COMOROS
Since March 2014
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Sub-pillar Passive infrastructure sharing obligation
Framework Law No. 14-031/AU on Electronic Communications of 17 March 2014 (Loi No. 14-031/AU relative aux communications électroniques du 17 mars 2014)
Passive infrastructure sharing is reported to be mandatory in Comoros for the provision of telecommunications services to end-users. Passive infrastructure sharing is also practised in the mobile and fixed sectors based on commercial agreements. According to Art. 53 of Law No. 14-031, the National Regulation Authority of Information and Communications Technology (Autorité Nationale de Régulation des TIC (ANRTIC)) shall encourage the conclusion of agreements for the sharing of infrastructure masts, ducts and towers, electrical equipment, and land.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
COMOROS
Since March 2014
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Sub-pillar Maximum foreign equity share for investment in the telecommunication sector
Framework Law No. 14-031/AU on Electronic Communications of 17 March 2014 (Loi No. 14-031/AU relative aux communications électroniques du 17 mars 2014)
According to Art. 15 of the Framework Law No. 14-031/AU, foreign participation in the capital of a company operating in the electronic communications sector is authorised up to a maximum of 80%.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
COMOROS
N/A
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Sub-pillar Presence of shares owned by the government in telecom companies
Presence of shares owned by the government in the telecom sector
The government owns shares in certain telecommunications companies. In particular, the government fully owns the operator Comores Telecom and owns 20% of the shares of the operator Telma Comores.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
COMOROS
Since March 2014
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Sub-pillar Functional/accounting separation for operators with significant market power
Framework Law No. 14-031/AU on Electronic Communications of 17 March 2014 (Loi No. 14-031/AU relative aux communications électroniques du 17 mars 2014)
Comoros mandates functional and accounting separation for operators with significant market power (SMP) in the telecom market. Art. 49 of the Law No. 14-O31/AU states that operators of electronic communications networks having SMP must have a separate accounting for their interconnection activities. It is also reported that functional separation is mandated, but the relevant legislation has not been found.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
COMOROS
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)
15.09%
Coverage rate of zero-tariffs on ICT goods (%)
14.7%
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
COMOROS
N/A
Pillar Tariffs and trade defence measures applied on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) goods |
Sub-pillar Participation in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and 2015 expansion (ITA II)
Lack of participation in the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and in ITA Expansion Agreement (ITA II)
Comoros is not a signatory of the 1996 World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) nor the 2015 expansion (ITA II). In fact, the country is not a WTO member state either.
Coverage ICT goods
Sources
- 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
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COMOROS
Since June 2022
Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services |
Sub-pillar Other limitations on foreign participation in public procurement
Law No. 22-011/AU of 23 June 2022 on the Award of Public Procurement and the Delegation of Public Services (Loi No. 22-011/AU du 23 juin 2022 portant Passation des Marchés Publics et Délégation des Services Publics)
According to Art. 91 of Law No. 22-011/AU, in the case of a contract with a decentralised local authority or one of its public establishments, a foreign candidate who plans to subcontract at least 30% of the total value of the contract to a national company may benefit from a margin of preference of no more than 10%.
Coverage Horizontal
COMOROS
N/A
Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services |
Sub-pillar Signatory of the World Trade Organization (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)
Comoros is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) nor does it have observer status.
Coverage Horizontal
COMOROS
Since March 2014
Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade |
Sub-pillar Maximum foreign equity share
Framework Law No. 14-031/AU on Electronic Communications of 17 March 2014 (Loi No. 14-031/AU relative aux communications électroniques du 17 mars 2014)
According to Art. 15 of the Framework Law No. 14-031/AU, foreign participation in the capital of a company operating in the electronic communications sector is authorised up to a maximum of 80%.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
COMOROS
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 organization 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'organization 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'organization Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle)
According to the Bangui Agreement, ratified by 17 French-speaking States, including Comoros, 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://web.archive.org/web/20230323192022/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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COMOROS
Since January 2005
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Sub-pillar Participation in the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Comoros is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
Coverage Horizontal
COMOROS
Since March 1957
Since March 1977, as amended in December 2015, entry into force in November 2020
Since March 1977, as amended in December 2015, entry into force in November 2020
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Sub-pillar Copyright law with clear exceptions
Law of 11 March 1957 on Literary and Artistic Property (Loi du 11 mars 1957 sur la propriété littéraire et artistique)
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 organization 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)
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 organization 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)
Comoros has a copyright regime under the Law on Literary and Artistic Property. However, the exceptions do not follow the fair use or fair dealing model, therefore limiting the lawful use of copyrighted work by others. Art. 41 lists the exceptions, which include: private and gratuitous representations made exclusively within the family circle; copies or reproductions strictly reserved for the private use of the copier and not intended for collective use; analyses and short quotations justified by the critical, polemical, educational, scientific or informative nature of the work in which they are incorporated; press reviews; dissemination, even in full, via the press or radio, as news, of speeches intended for the public; and parody, pastiche and caricature.
In addition, the Revised Bangui Agreement, which 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 Comoros and each of the other member states, contains provisions on copyright in Annex VII: Chapter IV (Limitations to Economic Rights) and establishes a regime of copyright exceptions. Nevertheless, these exceptions similarly do not conform to the fair use or fair dealing models.
In addition, the Revised Bangui Agreement, which 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 Comoros and each of the other member states, contains provisions on copyright in Annex VII: Chapter IV (Limitations to Economic Rights) and establishes a regime of copyright exceptions. Nevertheless, these exceptions similarly do not conform to the fair use or fair dealing models.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240703061033/https://www.droit-afrique.com/upload/doc/comores/Comores-Loi-1957-propriete-intellectuelle.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20231204001038/https://www.sabaip.com/comoros-island-accession-to-oapi/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240813175755/http://oapi.int/Ressources/accord_bangui/2020/anglais.pdf
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COMOROS
Since January 2021
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Sub-pillar Adoption of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty
WIPO Copyright Treaty
Comoros has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty.
Coverage Horizontal
COLOMBIA
Since December 2000
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Sub-pillar Licensing scheme for e-commerce providers
Law No. 633 of 2000 (Ley No. 633 de 2000)
According to Art. 91 of Law No. 633, any webpage of Colombian origin that dedicates its activity to e-commerce must be registered in the commercial registry and provide the National Tax and Customs Directorate (DIAN) with information on economic transactions.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20231117120219/https://www.funcionpublica.gov.co/eva/gestornormativo/norma.php?i=6285
- https://web.archive.org/web/20241129125203/https://resourcehub.bakermckenzie.com/en/resources/global-financial-services-regulatory-guide/latin-america/colombia/topics/what-types-of-activities-require-...
- https://www.asuntoslegales.com.co/consultorio/precisiones-respecto-a-la-inscripcion-de-paginas-o-sitios-web-3817830
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