LIKELIHOOD OF CONFUSION AMONG PHARMACEUTICAL TRADEMARKS IN THE LIGHT OF TURKISH SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

Hayri Bozgeyik; Sefa Er

Article Details

LIKELIHOOD OF CONFUSION AMONG PHARMACEUTICAL TRADEMARKS IN THE LIGHT OF TURKISH SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

Authors:

Hayri Bozgeyik | Sefa Er

Publisher:

Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University

Main Topics:

Hukuk (Diğer)

Journal:

Ticaret ve Fikri Mülkiyet Hukuku Dergisi Vol.10 Issue 1, pp.79-100

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001323209

pISSN:

2149-4576

Keywords:

Abstract:

 When evaluating the possibility of confusion in pharmaceutical trademarks, the unique characteristics of the medicines should also be considered. The unique characteristics of the medicine are revealed in determining the average consumer mass through the similarity of medicines and signs. For pharmaceutical trademarks, it is not mandatory to have a medicine license at the time of application and to determine whether the medicines can be sold with a prescription. If the medicine is licensed, this should be considered when evaluating medicine similarity. In this context, issues such as whether the medicines are in competition with each other, whether they are used as complements to each other, whether they are for different indications, whether they are generic medicines or original medicines should be examined. In addition, it should also be taken into consideration whether the sign subject to the trademark is related to the active ingredient of the medicine, whether it contains a reference to the disease it is intended to treat, or whether it emphasizes certain qualities of the medicine. Especially when comparing medicines, the issue of whether a medicine can be sold with a prescription is very important in determining the average consumer. Therefore, the likelihood of confusion in pharmaceutical trademarks should be evaluated by considering all issues together, taking into account the health policies implemented in the country.

 When evaluating the possibility of confusion in pharmaceutical trademarks, the unique characteristics of the medicines should also be considered. The unique characteristics of the medicine are revealed in determining the average consumer mass through the similarity of medicines and signs. For pharmaceutical trademarks, it is not mandatory to have a medicine license at the time of application and to determine whether the medicines can be sold with a prescription. If the medicine is licensed, this should be considered when evaluating medicine similarity. In this context, issues such as whether the medicines are in competition with each other, whether they are used as complements to each other, whether they are for different indications, whether they are generic medicines or original medicines should be examined. In addition, it should also be taken into consideration whether the sign subject to the trademark is related to the active ingredient of the medicine, whether it contains a reference to the disease it is intended to treat, or whether it emphasizes certain qualities of the medicine. Especially when comparing medicines, the issue of whether a medicine can be sold with a prescription is very important in determining the average consumer. Therefore, the likelihood of confusion in pharmaceutical trademarks should be evaluated by considering all issues together, taking into account the health policies implemented in the country.

 When evaluating the possibility of confusion in pharmaceutical trademarks, the unique characteristics of the medicines should also be considered. The unique characteristics of the medicine are revealed in determining the average consumer mass through the similarity of medicines and signs. For pharmaceutical trademarks, it is not mandatory to have a medicine license at the time of application and to determine whether the medicines can be sold with a prescription. If the medicine is licensed, this should be considered when evaluating medicine similarity. In this context, issues such as whether the medicines are in competition with each other, whether they are used as complements to each other, whether they are for different indications, whether they are generic medicines or original medicines should be examined. In addition, it should also be taken into consideration whether the sign subject to the trademark is related to the active ingredient of the medicine, whether it contains a reference to the disease it is intended to treat, or whether it emphasizes certain qualities of the medicine. Especially when comparing medicines, the issue of whether a medicine can be sold with a prescription is very important in determining the average consumer. Therefore, the likelihood of confusion in pharmaceutical trademarks should be evaluated by considering all issues together, taking into account the health policies implemented in the country.

 İlaç markalarında karıştırılma ihtimalinin değerlendirilmesinde ilacın kendine özgü özellikleri de dikkate alınmalıdır. İlacın kendine özgü özellikleri ilaç ürünlerinin ve işaretlerinin benzerliği ile ortalama tüketici kitlesinin belirlenmesinde ortaya çıkmaktadır. İlaç markaları için yapılan tescil başvurusu sırasında ilaç ruhsatının alınmış olması ve ilacın reçeteli olarak satılıp satılamayacağının belirtilmesi zorunlu olmamakla birlikte ürün benzerliği değerlendirilirken eğer ruhsat alınmış ise ilaçların somut benzerliği dikkate alınmalıdır. Bu kapsamda ilaçların birbiriyle rekabet hâlinde olup olmadığı, birbirinin tamamlayıcısı olarak kullanılıp kullanılmadığı, farklı endikasyonlara yönelik olup olmadıkları, eşdeğer ilaç veya orijinal ilaç olup olmadıkları gibi hususlar incelenmelidir. Ayrıca markaya konu işaretin ilacın etken maddesinden türetilip türetilmediği veya tedavisi amaçlanan hastalığa gönderme içeren sözcüklerden oluşup oluşmadığı veyahut da ilacın belli niteliklerine vurgu yapan işaretleri kapsayıp kapsamadığı da gözetilmelidir. Özellikle ilaç ürünlerinin karşılaştırılmasında bir ilacın reçeteli satılıp satılamayacağı hususu ortalama tüketicinin belirlenmesinde büyük öneme sahiptir. Dolayısıyla ülkede uygulanan sağlık politikaları da gözetilerek bir ilacın ortalama tüketicisinin kimlerden oluştuğu, bunların dikkat seviyesinin nasıl olması gerektiği belirlenerek bunların gözünden tüm hususlar hep birlikte dikkate alınarak karıştırılma ihtimali değerlendirilmelidir.

Article Details

LIKELIHOOD OF CONFUSION AMONG PHARMACEUTICAL TRADEMARKS IN THE LIGHT OF TURKISH SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

Authors:

Hayri Bozgeyik | Sefa Er

Publisher:

Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University

Main Topics:

Hukuk (Diğer)

Journal:

Ticaret ve Fikri Mülkiyet Hukuku Dergisi Vol.10 Issue 1, pp.79-100

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001323209

pISSN:

2149-4576

Pharmaceutical Trademark

Possibility of Confusion

Generic Medicine

Prescription Medicine

Active Ingredientİlaç Markası

Karıştırılma İhtimali

Eşdeğer İlaç

Reçeteli İlaç

Etken Madde

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Hayri Bozgeyik | Sefa Er

Publisher: Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University

Main Topics: Hukuk (Diğer)

Journal: Ticaret ve Fikri Mülkiyet Hukuku Dergisi Vol.10 Issue 1, pp.79-100

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 6/2024

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001323209

pISSN: 2149-4576

Issues

Authors:

Hayri Bozgeyik | Sefa Er

Publisher:

Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University

Main Topics:

Hukuk (Diğer)

Journal:

Ticaret ve Fikri Mülkiyet Hukuku Dergisi Vol.10 Issue 1, pp.79-100

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001323209

pISSN:

2149-4576