Foreign firms rush to file Turkish patents

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

This file photo shows Turkish Patent Institute President Habip Asan. Some 2,160 patent applications were made in the first six months of the year, according to data. Hürriyet photo

Foreign companies in Turkey are in a rush to protect their brands and products, says a report by a local patent office based on data of the Turkish Patent Institute.

German companies lodged the most patent applications and had 980 patents approved, according to Acar Patent’s report. Companies from the United States came in second place in applications and had 560 registered patents. Turkey follows with 462 registered patents.

“Patent protections show the level of development of a country,” said Acar Patent General Coordinator Rüştü Gümüş, adding that Turkish companies should protect their innovations and inventions with patents to be able to compete both in national and international markets.

Meanwhile 2,160 domestic patent applications were made in the first six months of the year, posting a 15-percent increase compared with the same period last year when the figure was 4,800. The number of patent applications hit 5,700 in July.

The Turkish government aims to have 50,000 domestic patents registered by 2023. However Turkish companies seem to be unaware of the importance of protecting their rights abroad with patents. While the number of domestic patents records an increase, the number of patent applications abroad is way too low, according to the report.

A mere 28 percent of these applications in the first six months were for global patenting and 63 percent were for European rights, which indicate Turkish companies lack protection in patents.