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ALGERIA

Reported in 2022, last reported in 2025

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Practical or legal restrictions related to the enforcement of patents
Reported inadequacy of judicial patent protection
It is reported that Algeria fails to ensure the provision of adequate judicial remedies in instances of patent infringement.
Coverage Horizontal

ALGERIA

Since December 2023, entry into force in December 2024

Pillar Cross-border data policies  |  Indicator Ban to transfer and local processing requirement
Law No. 23-20 on the Audiovisual Activity (Loi N° 23-20 du 18 Joumada El Oula 1445 correspondant au 2 décembre 2023 relative à l’activité audiovisuelle)
Art. 15 of the Law on Audiovisual Activity stipulates that online audiovisual communication services must be hosted “exclusively and physically domiciled” with Algeria’s public broadcasting organisation, utilising the national ".dz" domain extension. This provision requires both the physical location of servers within Algerian territory and the use of the country’s top-level domain.
Coverage Online audiovisual communication services

ALGERIA

Since March 2000

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

ALGERIA

Since November 2020
Since December 2023, entry into force in June 2024

Pillar Cross-border data policies  |  Indicator Ban to transfer and local processing requirement
Decree No. 20-332 Governing the Electronic Press (Décret Exécutif No. 20-332 du 6 Rabie Ethani 1442 Correspondant au 22 Novembre 2020 Fixant les Modalités d'Exercice de l'Activité d'Information en Ligne et la Diffusion de Mise au Point ou Rectification sur le Site Électronique)

Law No. 23-19 on the Written Press and Electronic Press (Loi N° 23-19 du 18 Joumada El Oula 1445 correspondant au 2 décembre 2023 relative à la presse écrite et à la presse électronique)
Art. 6 of Decree No. 20-332 establishes that "the online information activity is subject to the publication through an electronic site, whose hosting is exclusively domiciled, physically and logically in Algeria, with a domain name extension ".dz"."
In addition, Art. 33 of the Law on the Written and Electronic Press mandates that electronic press outlets must operate websites hosted exclusively on physical infrastructure located within Algeria and bearing the ".dz" domain extension.
Coverage Online news

ALGERIA

Since July 2003

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Copyright law with clear exceptions
Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Law Order No. 03-05, Corresponding to July 19, 2003, Related to Copyrights and Neighbouring Rights (Ordonnance No. 03-05, Correspondant au 19 Juillet 2003 Relative aux Droits d'Auteur et aux Droits Voisins)
The Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Order No. 03-05 does not provide any fair use/fair dealing model for copyright exceptions. However, Arts. 33-53 provide a list of wide exceptions. These include: materials that are printed, audio, audio-visual or any other form prepared for school or university education; work converted for personal or family purposes; usage of decorative or illustrative drawing of a literary or artistic work in a publication, in an audio or audio video recording or in audio or audio video programs meant for teaching or professional training as long as it is intended to achieve the targeted purpose; free acting or performing of a work; libraries and document keeping centers, not aiming at making direct or indirect commercial profits, can reproduce a work without the author’s or right owner’s permission in response to a request from another library or document keeping center, or to maintain the work’s copy, or to compensate a damaged, lost or void one; and mass media institutions reproducing, circulating or conveying to the public articles on daily events published by newspapers, radio or television, without permission from the author or reward to him, provided that the author and the source are indicated, unless there is an express provision prohibiting its use for such purposes.
Coverage Horizontal

ALGERIA

Reported in 2017, last reported in 2025

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Enforcement of copyright online
Lack of adequate enforcement of copyright online
It is reported that digital piracy is pervasive and that enforcement mechanisms lack transparency and consistency, particularly with regard to online platforms and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) piracy.
Coverage Horizontal

ALGERIA

Since January 2014

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Adoption of the WIPO Copyright Treaty
WIPO Copyright Treaty
Algeria has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty.
Coverage Horizontal

ALGERIA

Since January 2014

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Adoption of the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
Algeria has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty.
Coverage Horizontal

ALGERIA

N/A

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Effective protection covering trade secrets
Lack of comprehensive regime on trade secrets
Algeria 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 in Art. 59 of Order No. 03-07 related to patents of invention, which provides that the competent judicial authority shall take into consideration the legal interests of the defendant when approving any required evidence through non-disclosure of commercial and industrial secrets.
Coverage Horizontal

ALGERIA

Reported in 2022, last reported in 2024

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Passive infrastructure sharing obligation
Requirement of passive infrastructure sharing
It is reported that Algeria imposes a requirement for the sharing of passive infrastructure in order to facilitate the provision of telecommunications services to end-users. This practice is observed in both the mobile and fixed sectors.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

ALGERIA

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 telecom companies
Algeria is home to three mobile phone and data network operators, namely Djezzy, Algérie Télécom Mobile, and Wataniya Telecom Algérie. The largest of these by subscriptions is Optimum Télécom Algérie, which operates under the brand name of Djezzy, which became fully state-owned in August 2022 after Veon sold its 45.5% stake in Djezzy to the government-controlled Algerian National Investment Fund (Fonds National d'Investissement, FNI). The fixed incumbent, Algérie Télécom Mobile, is also fully state-owned.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

ALGERIA

N/A

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Functional/accounting separation for operators with significant market power
Lack of mandatory functional separation for dominant network operators
It is reported that the State of Algeria has not established functional separation for the operator with significant market power. Yet, Art. 110 and 123 of Law No. 18-04 (Loi No. 18-04 du 24 Chaâbane 1439 correspondant au 10 mai 2018 fixant les règles générales relatives à la poste et aux communications électroniques) provide for accounting separation for operators with significant market power.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

ALGERIA

Since May 2018

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Licensing restrictions to operate in the telecom market
Law No. 18-04 of 24 Chaâbane 1439 Corresponding to 10 May 2018, Setting the General Rules Relating to Post and Electronic Communications (Loi No 18-04 du 24 Chaâbane 1439 Correspondant au 10 Mai 2018 Fixant les Règles Générales Relatives à la Poste et aux Communications Électroniques)
It is reported that, prior to 2018, the State-owned operator Algérie Télécom (AT) was the sole player in the fixed-line segment. It held a monopoly over the country’s fixed-line and fibre optic networks and was responsible for developing Algeria’s telecommunication sector. In 2018, Law No. 18-04 required the incumbent operator to respond to requests for unbundling of its local loop made by the service operators of electronic communications holding general authorisations in consideration of compensation (Arts. 102 and 126). However, pursuant to Art. 126, international traffic originating in or destined for electronic communications networks open to the public other than satellite must be transported in full through the international infrastructure established or operated by AT. The telecom licensing requirements are stipulated in Arts. 123 and 124 of Law No. 18-04.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

ALGERIA

N/A

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Signatory of the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) with coverage of the most relevant services sectors (CPC 752, 754, 84)
Lack of participation in the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA)
Algeria is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), nor does it have observer status, as it is not a member of the WTO.
Coverage Horizontal

ALGERIA

Since December 2023, entry into force in December 2024

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Maximum foreign equity share
Law No. 23-20 on the Audiovisual Activity (Loi N° 23-20 du 18 Joumada El Oula 1445 correspondant au 2 décembre 2023 relative à l’activité audiovisuelle)
Art. 4 of the Law on Audiovisual Activity restricts the operation of online audiovisual services to Algerian legal entities whose share capital is held exclusively by Algerian natural persons or by Algerian legal entities composed entirely of Algerian shareholders, thereby excluding any form of foreign ownership or participation.
Coverage Online audiovisual services

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