Turkish Legal Consultancy provides comprehensive litigation and advisory services for corporations, e-commerce companies, web-based platforms and individual merchants in all matters related to advertising regulations and unfair competition under Turkish law.

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Our team ensures full compliance with the Consumer Protection Law, Turkish Commercial Code, Advertising Board regulations, and all sector-specific advertising standards. We assist clients in preventing legal risks, responding to administrative actions and resolving disputes arising from unlawful or misleading commercial practices.

Litigation Services

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We represent clients before Civil, Commercial and Criminal Courts regarding:

1. Unfair competition lawsuits arising from misleading, comparative, covert or deceptive advertisements

2. Claims for pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages caused by unlawful advertising practices

3. Annulment and revocation actions against administrative fines and sanctions

4. Applications and objections before the Advertising Board (Reklam Kurulu)

5. Court actions related to unauthorized use of trademarks, slogans, designs or copyrighted advertising content

Consulting Services,

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We provide end-to-end legal guidance on advertising activities and competitive commercial practices, including:

1. Drafting and reviewing advertising and marketing contracts

2. Compliance review for misleading, comparative, covert, influencer-based and ambush marketing strategies

3. Legal assessment and approval of advertising content before publication

4. Copyright and intellectual property protection for advertising materials

5. Supervision of production quality, authorship and content ownership

6. Compliance strategies for e-commerce advertisements and online sales practices

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Are misleading or deceptive advertisements prohibited in Turkey?
Yes. Such advertisements violate both advertising regulations and unfair competition rules, and may lead to administrative fines, removal orders or compensation claims.

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Can a competitor sue us for an advertisement?
Yes. Competitors may initiate unfair competition lawsuits seeking removal of the advertisement, compensation, or publication of corrective notices.

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We received an Advertising Board fine. What is the deadline to challenge it?
You must file an objection or court action within 60 days of the notification date.

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Is comparative advertising allowed?
Only if it is accurate, evidence based, objective and non-misleading. Otherwise it becomes unfair competition.

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Do you review advertisements before they go live?
Yes. We conduct pre-publication legal review to minimize risk and ensure full compliance.

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Are social media advertisements and influencer promotions regulated under Turkish law?
Yes. All social media advertisements  including influencer posts, sponsored stories, YouTube content, TikTok videos, and Instagram collaborations  are subject to Advertising Board regulations.
Influencers must clearly disclose commercial collaborations (e.g., #ad, #sponsored). Failure to do so may result in administrative fines for both the influencer and the advertiser.

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Can Google Ads or online banner ads lead to legal liability?
Yes. Online advertisements must also comply with laws against misleading or deceptive content.
Google Ads, SEO promotions, remarketing banners and algorithm based commercial campaigns can be examined by the Advertising Board.
If the ad misleads consumers or damages competitors, the company may face:

• administrative fines,

• removal orders,

• unfair competition lawsuits, or

• compensation claims.

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Is keyword advertising targeting a competitor’s brand allowed (Google AdWords)?
It depends. Using a competitor’s trademark as a keyword may be considered unfair competition if:

• the advertisement confuses consumers,

• the trademark is visible in the ad text,

• the competitor’s reputation is exploited.
  We provide legal assessment for AdWords campaigns to prevent trademark violations.

Do e-commerce companies have special obligations for online ads?

Yes. E-commerce platforms must comply with consumer protection rules, price transparency standards and digital advertising regulations. Non-compliance may trigger both consumer complaints and Advertising Board investigations.

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Can misleading online reviews or sponsored ratings be challenged?
Yes. Fake reviews, manipulated ratings or undisclosed paid comments can constitute unfair competition.

We assist in filing complaints, removing unlawful content and initiating legal proceedings.

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Additional FAQ  Influencers, Brand Protection & Digital Content Rights

Do we need a formal contract with influencers for advertising campaigns?
Yes. A written influencer agreement is strongly recommended. It should include:

• disclosure requirements (#ad, #sponsored),

• content approval process,

• intellectual property rights,

• usage periods,

• compliance responsibilities.
  Without a contract, both parties may face Advertising Board penalties or copyright disputes.

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Can a competitor use our brand name, slogan or logo in their online ads or sponsored posts?

No. Unauthorized use of trademarks in any advertising content including social media, Google Ads, or website banners may constitute trademark infringement and unfair competition.
Legal remedies include removal of the advertisement, compensation and injunctions.

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Who owns the rights to advertising content produced for our brand?
Ownership depends on your agreement.
Unless otherwise transferred, creators (photographers, influencers, agencies) may hold copyright. We help secure:

• exclusive usage rights,

• license agreements,

• protection against unauthorized reproduction or distribution.

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Are agencies or influencers liable if they publish non-compliant content?
Yes. Both the advertiser and the content creator can be held jointly responsible for misleading or undisclosed advertising.
The Advertising Board may impose separate fines on:

• the advertiser,

• the influencer,

• the agency.

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Can we remove competitors’ misleading ads from online platforms?
Yes. We assist with legal notifications and takedown requests to social media platforms, Google, and relevant authorities when an advertisement:

• misleads consumers,

• uses your trademark unlawfully,

• violates advertising regulations.
  If necessary, we also file unfair competition lawsuits.

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Are user-generated content and reviews covered under advertising regulations?
Yes. Manipulated or purchased reviews, undisclosed endorsements, or artificial ratings may be considered deceptive commercial practices.
We assist in identifying fraudulent reviews and initiating legal actions.

For a full compliance check of your digital campaigns, contact Turkish Legal Consultancy.

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