When Distributors Register the Principal’s Trademark in Their Own Name: A Hidden Risk in Turkey

In international trade, distributors often serve as the gateway to local markets. In Turkey, as in many emerging markets, foreign brand owners commonly rely on local distributors to import, market, and sell their products. However, a recurring and highly disruptive practice has emerged: distributors registering the principal’s trademark in their own name without authorization.

Although this practice is legally wrongful, it is alarmingly effective. Under Turkish trademark law, registration—not real ownership—confers enforceable rights. Once a distributor obtains a local trademark registration, the legal balance of power can shift dramatically against the real brand owner.

This article explains how this happens, why it is so dangerous, and what foreign brand owners can do to protect themselves.

Why Distributor Registrations Are So Powerful in Turkey

Turkey follows a registration-based trademark system. This means that:

The person whose name appears in the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office register is presumed to be the legitimate trademark owner — regardless of who actually created or owns the brand abroad.

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