Abstract:

With Decision 1/95 of the EC·Turkey .4.ssociation CoU11cil, T:,;rkey ami the EC established a Customs Union. ln implementing that decision Turkey also underrook the obligation to ensure effective protection and enforcement cif intellectual property rights. 1 Annex Vlll of thr same decision provides specific measures in the field of lrttellectual property rights that Turkey should bring inro effect. A.ccording~v a new Decree-Law No. 556 Pertainingto the Protection of Trademarks was adopted in Turkey and entered inM force on .lune 27, /995, to harmonize the Turkish trademark system 'trith European standards, especially with the TRIPS Agreement and the EC Council Directive EEC 891104.2 The legal basis for 1he prot~:ction of trademarks in Turkey before was Law No.' 551 of March 3, 1965. As with the Turkish law the German law also luui to be amended according to the EC Council Directive in 1994 and came into force on Jantlilry I, 1995. 5 The new Gennan Trademark Law replaced the former "Warenzeichengesetz" trademark law, which dated back to 1874. Considering the latest amendments to the German and Turkish Trademark Laws similarities in both laws show that Turkey has adapted great parts of its trademark laws to the European st(lJI.dard.