Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The “Maximization of Intellectual Property Rights in Turkey” was held by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Turkey National Committee, ICC BASCAP and TEPAV in the TOBB Union Center.

Attending the conference in addition to Hisarcıklıoğlu were the Customs and Commerce Minister Hayati Yazıcı, Universal Music Senior Vice President David Benjamin and the USA Ambassador to Turkey Francis J. Ricciardone.

TOBB and ICC Turkey National Committee President, Eurochambers Vice President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, speaking at the opening of the conference, emphasized that without the protection of intellectual property rights, there can be no investments in new technology, R&D activities and increase in productivity. Stating that intellectual property piracy holds many dangers, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Counterfeiting and piracy damages innovation and discovery, the pillar of today’s society; it deprives the government of tax income.”

- ICC’s works

Relating that ICC is the representative of the private sector on a global scale and the voice of the international business world, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that ICC has members from over 130 countries and is able to affect policies and legislations by working with the United Nations, World Trade Organization, G8/G20 and many international establishments. Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the Turkey National Committee, one of the most active National Committees of the ICC since 1934, has worked with TOBB to be beneficial to all companies small and large in the Turkish business world.

Stating that ICC is working towards creating an effective and sustainable system for the purpose of protecting intellectual property rights, M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The global business world has come together on platforms like the Intellectual Rights Commission and the Business World Action to Prevent Counterfeiting and Piracy in order to fight counterfeiting and piracy, a rapidly growing illegal activity which has spread to almost all consumer goods.”

- Nearly the whole of the TOBB community is concerned with the subject of intellectual property

Stating that almost all of the TOBB community which represents 1.4 million domestic and foreign establishments from all sectors is concerned with intellectual property rights and many of them with copyrights, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “As a result of the work started by our Union in the 1980’s, the Special Expertise Commission, established as part of the Government Planning Agency has prepared the legislation and establishment bill of the Turkish Patent Institute and as a result of the legislative work, the legal infrastructure of patent and brand guardianship was established. Turkey Patent and Brand Guardianship Assembly started operations in 2008 under TOBB. Since then, it has worked towards the needs of the private sector and searched for solutions to their problems.”

- TOBB stands with the rights holders for the maximization of intellectual property rights

Emphasizing the need for the development of the current investment atmosphere in order to ensure sustainable growth and competitive environment, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that TOBB stands with the rights holders whether it is for removing obstacles to investing or the preparation of the EU compliance laws.

Stating that they support the new laws, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Turkey patent and brand guardianship assembly is closely participating in and following the preparation of laws. The struggle against piracy and imitation products has always played an important role for our Union and chambers and has supported raising public awareness.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu continued his speech,

“In this regard, we represent the ‘Intellectual and Industrial Property Rights Coordination Council’ under the secretariat of the Turkish Patent Institute.

We are participating in joint activities with the ‘The Research and Application Center for Intellectual and Industrial Rights’ under the Turkish Patent Institute and Ankara University in order to raise awareness to the matter of intellectual and industrial rights. Our chambers, for example, have established documentation centers to inform their members on these matters.

As part of the ongoing work to ameliorate the investment atmosphere, patent rights and fight against piracy subjects are actively pursued in the intellectual and industrial rights workgroup. In addition, as part of the EU matching project, the ‘Supporting Turkey for the Execution of Industrial Property Rights” titled project, aimed at educating and raising awareness about industrial rights, has been participated in by the whole of our Union.

Our union and chambers fully support the development and preservation of unique culture and works of art. The protection of intellectual property, research and innovation, international trade and investments and encouragement of strong economic growth are critical factors. In conjunction, the magnitude and importance of the threat posed by counterfeiting and piracy to economic and social prosperity is deserving of businessmen’s and the government’s attention.”

- Customs and Commerce Minister Hayati Yazıcı

The Customs and Commerce Minister Hayati Yazıcı stated in his speech that they are determined in following a sustainable and effective intellectual and industrial property policy.

Yazıcı stated that intellectual and industrial property rights parallel the economic, democratic and law system’s development in a country.

Referring to these rights as “Seeds of the future,” Yazıcı stated that these are the greatest assets of an economy and an important instrument of technological and cultural advancement.

Stating that intellectual and industrial rights are rights that can only be protected by the parallel execution of joint sanctions and applications of law in a country, Yazıcı reminded that in this regard, Turkey has taken many important steps towards to protection of these rights as part of the EU accession process.

- “We will raise R&D funding to %2 of the GDP”

Stating that intellectual property rights protection has been added to the curriculum of the inspection officials training program in the Ministry of Customs and Commerce Directorate of Education Department, Yazıcı added that inspection officials have been briefed on counterfeits and knock-offs of geographical indicators of belonging to Turkey.

- USA Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone

USA Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone stated that Turkey should have world class intellectual property rights.

“As Turkey strives to become a top 10 economy by 2023, a world class intellectual property rights regime should be a powerful tool in Turkey’s drive for economic growth,” Ricciardone said. “World class IPR protection not only encourages local companies to harness that valuable imagination, but it is also directly linked to foreign direct investment.”

Ricciardone reported that an entrepreneurship summit which will focus on intellectual property rights and be held in Istanbul in December, where USA will be represented in the highest level.

- David Benjamin, Senior Vice President, Universal Music and co-chair of the BASCAP Steering Committee

David Benjamin, Senior Vice President, Universal Music and co-chair of the BASCAP Steering Committee stated that counterfeiting and piracy appears in all sectors, affects human health, causes tax loss and damages companies’ R&D.

Stating that Turkey is the 5th country in the world as the origin of counterfeit and knock-off products, Benjamin stated the cost of counterfeiting and piracy for Turkey is 10 billion dollars each year.

“This deprives the Turkish government of significant revenues for vital public services and dislocates thousands of legitimate jobs,” Mr. Benjamin said. The analysis suggests that counterfeiting and piracy causes the Turkish government to lose more than US$ 2.4 billion due to a combination of lower tax revenues and higher welfare spending. In addition, the report suggests that at least 135,000 jobs have been destroyed by counterfeiting and piracy. IP theft has serious negative implications that affect not only the country’s economic growth but also its citizens’ health and safety, Mr. Benjamin said.

After the opening speeches, the conference continued closed to the press.

- Dinner prior to the conference

The attendees of the “Maximization of Intellectual Property Rights in Turkey” Conference held by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Turkey National Committee, ICC BASCAP and TEPAV on September 29th met at the TOBB Union Center on September 28th for dinner.

TOBB Board Vice Chairman Faik Yavuz, ICC BASCAP Director Jeffrey P. Hardy, David Benjamin the Senior Vice President of Universal Music and co-chair of the BASCAP Steering Committee made speeches during the dinner stressing the importance of the conference and intellectual property rights protection.
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