Database

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NORWAY

Since January 2006

Pillar Cross-border data policies  |  Indicator Local storage requirement
Bookkeeping Act (Bokføringsloven)
The Norwegian Bookkeeping Act (Section 13) establishes local storage requirements for accounting data. However, exemptions can be sought – and are regularly granted – if adequate storage facilities cannot be found in Norway. Under an exemption, companies may store their data offshore so long as it can still be accessed by the Norwegian Tax Administration if required.
Coverage Horizontal

NORWAY

Since June 2018, entry into force in July 2018

Pillar Cross-border data policies  |  Indicator Conditional flow regime
Act on the processing of personal data (Personal Data Act) (Lov om behandling av personopplysninger (personopplysningsloven))
The Act on the Processing of Personal Data (Personal Data Act) implements the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union in Norway. In addition to companies established in the European Economic Area (EEA), the Regulation applies extraterritorially to companies offering goods or services to data subjects in the EEA and companies that monitor the behaviour of EEA citizens (Art. 3).
The Regulation mandates that data is allowed to flow freely outside the European Economic Area (EEA) only in certain circumstances listed in Chapter 5 of the Regulation. The main conditions for such a transfer are the following: the recipient jurisdiction has an adequate level of data protection; the controller adduces adequate safeguards (for instance, by using model contract clauses, binding corporate rules or other contractual arrangements); the data subject has given his/her consent explicitly; or, the transfer is necessary for the performance of a contract between the data subject and the controller.
The GDPR allows for data transfers to countries whose legal regime is deemed by the European Commission to provide for an “adequate” level of personal data protection. The European Commission has so far recognised Andorra, Argentina, Canada (commercial organisations), Faroe Islands, Guernsey, Israel, Isle of Man, Japan, Jersey, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay as providing adequate protection. In addition, the EU-US Data Privacy Framework has acted as a self-certification system open to certain US companies for data protection compliance since July 2023.
Coverage Horizontal

NORWAY

Since July 2021

Pillar Cross-border data policies  |  Indicator Participation in trade agreements committing to open cross-border data flows
Free Trade Agreement between Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Kingdom of Norway and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Norway has joined an agreement with binding commitments to open transfers of data across borders. Art. 4.11 (Cross-Border Data Flows) of the Free Trade Agreement between Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Kingdom of Norway and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland states that the parties are committed to ensuring cross-border data flows to facilitate trade in the digital economy. To that end, cross-border data flows shall not be restricted between the parties by a party requiring the use of computing facilities or network elements in that party for processing, including by imposing the use of computing facilities or network elements that are certified or approved in that party; requiring the localisation of data in the party for storage or processing; prohibiting the storage or processing of data in another party; or making the cross-border transfer of data contingent upon use of computing facilities or network elements in the parties or upon localisation requirements in the parties.
Coverage Horizontal

NORWAY

Since January 1999, last amended in December 2023

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Nationality/residency requirement for directors or managers
Public Limited Liability Companies Act (Lov om aksjeselskaper (aksjeloven))
Under Art. 6.11 of the Public Limited Liability Companies Act, at least half of the board members, along with the managing director, of a Limited Liability Company must reside in Norway or be citizens and residents of a European Economic Area (EEA) country.
Coverage Horizontal

NORWAY

Since January 2019

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Screening of investment and acquisitions
National Security Act (Security Act) (Lov om nasjonal sikkerhet (sikkerhetsloven))
Norway's National Security Act gives authorities extensive powers to block foreign investments in accordance with national security interests. These interests are broadly defined and also include national financial stability and autonomy. According to Art. 10 of the Act, any person who wishes to acquire a qualified ownership interest in an undertaking which is subject to the act shall notify the ministry accordingly. In cases where the undertaking does not fall within the area of responsibility of any ministry, such notice shall be given to the National Security Authority.
A qualified ownership interest exists if the acquisition will, overall, give the acquirer, either directly or indirectly,
(i) At least one-third of the share capital, participating interests or votes in the undertaking;
(ii) The right to own at least one-third of the share capital or participating interests, or;
(iii) Significant influence over the management of the company otherwise.
The ministry will then have sixty business days to decide whether to approve or prohibit the relevant transaction. In addition, the law is not sector-specific but rather targets companies that have been brought into the scope of the law on a case-by-case basis.
Coverage Horizontal

NORWAY

Since January 1980

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Participation in the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Norway is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
Coverage Horizontal

NORWAY

Since July 2018

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Copyright law with clear exceptions
Act on copyright to intellectual property, etc. (Copyright Act) (Lov om opphavsrett til åndsverk mv. (åndsverkloven))
The Norwegian Copyright Act (2018) contains limited exceptions to copyright, including temporary copies, copies for private use or educational purposes, quotations, parodies, and for people with disabilities. It does not, however, contain fair use or fair dealing rights broadly defined. As a European Economic Area (EEA) member, the European acquis of copyright law also applies in Norway.
Coverage Horizontal

NORWAY

Reported in 2017, last reported in 2024

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Enforcement of copyright online
Lack of adequate enforcement of copyright online
It has been consistently reported since 2017 that rightsholders argue the authorities have not accorded sufficient priority to cases concerning copyright infringement and internet piracy. Furthermore, research published in 2023 revealed that 22% of viewers aged 15 to 74 in Norway had illegally streamed or downloaded films or television episodes within a single month, representing an increase from 18% in 2022.
Coverage Horizontal

NORWAY

N/A

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Adoption of the WIPO Copyright Treaty
Lack of signature of the WIPO Copyright Treaty
Norway has not signed the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty.
Coverage Horizontal

NORWAY

N/A

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Adoption of the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
Lack of signature of the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
Norway has not signed the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty.
Coverage Horizontal

NORWAY

Since January 2021

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Effective protection covering trade secrets
Trade Secrets Act (2020) (Lov om vern av forretningshemmeligheter (forretningshemmelighetsloven))
The Trade Secrets Act (2020) provides a framework for effective protection of trade secrets.
Coverage Horizontal

NORWAY

N/A

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Passive infrastructure sharing obligation
​​Passive infrastructure sharing obligation
It is reported that passive sharing of telecom infrastructure is mandated and practised in both the mobile and fixed sectors. Moreover, Directive 2014/61/EU (Art. 3.2) has been incorporated into the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement, meaning it is technically required to be implemented in Norway.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

NORWAY

N/A

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Presence of shares owned by the government in telecom companies
Presence of shares owned by the government in the telecom sector
The Norwegian Government controls 53.97% of shares in Telenor directly, as well as an additional 4.72% via the Government Pension Fund of Norway. Nonetheless, Norway has established a market regulator in the Norwegian Communications Authority, which has gradually sought to reduce the country's dependence on Telenor's networks.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
"SELECT DISTINCT(post_id) FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'score' AND\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'country' AND meta_value = 'NO')\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAND (\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'subchapter' AND meta_value = '1.1') OR\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'subchapter' AND meta_value = '1.2') OR\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'subchapter' AND meta_value = '1.3')\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t)"
[{"post_id":"86032"},{"post_id":"86033"},{"post_id":"86034"}]
"SELECT meta_value FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'impact' AND\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'country' AND meta_value = 'NO')\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAND (\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'subchapter' AND meta_value = '1.1') OR\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'subchapter' AND meta_value = '1.2')\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t)"
"SELECT meta_value FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'score' AND\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'country' AND meta_value = 'NO')\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAND (\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'subchapter' AND meta_value = '1.3')\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t)"
ITA: [{"meta_value":"0.00"}]

NORWAY

ITA signatory? I II

Pillar Tariffs and trade defence measures applied on ICT goods  |  Indicator Effective tariff rate on ICT goods (applied weighted average)
Effective tariff rate to ICT goods (applied weighted average)
0%
Coverage rate of zero-tariffs on ICT goods (%)
100%
Coverage: ICT goods

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