The 5th Copyright Symposium will be held on November 28-29 at Doğuş University’s Çengelköy Campus in Istanbul.
Held with the contributions of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and in cooperation with Doğuş University and the Copyright Association, this year’s symposium will address the problems regarding ‘Copyright in Works of Fine Art’ in events that 27 academics/experts will participate in.
The ‘Copyright and Related Rights in Works of Fine Art Symposium’, which will be held for the fifth time this year, will take place in Istanbul on November 28-29, 2025. The symposium, held with the contributions of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and in cooperation with Doğuş University and the Copyright Association, will address copyrights in works of fine art and the problems of the sector.
OPENING ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28
The opening of the symposium will take place at Doğuş University’s Çengelköy Campus on Friday, November 28, at 10:00, hosted by Prof. Dr. Nermin Özcan Özer and Dr. Hakan Kaya. The opening speeches will be delivered by Copyright Association President Cafer Vayni, Doğuş University Faculty of Law Dean Prof. Dr. Serhat Sarısözen, and Doğuş University Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Alkan Çelik.
4 SESSIONS, 1 PANEL; 27 ACADEMICS/EXPERTS, 21 PRESENTATIONS
Following the opening speeches, the first session of the symposium will begin at 11:15. Over two days, a total of four sessions will once again address the chronic and current problems of copyright in works of fine art, including intellectual property, AI-generated works, and resale rights. A total of 13 presentations will be delivered in the sessions. The final program of the symposium will be a panel starting at 12:35 on Saturday, November 29. The panel, moderated by Prof. Dr. Nermin Özcan Özer, will feature Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emin Kahraman, Prof. Dr. İsa Eliri, Prof. Dr. Suphi Saatçi, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aras Neftçi, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ümit Gezgin, Dr. Adnan Çavuş, Asım Ekken, and Fatma Sonan Dolunay as speakers. The closing ceremony will follow.
All presentations and panel discussions centered around the theme ‘Copyright in Works of Fine Art’, delivered by a total of 27 academic/expert speakers throughout the symposium, will be compiled in a symposium book to be published later for interested parties.
Detailed information about the symposium can be found on the Copyright Association’s website at ‘telifhaklarisempozyumu.org/’.
SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM
The day-by-day sessions, presentations, and participating academics/experts of the symposium are as follows:
5th COPYRIGHT SYMPOSIUM:
‘COPYRIGHT AND RELATED RIGHTS IN WORKS OF FINE ART’
NOVEMBER 28-29, 2025
DAY ONE:
NOVEMBER 28, 2025 – FRIDAY
10:30-10:45 Opening Speeches
Cafer VAYNİ / President, Copyright Association
Prof. Dr. Serhat SARISÖZEN / Dean, Doğuş University Faculty of Law
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Alkan ÇELİK / Rector, Doğuş University
11:15-12:30 FIRST SESSION
Session Chair: Prof. Dr. Fülürya YUSUFOĞLU / Galatasaray University Faculty of Law
“The Principle of Cumulative Protection for Designs Qualifying as Works of Fine Art”:
Dr. Res. Asst. Büşra Şahin AYDIN – Ondokuz Mayıs University Ali Fuad Başgil Faculty of Law
“Copyright Issue in Digital Artworks in the Context of NFTs”: Gökmen ALTINTAŞ – Judge, Denizli 5th High Criminal Court
“AI’s Brush: Redefining Specificity in Works of Fine Art”: Att. Ulaş Göker BEKTAŞ
13:45-15:00 SECOND SESSION
Session Chair: Prof. Dr. Tekin MEMİŞ
“From Artist’s Rights to Trademarks: Dual Protection of Works of Fine Art in the Digital Age”: Att. İsmail Murat KABAN
“Assessment of Authorship in Photographic Works: The Monkey Selfie Case Example”: Att. Yasemin DİKKAYA
“Discussions on Copyright Ownership When Interviews with Public Figures Are Published as Independent Works: Comparison of US and Turkish Law Approaches Based on the Trump Tapes Decision”: Att. Arb. Dr. Instructor Murat CANGÜL – Ankara Medipol University Faculty of Law
15:30-16:45 THIRD SESSION
Session Chair: Prof. Dr. Mustafa Alper GÜMÜŞ – Doğuş University Faculty of Law
“Reinterpretation of Works of Fine Art: Limits in Copyright Law and Artistic Freedom of Expression, Evaluation in the Context of Criminal Provisions”: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sinan BAYINDIR – Piri Reis University Faculty of Law & Att. Beyza BAYINDIR
“Intellectual Property Infringement and Criminal Liability in Works of Artists Utilizing Artificial Intelligence”: Dr. Faculty Member Çağatay ÇINAR – Namık Kemal University Faculty of Law
“Limitation of Copyright in Works of Fine Art for Public Interest”: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sırrı DÜĞER – Yalova University Faculty of Law
DAY TWO:
NOVEMBER 29, 2025 – SATURDAY
10:30-12:05 FOURTH SESSION
Session Chair: Prof. Dr. Ali PASLI – Istanbul University Faculty of Law
“Copyright in Digital Artworks”: Dr. Belgin ASLAN – Ministry of Culture and Tourism General Directorate of Copyright
“Tattoo Art and Copyright in the Context of Works of Fine Art”: Dr. Faculty Member Sami Özgür MEMİŞOĞLU – Doğuş University Faculty of Law
“Qualifying Photography as a Work: Criteria, Case Law in Turkish and Comparative Law, and a Current Assessment Regarding AI Use”: Res. Asst. Ela KARATAY – Doğuş University Faculty of Law
“Use of Works of Fine Art and Music Rights in Audiovisual Productions: Problems Encountered in Practice – In the Field”: Elif ÇELİK – Music and Copyright Consultant / Production Coordinator
12:35-14:25 PANEL
Panel Moderator: Prof. Dr. Nermin Özcan ÖZER – Marmara University Atatürk Education Faculty Member
Speakers:
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emin KAHRAMAN – Dean, Yıldız Technical University Faculty of Art and Design
Prof. Dr. İsa ELİRİ – President, Fine Art Works Owners Professional Association of Turkey – Kırıkkale University Faculty Member
Prof. Dr. Suphi SAATÇİ – Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakıf University Faculty of Architecture and Design Faculty Member
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aras NEFTÇİ – Istanbul Technical University Faculty of Architecture Faculty Member
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ümit GEZGİN – Marmara University Atatürk Education Faculty Faculty Member
Dr. Adnan ÇAVUŞ – Member, Istanbul Regional Court of Justice 31st Criminal Chamber
Asım EKREN – Prosecutor, Istanbul Regional Court of Justice
Fatma Sonan DOLUNAY – Judge, Bakırköy 1st Intellectual and Industrial Rights Criminal Court
