# How to Register a Trademark for a Limited Company in Turkey

> Trademark registration for limited companies in Turkey: filing in the company name, 2026 fees, and what happens when partners exit or shares are sold.

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Trademark registration for limited companies in Turkey means filing the application with TÜRKPATENT (Turkish Patent and Trademark Office) through EPATS, using the company's trade name and tax number, either by a person authorized to represent the company or through a trademark attorney. **A mark registered in the company's name becomes part of the company's assets; it stays with the company even when partners leave or shares change hands.** Official fees are the same as for an individual applicant.

Below you will find the six filing steps and the 2026 official fees, why the mark should be held by the company rather than a partner, how to move a partner-held mark into the company, and what happens to the mark in situations specific to limited companies (Ltd. Şti.): a partner leaving, a share transfer, a change of company type, a merger or a liquidation.

## How Do You File a Trademark Application in a Limited Company's Name?

The application is filed in six steps, with the limited company itself named as the applicant. The process is the same as for an individual; the differences lie in the applicant details and in who handles the form on the company's behalf.

1. **Preliminary search:** Check whether the name you have chosen resembles an earlier registered or applied-for mark covering the same or similar goods and services; the absence of an exact match is not, on its own, a guarantee of registration.
2. **Applicant details:** Prepare the company's full trade name exactly as it appears in the trade registry, its address and its tax number.
3. **Mark and list:** Decide on the word or logo representation and on the goods and services you want to protect, organized under the Nice classes.
4. **Filing:** The application is filed through EPATS by a person authorized to represent the company or by a trademark attorney the company has appointed.
5. **Paying the fees:** Under the TÜRKPATENT 2026 fee schedule, the first class costs TRY 2,820 (item 02.01.01), the second class TRY 2,820 (02.01.02), and each third and subsequent class TRY 3,150 (02.01.28).
6. **Examination, publication and registration:** An application that passes formal and absolute-grounds examination is published in the Official Trademark Bulletin and stays open to opposition for two months (Industrial Property Law No. 6769, SMK, Art. 18); once that stage is cleared, the TRY 7,010 registration fee (02.01.03) is paid and the mark is entered in the register.

Being a limited company does not change the official fees: the 2026 official total for a single-class application is 2,820 + 7,010 = TRY 9,830. The fee schedule is updated every year, so check the amounts against TÜRKPATENT's fee table before you file. Attorney service fees are not included in these figures. Protection lasts 10 years from the filing date and is renewable in ten-year periods (Art. 23).

### How should the company details be entered on the application form?

A legal entity identifies itself by its trade name and tax number (Regulation on the Implementation of the Industrial Property Law, Art. 3(g)). The trade name should be written in full, exactly as registered and including the words "Limited Şirketi"; do not use an abbreviation, the brand name or a former trade name. Spelling mistakes and obvious clerical errors can be corrected on request (SMK Art. 11(6)), but an application filed in the name of the wrong legal entity cannot be switched to the right company by correction; the only route is an assignment.

The Regulation does not list the signature circular or the Trade Registry Gazette among the documents to be attached to the application form (Art. 6); they are the records you need at hand to enter the trade name and the authorized signatory without errors. For the full list of supporting documents, see our guide to the [documents required for trademark registration](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/documents-required-for-trademark-registration).

### Who files: a company officer or an attorney?

Under SMK Art. 160(2), legal entities are represented by the natural person or persons appointed by their authorized bodies. In a limited company, this is the person designated to represent the company; the signature circular and the trade registry record show who that is. The company can also have the filing handled by a trademark attorney entered in TÜRKPATENT's register. Once an attorney is appointed, the attorney carries out all proceedings before the Office, and notifications served on the attorney are deemed served on the company (Art. 160(4)).

A change in the authorized person does not change the owner of the mark. What matters, therefore, is not who submits the application but who is named on the form as the applicant.

## Why Should the Mark Be Registered to the Company Rather Than a Partner?

In a limited company where several partners contribute work and capital, registering the mark in the company's name separates it from the partners' personal decisions and life events. Company assets means the rights and values that belong to the legal entity itself, separate from the partners' personal property; a trademark registered to the company is part of those assets.

This has three practical consequences:

- **Continuity:** A partner leaving, a partner's death or a sale of shares does not change the owner of the mark; the register keeps showing the company.
- **Decision-making:** Assigning, licensing or pledging the mark is not a personal decision one partner can take alone but a decision taken on behalf of the company.
- **Value:** In an investment, a loan or a sale of the company, the mark is examined and priced together with the company; if it is registered to a partner, a buyer will first require it to be assigned to the company.

The other side of the coin should be understood too: a mark registered to the company is also exposed to the company's creditors. Under SMK Art. 148(1) a trademark can be attached, and Article 126 of the Regulation provides that an attachment can be made independently of the business and is entered in the register. For a sole trader or a mark identical to the owner's own name, a different choice may be reasonable; we weigh the options in a decision table in our guide to whether a [trademark should be in a personal or company name](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/trademark-in-personal-or-company-name).

## How Do You Move a Partner-Held Trademark Into the Company?

If the mark is registered to a partner or founder, there are two permanent ways to move it into the company: an assignment by notarized agreement, or contributing the mark to the company as capital. A license does not transfer ownership; it is only a temporary bridge.

### By an assignment agreement

A trademark can be assigned independently of the business (SMK Art. 148(2)). Legal transactions must be in writing, and the validity of an assignment agreement depends on notarization (Art. 148(4)). The assignment is recorded in the register at the request of either party and published in the Bulletin; under the 2026 fee schedule the assignment recordal fee is TRY 5,960 (02.01.06). Rights arising from an assignment that is not recorded cannot be asserted against third parties acting in good faith (Art. 148(5)). The agreement is signed for the company by a person authorized to represent it; you will find the steps in our guide on [how to assign a trademark in Turkey](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/how-to-assign-a-trademark-in-turkey).

The same rules apply to applications that have not yet been registered (Art. 148(8)). This is how an application filed in a founder's name before the company was formed is transferred to the company; we discuss the timing in our article on [registering a trademark without a company](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/registering-a-trademark-without-a-company).

### By contributing it as capital

The Turkish Commercial Code lists intellectual property rights among the assets that can be contributed as capital to commercial companies. A partner can contribute a mark registered in their own name to the company as an in-kind capital contribution. The resulting change of owner is then recorded in the register on the basis of the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette entry or document (Regulation Art. 125(4)). In the TÜRKPATENT fee schedule, the item for "transactions relating to structural changes such as mergers, demergers or in-kind capital contributions" is TRY 4,360 in 2026 (02.01.07). Valuing the mark and providing for it in the articles of association are matters of company law and should be planned with your financial and legal advisers.

### Why is a license only a temporary fix?

It is possible to leave the mark in the partner's name and license it to the company (SMK Art. 24), and the company's use counts as use by the owner because it takes place with the owner's consent (Art. 9(3)). Ownership, however, stays with the partner: if the partnership breaks down, the partner dies or the company is sold, the mark is not in the company's hands. A license is an interim solution until the assignment or capital contribution is completed.

## What Happens to the Trademark When a Partner Leaves, Shares Are Sold or the Company Changes?

The answer turns on two questions: in whose name is the mark registered, and does the event change the legal entity that owns it? The table below summarizes the seven situations limited companies run into most often:

| Situation | Effect on the mark | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A partner leaves; the mark is in the company's name | The mark stays with the company; the departing partner acquires no personal right in it | No register action needed; the exit documents can state that the partner will not use the mark |
| A partner leaves; the mark is in that partner's name | The mark leaves with the partner | Before the exit, a notarized assignment (02.01.06, TRY 5,960) or a written license |
| Some or all shares are sold | The owner is the same legal entity; the mark changes hands together with the company | No assignment recordal needed at TÜRKPATENT; the buyer reviews the register |
| Change of company type (limited to joint-stock) | The converted company is the continuation of the old one; the owner does not change | Recordal of the change of type based on the Trade Registry Gazette; no separate tariff item |
| Merger or demerger | The mark may pass to a different legal entity | Recordal of a structural change (02.01.07, TRY 4,360) |
| Change of trade name or address | The owner is the same; the registration remains valid | Updating the details in the register; no separate tariff item |
| The company is to be liquidated | The mark is a company asset; its fate must be settled during liquidation | Before liquidation ends, decide who will take over the mark and record the assignment |

In a limited company, a share transfer follows company law's own formalities and approval rules, but it does not concern the trademark register, because the legal entity that owns the mark does not change. In acquisition talks, the real questions are whether the mark is actually registered to the company, what it covers, and whether any pledge, attachment or license is recorded against it. We walk through the buyer's checklist in our article on [IP due diligence before acquiring a company](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/ip-due-diligence-before-acquiring-a-company).

On a change of company type, the Turkish Commercial Code is clear: a company converted into a new type is the continuation of the old one. Converting a limited company into a joint-stock company is therefore not an assignment; no notarized agreement or assignment fee is needed. The change of type is recorded in the register, and the recordal applies to every file held in the company's name (Regulation Art. 128). After the conversion, for issues such as group structures, intra-group licensing and pledges, see our guide to [trademark registration for joint-stock companies](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/trademark-registration-for-joint-stock-companies).

## Does Registering a Trade Name Protect the Trademark?

No. A limited company's trade name registered with the trade registry does not provide trademark protection; trademark protection is obtained by registration in the TÜRKPATENT register (SMK Art. 7(1)). The trade name identifies the company, while the trademark identifies the commercial origin of goods and services.

The two registers do not check each other. When the trade registry records your new trade name, it does not look at the trademark register; but if the core word in your trade name is someone else's registered trademark, the trademark owner can prohibit its use as a trade name or business name (SMK Art. 7(3)(e)). That is why the trademark register should also be searched when choosing a trade name, and why the core word of the trade name should be registered separately as a trademark. We explain the differences between the three concepts in detail in our article on [trade name, business name and trademark differences](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/trade-name-business-name-and-trademark-differences).

When the trade name changes, the registration remains valid; what needs to be done is to update the owner details in the register. We cover this distinction in our answer to whether [a company name change affects a trademark](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/does-a-company-name-change-affect-a-trademark).

## Common Trademark Mistakes in Limited Companies

Most problems in limited companies' trademark files surface not on filing day but years later, when the partnership changes. The most common are:

- **Filing in the managing director's or founder's name:** The person submitting the application is confused with the applicant, and the mark becomes the personal property of the partner who filled in the form rather than of the company.
- **Abbreviating the trade name:** Entering the brand name or an abbreviation instead of the full trade name creates an identity mismatch in every later transaction.
- **Forgetting the assignment after incorporation:** If an application filed in a founder's name is not assigned once the company is formed, the problem surfaces during a share sale or a partnership dispute.
- **Not discussing the mark when a partner leaves:** Even when the mark belongs to the company, the possibility that the departing partner will use a similar sign should be addressed in the exit documents.
- **Leaving the accounting treatment for later:** How the registration costs will be booked should be settled at the filing stage; see our article on [accounting for trademark registration costs](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/accounting-for-trademark-registration-costs).

## Conclusion

- Trademark registration for limited companies is done through EPATS using the company's full trade name and tax number, by a person authorized to represent the company or by a trademark attorney.
- Being a company does not change the official fees: in 2026 the official total for a single-class application is TRY 9,830, and the fee schedule is updated every year.
- A mark registered to the company is unaffected by a partner leaving, a share sale or a change of company type; a mark registered to a partner leaves with that partner.
- A partner-held mark is moved into the company by a notarized assignment (TRY 5,960) or as an in-kind capital contribution (TRY 4,360); a license is only an interim solution.
- A trade name does not provide trademark protection; the core word of the trade name should be registered separately as a trademark and checked against other owners' marks.

### Shall we register your limited company's trademark to the right owner?

Acting as a trademark attorney before TÜRKPATENT, Webx handles [trademark registration in your company's name](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/hizmetler/marka-tescil) from start to finish: the preliminary search, matching the trade name and tax details to the official records, structuring the classes and the list, the EPATS filing and responding to Office notifications. If your mark is currently registered to a partner, we can also review the options for moving it into the company with you. Send us your company's trade name and your brand name through our [contact page](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/iletisim).

## Sources

- [Industrial Property Law No. 6769 (Türkiye)](https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=6769&MevzuatTur=1&MevzuatTertip=5) (mevzuat.gov.tr) — Art. 7(3)(e), 9(3), 24, 148, 160(2)
- [Regulation on the Implementation of the Industrial Property Law (Official Gazette 24.04.2017, No. 30047)](https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2017/04/20170424-5.htm) (resmigazete.gov.tr) — Arts. 3(g), 6, 125(4), 126, 128
- [TÜRKPATENT — Trademark Fees (2026)](https://www.turkpatent.gov.tr/marka-islem-ucretleri) (turkpatent.gov.tr) — Items 02.01.01–02.01.03, 02.01.28, 02.01.06, 02.01.07
- [Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102](https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=6102&MevzuatTur=1&MevzuatTertip=5) (mevzuat.gov.tr)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Do I need to attach the signature circular or the Trade Registry Gazette to a limited company application?

No, as a rule they are not attached. The Regulation on the Implementation of the Industrial Property Law limits the documents attached to the application form to a priority document, technical specifications and a letter of consent. A limited company identifies itself by its trade name and tax number. Keep the signature circular and registry record at hand anyway: they are what ensures the trade name and the authorized representative are entered correctly.

### Does a change of managing director affect the company's trademark registration?

No. If the mark is registered in the limited company's name, the owner is the company itself; a change of managing director, or of whoever is authorized to represent the company, does not affect the mark's owner, number, scope or term of protection. Only the person acting on the company's behalf changes. If you work with a trademark attorney, confirm that the power of attorney continues under the new management and update the company's internal authorizations.

### What can be done if a partner files the mark in their own name without the company knowing?

The application can be opposed within two months of its publication in the Official Trademark Bulletin. Under the SMK, bad-faith applications are refused upon opposition (Art. 6(9)), and a sign the company used earlier without registering it can also support an opposition (Art. 6(3)). If the mark has already been registered, invalidation can be sought in court (Art. 25). The outcome depends on the specific facts and on not missing the deadlines.

### Can a partner use the company's registered trademark in their own business?

Only with the company's permission. Under SMK Art. 7(2), the rights arising from registration belong exclusively to the trademark owner, which here is the limited company; being a partner gives no personal right to use the mark. The company can grant the partner a written license, setting the scope, term, fee and quality requirements by contract, and the license can be recorded in the register if desired.

### Can a limited company sell its trademark to a partner or to another company?

Yes. A trademark can be assigned independently of the business (SMK Art. 148(2)). The assignment agreement is made in writing and notarized, and it is signed for the company by a person authorized to represent it. The assignment is then recorded with TÜRKPATENT; under the 2026 fee schedule the assignment recordal fee is TRY 5,960. Which internal approval the company needs for the decision is governed by its articles of association and company law.

### If the company has not been formed yet, in whose name should the trademark be filed?

A limited company acquires legal personality only on registration with the trade registry, so it cannot be an applicant before then; the application is filed in a founding partner's name. Once the company is formed, the application or the registered mark is transferred to it with a notarized assignment agreement, because SMK Art. 148(8) applies the assignment rules to applications as well. This keeps the priority of the filing date without waiting for incorporation.

### Can a limited company's trademark be attached for the company's debts?

Yes. Under SMK Art. 148(1), trademark rights can be attached (seized), and Article 126 of the Regulation provides that an attachment can be made independently of the business and is entered in the register and published in the Bulletin. An attachment does not prevent an assignment, but it is visible in the register and will catch a buyer's attention. It also does not stop the right from lapsing if renewal fees go unpaid, so renewals must still be tracked.

## Related Resources

- [Trademark Registration](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/hizmetler/marka-tescil): Explains how a trademark application is handled before TÜRKPATENT, from the preliminary search and class selection to the registration certificate.
- [Trademark Assignment](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/hizmetler/marka-devri): Describes transferring a trademark by notarized agreement and recording it at TÜRKPATENT, including partial transfer, inheritance and merger records.
- [Should a Trademark Be Registered in a Personal or Company Name?](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/trademark-in-personal-or-company-name): Personal or company name for your trademark in Turkey? Partner exits, company sales, licensing, the TRY 5,960 transfer cost, inheritance and franchising.
- [Trademark Registration for Joint-Stock Companies: Group Companies, Licensing and Portfolio](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/trademark-registration-for-joint-stock-companies): Trademark registration for joint-stock companies in Turkey: which group entity should own the mark, intra-group licenses, pledges, mergers and 2026 fees.
- [Documents Required for Trademark Registration in Turkey (2026 Checklist)](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/documents-required-for-trademark-registration): Documents required for trademark registration in Turkey: a 2026 checklist for individuals, companies, associations and foreign applicants, with POA rules.
- [Trade Name, Business Name and Trademark: What Is the Difference?](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/trade-name-business-name-and-trademark-differences): What is the difference between a trade name and a trademark? The scope of a business name, domain name and trademark, who wins if they clash, and the right order.
- [How to Assign a Trademark in Turkey: Step-by-Step Guide](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/how-to-assign-a-trademark-in-turkey): A trademark is assigned in Turkey by a notarised agreement and recordal with TÜRKPATENT. Step-by-step process, contract terms, partial assignment and 2026 fee.
- [Can You Register a Trademark Without a Company?](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/registering-a-trademark-without-a-company): Yes, you can register a trademark in Turkey without a company: file in your own name, then assign or license it to the company. 2026 fees, risks, co-founders.