in faaliyete geçmesi ile birlikte, “.tr” uzantılı alan adlarının hak ihlaline sebep olacak şekilde tahsis edilmesi halinde, uyuşmazlık çözüm mekanizması aracılığıyla uyuşmazlıklar hızlıca sonuçlandırılabilmektedir. Bunun için, başvuru usulüne ve sürelerine dikkat etmek ve şikâyetin taraflarınca iddiaların ve savunmaların düzgün bir şekilde ortaya konması oldukça önem arz etmektedir.
    Hatice Ekici Tağa
    Sümeyye Uçar
    Öykü Su Sabancı
    Ebru Gümüş

    Will Revoking Registered Trademarks be Easier in 2024?

    The main local legislation regulating the protection of trademarks in the Republic of Turkey, the Industrial Property Law With No. 6769 (“IPL”), was published on the Turkish Official Gazette on 10 January 2017. While most of the provisions of the IPL came into force on the date of the publication, the Article 26 of the IPL, titled Revocation Conditions and Revocation Request, was regulated to come into force after 7 years, meaning that on 10 January 2024, the procedure for revocation of registered trademarks will change. Currently, pursuant to the Provisional Article 4 of the IPL, the Intellectual Property Courts have the authority to revoke the registered trademarks and after a revocation decision of a trademark, the courts send the decision to Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (“Office”) for the trademarks to be revoked.
    Sümeyye Uçar
    Hatice Ekici Tağa

    Tescilli Markaların İptali 2024’te Kolaylaşacak Mı?

    Markalara ilişkin hakların korunmasını düzenleyen 6769 sayılı Sınai Mülkiyet Kanunu (“SMK”), 10 Ocak 2017’de, Resmi Gazete’de yayımlanmış ve hükümlerinin çoğunluğu yayım tarihinde yürürlüğe girmiştir. Ancak, İptal Halleri ve İptal Talebi başlıklı 26. Maddesinin, yayım tarihinden itibaren 7 yıl sonra yürürlüğe gireceği düzenlenmiştir. Bu da 10 Ocak 2024 tarihinde, tescilli markaların iptali prosedürünün değişeceği anlamına gelmektedir. Mevcut durumda, SMK Geçici Madde 4 uyarınca, iptal yetkisi Fikri ve Sınai Haklar Hukuk Mahkemeleri tarafından kullanılmaktadır ve mahkemeler, iptale ilişkin verdikleri kararları, markanın iptalinin gerçekleştirilmesi adına, Türk Patent ve Marka Kurumu’na (“Kurum”) göndermektedir. Bu prosedürün mevcut durumdaki şartları ve detayları ciddi bir biçimde değişmeyecek olsa da iptal yetkisi Fikri ve Sınai Haklar Hukuk Mahkemeleri’nden Kurum’a geçecektir. Maddenin gerekçesine göre bu düzenlemenin sebebi, 2015/2436 AB Direktifi ve 2015/2424 AB Marka Direktifi’ne uyum sağlanmasıdır. Bu değişiklik, sürecin daha kolay, hızlı ve ucuz olması sonucunu doğurabilecektir.
    Hatice Ekici Tağa
    Sümeyye Uçar

    Turkish Data Protection Board Fines a Private Healthcare Institution for a Mandatory Checkbox

    Turkish Personal Data Protection Board (“Board”) evaluated a complaint regarding a private health institution obtaining explicit consent from patients unlawfully, in its decision dated 02.05.2023 and numbered 2023/692.
    Ebru Gümüş
    Burak Özdağıstanli
    Sümeyye Uçar

    A Fitness Center Processing Data Subject’s Blood Type

    The Personal Data Protection Board assessed a complaint against a fitness center for processing blood type information without explicit consent, a special category of personal data. The Board imposed a fine of TRY 100.000 on the fitness center for not meeting obligations under Article 12 of the Law No. 6698 on the Protection of Personal Data. The center was instructed to provide a privacy notice and explicit consent separately as per the law and related guidelines. Allegations of improper data storage and unauthorized access to security camera footage were unproven.
    Burak Özdağıstanli
    Bensu Özdemir
    Ebru Gümüş

    Turkish Data Protection Board Fines a Private Hospital for Making Videos about Patients’ Treatments

    Turkish Personal Data Protection Board (“Board”) evaluated a notice regarding a private hospital obtaining explicit consent from patients for processing personal data, including health data, within the scope of advertising and promotion activities in its decision dated 11.05.2023 and numbered 2023/787. In the notice, the data subject demanded action to be taken by stating that the private hospital data controller, through the patient consent forms, request explicit consent from the patients in order to share their photographs and videos with the contracted media organs for advertising and promotion purposes.
    Burak Özdağıstanli
    Sümeyye Uçar
    Ebru Gümüş