The Legal Nature of Program Formats as Copyrightable Works in Turkish Law

Year 2023, Issue: 73, 135 - 156, 24.11.2023

Gül Büyükkılıç , Halil Berk Erdoğan

https://doi.org/10.26650/annales.2023.73.0004

Abstract

Program formats can be defined as the fundamental structures that include the characteristic features of a program, allowing different program episodes to be created by evaluating the format in a similar yet distinct manner in each episode of the program. Initially emerging in the radio field and later gaining prominence in the television industry, formats have expanded their usage to include digital platforms as well. Currently, there is a strong demand in the markets of various countries for formats that have already been created and aired in other markets. However, there is no clear legal regulation on how program formats should be protected. In the doctrine, there is often a debate about whether formats can be protected as works under Law No. 5846 on Intellectual and Artistic Works1 (IPL). These debates center on whether formats have a degree of concreteness worthy of protection as copyrightable works and whether they bear the characteristics of their authors, and even if these conditions are met, there is no consensus on which category of works formats should be included in. This study focuses on the evaluation of program formats within the scope of the IPL criteria for being considered as works, based on Turkish legal doctrine and judicial decisions.

Keywords

Program formats, Originality, Individuality, Concretization, Copyrightable Works

References

• Arıkan M, Fikri Mülkiyet Hukukunda Televizyon Program Formatlarının Korunması (1st edn, On İki Levha 2012). google scholar
• Ateş M, Fikri Hukukta Eser Sahipliği (1st edn, Adalet 2012). google scholar
• Ateş M, Fikri Hukukta Eser (1st edn, Adalet 2007). google scholar
• Ayiter N, Hukukta Fikir ve Sanat Ürünleri (1st edn, S 1981) google scholar
• Bechtold S, ‘The Fashion of TV Show Formats’ (2013) 2013 (2) Michigan State Law Review 451512. google scholar
• Bozbel S, Fikri Mülkiyet Hukuku (1st edn, On İki Levha 2015). google scholar
• Bozgeyik H, Mimaride Telif Hakları: Mimari Projeler, Mühendislik Projeleri, Mimari Eserler ve Mimari Maketler Üzerindeki Telif Hakları (1st edn, Seçkin 2019). google scholar
• Börü Ş P, Fotoğraflar Üzerindeki Haklar (1st edn, Turhan 2013). google scholar
• Çolak U, ‘TV Program Formatlarının Korunması’ (2004) 4(3) Fikri Mülkiyet ve Rekabet Hukuku Dergisi 11-34. google scholar
• Dönmez Ü and Sargın B, ‘Televizyon Program Format Lisans Sözleşmesi’ (2021) 4(1) Ticaret ve Fikri Mülkiyet Hukuku Dergisi 69-92. google scholar
• Erdoğan H B, Program Formatlarının İnternet Ortamında Korunması (1st edn, Seçkin 2023). google scholar
• Erel Ş N, Türk Fikir ve Sanat Eserleri Hukuku (1st edn, Yetkin 2009). google scholar
• Esser A, ‘Format is King: Television formats and commercialization’ in Karen Donders and Caroline Pauwels and Jan Loisen (eds), Private television in Western Europe: (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013) 151-68. google scholar
• Fine Frank L, ‘Case for the Federal Protection of Television Formats: Testing Limit of Expression’ Pacific Law Journal, 1985 17(1) 49-76. google scholar
• Goldstein P and Hugenholtz P B, International Copyright: Principles, Law, and Practice, Oxford University Press (4th edn, Oxford University Press 2019). google scholar
• Gottlieb N E, ‘Free to Air - Legal Protection for TV Program Formats’ (2011) 51 IDEA: The Intellectual Property Law Review 211-270. google scholar
• Heinkelein M and Fey C, ‘Der Schutz Von Fernsehformaten Im Deutschen Urheberrecht - Zur Entscheidung Des BGH: Sendeformat’ (2004) 53 GRUR International 378-390. google scholar
• Hirsch E, Fikir ve Sanat Hukuku (1st edn, Ankara Ar 1948). google scholar
• Hirsch E, Hukuki Bakımdan Fikri Say Cilt 2: Fikri Haklar (1st edn, İstanbul Üniversitesi 1943). google scholar
• Hirsch E, ‘Memleketimizde Mer’i olan Telif Hakkı Kanununun Tahlili’ (1940) 6(2-3) İstanbul Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi 346-500. google scholar
• Karabağ T, Fikir ve Sanat Eserleri Hukuku Açısından Televizyon Programları ve Televizyon Program Formatları (1st edn, Seçkin 2007). google scholar
• König E M, Der Werkbegriff in Europa Eine Rechtsvergleichende Untersuchung des Britischen, Französischen und Deutschen Urheberrechts (1st edn, Mohr Siebeck, 2015). google scholar
• Lantzsch K, Der Internationale Fernsehformathandel: Akteure Strategien Strukturen Organisationsformen (Wiesbaden 2008) google scholar
• Meadow R, ‘Television Formats - The Search for Protection’ (1970) 58(5) California Law Review 1169-1197. google scholar
• Nal T and Suluk C and Temel R, Fikri Mülkiyet Hukuku (6th edn, Seçkin 2022). google scholar
• Öncü Ö, Fikir ve Sanat Eserleri Hukukunda İktibas Serbestisi ve Sınırları (1st edn, Yetkin 2010). google scholar
• Öztan F, Fikir ve Sanat Eserleri Hukuku (1st edn, Turhan 2008). google scholar
• Polater S, Fikir ve Sanat Eserleri Hukukuna Göre Güzel Sanat Eserleri ve Eser Sahibinin Hakları (1st edn, On İki Levha, 2021). google scholar
• Tekinalp Ü, Fikri Mülkiyet Hukuku, (5th edn, Vedat 2012). google scholar
• Tosun Y, Sinema Eserleri ve Eser Sahibinin Hakları (2nd edn, Onikilevha 2013). google scholar
• Uslu R, Türk Fikir ve Sanat Hukuku’nda Eser Kavramı (1st edn, Seçkin 2003). google scholar
• Yarsuvat D, “Türk Hukukunda Eser Sahibi ve Hakları” (2nd edn, Güryay 1984). google scholar
• Yasaman H, Fikri ve Sınai Mülkiyet Hukuku Fikir ve Sanat Eserleri Endüstriyel Tasarımlar Patentler ile ilgili Makaleler Hukuki Mütalaalar Bilirkişi Raporları (1st edn, Vedat 2012). google scholar
• Yavuz L and Alıca T and Merdivan F, Fikir ve Sanat Eserleri Kanunu Yorumu (2nd edn, Seçkin 2014). google scholar
• Yazıcıoğlu R Y, Fikri Mülkiyet Hukukundan Kaynaklanan Suçlar (1st edn, On İki Levha 2009). google scholar