The Reality of Anti-Counterfeiting in Turkey

For luxury fashion houses, automotive parts manufacturers, and cosmetics giants, the fight against counterfeit goods is not just about revenue — it is about brand integrity and consumer safety. Turkey, due to its strong textile and manufacturing capacity, is often cited alongside China as a primary source of counterfeit goods entering the EU.

However, the narrative that “nothing can be done” in Turkey is false. The Turkish legal system provides powerful tools for trademark owners to combat infringement, ranging from criminal raids to the destruction of seized goods. The challenge lies in the execution.

The Legal Mechanism: From Detection to Raid

Unlike in some jurisdictions where IP infringement is purely a civil matter, in Turkey, trademark infringement is also a criminal offense. Under the Industrial Property Code, producing or selling counterfeit goods carries a prison sentence of 1 to 3 years and significant judicial fines.

Why Expertise Matters

Executing a raid requires precise legal coordination. A procedural error in the search warrant application can lead to the return of the seized goods to the counterfeiter. This is why global brands rely on specialized firms for Anti-Counterfeiting and Enforcement.

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