BENIN
Since December 2018
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Sub-pillar Presence of shares owned by the government in telecom companies
Decree No. 2018-552 of 12 December 2018 approving the Bylaws of the Société Béninoise d'Infrastructures Numériques "SBIN S.A." (Décret No. 2018-552 du 12 Décembre 2018 portant approbation des statuts de la Société Béninoise d'infrastructures Numériques « SBIN S.A. »)
According to Art. 1 of Decree No. 2018-552 of 12 December 2018, the State is the sole shareholder of the telecommunications company SBIN S.A, which is therefore fully state-owned.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
BENIN
N/A
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Sub-pillar Functional/accounting separation for operators with significant market power
Requirement of accounting and functional separation for dominant network operators
It is reported that Benin mandates functional and accounting separation for operators with significant market power (SMP) in the telecom market.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
BENIN
N/A
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Sub-pillar Signature of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Telecom Reference Paper
Lack of appendment of WTO Telecom Reference Paper to schedule of commitments
Benin has not appended the World Trade Organization (WTO) Telecom Reference Paper to its schedule of commitments.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
BENIN
Since April 2018, last amended in December 2020
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Sub-pillar Presence of an independent telecom authority
Law No. 2017-20 of 20 April 2018 on the Digital Code in the Republic of Benin (Loi No. 2017-20 du 20 avril 2018 portant code du numérique en République du Bénin)
The Post and Electronic Communications Regulatory Authority (ARCEP) is the Authority in charge of regulating electronic communications and postal services. The Regulatory Authority is an independent administrative structure with legal personality and financial and management autonomy. It carries out its missions in an independent, impartial, fair and transparent manner (Art. 113 of Law No. 2017-20).
Coverage Telecommunications sector
BENIN
Since May 2009
Pillar Cross-border data policies |
Sub-pillar Ban to transfer and local processing requirement
Law No. 2009-09 of 22 May 2009 Dealing with the Protection of Personally Identifiable Information (Loi No. 2009-09 du 22 mai 2009 portant protection des données à caractère personnel en République du Bénin)
Section 43 of Law No. 2009-09 provides that the transfer of personal data to another country or an international organisation requires prior authorisation from the Regulator.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240726155737/https://sgg.gouv.bj/doc/loi-2009-09/download
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240724191121/https://apdp.bj/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Loi-No-2009-du-22Mai-2009-Version-Anglaise.pdf
- https://www.lssa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Data-Protection-Privacy-Guide-Africa.pdf
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BENIN
Since April 2018, last amended in December 2020
Pillar Cross-border data policies |
Sub-pillar Conditional flow regime
Law No. 2017-20 of 20 April 2018 on the Digital Code in the Republic of Benin (Loi No. 2017-20 du 20 avril 2018 portant code du numérique en République du Bénin)
Art. 391 of Law No. 2017-20 requires that the transfer of personal data to a third State or international organisation may only take place when the Authority finds that the State or international organisation in question ensures a level of protection equivalent to that provided for in the law. Art. 392 provides some exceptions, including the express consent of the data subject and the necessity of the transfer for the execution of the contract.
Coverage Horizontal
BENIN
N/A
Pillar Cross-border data policies |
Sub-pillar Participation in trade agreements committing to open cross-border data flows
Lack of participation in agreements with binding commitments on data flows
Benin has not joined any free trade agreement committing to open transfers of cross-border data flows.
Coverage Horizontal
BENIN
Since May 2009
Since April 2018, last amended in December 2020
Since April 2018, last amended in December 2020
Pillar Domestic data policies |
Sub-pillar Framework for data protection
Law No. 2009-09 of 22 May 2009 Dealing with the Protection of Personally Identifiable Information (Loi No. 2009-09 du 22 mai 2009 portant protection des données à caractère personnel en République du Bénin)
Law No. 2017-20 of 20 April 2018 on the Digital Code in the Republic of Benin (Loi No. 2017-20 du 20 avril 2018 portant code du numérique en République du Bénin)
Law No. 2017-20 of 20 April 2018 on the Digital Code in the Republic of Benin (Loi No. 2017-20 du 20 avril 2018 portant code du numérique en République du Bénin)
Law No. 2009-09 provides a general framework for personal data protection and establishes, among other things, individuals' rights, consent requirements, restrictions on data processing, as well as establishing the Beninese data protection authority as the supervisory authority. The law is supplemented by the more detailed Digital Code in 2018. The Fifth Book of the Digital Code is directly influenced by the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) (GDPR). It regulates and clarifies several matters, such as joint controllership of data, conditions for consent, data breach notifications, processing for research and other purposes, and impact assessments.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240724191121/https://apdp.bj/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Loi-No-2009-du-22Mai-2009-Version-Anglaise.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20221004224027/https://apdp.bj/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/CODE-DU-NUMERIQUE-DU-BENIN_2018-version-APDP.pdf
- https://www.dataguidance.com/jurisdiction/benin
- https://julienhounkpe.com/2021/04/22/overview-of-the-digital-code-amendment-act-in-benin-republic/
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BENIN
Since February 1999, entry into force in February 2002, last amended in December 2015
Since December 2019, entry into force in March 2020
Since December 2019, entry into force in March 2020
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Sub-pillar Practical or legal restrictions related to the application process for patents
Bangui Agreement Relating to the Creation of an African Intellectual Property Organization, Constituting a Revision of the Agreement Relating to the Creation of an African and Malagasy Office of Industrial Property (Bangui (Central African Republic), 2 March 1977) (Accord de Bangui relatif à la création d'une organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle, constituant révision de l'Accord relatif à la création d'un Office Africain et Malgache de la Propriété Industrielle (Bangui (République centrafricaine), le 2 mars 1977)
Regulations on the profession of Authorised Agent before the African Intellectual Property Organization (Règlement sur la profession de Mandataire agréé auprès de l'organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle)
Regulations on the profession of Authorised Agent before the African Intellectual Property Organization (Règlement sur la profession de Mandataire agréé auprès de l'organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle)
According to the Bangui Agreement, ratified by 17 French-speaking States, including Benin, applicants resident outside the territory of the Member States must file through an agent selected in one of those Member States (Section III, Art. 8). The professional status of agent accredited to the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) is governed by the Regulations on the profession of Authorised Agent before the OAPI.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/text/582620
- https://sgg.gouv.bj/doc/decret-2017-473/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230922235427/http://www.oapi.int/Ressources/reglement_mandataire/REGLEMENT_PROFESSION_MANDATAIRE.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20220120063358/http://www.droit-afrique.com/upload/doc/oapi/OAPI-Guide-depot-brevet.pdf
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BENIN
Since February 1987
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Sub-pillar Participation in the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Benin is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
Coverage Horizontal
BENIN
Since March 1977, as amended in December 2015, entry into force in November 2020
Since April 2006
Since April 2006
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Sub-pillar Copyright law with clear exceptions
Bangui Agreement Relating to the Creation of an African Intellectual Property organisation, Constituting a Revision of the Agreement Relating to the Creation of an African and Malagasy Office of Industrial Property (Bangui (Central African Republic), 2 March 1977) (Accord de Bangui relatif à la création d'une organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle, constituant révision de l'Accord relatif à la création d'un Office Africain et Malgache de la Propriété Industrielle (Bangui (République centrafricaine), le 2 mars 1977)
Law No. 2005-30 of 5 April 2006, on Copyright and Related Rights of the Republic of Benin (Loi No. 2005-30 du 5 avril 2006 relative à la protection du droit d'auteur et des droits voisins en République du Bénin)
Law No. 2005-30 of 5 April 2006, on Copyright and Related Rights of the Republic of Benin (Loi No. 2005-30 du 5 avril 2006 relative à la protection du droit d'auteur et des droits voisins en République du Bénin)
The Revised Bangui Agreement is a regional intellectual property law that is not only a regional convention applicable in all member states but also serves as a national intellectual property law in Benin and each of the other member states. The Revised Bangui Agreement contains provisions on copyright in Annex VII: Chapter IV (Limitations to Economic Rights) and establishes a regime of copyright exceptions. However, the exceptions do not follow the fair use or fair dealing model, therefore limiting the lawful use of copyrighted work by others. In addition, Title IV of Law No. 2005-30 also provides a list of exceptions.
Coverage Horizontal
BENIN
Since April 2006
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Sub-pillar Adoption of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty
WIPO Copyright Treaty
Benin has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty.
Coverage Horizontal
BENIN
Since April 2006
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Sub-pillar Adoption of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonogram Treaty
WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
Benin has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty.
Coverage Horizontal
BENIN
N/A
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Sub-pillar Effective protection covering trade secrets
Lack of comprehensive trade secret regime
Benin does not have a comprehensive framework in place that provides effective protection of trade secrets, but there are limited measures addressing some issues related to trade secrets. The country has established provisions addressing disclosure, acquisition or use of confidential information in the course of industrial or commercial activities by third parties in Art. 6 of Annex VIII of the Bangui Agreement ratified by 17 French-speaking States, including Benin since 2002.
Coverage Horizontal
BENIN
ITA signatory?
I
II
Pillar Tariffs and trade defence measures applied on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) goods |
Sub-pillar Effective tariff rate on ICT goods (applied weighted average)
Effective tariff rate to ICT goods (applied weighted average)
9.94%
Coverage rate of zero-tariffs on ICT goods (%)
14.78%
Coverage: Digital goods
Sources
- http://wits.worldbank.org/WITS/
- https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/brief_ita_e.htm#:~:text=ITA%20participants%3A%20Australia%3B%20Bahrain%3B,%3B%20Jordan%3B%20Korea%2C%20Rep.
- https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/ita20years_2017_full_e.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20220120054410/https://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2016/april/tradoc_154430.pdf
- https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/inftec_e/itscheds_e.htm