International Symposium on Current Developments in Intellectual Property Law

Hosted by Balıkesir University (BAÜN); "Current Developments in Intellectual Property Law – II International Symposium 2024" organized in cooperation with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, General Directorate of Copyright, Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality, Balıkesir City Council, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University and North Macedonia International Vision University, took place at BAUN Ataturk Congress and Culture Center Malazgirt Conference Hall.

Turkish Patent and Trademark Office President Prof. Dr. M. Zeki Durak, Balıkesir Governor İsmail Ustaoğlu, First President of the Supreme Court of Cassation İsmail Rüştü Cirit, Balıkesir University Rector Prof. Dr. Yücel Oğurlu, Rector of North Macedonia International Vision University Prof. Dr. Ahmet Vecdi Can, representatives from the provincial protocol, Senate Members, members of the judiciary, academic and administrative staff and students attended the opening program of the symposium organized with the theme of current developments, problems and solutions in the field of intellectual and industrial property.

Speaking at the opening of the symposium, TÜRKPATENT Prof. Dr. M. Zeki Durak stated that in today's world, companies are built on non-physical assets such as patents, brands and copyrights, and said that intellectual property is gaining importance day by day.

Describing the developments in the field of intellectual and industrial property rights in our country, Durak said: “According to the 2023 World Intellectual Property Indicators Report published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Türkiye ranks 12th in the world with regards to domestic patent applications, 4th for the number of classes in domestic trademark applications, and 2nd in terms of the number of domestic design applications." 

Stating that, as TÜRKPATENT, they continue to work in cooperation with national and international organizations for the development of industrial property law, Durak said that in this context, they recently signed the "Cooperation Protocol on Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods" with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

In this context, Durak stated that the 'Mediation Workshop in Intellectual Property Disputes' will be held in Istanbul on May 6, in cooperation with WIPO and the Turkish Justice Academy, and added that the "Intellectual Property Law Master's Degree" program, offered jointly with WIPO, TÜRKPATENT and Ankara University, will be held for the 8th time this year. 

Symposium opening program ended with the plaque presentation ceremony.