The government owns 49% of the shares of Companhia Santomense de Telecomunicações, SARL (CST).

São Tomé e Príncipe does not mandate functional separation for operators with significant market power (SMP) in the telecom market. However, there is an obligation of accounting separation since 2007, according to Arts. 6.1 and 25 of Law No. 24/2007.

São Tomé e Príncipe lacks a comprehensive framework in place that provides effective protection of trade secrets, but there are limited measures addressing some issues related to them. Art. 1 of Law No. 02/2017 states that protected literary and artistic works include computer programs, while Art. 278 of Decree No. 23/2016 states that the disclosure, acquisition or use of business secrets of a competitor without its consent constitutes an offence punishable under the Code. Additionally, Art. 280 establishes that the offences are punishable with fines of Dbs 5 Million to Dbs 50 Million (approx. 200 USD to 2,200 USD) for individuals and Dbs 25 Million to Dbs 250 Million (approx. 1,110 USD to 11,150 USD) for corporate entities.

There is an obligation for passive infrastructure sharing in São Tomé e Príncipe to deliver telecom services to end users under Art. 8.8 of Decree No. 6/2013. It is practiced in the mobile sector and in the fixed sector based on commercial agreements.

São Tomé e Príncipe has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty.

São Tomé e Príncipe is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

São Tomé e Príncipe has a copyright regime under the Copyright Code of 2017. However, the exceptions do not follow the fair use or fair dealing model, therefore limiting the lawful use of copyrighted work by others. Art. 75 lists the exceptions, which include reproduction and making available to the public by means of social communication and for the purposes of information; reproduction for scientific research purposes; reproduction as part of teaching activities; reporting current events; among others.

São Tomé e Príncipe has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty.

Art. 28 of Law No. 4/2001 and Art. 3 of Decree-Law No. 23/2016 establish that legal and procedural actions related to industrial property can only be filed with the National Service of Intellectual Property and Quality of São Tomé e Príncipe (SENAPIQ-STP) and that natural or legal persons who are not established or domiciled in São Tomé e Príncipe must appoint an industrial property agent with residence in São Tomé e Príncipe to represent them. This is also applicable to the filing of patent applications.

Art. 14 (1) of Law No. 2/93 requires that directors and managers of journalistic companies must be nationals or natural persons in full possession of their civil rights and resident in the country. This includes online newspapers. In fact, Art. 10 defines journalistic companies as those whose main purpose is the collection, processing and dissemination of news, comments and images intended for publication in the periodical press.

In accordance with Art. 27, 28 and 29 of Decree-Law No. 19/2016, all inbound investment proposals must be screened and approved by the applicable ministry for the economic sector in coordination with the Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (APCI). Following Art. 14, an investment proposal can be rejected if it threatens national security, public health, or ecological equilibrium, and if the proposal has a negative effect or insufficient contribution to country’s economy. The government encourages but does not require the hiring of the local workforce.

In international public tenders, Art. 43 of Law No. 8/2009 establishes the possibility of applying domestic preference margins up to 7.5% for works and up to 10% for goods and services produced in the São Tomé e Príncipe.

São Tomé e Príncipe is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) nor does it have observer status. In fact, São Tomé e Príncipe is not a member of the WTO, although it is an observer.

Art. 13 of Law No. 2/93 states that journalistic companies with a profit motive, based in the country and subject only to São Toméan law, may have foreign capital participation up to 25% and without voting rights. This includes online newspapers. In fact, Art. 10 defines journalistic companies as those whose main purpose is the collection, processing and dissemination of news, comments and images intended for publication in the periodical press.

São Tomé e Príncipe is not a signatory of the 1996 World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA I) nor the 2015 expansion (ITA II). In fact, São Tomé e Príncipe is not a member of the WTO, although it is an observer.