For internet news sites connected with the publication of official announcements, ownership is tied to conditions of citizenship and control. Article 55 governs that in two paragraphs.
A Natural Person Owner - Art. 55/1-a
Where it is a natural person, it is compulsory for that person to be a Turkish citizen.
A Legal Person Owner - Art. 55/1-b
Where it is a legal person, it is compulsory for 51% of its capital to belong to Turkish citizens and for the representative of the legal person, the chair and deputy chair of the board of directors, the majority of the board of directors and officers such as the general manager, and the majority of votes in the decision-making organs, to be held by natural or legal persons of Turkish nationality.
| Element | Condition |
|---|---|
| Capital | 51% must belong to Turkish citizens |
| The representative of the legal person | A natural or legal person of Turkish nationality |
| The chair and deputy chair of the board of directors | Turkish nationals |
| The majority of the board of directors | Turkish nationals |
| Officers such as the general manager | Turkish nationals |
| The majority of votes in the decision-making organs | Held by natural or legal persons of Turkish nationality |
Residence and Place of Activity - Art. 55/2
It is necessary for the place of residence of the natural persons mentioned in the first paragraph to be in Turkey and for the legal persons to operate in Turkey.
| Who | Condition |
|---|---|
| Natural persons | Their place of residence must be in Turkey |
| Legal persons | They must operate in Turkey |
Its Relationship with Law No. 5187
Press Law No. 5187 brings a declaration obligation and a liability regime as regards internet news sites; Art. 55 of the Regulation additionally requires a condition of citizenship and control for sites connected with the publication of official announcements.
We cover the declaration obligation in the declaration guide and the criteria for counting as an internet news site in the internet news site guide.
Read It Together with the Staff Prohibition - Art. 20
The owner, the representative of the legal person and the company managers may not appear in the intellectual worker staff. We cover the detail in the staff exclusions guide.
A Change of Domain Name - Art. 26/3
A request for a change of name or domain name must be notified to the Agency in signed form. We cover the detail in the domain change guide.
A Connection with the Prohibition of Manipulation - Art. 63/3
We cover the detail in the fake traffic guide.
A Checklist
- Is the natural person owner a Turkish citizen?
- In a legal person, is 51% of the capital held by Turkish citizens?
- Are the representative, the chair and deputy chair of the board, the majority of the board and the general manager Turkish nationals?
- Is the majority of votes in the decision-making organs held by Turkish nationals?
- Is the place of residence of the natural persons in Turkey?
- Does the legal person operate in Turkey?
Summary
If the owner is a natural person they must be a Turkish citizen. If it is a legal person, 51% of the capital must belong to Turkish citizens; the representative of the legal person, the chair and deputy chair of the board of directors, the majority of the board of directors, officers such as the general manager and the majority of votes in the decision-making organs must be held by natural or legal persons of Turkish nationality. In addition the place of residence of the natural persons must be in Turkey and the activity of the legal persons must be in Turkey.