&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>I.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Overview&lt;/strong>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The media sector
in Türkiye is growing and changing with each passing day, just like in the
world, and the laws follow these changes. As a matter of fact, there are many
laws and international agreements concerning the media &amp; entertainment
industry in Türkiye. In addition, some independent auditing institutions have
been established in order to provide a discipline and competitive environment
in the Turkish media sector.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Freedom of the
press and expression are among the fundamental rights and freedoms recognized
by many international agreements. However, this right may also be limited in
certain terms and conditions. In addition, another right that is as important
as freedom of the press is the right to intellectual property. Persons have the
right to demand the protection of their intellectual product by law. Therefore,
there is an inseparable link between intellectual property law and the media in
terms of copyright.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">With the
digitization of everything in the world and the increase in the use of social
media, different business areas and different problems have emerged. The most
important of these is defrauding people through information systems. Although
law, as a conservative discipline, follows all these developments behind, it
still tries to find solutions for each victimization.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In this context,
the content of this article includes the most decisive legislations that
governs and affects the media &amp; entertainment sector in Türkiye.
&nbsp;
&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;br>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>II.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Major Regulations for Media Sector&lt;/strong>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Türkiye has varied legislations for radio and television
enterprises and digital broadcasting. The legal framework provides
specific rules, in particular media service providers, regulation of property
and media transparency. These rules consist of many regulations at different
levels, from the Constitution to sectoral laws and authority decisions. In
addition, new laws come into force to meet the new needs that arise with the
developing technology. For these reasons, it is necessary to make a careful
examination before entering the media and entertainment sector and to follow
the current legislation closely.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Among the main
sources of media law are the Constitution of Türkiye dated 1982 No. 2709 (“ the
Constitution”) and international treaties (e.g., European Convention on
Human Rights and European Convention on Transfrontier Television) and they draw
a legal framework for media law, especially broadcasting principles. After the
Constitution, there are laws and regulations containing regulations on media
and entertainment law as secondary legislation. These are guiding regulations
for practices in the sector and must comply with the constitution. In addition
to these, the decisions of independent regulatory institutions and court
decisions also shed light on the sector.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Many articles of
the Constitution include regulations that affect media law and draw the
framework of media law. The most important of these articles for the media and
entertainment sector are Article 28, which regulates freedom of the press, and
Article 26, which regulates freedom of expression. Furthermore, many rights
that are closely related to media law, such as the right to rectification and
reply, the right to broadcast periodicals or non-periodicals, are mentioned in
the Constitution and these rights are constitutionally guaranteed.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">One of the most
important laws determining the details of the media and entertainment sector is
the Press Law No. 5187 (“Press Law”). The Press Law includes issues such
as the conditions required to be a member of the press or a press organization,
and the responsibilities of press organizations. Finally, with the Law No. 7418
on the Amendment of Press Law and Some Laws announced in the Official Gazette
dated 18.10.2022, some provisions of the Press Law were amended and internet
news sites were allowed to be accepted as press organizations in order to adapt
to the digitalized media.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In addition, the
Law No. 6112 on the Establishment and Broadcasting Services of Radio and
Television &nbsp;includes provisions on the
establishment of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (“RTÜK”)
and
the regulation of broadcasting services.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In addition, other regulations
regarding the media and entertainment sector are as follows:&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;ul style="list-style-type: square;">&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Law on
the Right to Obtain Information No. 4982&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Law on
Regulation of Publications on the Internet and Combating Crimes Committed by
Means of Such Publications No. 5651&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Law on
Radio and Television of Türkiye No. 2954&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Law on
Intellectual and Artistic Works No. 5846&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Industrial
Property Law No. 6769&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Law on
Meetings and Demonstrations No. 2911&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Law on
Protection of Competition No. 4054&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Law on
Electronic Communications No. 5809&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Turkish
Penal Code No. 5237&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Turkish
Code of Obligations No. 6098&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Turkish
Civil Code No.4721&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Turkish
Commercial Code No. 6102&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;/ul>

The media sector in Türkiye is growing and changing with each passing day, just like in the world, and the laws follow these changes. As a matter of fact, there are many laws and international agreements concerning the media & entertainment industry in Türkiye. In addition, some independent auditing institutions have been established in order to provide a discipline and competitive environment in the Turkish media sector.

Legal Background of Media Regulations in Türkiye

Mr. Onur Alper
advises the clients with more than 15 years experience during all phases of a
business transaction and provides legal counselling concerning long term
strategic business planning and the day-to-day operations of the clients and
serving as legal counsel in ongoing internal corporate matters.He handles all
media &amp; entertainment law related matters for domestic and international
clients who operate in a wide range of media &amp; entertainment industry and
works with clients on many projects related to media productions, including the
launch of new media platforms, film productions, and distribution
arrangements.He has experience on restructuring of broadcasting companies
as per the Radio and Television Supreme Council legislation and worked on
broadcasting agreements. He also focuses his practice on domestic and international
mergers and acquisitions and advises both national and international clients on
various aspects of commercial and contractual issues. He also specializes in
the representation of early stage startup companies, venture funds and many
prominent angel investors.
 Practice Areas &amp; Work Department

Media
 &amp; Entertainment

&nbsp; 

Languages

Turkish

English

&nbsp; 

Memberships

İstanbul
 and Turkish Bar Association

Licensed
 Mediator

TUGİAD Educationİstanbul Bilgi University, LL.M. (Business Law)Istanbul Bahçeşehir University, LL.B.Bremen University of Germany, Erasmus Exchange StudentSydney Colleague of Australia, Certification

Alper Law Office is an independent full service boutique law firm based in Istanbul&nbsp;primarily focuses on business law and corporate legal practice.Alper Law Office specializes in high-end legal advice on complex matters in the areas of media &amp; entertainment and represents clients operating in entertainment, media and advertising industries and other content providers who produce, license, acquire, use and invest in film, television, music and digital content sectors for worldwide distribution.Alper Law Office provides legal assistance to advertising and media investment agencies in drafting and negotiating advertising, media buying and planning, production licensing contracts, social media management, digital performance marketing and advertising services contracts.Clients are leading “media companies such as television stations, digital media publishers including VOD platforms, film producers, rights traders, book and magazine publishers, advertising agencies, publishers of computer games, internet companies and lifestyle companies”.Alper Law Office (i) advised a digital platform (over-the-top content platform)&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp;drafted the internal and external production contracts and managed the&nbsp;negotiation processes&nbsp;with production companies, directors, screenwriters, actors and line producers; (ii) advised a production company on “Broadcasting and Production Agreements of TV formats” produced and broadcasted for leading international TV channels and attended to the contract negotiations in United States, Mexico, Colombia, Greece, Hungary and Romania; (iii) advised TV channels on various broadcasting and contractual matters and (iv) also acted as “Production Legal Counsel” for a TV Show produced in Dominican Republic.

Alper Law Office

Founding Partner

Ms.
Dilşad Karakuş provides
legal consultancy on consumer disputes and manages the project of responding to
consumer applications to customers operating in the media field and preparing
legal response petitions submitted to prosecutor offices. In addition, she
involves in contract negotiations in various sectors, especially digital
platforms, and takes an active role in the revision of contracts. She continues
litigation processes for customers, especially enforcement law and lease law,
and represents our customers before the court.&nbsp;She leads the clients in
the resolution of disputes with her solution-oriented and unique perspective.
It also works on compliance with personal data protection law legislation and
informs clients about legislative changes. Practice Areas &amp; Work Department

Media
 &amp; Entertainment

&nbsp; 

Languages

Turkish

English

German EducationÖzyeğin University, LL.B.

Legal Intern

With the “Law Amending the Press Law” published in the Official Gazette dated October 18, 2022 and numbered 31987, various regulations were made within the scope of combating disinformation, especially internet new sites and press cards.

Recent Developments on Press Law

&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>1. General Information on
Broadcast Media Advertising &amp; Online Advertising&lt;/strong>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">The main pieces of legislation governing broadcast media
advertising are the &lt;/span>&lt;strong>Law no. 6112 on "Establishment of Radio and Television
Enterprises and their Media Services"&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;"> (“Media Law”)&nbsp;and the Advertisement
Regulation of Radio and Television Authority of Türkiye.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">As per Media Law, advertisements and tele-shopping in
television and radio broadcasting services have to be&nbsp;broadcast&nbsp;in a
manner that is easily distinguishable from the rest of the elements of the
broadcasting&nbsp;programme services, by way of the use of audio or visual
warnings. Broadcast media advertisements are also within the scope of
Regulation on &lt;/span>&lt;strong>“Commercial Advertisements and Unfair Practices“&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">, thus
advertisements and tele-shopping must be made in compliance with this
regulation.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">Online advertising is subject to &lt;/span>&lt;strong style="font-size: 14px;">“Consumer Protection
Law”&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;"> and &lt;/span>&lt;strong style="font-size: 14px;">“Commercial Advertisement Regulation”&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">,&nbsp;which are the
main&nbsp;legislation&nbsp;with respect to advertisement rules. The
Advertisement Board regulates the compliance of advertisements in all media,
except for specific broadcasting rules that are governed under Media Law. In
addition, all online broadcasts in Türkiye are subject to the Law No. 5651 on &lt;/span>&lt;strong>“Regulating
Broadcasting in the Internet and Fighting against Crimes Committed through
Internet Broadcasting”&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">.&nbsp;If&nbsp;the content of an online broadcast,
including online advertising, constitutes specific crimes that are listed in
this law,&nbsp;access&nbsp;to&nbsp;this website could either be banned by the
Information Technology and Communication Authority or by the court,&nbsp;depending
on the type of case and urgency.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;br>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>2. Limitations Regarding
Maximum Advertising Time, the Advertising of Alcoholic Beverages, Crypto
Exchange, On-Line Sport Betting&lt;/strong>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">The Regulation on &lt;/span>&lt;strong style="font-size: 14px;">“Audit of Commercial Communication Revenues Received by Media Service Provider
Organizations and Regarding the Declaration and Payment of the Shares of the
Supreme Council to be Paid on These Revenues And Procedures”&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;"> defines media
service providers, radio and television advertisements, programme support,
teleshopping and product placement, including any natural or legal person in an
economic activity, product, service, or image, designed to promote, directly or
indirectly, a fee or tone or silent images with a similar response, with or
placed into a programme or a programme for the purpose of self-promotion in
exchange for the issuance of commercial communication income as revenues over
the cost of specified commercial communications. Media service providers
collect their commercial communication revenues in each calendar month must be
declared by the last day of the following month. &lt;/span>&lt;u>1.5% of the monthly gross
commercial communication revenues should be paid as the share of the RTÜK.&lt;/u>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;u>The proportion of all
kinds of advertising broadcasts, except for tele-shopping broadcasts, cannot
exceed 20% (twenty percent) within the broadcast from the beginning of one (1)
hour to the beginning of the next hour.&lt;/u>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;"> Regardless of this time, with an audible
and visual warning by stating clearly, tele-shopping broadcast can be made for
at least fifteen minutes without interruption. The duration of this broadcast
cannot exceed a total of one (1) hour in one day.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">Public service
announcements that are broadcast free of charge and recommended by the RTÜK are
not included in the advertising periods. Also, advertising and tele-shopping
broadcasts cannot be placed in the religious ceremony broadcast in any way.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;u>Commercial
communication for alcoholic beverages and tobacco products is not allowed in
any way it cannot be given.&lt;/u>&lt;/span> &lt;/span>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">The&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;"> Law no 4207 on &lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;strong style="font-size: 14px;">“Prevention and Control of Damages of Tobacco
Products“&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;"> prohibited the use of tobacco products in music videos,
advertisements and promotional films, and works shown in cinemas and theaters,
and also the display of their images for advertising purposes in television
programmes, movies, serials, music for commercial purposes or on the internet,
social media or similar media that are open to the public. Broadcasters on any
platform and level should commit to showing the necessary sensitivity in the
fight against all types of addiction, especially alcohol, tobacco products,
narcotic substances, and gambling.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">According to the Law
no 7258 on &lt;/span>&lt;strong>“Football and Other Sports Competitions,&nbsp; Organization of Betting and Games of Chance”&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">,
it is a crime to play fixed odds and joint betting, or games of chance based on
sports events without the necessary permission and licenses. According to the
relevant law, fixed odds or joint bets or luck based on sports events and
advertising illegal bets, those who encourage them to play their games are
punished with imprisonment from one year to three years and a judicial fine of
up to three thousand (3.000) days. As a result, advertisements cannot be made
for those who offer online betting and gambling services, except for a limited
number of legal betting channels which are İddaa, Nesine and Misli.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">There is no
limitations and relevant regulation for crypto exchange advertising yet.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">Among the broadcasts
made by broadcasting organizations residing abroad and transmitted by satellite
and cable operators in Türkiye, advertisements and teleshopping broadcasts of
products that can be broadcast according to the legislation of the country in
which the organization broadcasting abroad are located but prohibited by the
Law and this Regulation cannot be broadcast.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>

The main pieces of legislation governing broadcast media advertising are the Law no. 6112 on "Establishment of Radio and Television Enterprises and their Media Services" (“Media Law”) and the Advertisement Regulation of Radio and Television Authority of Türkiye. As per Media Law, advertisements and tele-shopping in television and radio broadcasting services have to be broadcast in a manner that is easily distinguishable from the rest of the elements of the broadcasting programme services, by way of the use of audio or visual warnings. Broadcast media advertisements are also within the scope of Regulation on “Commercial Advertisements and Unfair Practices“, thus advertisements and tele-shopping must be made in compliance with this regulation.

Advertising on TV Broadcasting Under Turkish Law

“Broadcasting License” means the certificate of permission issued separately for each broadcasting type, technique and network by RTÜK to media service providers to allow them to broadcast using any kind of technology via cable, satellite, terrestrial and similar networks. There are different licenses to be obtained in order to establish an online broadcasting platform and broadcast transmission for on-demand broadcasting services in Turkey.

Licensing Requirements for Broadcasting, License Fees and Paying Royalties

Law no. 6112 on "Establishment of Radio and         Television Enterprises and their Media Services" (“Media Law”) does         not prohibit broadcasting in foreign languages; however, broadcasts made in         foreign languages shall follow the rules of that preselected language and be         supervised by the RTÜK. As regulated in the Regulation on “The Procedures and         Principles of Broadcasting Services” (“Broadcasting Procedures Regulation”),         the ability of media service providers to broadcast in different languages ​​and dialects is subject to the permission of the RTÜK.

Local Content Requirements of TV Broadcasting

&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>1.             The Restrictions for the Company Structures&lt;/strong>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
Certain restrictions regarding foreign ownership have been stipulated
        under&nbsp;Law no.
        6112 on "Establishment of Radio and Television Enterprises and their Media
        Services".&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;ul style="list-style-type: square;">&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 2; text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong style="">Company Type.
&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">        Broadcasting licenses are only given to “Joint Stock Companies” established in
        accordance with the provisions of the Turkish Commercial Code for the sole
        purpose of providing radio, television, and on-demand broadcasting services.
        The same company may only offer one radio, one television and one
        broadcast-on-demand service.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 2; text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>Type of Company Shares.&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;"> The shares
        of media service providers must be “registered”. Usufruct stock cannot be
        created in favor of any person.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 2; text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>Foreign Shareholding. &lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">The total
        foreign direct capital share in a media service provider cannot exceed “fifty
        percent (50%)” of the paid-in capital.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;/ul>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 20px; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">It should also be noted that the 50%
        shareholding threshold does not apply to indirect foreign ownership.
        Notwithstanding this, in the event the Turkish licensee company of the foreign
        satellite broadcaster has indirect foreign ownership, then the chairman, the
        vice chairman and the majority of the board of directors and the general
        manager must be Turkish citizens and the majority of the voting rights in the
        general assembly must belong to real persons or legal entities having Turkish
        citizenship.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;ul style="list-style-type: square;">&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 2; text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>Information on Shareholders. &lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">A natural or
        legal person may directly or indirectly become a partner in a maximum of four
        (4) media service providers holding a terrestrial broadcasting license. A
        foreign natural or legal person can be a direct partner of at most (2) two
        media service providers.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 2; text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>Management.&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;"> In the event
        that foreign real or legal persons participate in companies that are partners
        of media service providers and become indirect partners in broadcasting
        organizations, the chairman of the board of directors, the vice chairman, the
        majority of the board of directors and the general manager of the broadcasting
        organizations must be citizens of Turkey, and also the majority of the votes in
        the general meetings of the broadcasting organizations must be held in Turkey.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 2; text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>Capital of Companies.&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;"> The requirement to comply with&nbsp;the amount of paid-in capital of media service
        providers that apply for a broadcast license in order to provide radio,
        television and on-demand broadcasting services cannot be less than the
        following amounts:&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;/ul>&lt;p style="line-height: 1;">&lt;br>&lt;/p>&lt;ul style="list-style-type: square;">&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">National Terrestrial Television:
        8.320.000 TL&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">Regional Terrestrial Television:
        1.385.000 TL&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">Local Terrestrial Television: 250.000
        TL&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">Cable Television: 275.000 TL&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">Satellite Television: 275.000 TL&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;li style="margin-left: 20px; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">For On-Demand Broadcasting Service:
        100.000 TL&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/li>&lt;/ul>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">In case radio, television and on-demand broadcasting activities are
        carried out together, the minimum paid-in capital must be equal to the sum of
        the amounts written above.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1;">&lt;br>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>2.                Regulations Subjected to the Foreigners Being a Top Manager and/or Chief
            Editor&lt;/strong>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">According to By-Law on “Administrative and Financial Conditions which
        Media Service Providers and Platform and Infrastructure Operators” are required
        to comply with “Media Service Provider Organizations” have a board of
        directors consisting of one (1) or more people. At least one (1) representative
        member must have a place of residence in Turkey and be a Turkish citizen.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">A shareholding real person shall be elected as the chairman and a member
        of the board of executives. Any legal entity shall not be a member of the board
        of executives. Only a real person who is a representative of a legal entity
        shall be appointed to the membership of the board of executives. If the legal
        person is a member of the board of directors, the real person representing the
        legal person reported to the board of RTÜK.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">Media service providers, with the decision of the board of directors,
        appoints a general director. The general directors of the media service
        provider organizations providing national and regional broadcasting from terrestrial
        media, and satellite broadcasting from cable media to many cities, a graduate
        of education, their settlement in Turkey and not being convicted of disgraceful
        crimes are must.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">Media service provider organizations, responsibility with the decision
        of the board of directors, appoints one (1) or more manager in charge, provided
        that the area of responsibility of the manager in charge has been clearly
        defined.&nbsp;The manager in charge of a
        media service provider providing national and regional broadcasts through
        terrestrial networks, cable broadcast services though cable networks targeting
        at more than one province and satellite broadcast services, must be at least a
        graduate of a higher education institution and any person who will be appointed
        to this position must; be a Turkish citizen, be domiciled in Turkey, not be
        convicted of disgraceful crimes.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">Besides, each media service provider for the purpose of formulation of a
        co-regulatory and a self-regulatory mechanism, evaluation of the complaints
        received from viewers and listeners, presentation of the evaluations to its
        broadcasting board and the follow-up of their results shall appoint a viewer’s
        representative at least with a ten years’ professional experience.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">Becoming a responsible manager which may be defined as “Top Manager
        and/or Chief Editor”;&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>a.&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">           to have completed the age of
        eighteen,&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>b.&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">           owning a place of residence and
        permanent residence in Turkey,&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>c.&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">           to graduate from at least secondary
        education or an equivalent educational institution,&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>d.&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">           not to be restricted or prohibited
        from public services,&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>e.&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">        not to be convicted of disgraceful
        crimes,&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>f.&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">           for non-Turkish citizens, it is
        necessary to seek reciprocity.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">Apart from this information, the sample platform you sent to us also
        publishes printed newspapers and is subject to the provisions of periodicals
        within the scope of the Press Law No. 5187. For this reason, for the
        establishment of the sample platform, there must be a printed newspaper
        publication and the "periodical publication" conditions described
        above must be fulfilled.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify; line-height: 2;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">News agency publications are periodical publications within the scope of
        Press Law No.5187. For this reason, the publications of news agencies are also
        subject to most regulations related to periodicals, especially the regulations
        on responsible managers in Press Law.&lt;/span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>

Certain restrictions regarding foreign ownership have been stipulated         under Law no.         6112 on "Establishment of Radio and Television Enterprises and their Media         Services". Company Type.         Broadcasting licenses are only given to “Joint Stock Companies” established in         accordance with the provisions of the Turkish Commercial Code for the sole         purpose of providing radio, television, and on-demand broadcasting services.         The same company may only offer one radio, one television and one         broadcast-on-demand service.

Foreign Ownership Restrictions Apply to Media Services

&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The traditional sanctions that the Advertisement Board used to apply were ordering administrative fine, correction decision and precautionary or temporary suspension decisions against advertisements which violate the legal rules for advertisements broadcasted in any media including internet. In addition to these, the Advertisement Board has been authorized to block access to online broadcasts or contents which are found to violate the advertising rules through amendments introduced to Consumer Protection Law in April 2022. In case the violating content may not be blocked due to technical reasons or the violation may not be remedied by blocking access to the relevant content, the Advertisement Board is also authorized to block access to the entire website.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The Advertisement Board strictly scrutinizes online advertisements and exercises this power when applicable. For instance, in December 2022 the Board examined advertisements published on the social media account of the company promoting legal services offered by the company and directing consumers to the company’s website and issued cease order regarding the advertisements and blocked access to the entire website.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Another amendment introduced by the amending law is in terms of the monetary sanctions to be imposed by the Advertisement Board against advertisements broadcasted through satellite radio and TV channels.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Until recently, the Consumer Protection Law in relation to the administrative fine to be imposed against violating advertisements has regulated the fines for advertisements broadcasted through national and regional television/radio channels besides the internet, text messages, and other media like outdoor advertising. The advertisements broadcasted through satellite radio and TV channels were not explicitly regulated. However, given the increased number of television broadcasts over satellite in recent years, the lack of an explicit rule in the Consumer Protection Law regarding advertisements broadcasted through satellite television and radio, caused hesitation about whether internet penalties or penalties applied to violations made through national and regional radio / TV broadcasts should be applied. In this direction, the amendments ruled that the administrative fine applied against advertisements broadcasted through regional radio channels can be applied to advertisements broadcasted through satellite radio broadcasts and that the administrative fine applied against advertisements broadcasted through the internet can be applied to advertisements broadcasted through satellite TV broadcasts.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The Advertisement Board expanded its powers with respect to advertisement of counterfeit goods as well. In this respect, the Board had previously evaluated that advertising of counterfeit products that were sold and advertised as genuine products on various websites and social media accounts is misleading and against the principle requiring that claims included in advertisements must be accurate and provable and imposed administrative fine against these advertisements.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The Board followed this approach in 2022 as well. In its decision rendered in September 2022, it determined that footwear products of well-known brands which have high reputation before the consumers were offered for sale on the websites of the company subject to surveillance, and those products were advertised and promoted as genuine products on these websites. However, the products delivered to the consumers upon order were low-quality products in terms of the material used, their appearance and features, whereby the delivered products were found to be counterfeit products. Therefore, the Advertisement Board has evaluated that the claims regarding the authenticity of the products in these advertisements available on the specified websites do not reflect the truth and exploit the lack of information of the consumers and issued cease order and administrative monetary fine.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The Board rendered a similar decision in November 2022 where the Board found it misleading and contradictory to the fair competition principles that the company subject to surveillance created a false impression as if it were associated with a well-known electronics company by using the trade name, logo, and visuals of that company although the company had no kind of contractual relationship with the electronics company such as distributorship, authorized service relationship or a dealership agreement. The Board issued cease order with respect to the advertisements.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">It is important that the Advertisement Board carries out administrative surveillance on the advertising of counterfeit products and implements administrative sanctions against them. This approach refers to effective, multi-legged supervision which affirms that the trademark right holders can alternatively resort to administrative remedies, in addition to judicial remedies against trademark infringement.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>

The traditional sanctions that the Advertisement Board used to apply were ordering administrative fine, correction decision and precautionary or temporary suspension decisions against advertisements which violate the legal rules for advertisements broadcasted in any media including internet.

Advertisement Board’s Expanded Power: Blocking Access

&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">With the Amendment of Income Tax Law and Certain Laws and Decree Laws ("&lt;/span>&lt;strong>Law&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">") published in the Official Gazette on 09.11.2022, significant amendments were made to the Decree Law No. 320 on National Lottery ("&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;strong style="font-size: 14px;">Decree-Law&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">"). Within the scope of these amendments, new regulations have been introduced regarding the penal provisions, organization of lotteries and draws.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>Right to Organization of Lotteries and Draws&lt;/strong>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">While an application fee has been paid to obtain a permission from the National Lottery Administration ("&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;strong style="font-size: 14px;">Administration&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">") by the virtue of practice, this fee is now regulated under the legal regulation in Turkey. As per the amendment made to Article 41 of the Decree-Law, real persons and legal entities who apply Administration to organize any type of non-cash goods and similar lotteries and draws in Turkey is required to pay an application fee of TRY 2.000,00 as of 09.11.2022.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">Furthermore, it is specified that 15% of the total market value of bonuses, prizes, or similar benefits offered in lotteries, which have been granted permission by the Administration following examination of the application, shall be subject to a separate charge as a permit fee. Moreover, if the bonuses, prizes, or similar benefits promised in the lotteries are imported from abroad or produced by other real persons or legal entities, a permit fee of 30% of the total market value shall be charged.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">Lastly, the application fee shall be adjusted annually in accordance with the revaluation rate determined and announced under the Tax Procedure Law for the preceding year, starting from the beginning of each calendar year.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>Penal Provisions&lt;/strong>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">In line with the amendment made in Article 52 of the Decree-Law, the following new penal provisions have been stipulated for the violation of the Decree-Law;&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>1- &lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">Without relying on the authority or permission granted by the legislation or authorized institutions and organizations:&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>a-&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;"> Those who organize or provide opportunities to play any kinds of goods lottery, games of chance, or joint betting or similar games shall be sentenced to imprisonment from three to five years and a judicial fine up to ten thousand days,&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>b-&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;"> Those who provide access to all kinds of goods lottery, games of chance, games of chance, joint betting and similar games played abroad via the internet or by other means, enabling them to be played in Turkey, shall be sentenced to imprisonment from four to six years and a judicial fine up to five thousand days,&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>c-&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;"> Those who mediate the money transfer in connection with all kinds of goods lottery, games of chance and joint betting or similar games, shall be sentenced to imprisonment from three to five years and a judicial fine of up to five thousand days,&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>d-&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;"> Those who encourage people to play all kinds of goods lottery, games of chance, joint betting or similar games through advertising and other means are sentenced to imprisonment from one year to three years and a judicial fine of up to three thousand days,&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>e-&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;"> Those who play all kinds of goods lottery, games of chance and joint betting or similar games organized by third parties in physical or electronic environments, shall be sentenced to an administrative fine ranging from TRY 5.000,00 to TRY 20.000,00.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;strong>2- &lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">Within the scope of the organization of all kinds of non-cash goods lotteries, joint betting and similar games in physical or electronic environment; individuals who fail to conduct the draws, announce the results of the draws, or fulfill their obligations despite obtaining the necessary permission shall be punished with imprisonment ranging from two months to two years and a judicial fine of up to three thousand days.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">The workplaces in which the aforementioned offenses are committed shall be sealed and closed for a maximum of three months without prior notice by the highest local administrative authority.&nbsp;&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">The licenses of workplaces that hold an operating license shall be cancelled by the authorized administration within five working days upon notification by the highest local administrative authority.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">It is also important to note that in the event that the crimes specified in Article 52 of the Decree-Law are committed, all assets acquired through the crime will be subject to confiscation in accordance with the provisions on confiscation of property and earnings set forth in the Turkish Penal Code No. 5237 during the criminal investigation.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">Finally, the measures related to &lt;/span>&lt;strong style="font-size: 14px;">(i)&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;"> seizure of immovables, rights and receivables, &lt;/span>&lt;strong style="font-size: 14px;">(ii)&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;"> detection, interception and recording of communication, &lt;/span>&lt;strong>(iii)&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;"> assignment of a secret investigator and &lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;strong style="font-size: 14px;">(iv)&lt;/strong>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;"> monitoring by technical means, as set out in the Criminal Procedure Law No. 5271, as set out in subparagraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) and paragraph 2 above, would be applied.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">As it seen, the Law has brought about significant changes in the national lottery legislation and has established more detailed conditions for organizing lotteries and draws. Furthermore, the scope of criminal liability has been expanded through the much more comprehensive penal provisions compared to the previous version of the text.&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="text-align: justify;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">The new amendments summarized above entered into force on 09.11.2022. You may access the Law by&nbsp;&lt;/span>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&lt;a href="https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2022/11/20221109-10.htm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="color: rgb(3, 102, 132);">&lt;strong>this link&lt;/strong>&lt;/a>&lt;/span>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&nbsp;(Official Gazette, in Turkish).&lt;/span>&lt;span style="font-size: 14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/p>

With the Amendment of Income Tax Law and Certain Laws and Decree Laws published in the Official Gazette on 09.11.2022, significant amendments were made to the Decree Law No. 320 on National Lottery.

New Regulation on Organization of Lotteries and Draws in Turkey

&lt;p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.5; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(19, 18, 18);">Son zamanlarda sık sık reklamlarda, tanıtımı yapılan ürünlerin veya hizmetlerin “eko”, “çevre dostu”, “doğa dostu” “yeşil” ve “geri dönüştürülebilir” olduğu konusunda reklam veren şirket tarafından ikna edilmeye mi çalışılıyorsunuz? Bir ürünün çevre dostu olması, ürünü satın alma ve kullanma tercihlerinizde etkili oluyor mu? Artık aslında yeterince “yeşil” olmayan ancak “yeşil” olduğu belirtilen ürünlere ilişkin reklamlara ayrılan sürenin sonuna mı geldik?&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.5; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(19, 18, 18);">Bize tüm bu soruları sorduran “yeşil reklam” furyası, farklı sektörlerde faaliyet gösteren pek çok şirketin pazarlama ve reklam stratejisini “yeşil dönüşüm” temeli üzerine kurmuş olmasından kaynaklanıyor. Dünyamıza sahip çıkabilmek için son dönemeçte olabileceğimiz gerçeği karşısında şirketler tarafından bu çevreci motivasyonla atılan tüm adımların desteklenmesi gerekmekle beraber bu çevreci tutumun ticari reklamlara yansıması kimi zaman tüketicilerin çevre konusundaki duyarlılığının ya da bu alandaki olası bilgi eksikliğinin istismar edilmesi sonucunu doğurabilmektedir. Bu tür yeşil beyanlar kimi zaman bir ürünün üzerinde veya ambalajında, bazen bir mal veya hizmetin reklamında bazense sadece bir firmanın internet sitesinde genel olarak tüm ürün ve hizmetlerini ve şirketin sürdürülebilirlik vizyonunu kapsayacak şekilde karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Bu noktada çevreye ilişkin beyanlar içeren reklam ve tanıtımlar ile şirketlerin sürdürülebilirlik vizyonları altında çevresel beyanlarının hukuka uygun olup olmadığının ayırt edilmesi önem taşımaktadır.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.5; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(19, 18, 18);">Bu kapsamda Reklam Kurulu tarafından 6502 sayılı Tüketicinin Korunması Hakkında Kanun'a ve Ticari Reklam ve Haksız Ticari Uygulamalar Yönetmeliğine dayanarak Çevreye İlişkin Beyanlar İçeren Reklamlar Hakkında Kılavuz (“Kılavuz”) hazırlandı ve yayınlandı. Yazımızın devamında tüketicilerin fiilen en çok karşılaştıkları çevresel beyanlarla ilgili Kılavuz’un özel düzenlemelerinin bir kısmını bulabilirsiniz.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.5; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(19, 18, 18);">“Çevresel beyan”ın ne anlama geldiği konusunda Kılavuz kapsamında özel bir tanımlama yapıldı. Buna göre; ticari reklam veya ticari uygulama kapsamında bir mal veya hizmetin bileşen, üretimi, piyasaya arz süreci, kullanımı veya bertaraf edilme süreci ile ilgili olarak çevresel fayda sağladığına veya çevreye olumsuz bir etkisinin bulunmadığına ilişkin ibare veya görsel olarak tanımlanmıştır. Bu tanımda genel olarak çevreye etkiye ilişkin her türlü beyan ve uygulamanın çevresel beyan olduğu değerlendirilebilir. Kılavuz, özellikle çevresel beyan içeren reklam ve tanıtımların tüketicinin çevreyle ilgili hassasiyetlerini suistimal etmemesi ve sunulan ürün ve hizmetlerin çevreye etkileri konusunda tüketiciyi yanıltmaması için önemli kurallar getirmiştir.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.5; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(19, 18, 18);">Reklamlarda en çok karşılaşılan çevresel beyanların “yeşil”, “sürdürülebilir”, “eko”, “çevre dostu”, “sıfır atık”, “karbon nötr”, “yeşil enerji” gibi ifadeler olduğunu sanıyoruz hepimiz gözlemlemekteyiz. Bu tür kavramların hiçbir açıklama yapılmadan ya da tanıtıma konu mal ve hizmetlerin çevreye etkileri bakımından belirsizliğe neden olacak şekilde kullanılmaması gerekmektedir. Çevresel beyanların ne ile ilgili olduğu, ne için ve nasıl kullanıldığı, ürünün yaşam döngüsünün tümüne mi yoksa bir bölümüne mi yönelik olduğuna ilişkin bilgilere reklamlarda yer verilmelidir.&nbsp; Özetle, “yeşil” olduğu iddia edilen bir ürün ya da hizmetin hangi yönüyle “yeşil” olduğu reklamdan anlaşılamıyorsa o reklam sizi aldatıyor olabilir. Ek olarak bir malın “biyolojik olarak bozunabilir”, “çözünebilir” veya “geri dönüştürülebilir” olduğuna ilişkin beyanların, malın ambalajı da dahil olmak üzere ürünün tamamıyla mı yoksa bir kısmıyla mı ilgili olduğu tüketiciye açıkça bildirilmelidir. Eğer bir malın yalnızca bir bölümü geri dönüştürülebilir nitelikteyse o halde sanki ürünün tamamı geri dönüştürülebilirmiş gibi reklam yapmak uygun olmayabilecektir. Örneğin bir içeceğe ait pet şişenin ambalajında “geri dönüştürülebilir” ifadesine ve bu ifadeyi destekleyecek görsele yer verilmişse ancak şişe tamamen geri dönüştürülebilir malzemeden yapılmışken şişe kapağı öyle değilse o halde sanki şişenin tamamı geri dönüştürülebilirmiş gibi yapılan bir reklam, mevzuata aykırı olabilecektir. Tüketiciler bir malın veya ambalajın üretiminde yenilenebilir enerjinin kullanıldığı konusunda yanıltılmamalıdır.&nbsp; Örneğin, bir reklam veren tarafından markaya ait tekstil ürünlerinin reklamında “rüzgar enerjisi ile üretilmiştir” şeklinde ibareye verilmişse ancak, firma, tekstil ürünlerinin üretim sürecinde kullanılan enerjinin sadece %50’sini rüzgar enerjisinden sağlamaktaysa o halde bu tanıtım tüketicileri eksik bilgilendirici nitelikte olması sebebiyle reklam hukukuna aykırı olabilecektir. Benzer şekilde reklamlarda yer verilen çevresel beyanların o mal veya hizmetin hangi bölüm, parça veya sürecine ilişkin olduğu açıkça belirtilmelidir. Örneğin, “sıfır emisyon” ibaresinin veya görselinin bir mal veya hizmetin tüketiciye sunulmadan önceki üretim aşamasına mı yoksa tüketicinin kullanımına sunulduktan sonraki sürece mi ilişkin olduğu açıkça belirtilmelidir.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.5; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(19, 18, 18);">Bir diğer önemli nokta bir mal veya hizmetin ilgili mevzuatı gereği uyması gereken yasal süreçler ve sağlaması gereken standartlara veya hâlihazırda kullanılmayan süreçlerin veya bileşenlerin kullanılmamasına ilişkin çevresel beyanların, o mal veya hizmetin, sürecin veya firmaların rakiplerinden farklı ya da daha üstün olduğu algısı oluşturacak biçimde kullanılamayacak olmasıdır. Örneğin, bir deterjan markasına ait reklamlarda ve ürün ambalajında “denizlerimizi korumak için fosfat kullanımını azaltıyoruz” şeklinde bir ibareye yer verilmesi ilgili mevzuata aykırı olabilecektir çünkü hâlihazırda ilgili mevzuat gereği deterjan üretiminde fosfat kullanımında zaten önemli kısıtlamalar bulunmaktadır. Dolayısıyla piyasada var olan diğer markalar için de uyulması zorunlu olan sınırlamanın sadece o ürün için geçerli olduğu yönünde izlenim oluşturmak tüketiciler için yanıltıcı olabilir.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.5; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(19, 18, 18);">Öte yandan bir şirketin tanıtımını yaptığı mal veya hizmetin gelecekte hedeflenen çevresel etkilerine ilişkin beyanları reklamlarda kullanabilmesi, ancak bu hedeflere kamuya açık ve doğrulanabilir bir strateji belgesinde yer vermesi halinde mümkündür. Diğer bir deyişle reklam veren şirketin bu kriterlere uygun hazırlanmış bir strateji belgesi bulunmuyorsa, örneğin “2030’a kadar karbon emisyonumuzu %80 azaltıyoruz!”, “Yıl sonunda tamamen karbon nötr olacağız!” gibi ifadeleri reklamlarda kullanmaması gerektiği değerlendirilebilir.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.5; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(19, 18, 18);">Karşılaştırma şeklinde çevresel beyanlar içeren reklamlarda tüketici, karşılaştırmanın reklam verenin kendi markaları ve önceki ürünleriyle mi yoksa reklam verenin rakiplerinin ürünleriyle mi yapıldığı noktasında tereddüt etmemelidir. Örneğin bir pet şişenin ambalajında yer verilen “%20 daha fazla geri dönüştürülmüş içerik” ifadesi, ilgili ürünün hem reklam verenin önceki ürünlerine kıyasla %20 daha fazla geri dönüştürülmüş içeriğe sahip olduğu hem de reklam verenin rakiplerinin ürünlerine kıyasla %20 daha fazla geri dönüştürülmüş içeriğe sahip olduğu şeklinde yorumlanabilir. Dolayısıyla bu yönde bir ibarenin reklamlarda gerekli aydınlatma yapılmadan kullanılmaması gerekir.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.5; font-size: 14px;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(19, 18, 18);">Reklam Kurulu Kılavuz yayınlamadan önce de çevreye ilişkin beyanlar içeren reklamlar bakımından oldukça titiz davranmakta ve ihlal tespit ettiği hallerde reklam durdurma cezası ve idari para cezası uygulanmasına karar vermekteydi. Kılavuz’un yayınlanmasıyla birlikte istikrarlı bir uygulama oluşturulacağı, reklam verenlerin çevreye ilişkin beyanlar içeren reklamlarda nelere dikkat edilmesi gerektiğini ön görebileceği ve tüketicilerin çevresel hassasiyetlerini suistimal eden ve ürünlerin çevresel etkileri konusunda tüketicileri aldatan reklamlara izin verilmeyeceği değerlendirilmektedir.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;hr>&lt;p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; line-height: 1.5; font-size: 14px;">&lt;em style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(19, 18, 18);">Ayçıl Altınok’a katkılarından dolayı teşekkür ederiz.&lt;/em>&lt;/p>

Son zamanlarda sık sık reklamlarda, tanıtımı yapılan ürünlerin veya hizmetlerin “eko”, “çevre dostu”, “doğa dostu” “yeşil” ve “geri dönüştürülebilir” olduğu konusunda reklam veren şirket tarafından ikna edilmeye mi çalışılıyorsunuz? Bir ürünün çevre dostu olması, ürünü satın alma ve kullanma tercihlerinizde etkili oluyor mu? Artık aslında yeterince “yeşil” olmayan ancak “yeşil” olduğu belirtilen ürünlere ilişkin reklamlara ayrılan sürenin sonuna mı geldik?

Çevre Dostu Ürünler, Yeşil Reklamlar!

&lt;p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(4, 4, 4);">When you watch the commercials, do you often feel like advertising companies are working hard to convince you that their products or services are “eco”, “environmentally friendly”, “nature friendly”, “green” and “recyclable”? Does environmentally-friendly feature of a product have any impact on your preference to purchase or use it? In fact, are we yet at the end of an era of advertising products that are not “green” enough but promoted to be “green”?&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(4, 4, 4);">The “green advertising” hype, which is the reason of all these question marks in our minds, is escalating due to the fact that many companies carrying out activities in various industries have based their marketing and advertising strategies off on “green transformation” pillar. Although we are of the opinion that these steps taken in the business side with an environmentally cautious motivation should be supported considering that we are running out of time to save our planet, it should not be ignored that this environmentally friendly approach followed in advertisements might result in abuse of consumers’ sensitivity for environment or possible lack of their knowledge in this field. This type of green statements are sometimes placed on the surface of a product or on its packaging or included in the advertisements or published on the advertising company’s website in a manner to cover all of the products or services offered by the company or to refer company’s sustainability vision. Accordingly, it is important to determine whether advertisements and promotions containing environmental claims and environmental claims purported as a part of companies’ sustainability visions are in compliance with law.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(4, 4, 4);">In this respect, the Guideline for Environmental Claims in Advertising (“Guideline”) has been enacted by the Advertisement Board pursuant to the Law on Consumer Protection no. 6502 and the Regulation on Commercial Advertisement and Unfair Commercial Practices. We have included below some of the special provisions from the Guideline which address the environmental claims that consumers are mostly exposed to.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(4, 4, 4);">“Environmental claim” is defined under the Guideline as statement or visual relating to environmental benefits or not having harmful environmental effects about the components, manufacturing method, supply process, use or destroy of the advertised products or services. As this is a broad definition, it is fair to argue that any kind of statement and practice related to environmental impact could be evaluated as environmental claim. The Guideline has introduced important rules in order to prevent advertisements and promotions containing environmental claims from abusing consumer’s sensitivity for environment and misleading consumers about the environmental impacts of the offered products and services.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(4, 4, 4);">We observe that most common environmental claims included in advertisements are “green”, “sustainable”, “eco”, “environmental friendly”, “zero waste”, “carbon neutral”, “green energy”. These claims should not be used without further explanation or in a manner that cause ambiguity in the part of consumers regarding the environmental impacts of the promoted products and services. Advertisements should contain detailed information pertaining to what the environmental claim is about, for what and how it is used, whether it wholly or partially pertains to the life cycle of the product. Briefly, if you cannot understand from the advertisement what aspect of a product or service claimed to be "green" is "green", that advertisement may be deceiving you. Additionally, consumers must explicitly be informed about whether environmental claims regarding “biodegradable”, “soluble” or “recyclable” features of goods are related to the whole product including its packing or just a part of it&lt;em style="box-sizing: border-box;">.&lt;/em>&nbsp;If only a part of the product is recyclable, then it is not proper to advertise it as if the whole product is recyclable. For instance, in the case that packaging of a drink contains the phrase “recyclable” along with a visual supporting this claim, if the bottle cap is not recyclable, then the advertisement presenting the whole bottle as a recyclable product would be contrary to the law even if the bottle itself is entirely consisted of recyclable components. Consumers must not be misled about use of renewable energy in manufacturing of a product or its packaging. For example, an advertisement made by a textile company promoting its textile products using the phrase “manufactured with wind power”, while indeed only 50% of the total energy used for manufacturing was wind power, then such advertisement would be against the law for failing to fully inform consumers. Similarly, advertisements must clearly indicate to which section, part or process of a product or service the mentioned environmental claim refers. For instance, it must be explicitly mentioned whether “zero emission” or a visual supporting this claim refers to before sales or after sales portion of the manufacturing process of the promoted product.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(4, 4, 4);">Another important point is that environmental claims pertaining to the legal procedures and standards with which goods or services or advertisers must legally comply or procedures and components that should not normally be used, cannot be communicated in a manner that would cause the impression that the mentioned products or service, procedure or the company is different than or superior to its rivals or equivalents. For example, it would be unlawful to state “We reduce phosphate usage” in advertising of a detergent product and its packaging since phosphate usage for detergent manufacturing is already subject to strict limitations under the law. Therefore, it might be misleading to create an impression as if compulsory limitations which must be obeyed by all brands in the market are only followed by the advertising brand.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(4, 4, 4);">On the other hand, environmental claims related to targeted future environmental impacts of products or services may be used in advertisements only if such claims are included in a strategy plan that is publicly available and verifiable. In other words, advertising companies should not make statements such as “We are reducing our carbon emission by 80% by 2030!” “We will become entirely carbon neutral by the end of the year!” unless they have a strategy plan that satisfies the criteria mentioned above.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(4, 4, 4);">Also, the content of the comparison made through comparative environmental claims contained in advertisements, particularly whether the advertiser compare the mentioned product with its own previous products under the same brand or with products of its rivals, must explicitly be communicated to customer. For example, the statement “20% more recycled components” might be confusing since consumers might interpret in two ways. It is hard to understand whether the comparison is made between advertising companies’ new and old products or between advertising companies’ products and its rivals’ products. Therefore, such a claim should not be included in advertisements unless accompanied by further explanatory note.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5;">&lt;span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(4, 4, 4);">The Advertisement Board was thoroughly examining advertisements containing environmental claims and was imposing cease of advertisement sanctions and monetary fines even prior to publication of the Guideline. Upon the Guideline, we evaluate that the Guideline will help establishing a uniform practice with respect to advertisements containing environmental claims and preventing publication of advertisements that might abuse consumers’ environmental sensitivity and mislead them regarding environmental impacts of products.&lt;/span>&lt;/p>&lt;hr>&lt;p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; font-size: 14px;">&lt;em style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(4, 4, 4);">Special thanks to Ayçıl Altınok for her contributions.&lt;/em>&lt;/p>

When you watch the commercials, do you often feel like advertising companies are working hard to convince you that their products or services are “eco”, “environmentally friendly”, “nature friendly”, “green” and “recyclable”? Does environmentally-friendly feature of a product have any impact on your preference to purchase or use it? In fact, are we yet at the end of an era of advertising products that are not “green” enough but promoted to be “green”?

Legal Background of Media Regulations in Türkiye

Popular Articles on Media & Entertainment

Latest Insights from Alper Law Office

Legal Background of Media Regulations in Türkiye

Popular Articles on Media & Entertainment

Latest Insights from Alper Law Office

Subscribe to our newsletter