Types of protection

Patent of Invention: This is granted for any invention that is new and includes an inventive step with an industrial application. The term of the patent with examination is 20 years.

Non-examined patent: An applicant has the right to elect a patent without examination certificate after the completion of the search report without any patent examination. A patent without examination provides seven years of protection. A seven year patent can be converted to a term of 20 years after undergoing substantive examination.

Utility Model: Protects new inventions capable of industrial application. The requirements for acquiring a Utility Model are less stringent than for patents. There is no "inventive step" requirement. A Utility Model has a 10 year term of protection from the filing date.¹

Convention and treaty membership

Turkey became of member of the Patent Cooperation Treaty in January 1996 and is a signatory of numerous treaties and conventions including, but not limited to the following:

• Paris Convention
• Budapest Treaty
• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)²