What is Product Registration and How is it Done?

Product registration is described as an important symbol that allows a business engaged in selling services, services, or products under a specific category to distinguish itself from other companies and the products they offer. Having a brand becomes a fingerprint that defines the identity of the business in its commercial life, while also helping it stand out from competitors. Therefore, especially for newly established businesses in commerce, prioritizing product and brand registration in the initial stages can be very important.

Product registration is an important system that allows only the brand to engage in various activities related to the sale, promotion, and marketing of its products, services, or goods, while also prohibiting third-party usage of the product by protecting the brand. Businesses that register their products may have certain rights under the Decree-Law No. 556 on the Protection of Trademarks. These rights can be listed as follows:

• Preventing the unauthorized use of any sign that may be confused with the registered product due to the reputation of the registered product, which is related to the same or similar goods or services within the scope of the registration, and which may gain unfair advantage or harm the distinctive characteristics of the registered trademark.
• The legal meaning of registration allows for the transfer of a registered product to another, inheritance, the possibility of licensing the right to use it, and its use as collateral or pledge.

What Does Product Registration Serve For?

Registering a product offers several advantages to businesses engaged in commercial activities. These important advantages can be listed as follows:

• While a non-registered commercial mark may have some legal protection in connection with the sale of products or services, the burden of proof can be much higher if someone copies or infringes upon a product that belongs to you. Having a registered commercial mark provides additional protections to the business owner, including presumed ownership, while also reducing the burden of proof.
• By registering your product and brand, it is possible to ensure that the brand can distinguish itself from other registered trademarks. If you inadvertently violate someone else's name or commercial mark, the owner of a registered commercial product can sue you, and you may have to pay legal penalties and fees. Additionally, you may be required to reimburse all profits obtained from a non-registered product. Furthermore, compensation may be demanded from the owner of the registered trademark. Subsequently, if you need to rename your company or create a new logo, you may incur much higher costs for new marketing materials. Customer loss due to confusion over the product or identity can also be inevitable. For this reason, product registration provides an opportunity to protect the brand reliably without encountering all of these problems.
• Registering a brand prevents other companies from having a similar brand. Consequently, exclusive rights are granted to your company in terms of operating and marketing under that brand.
• When your company wants to expand to other countries, you can use trademark registration for foreign commercial mark applications.

A commercial mark and product grant legal rights against anyone who violates them. It is advisable to be cautious because these rights can lead to unwanted additional payments and time loss.

Why is Product Registration Important?

Registering your product is essential to distinguish your brand, product, company, or service from others. Registering a trademark prevents others in the market from imitating your product or service, eliminating the need for rebranding. Additionally, obtaining trademark registration is crucial for protecting your intellectual property and securing your rights. Therefore, every entrepreneur should be aware of the numerous advantages and privileges that come with trademark registration.

How to Register a Product?

Product registration is an official process that can be done through the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office. Brands that register are granted protection rights for ten years. To extend the trademark registration period, it is necessary to reapply after this period expires. The trademark registration process typically takes approximately 6-12 months to complete. The trademark registration process involves seven steps, which can be outlined as follows:

• Submission of a trademark registration application to the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.
• After classification by the TPE, the application undergoes examination.
• The application is published in the bulletin for a period of four months to allow for possible objections.
• If there are any objections to the trademark, they are reviewed and assessed.
• If no objections are made or if objections are resolved in favor of trademark registration, the TPE issues the trademark registration certificate.
• The final fee payment is made for the trademark registration certificate.
• After approval of the trademark registration, the trademark registration certificate is delivered to you.

Registering a commercial trademark grants exclusive rights to distinctive signs such as names, colors, logos, images, patterns, shapes, product packaging, or sounds that distinguish your products or services from others. There are specific steps required to obtain trademark registration, and when each of these steps is successfully completed, the right to trademark registration is fully acquired. The trademark registration period begins with the application to the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office, and these procedures are carried out under the control of the institution.

During the product registration application process, if there are no objections, the processing and completion of the application generally takes place within 6 to 8 months. Since the registration period for a trademark covers 10 years, it is necessary to renew it when this period expires. If the renewal is made 6 months before the protection period expires, the amount to be paid will be lower. However, renewal applications made 6 months after the expiration of the protection period are still considered valid, but the amount to be paid in this case will be higher.

There is no need for any company to register a product. To register a commercial trademark, having an address within the borders of Turkey and being an individual is considered sufficient. If you own a company, there is no problem in applying for a trademark either in your own name or individually. The trademark registration process begins as of the date and time the application is made. In other words, the registration of the product takes into account the moment the application is fully submitted, and from that moment on, the process of protecting the trademark rights begins. During this process, the trademark owner can make use of all the rights included in the scope of the trademark without any problems.

In the trademark registration process, it is possible for the Turkish Standards Institution to accept the trademark application, but there is also the possibility of rejection for various reasons. Factors that may lead to a rejection decision include the trademark applied for not being sufficiently distinct when compared to other trademarks or having similar or identical features to another trademark.

In case a product registration application is rejected, there is always the right to object within certain procedures. Problems such as a lack of signature or a lack of power of attorney can lead to a rejection decision. However, in such cases, it may be possible to have the application re-evaluated through legal processes. During this process, collaborating with companies that specialize in trademark and patent registration can provide advantages. After these deficiencies are addressed, the product registration application can be resubmitted, and if the application is approved, you can obtain the registration certificate for your product without any issues.

The product registration process is successful in preserving the unique design and brand identity of a product while legally protecting this uniqueness. This process can be used to determine certain characteristics such as size, color, shape, form, or any structural differences of a brand or product and protect these characteristics within a legal framework. Therefore, product registration is essential for protecting brand rights in the business world.

Product Registration with Alkan Patent Guarantee

You can easily perform product registration inquiries and applications through the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office website. However, if you prefer someone else to handle the application and inquiry procedures on your behalf, it is beneficial to seek assistance from private patent offices that provide professional services. This way, you can save time and money while smoothly managing the registration process for your product.

In this regard, Alkan Patent always stands out with a quality service approach. When it comes to product registration, our priority is always to protect your rights while maintaining the highest quality of service. For many years, our company has been at the forefront in the field of trademark registration, with its expert team. You can reach us using the contact numbers on our website to register your product with the Alkan Patent guarantee and professionally manage this process.