Art. 31 ter of Law No. 1 of 2001 stipulates that operating a virtual telecommunications network requires prior authorisation from the Minister responsible for telecommunications, following consultation with the Instance Nationale des Télécommunications (INT). Decree No. 2014-412 outlines the conditions and procedures for obtaining this authorisation, with Art. 5 specifying that any legal entity applying for a licence must ensure majority ownership by Tunisian shareholders. Under Law No. 1 of 2001, a virtual telecommunications network operator is defined as a legal entity authorised to provide telecommunications services using a network and radio frequencies it does not own.

The government owns shares in certain telecom companies. In particular, the Tunisian State owns 65% of Tunisie Telecom's capital, and since 2011, it has owned 10% of the shares of Ooredoo Tunisia and 51% of the shares of Orange Tunisia.

According to Art. 2 of Decree No. 4773-2014, ISPs must be authorised by the Minister responsible for telecommunications after consultation with the Minister of the Interior and the National Telecommunications Authority. Art. 3 stipulates that any person wishing to be authorised as an Internet Services Provider (ISP) must meet the following conditions:
- In the case of a natural person, be of Tunisian nationality and hold a university degree or equivalent;
- In the case of a legal person, be constituted in accordance with Tunisian law, with a share capital of at least TND 1,000,000 (approx. USD 322,000) held in name and by a majority of Tunisian nationals.
Art. 4 adds that granting of the ISP authorisation is subject to the payment of a fee of TND 150,000 (approx. USD 48,500), payable on the date of granting the authorisation.

Art. 31 ter of Law No. 1 of 2001 stipulates that operating a virtual telecommunications network requires prior authorisation from the Minister responsible for telecommunications, following consultation with the Instance Nationale des Télécommunications (INT). Decree No. 2014-412 outlines the conditions and procedures for obtaining this authorisation, with Art. 5 specifying that any legal entity applying for a licence must ensure majority ownership by Tunisian shareholders. Under Law No. 1 of 2001, a virtual telecommunications network operator is defined as a legal entity authorised to provide telecommunications services using a network and radio frequencies it does not own.

Art. 22 of Organic Act No. 2004-63 mandates that individuals or legal representatives of entities intending to process personal data, along with their agents, must satisfy specific requirements, including Tunisian nationality, residency in Tunisia, and the absence of a criminal record. These criteria also extend to subcontractors and their respective agents.

According to Art. 6 of the Investment Law No. 71 -2016, companies are allowed to hire foreign managers up to 30% of their total managerial staff during the first three years after the establishment or commencement of effective production, with a mandatory reduction to 10% from the fourth year, and a maximum of four foreign managers. Exceeding these limits requires the approval of the Ministry of Labour under the Labour Law.

Art. 3 of Decree No. 417-2018 includes the detailed list in Appendix No. 1 of economic activities that require a license from the competent administrative authorities before any investment can be conducted, specifying the deadlines for obtaining the relevant licenses, their conditions, and procedures. The list includes the communications sector, covering telecom and internet services, as well as commercial activities.
Art. 15-bis of the Investment Law (No. 71-2016), amended by Art. 11 of Law No. 47-2019, creates, within the Tunisian Investment Authority, a commission called the Commission of Authorisations and Approvals, composed of representatives of the ministries and public bodies concerned, which plays a key role in the approval or rejection of investment projects.

According to Art. 20 of Law No. 84-2000, an applicant for a patent domiciled abroad shall appoint an agent established in Tunisia.

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

Tunisia has a copyright regime under Law No. 36-1994. However, the exceptions do not follow the fair use or fair dealing model, limiting the lawful use of copyrighted work by others. Art. 10 of Law No. 36-1994 provided a list of exceptions, which has been expanded by Law No. 33-2009. The list of exceptions includes reproduction for scientific research purposes, reproduction as part of teaching activities, and the communication or reproduction of press articles published in newspapers or periodicals on current economic, political or social topics, among others.

Enforcement of copyright in Tunisia remains comparatively weak, with rights holders and international firms pointing to inconsistent enforcement actions and a limited deterrent effect. These shortcomings are reportedly relevant in the audio and video markets, where piracy continues to be widespread, and porous borders facilitate smuggling and the circulation of counterfeit and pirated goods. Furthermore, emerging forms of infringement, such as illegal IPTV streaming, place additional strain on already limited enforcement capacity.

Tunisia has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty.

Tunisia has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty.

Tunisia is not a signatory of the 1996 World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) nor the 2015 expansion (ITA II).