Starting a software company — how do we manage trademark and domain risks when picking a name?

Last year we applied for registration across two classes (35 and 42). The application fee was around 1,500 TL per class, and once the registration decision came through, we paid about 3,000 TL for the registration certificate issuance fee. If no oppositions are filed, the process takes around 6-8 months, but protection starts from the application date.

For software, Nice 42 (software development, SaaS services) and Nice 9 (recorded programs, downloadable software) are especially critical. If you'll also be running e-commerce or a marketplace through this software, adding class 35 is mandatory. Having the same name in a totally different industry might not be an issue, but if there's a conflict in these three classes, definitely stay away.

be careful when checking domains some foreign lookup sites bump up the price or snap it up with a bot two days after you search it. the moment you see a name you like register it immediately dont waste time thinking.

On our first venture, we thought registering our trade name with the chamber of commerce meant the trademark was ours too. In our second year, we got a notarized cease-and-desist from an agency that held the class 42 registration. Changing our signage, logo, and domain cost us 80,000 TL plus a huge hit to our reputation. Ever since then, patent research comes first for me.

Is your target market just Turkey, or are you planning to sell SaaS internationally? If you have global ambitions you need to factor in international registration costs under the Madrid Protocol and check whether that name is already registered globally right now.

When checking social handles don't just look at Instagram. Go through GitHub, LinkedIn, X and YouTube one by one. Reserve them all with a blank profile before founding the company; otherwise you'll end up facing squatters asking for ridiculous money for those usernames later on.

Keep in mind that just owning the .com.tr domain doesn't grant you any legal rights. If a registered trademark owner takes you to court or files a complaint through a Dispute Resolution Service Provider, they can easily take that domain away from you. The foundation is always a TÜRKPATENT registration.

There's one point I'm curious about. Most time waste accumulates in tasks waiting for approval.

Good luck with that.

I didn't know that.

Exactly, and not many people know this. Taking notes for two weeks yields better results than a six-month estimate.

Good luck with that.

This approach has a cost, which isn't discussed. Valuation methods for exits must be defined by formula; "market value" isn't enough.

When listing, put proof that the product actually works at the very top.

To get into the details: When making decisions, write down the worst-case scenario too not just the best.

Solutions that work at a small scale collapse when you grow; I learned this late... If I were you I'd go this route.

I'd appreciate it if you shared the outcome.

You're right. Trying to do this alone is the most expensive way.

Hope this helps.

Timely topic. If you're offering equity instead of salary, also state what you're offering in return.

If IP assignment to the company isn't written from the start, it can't be collected later.

Quick summary for newcomers: When making decisions, write down the worst-case scenario too, not just the best.

If you post the result here, it will help others too.

How did you solve this? People defend habits not processes. Resistance comes from there.

If I were you, I'd go this route.

Thanks for posting. People defend habits, not processes. Resistance comes from there.

Hope this helps.