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BARBADOS

Reported in 2007, last reported in 2023

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Maximum foreign equity share
Maximum foreign equity shares in the telecommunications sector
It is reported that at least 25% of the equity in a telecommunications carrier must be held by Barbadian natural or legal persons. Furthermore, it is indicated that the authorities have noted that mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) are also subject to the same ownership structure requirement.
Coverage Telecommunications sector, including mobile virtual network operators

BARBADOS

Since August 2001, last amended in February 2006

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Practical or legal restrictions related to the application process for patents
Patent Act, Chapter 314
According to Art. 17.5 of the Patent Act, an applicant (both foreigner and local) for a patent must be represented by a patent agent in Barbados. In addition, it is reported that to be a patent agent in Barbados, it is mandatory to be an attorney-at-law licensed and registered with the Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office.
Coverage Horizontal

BARBADOS

Since March 1985

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

BARBADOS

Since August 1998

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Copyright law with clear exceptions
Copyright Act, Chapter 300
Barbados has a clear regime of copyright exceptions that follows the fair dealing model, which enables the lawful use of copyrighted work by others without obtaining permission. According to Art. 53 of the Copyright Act, the concept of fair dealing is regulated as a general exception within the law, subject to particular conditions including: (i) the nature of the work in question; (ii) the extent and proportion of that part of the work affected by the act in relation to the whole of the work; (iii) the purpose and character of use; and (iv) the effect of the act upon the potential market for, or the commercial value, of the work. Moreover, Arts. 51 and 52 further clarify that there are exceptions to copyright regulation in Barbados, including the use for research, private study, and criticism, among others.
Coverage Horizontal

BARBADOS

Reported in 2022, 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 in Barbados the lack of enforcement of intellectual property judgments, inadequate enforcement resources, poor implementation of existing legislation, and long-standing backlogs in the judicial system continue to be of concern.
Coverage Horizontal

BARBADOS

Since September 2019, entry into force in December 2019

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

BARBADOS

Since September 2019, entry into force in December 2019

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

BARBADOS

Since February 2001

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Effective protection covering trade secrets
Lack of comprehensive regulatory framework covering trade secrets
Barbados lacks a comprehensive framework in place that provides effective protection of trade secrets, but there are limited measures addressing some issues related to them. The Protection Against Unfair Competition Act, under Art. 8.2, governs the treatment of "secret information". According to this article, information is deemed secret if it meets the following criteria: (i) it is not generally known among, or easily accessible to, individuals who would typically possess knowledge of or access to such information, considering both its overall structure and specific components. (ii) it holds commercial value due to its confidential nature, and (iii) the rightful owner has taken reasonable measures under the given circumstances to maintain its secrecy.
Coverage Horizontal

BARBADOS

Reported in 2013, last reported in 2024

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Passive infrastructure sharing obligation
Requirement of passive infrastructure sharing
There is an obligation for passive infrastructure sharing in Barbados to deliver telecom services to end users. It is practiced in the mobile sector and in the fixed sector based on commercial agreements.
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 = 'BB')\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":"95318"},{"post_id":"95319"},{"post_id":"95320"}]
"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 = 'BB')\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 = 'BB')\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":"1.00"}]

BARBADOS

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)
9.04%
Coverage rate of zero-tariffs on ICT goods (%)
29.37%
Coverage: ICT goods

AZERBAIJAN

Since September 2018, in force since April 2019

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Indicator Ratification of the UN Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts
UN Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts
Azerbaijan has acceded to the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts.
Coverage Horizontal

AZERBAIJAN

N/A

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Indicator UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce
Lack of adoption of UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce
Azerbaijan has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce.
Coverage Horizontal

AZERBAIJAN

N/A

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Indicator UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures
Lack of adoption of UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures
Azerbaijan has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures.
Coverage Horizontal

AZERBAIJAN

Since July 2023, entry into force in November 2023

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Indicator Restrictions on online payments
Law No. 987-VIQ, on Payment Services and Payment Systems (“Ödəniş xidmətləri və ödəniş sistemləri haqqında” Azərbaycan Respublikasının Qanunu № 987-VIQ)
Art. 12 of the Law on Payment Services and Payment Systems stipulates that the issuance of electronic money within the territory of Azerbaijan may be undertaken solely by banks and local branches of foreign banks, the national postal operator, and electronic money institutions, meaning that only electronic money issued and authorised domestically is legally recognised. The issuer must immediately generate electronic money equivalent to the funds received for that purpose and ensure that the electronic money holder is able to use it. The currency, maximum permissible amount of electronic money, and the upper limit of obligations arising from electronic money issued by a single issuer are to be determined by normative acts of the Central Bank. Pursuant to Art. 13.2, legal entities, local branches of foreign legal entities, and individual entrepreneurs may acquire electronic money only by transferring funds from their respective payment accounts to the issuer. Art. 14 further requires electronic money institutions to submit information concerning payment accounts opened for such persons to the designated body of the relevant executive authority, in the manner and within the timeframe prescribed by that body. Arts. 52 and 57 govern the licensing of local branches of foreign payment institutions, foreign electronic money institutions, and foreign operators, thereby requiring any foreign payment service providers, electronic money issuers, or operators of payment systems seeking to operate in Azerbaijan to do so through licensed branch offices.
Coverage Online payments

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