COVID-19 Epidemic: Suspension of legal and administrative deadlines.

A number of legal and administrative measures were taken in March 26, 2020 under the terms of TR Amending Law No. 7226 in order to prevent the spread and the negative effects of the COVID-19 epidemic.

All deadlines falling on or after March 13, 2020 with regard to the origination, exercise or expiration of any rights were suspended until April 30, 2020. These includes but not limited to deadlines for filing legal actions, filing legal proceedings, commencing execution proceedings, complaints, oppositions, warnings, notices, submissions, statute of limitations, deprivation periods and mandatory administrative application periods.

Right holders and attorneys will be entitled to perform retrospective legal and administrative transactions that have not been carried out between March 13, 2020 and April 30, 2020.

Likewise, these provisions were also valid for Industrial Property Law, and all deadlines for legal and administrative filings and proceedings before the TURKPATENT and IP Courts. Further details are expected to be announced by the relevant authorities soon.