The Directive 2000/31/EC (E-Commerce Directive) is the legal basis governing the liability of Internet Services Providers (ISPs) in the EU Member States and includes a conditional safe harbour. Not all Member States have transposed the relevant articles consistently, leading to divergent national case law that could cause legal insecurity on an EU level. Latvia has transposed Directive 2000/31/EC.
The Information Society Services Act and its amendments of 2005, 2009 and 2011 transpose the E-Commerce Directive into Latvian law. The Law aims to promote the free movement of information society services between Latvia and EU/EEA members, with particular emphasis on the establishment of a clear framework for the liability of intermediaries.

The Directive 2000/31/EC (E-Commerce Directive) is the legal basis governing the liability of Internet Services Providers (ISPs) in the EU Member States and includes a conditional safe harbour. Not all Member States have transposed the relevant articles consistently, leading to divergent national case law that could cause legal insecurity on an EU level. Latvia has transposed Directive 2000/31/EC.
The Information Society Services Act and its amendments of 2005, 2009 and 2011 transpose the E-Commerce Directive into Latvian law. The Law aims to promote the free movement of information society services between Latvia and EU/EEA members, with particular emphasis on the establishment of a clear framework for the liability of intermediaries.

Recent tensions with Russia have induced Latvian regulatory authorities to block Russian websites for geopolitical reasons and possibly part of the European sanctions regime. 91 websites were blocked. Of these, 20 websites were shut down for violating sanctions imposed by Russia during the war, and 71 sites have been blocked for spreading Kremlin propaganda, including three social media platforms: VKontakte ("In Contact"), Odnoklassniki ("Classmates") and email portal Moi mir ("My world").

The EU Directive on Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS) covers traditional broadcasting services as well as audiovisual media services provided on-demand, including via the Internet. Art. 13.1 provides for Member States to secure a minimum 30% share of European works in the catalogues as well as "ensuring prominence" of those works. "Prominence" involves promoting European works by facilitating access to such works using any appropriate means to ensure their prominence. The Directive has been implemented by Member States in different ways, ranging from very extensive and detailed measures to a mere reference to the general obligation to promote European works.
In Latvia, the EU Directive was transposed into domestic law through the amendment of the Electronic Mass Media Law of November 2020 (LV, 223, 17.11.2020). According to Art. 23.5 of the Law, electronic media providers offering on-demand audiovisual services must ensure that at least 30% of their catalogue consists of European audiovisual works. Additionally, Latvia has not implemented financial contribution obligations for VOD service providers.

Pursuant to Section 27 of the Accounting Law, accounting registers and their source documents (including employee data) must be stored within Latvia if maintained in paper format. However, electronic versions of these accounting documents may also be stored in other EU countries. With the enactment of the Accounting Law in 2022, the 1992 Law on Accounting was repealed. Under Section 6 of the repealed law, all accounting registers and their corresponding source documents were required to be stored within Latvia.

The European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) provides a comprehensive framework for data protection that applies to all EU Member States. The Personal Data Processing Law implemented the GDPR.

Art. 85 of the Utilities Directive (2014/25/EU) contains provisions allowing contracting public entities to reject foreign goods not covered by any EU international commitments from its tender procedures. In these cases, a tender submitted for the award of a supply contract may be rejected where the proportion of the products originating in third countries exceeds 50% of the total value of the products constituting the tender (Art. 85.2). Additionally, in cases of equivalent offers, the provisions provide for a preference for European tenders and tenders covered by EU's international obligations. In practice, this possibility has rarely been used.
In Latvia, the Directive has been transposed with the Procurement Law for Public Service Providers.

It is reported that some investors perceive a lack of fairness and transparency in Latvian public procurements. Several companies, including foreign firms, have complained that bidding requirements are occasionally drafted with input from potential contractors or are phrased in a way that favours certain "preferred" contractors, thereby excluding others.

It is reported that there are no ban or limits on foreign ownership in Latvia.

According to Art.10 of the National Security Law, on the basis of national security concerns, foreign direct investment (FDI) to obtain influence in commercial companies of significance to national security, as well as to transfer critical infrastructure into possession or ownership of another person, must be approved. This applies to commercial companies registered in Latvia (i) with significance to national security”, as defined in Section 37 of the National Security Law); (ii) national-level critical infrastructure (Category B critical infrastructure, as defined in Section 22.2 (2) of the National Security Law); and (iii) European critical infrastructure (as defined in Section 22.2 (3) of the National Security Law).

Latvia is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

There is no general principle for the use of copyright-protected material comparable to the fair use/fair dealing principles. Directive 2001/29/EC defines an optional but exhaustive set of limitations from the author´s exclusive rights under the control of the “three-step test” in line with the Berne Convention that establishes three cumulative conditions to the limitations and exceptions of a copyright holder’s rights. The Directive has been transposed by Member States with significant freedom.
The Latvian Copyright Law introduces several exceptions to copyright, including use for informational purposes; use for educational and research purposes; use for the needs of libraries, archives and museums; reproduction for the purposes of judicial proceedings; use in a public performance during official or religious ceremonies; temporary reproduction; and parodies or caricatures.

It is reported that Latvia is experiencing serious violations of intellectual property rights (IPR), piracy on the Internet, trans-shipment of pirated optical media and a large volume of hard goods piracy involving pirated optical discs.

Latvia and the European Union have adopted the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty. Latvia acceded to the Treaty on 22 March 2000, with its provisions coming into force on 6 March 2002. Subsequently, the European Union ratified the Treaty on 14 December 2009, and it entered into effect on 14 March 2010.

Latvia and the European Union have adopted the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty. Latvia acceded to the Treaty on 22 March 2000, with its provisions coming into force on 20 May 2002. Subsequently, the European Union ratified the Treaty on 14 December 2009, and it entered into effect on 14 March 2010.