Turkmenistan does not mandate functional or accounting separation for operators with significant market power (SMP) in the telecom market.

It is reported that government approval is necessary for acquisitions and mergers of certain enterprises, including those with state shares. In fact, in case of alienation of government shares, foreign companies may participate only with a relevant report of the Economic Risk Protection Agency under the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan (Art. 7.2 of Law about the Removal of Ownership from the State and the Privatization of State Property).

Art. 22.19 of Law No. 205-VI of Turkmenistan, "On licensing of certain types of activities," provides that communications activities must be licensed. According to Art. 3 of Law No. 205-VI, foreign natural and legal persons (including their branches) and stateless persons are entitled to obtain a license under the same conditions and procedures as natural and legal persons of Turkmenistan. Art. 47.1 of Law No. 93-IV provides that telecommunications operators are obliged to carry out activities in the field of licensed communications. Despite the regime appearing to be non-discriminatory in the regulatory texts, it is reported that the government exercises tight control and significant management over the country's telecommunications sector. Currently, only one major mobile telecommunications company is operating in the country, namely Altyn Asyr, a subsidiary of the state-owned Türkmenaragatnaşyk. In addition, it is reported that only one foreign provider, Mobile Telesystems of Russia, has received a license in the past. However, the licence was not renewed in September 2017, resulting in its disconnection from the country's network.

According to Art. 15 of the Law of Turkmenistan on Amendment to the Law of Turkmenistan on Enterprises, companies need to get a state registration in order to operate, including foreign investors. The foreign entities wishing to invest in Turkmenistan must register with the Registration Department under the Ministry of Finance and Economy. However, before the registration is granted, an inter-ministerial commission that includes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Agency for Protection from Economic Risks, law enforcement agencies, and industry-specific ministries must approve it. According to Art. 16 of the Law, the decision on the state registration of a company must be made within two weeks after submitting the required documents.
It is also reported that the registration is lengthy and cumbersome, and it is not required for foreign companies with approved government contracts. The commission evaluates foreign companies based on their financial standing, work experience, reputation, and perceived political and legal risks. The inter-ministerial commission does not give a reason for denying the registration of a legal entity.
It is also reported that Turkmenistan generally requires that citizens of Turkmenistan make up 90% of the workforce of foreign-owned companies (i.e., for every foreign worker, nine Turkmen citizens must be hired).

Art. 43.2 of Law No. 629-V states that, unless otherwise provided by international treaties to which Turkmenistan is a party, foreign persons, as well as citizens of Turkmenistan residing outside the territory of Turkmenistan or having their permanent residence outside the territory of Turkmenistan, can exercise their rights in relations with Turkmenpatent (which is the State Service for Intellectual Property of the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan) only through patent attorneys registered at Turkmenpatent.

Art. 16 of Law No. 629-V establishes that an application for a patent or a limited patent shall be submitted in the State language (Turkmen). Other application documents may be submitted in another language, accompanied by their translation into the State language.

Art. 43.2 of Law No. 629-V states that, unless otherwise provided by international treaties to which Turkmenistan is a party, foreign persons, as well as citizens of Turkmenistan residing outside the territory of Turkmenistan or having their permanent residence outside the territory of Turkmenistan, can exercise their rights in relations with Turkmenpatent (which is the State Service for Intellectual Property of the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan) only through patent attorneys registered at Turkmenpatent.

Turkmenistan is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). However, the country does not consider itself bound by Art. 59 related to disputes. It should be noted that this treaty was signed in 1970, at a time when Turkmenistan was part of the Soviet Union. Therefore, in 1995, when Turkmenistan became independent, it issued the declaration of continued application, and the date of entry into force was given as the date of independence, which was December 1991.

Turkmenistan has a copyright regime under the Law No. 257-IV. However, the exceptions do not follow the fair use or fair dealing model, therefore limiting the lawful use of copyrighted work by others. Chapter 3 lists the exceptions, which include reproduction for personal use, use of works for informational, scientific, educational and other purposes, use of works by libraries, archives and academic institutions (reprographic reproduction), reproduction of computer programs and databases, and free short-term recording by broadcasting organisations.

Copyright is not adequately enforced online in Turkmenistan, where the widespread use of unlicensed software is reported. Although some government agencies have begun to adopt licensed software, the country has yet to issue a presidential decree, law, or regulation requiring the use of licensed software by government ministries and agencies.

Turkmenistan has not signed the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty.

Turkmenistan has not signed the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty.

Art. 11 of Law No. 53-II provides that officials and employees of State authorities and administrative bodies, when performing control, supervisory and other functions, have the right, within the limits of their competence as defined by law, to receive information constituting a trade secret. The use of such information by State authorities and administrative bodies is subject to the procedure prescribed by law and may not be disclosed. In addition, information constituting a trade secret is made available to the courts and to bodies and persons conducting initial enquiries or pretrial investigations in accordance with the procedure established by law. Also, enterprises, organisations, institutions and individual entrepreneurs are obliged to report information related to an insured event that constitutes a commercial secret at the request of insurance organisations.

Law No. 53-II provides a framework for the effective protection of trade secrets.

Turkmenistan is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), as it is not a member of the WTO.