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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Barbados has adopted the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty.

Barbados has adopted the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty.

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.

Bahrain has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures.

Law No. 35 of 2012 on Consumer Protection, together with its Executive Regulations, the Law on Electronic Communications and Transactions, and supplementary legislation, establishes a comprehensive legal framework for consumer protection, which extends to online transactions.

Bahrain has signed and ratified the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts.

Bahrain has enacted national legislation, namely the Electronic Communications and Transactions Law, which is derived from or informed by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce.

In accordance with Law No. 81 of 2006 with respect to Approving the Common Industrial Law of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Bahrain imposes a regime for import licensing for certain products. Importers of several products must obtain an industrial licence from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism (MoICT), which can be issued only to a firm or an individual resident in Bahrain. It is valid for one year (renewable) and is transferable between importers. This requirement applies to importers of several products, including electric motors, generators, transformers, and electricity distribution and control apparatus; batteries and accumulators; wiring and wiring devices; electric lighting equipment; domestic appliances, other electric equipment; and machinery and equipment.