# Can You Register a Trademark Without a Logo? Word Marks Explained

> Yes, you can register a trademark without a logo in Turkey: a word mark protects the name in any font. How it differs from logo marks, its limits and 2026 fees.

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Yes, trademark registration without a logo is possible: a sign made up only of words can be entered in the TÜRKPATENT (Turkish Patent and Trademark Office) register as a word mark. **Article 4 of Industrial Property Law No. 6769 (SMK) lists words among the signs that can constitute a trademark; a logo is not required for registration, but the name must be distinctive.**

Below you will find what a word mark is and how to file one, how it differs from figurative and combined marks, why it is more flexible and where its limits lie, what happens when a logo is added later, and the 2026 budget for two applications along with when a single application is enough.

## What Is a Word Mark, and How Do You File Without a Logo?

A word mark is a mark made up of letters, numbers or words that is not tied to any particular font, color or visual layout. What is protected is the word itself, not the font or color it is written in.

In the application, "word mark" is selected as the mark type and the name is entered as plain text; no image file is uploaded. The rest of the application is the same as for a logo mark: the goods and services list, the applicant's details and the filing fee (Article 11(1) SMK). The following signs can be filed as word marks:

- **Brand names:** The name of a business or product; invented, arbitrary or suggestive words.
- **First names and surnames:** Article 4 SMK expressly mentions personal names.
- **Foreign words:** There is no language requirement; the details are in our guide to [registering foreign-word trademarks](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/registering-foreign-word-trademarks).
- **Letter and number sequences:** Including abbreviations; short sequences carry a higher distinctiveness risk ([letter and number trademarks](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/letter-and-number-trademarks)).
- **Slogans:** Filed as word marks, provided they are distinctive.

Each application covers only one mark (Article 11(2)). "NORDIKA" and "NORDIKA HOME" are two separate signs, and an owner who wants to register both files two applications (the names are examples).

## What Is the Difference Between Word, Figurative and Combined Marks?

The difference between the three types lies in what is entered in the register, and therefore what is protected. A figurative mark is a sign consisting of a figure, emblem or symbol without any readable word; a combined mark is a sign in which a word element and a figurative element are presented as a single composition. The comparison:

| Criterion | Word mark | Figurative mark (logo) | Combined mark (word + logo) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What is protected | The word itself | The appearance of the figure | The composition as a whole |
| Freedom of font and color | Broad; the name can be used in any font and color | Tied to the drawing in the register; if filed in color, the colors are part of the sign | Tied to the composition in the register; the link weakens as the elements drift apart |
| Similarity examination | Compared in terms of spelling, pronunciation and meaning | Compared on visual impression; searched by figurative codes | Overall impression; the word element usually prevails because consumers mostly remember a brand by its name |
| When is it preferred? | When the name is distinctive and there is no logo yet, or the logo will change often | When the figure is used on its own, without text | When the name is weak and the visual design carries the distinctiveness, or the budget allows only one application |
| Weak point | Refused outright if the name is descriptive; does not protect the figure | Does not protect the name | Does not protect the name independently of the design; the registered representation becomes outdated when the logo changes |

We explain how to prepare a logo for filing, the rules for the mark representation and the copyright assignment from the designer in our guide on [how to register a logo in Turkey](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/how-to-register-a-logo-in-turkey), and how figures without text are searched in our article on [trademark logo search](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/trademark-logo-search).

## Why Does a Word Mark Offer More Flexible Protection?

Because a word mark protects the name without tying it to any design, it is more flexible both in your own use and against competitors. This flexibility shows up in two places.

### Protection survives a logo change

When the visual identity is refreshed, the word mark is unaffected; what sits in the register is a word, not an image. With a logo registration, by contrast, the registered representation cannot be changed, and a redesign that alters the identity requires a new application. We discuss when the old and new logo can be carried by the same registration in our article on [what happens to a trademark registration when the logo changes](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/logo-change-and-trademark-registration).

### Flexibility in use and infringement

Article 9(1) SMK provides for the revocation of a mark that is not put to genuine use within five years of registration, while Article 9(2)(a) treats use in a form that differs in elements without altering the distinctive character of the mark as use. Using the name in different fonts, colors or together with an emblem as a rule counts as use of the word mark as long as the name remains recognizable.

The same breadth applies against competitors. The owner of a registered mark can prohibit the use of an identical or similar sign for identical or similar goods and services where it creates a likelihood of confusion (Article 7(2)(b)). A competitor presenting the name in a special typeface or with its own logo often does not remove the similarity of the word.

## The Limit of a Word Mark: What If the Name Is Not Distinctive?

If the name is descriptive or lacks distinctiveness, a word mark application is refused, and without a logo there is no visual element to get past that obstacle. Article 5(1)(b) SMK treats signs devoid of any distinctive character, and Article 5(1)(c) treats signs consisting exclusively or mainly of indications of the kind, quality, intended purpose or geographical origin of the goods or services, as absolute grounds for refusal. For a bakery, a name like "FRESH BAKERY" falls into this category, while a word with no link to the product, such as "NORDIKA", is a strong word mark candidate (the names are examples).

Signs proven to have acquired distinctiveness through use before the filing date cannot be refused on these grounds (Article 5(2)); we explain how that proof is built in our article on [acquired distinctiveness through use](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/acquired-distinctiveness-through-use). For a new brand, this is an exception, not a plan. For ways to come up with a registrable name, see [how to choose a brand name](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/how-to-choose-a-brand-name).

### Why isn't a descriptive name plus a logo the answer?

Adding an original emblem to a descriptive name can get the combined mark registered. In that case, however, protection rests on the composition as a whole; no right arises in the descriptive word on its own. When a competitor uses the same phrase with a different visual, stopping it on the basis of the combined registration becomes difficult. In short, a logo can carry a weak name to registration, but it does not make it a strong brand.

## What Happens If the Logo Comes Later?

If the logo is designed later, it cannot be added to the existing application; a separate application is filed for the logo. Article 11(6) SMK only allows the correction of spelling mistakes and obvious errors that do not change the mark representation or the goods and services list, and adding a visual to a word mark changes the representation.

A separate application has two consequences. First, the logo application receives its own filing date; because priority is fixed by the date, hour and minute the application is received (Article 15), an application filed by someone else for a similar figure in the meantime will rank ahead of yours. Second, the logo application goes through the same stages and fees as the word mark, separately. We compare the consequences of filing the logo in color or in black and white in our article on [whether to register a logo in color or in black and white](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/register-logo-in-colour-or-black-and-white).

## How Much Do Two Applications Cost, and When Is One Enough?

Separate applications for the word mark and the logo mean two filing fees and, at registration, two registration fees. Under TÜRKPATENT's 2026 trademark fee schedule, each application costs TRY 2,820 for the first class (item 02.01.01), TRY 2,820 as the additional fee for a second class (02.01.02), and TRY 7,010 as the registration fee at the registration stage (02.01.03). The official total for a single-class application is TRY 9,830, and for a two-class application TRY 12,650; the second application generates that amount again.

The ten-year view should also be factored in: two registrations mean two separate renewals every ten years (TRY 8,730 for up to two classes in 2026, item 02.01.23). Current amounts should be checked against the TÜRKPATENT fee schedule, which is updated every year; trademark agent service fees are not included. Roughly, a single application is or is not enough in the following situations:

- **The name is distinctive, and there is no logo or it will change often:** A word mark alone is enough.
- **The logo is just the name written in an ordinary font:** A word mark is often enough; registering the stylized lettering separately only makes sense if the lettering is genuinely original.
- **The logo contains a recognizable figure that is used on its own:** A separate application for the figure should be considered in addition to the word mark.
- **The name is close to descriptive:** The word mark may be refused; a combined mark may be the only realistic route, but protection will be narrow.
- **The budget covers only one application:** If the name is distinctive, the word mark comes first; the logo is added once the budget allows.

## How Do You File Without a Logo, Step by Step?

A word mark application includes every step of a logo application except the visual preparation:

1. **Finalize the spelling of the name:** One word or two, with or without Turkish characters, with or without additional words; the spelling of the name cannot be changed after filing.
2. **Search:** Check identical and similar names, including variations in spelling, pronunciation and meaning; a free [trademark search](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/hizmetler/marka-sorgulama) tool can be used for a first screening.
3. **Classes and list:** Determine the goods and services for which the name will be used, based on the Nice classes.
4. **Applicant:** Decide whether the mark will be registered in your personal name or your company's name.
5. **File:** Select "word mark" as the mark type in EPATS and enter the name, or file through a registered trademark agent.
6. **Publication and opposition:** An application that passes examination is published in the Official Trademark Bulletin, and a two-month opposition period runs (Article 18).
7. **Registration:** Once the TRY 7,010 registration fee is paid on time, the mark is entered in the register (Article 22); protection lasts 10 years from the filing date (Article 23).

## Conclusion

- Trademark registration without a logo is possible; the name is registered as a word mark, and Article 4 SMK expressly lists words among the signs that can constitute a trademark.
- A word mark protects the name regardless of font and color, and a logo change does not affect it.
- If the name is descriptive or not distinctive, the word mark is refused; a logo does not give such a name a right of its own.
- A logo cannot be added to an existing application later; a separate application is filed and receives its own date.
- Two applications mean two filing fees, two registration fees and two renewals; in 2026 the official total for each single-class application is TRY 9,830.

### Shall we protect your name without waiting for a logo?

Webx handles application and opposition proceedings before TÜRKPATENT in its capacity as a registered trademark agent (marka vekili). For [word mark registration](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/hizmetler/marka-tescil), share your name and your field of business; we will assess the distinctiveness and similarity risks and decide with you, before filing, whether the logo also needs separate protection. For any questions, you can reach us through our [contact](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/iletisim) page.

## Sources

- [Industrial Property Law No. 6769 (Türkiye)](https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=6769&MevzuatTur=1&MevzuatTertip=5) (mevzuat.gov.tr) — Arts. 4, 5(1)(b)(c), 9(2)(a), 11(2), 11(6): signs, absolute grounds, use, one mark per application, corrections
- [TÜRKPATENT — Trademark Fees (2026)](https://www.turkpatent.gov.tr/marka-islem-ucretleri) (turkpatent.gov.tr) — Items 02.01.01, 02.01.02, 02.01.03, 02.01.23
- [TÜRKPATENT — Trademark search](https://www.turkpatent.gov.tr/arastirma-yap?form=trademark) (turkpatent.gov.tr)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Can I use my registered word mark in a different font in my logo?

Yes. A word mark protects the word itself, so using the name in a custom font, in color or with an emblem does not weaken the registration. Article 9(2)(a) SMK treats use of a mark in a form that differs in elements without altering its distinctive character as use of the mark. Keeping dated invoices, packaging and advertising that show the name makes any later proof of use easier.

### Is a word mark application for an invented word more likely to be accepted?

In terms of distinctiveness, usually yes. Invented words with no meaning do not describe the goods or services, so the risk of refusal on absolute grounds is low. Being invented does not remove the similarity risk, however: a word that sounds or looks close to an earlier mark can be refused by the Office or upon opposition for identical or similar goods and services. A search before filing is still necessary.

### Is it risky to file the word mark and the logo on different dates?

Yes. The two applications are independent, and each receives its own filing date. If the word mark is filed today and the logo six months later, an application filed by a third party for a similar figure in the meantime will rank ahead of your logo. Filing as soon as the logo design is final, without waiting for the launch, is the most practical way to keep that gap small.

### Can I correct a misspelled name in a word mark application?

As a rule, no. Article 11(6) SMK only allows the correction of spelling mistakes and obvious errors that do not change the mark representation or the goods and services list; changing the spelling of the name itself changes the representation. The fix is a new application with the correct spelling. A flawed application can be withdrawn before registration, but fees already paid are not refunded unless otherwise provided, so checking the spelling before filing is the cheapest safeguard.

### Can a word mark owner stop a competitor using the same name in its own logo?

In most cases, yes. Use of a name identical or similar to a registered word mark for identical or similar goods and services can be prohibited where it creates a likelihood of confusion. The competitor presenting the name in a special font or with its own emblem does not, by itself, change the outcome, because consumers mostly remember a brand by its name. The assessment is still made case by case, based on the overall impression of the two signs.

### If I only use an icon or emblem, is a word mark enough?

No. A word mark protects the name; it does not cover a figure used without text, such as an app icon or an emblem on a product. If the figure is the face of the brand that people recognize on its own, it should also be filed as a figurative mark. That means a separate application and a separate fee; figurative marks are searched and compared in the register by their visual elements, not by a word.

### Can a slogan also be registered as a word mark?

Yes. A slogan is a sign made up of words, and in practice it is filed as a word mark. However, slogans that only carry praise or a promotional message, or that describe the qualities of the goods, may be found to lack distinctiveness and be refused. Because the main brand name and the slogan are separate signs, each needs its own application and each is charged separately.

## 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 Search](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/hizmetler/marka-sorgulama): Provides a free tool and method for checking whether a brand name is registrable by searching similar and registered trademarks.
- [How to Register a Logo in Turkey: Figurative and Combined Marks](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/how-to-register-a-logo-in-turkey): How to register a logo in Turkey: figurative vs combined marks, preparing the mark image, copyright from your designer and 2026 official fees compared.
- [What Happens to Your Trademark Registration If Your Logo Changes?](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/logo-change-and-trademark-registration): A logo change does not void your registration, but it protects the old logo and the new one is unprotected. Three scenarios, the old mark, copyright, transition.
- [Should You Register Your Logo in Color or in Black and White?](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/register-logo-in-colour-or-black-and-white): Does a black-and-white logo registration cover all colors? The 2014 EU common practice, genuine use, priority risks and a decision table by type of mark.
- [How to Choose a Brand Name: A Guide to Finding a Registrable Name](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/how-to-choose-a-brand-name): How to choose a brand name: distinctiveness levels, methods for finding a registrable name, elimination criteria, and a pre-filing checklist.
- [Can Letters, Numbers and Acronyms Be Registered as Trademarks?](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/letter-and-number-trademarks): Letter trademark registration in Turkey: distinctiveness of single letters, acronyms and numbers, company initials, similarity, searching and how to strengthen.
- [Slogan Registration: Can You Protect Your Slogan as a Trademark?](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/how-to-register-a-slogan-as-a-trademark): How to register a slogan as a trademark: distinctiveness requirements, common grounds for refusal, and strategies to strengthen your protection.