Timor-Leste has not adopted the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty.

Timor-Leste lacks a comprehensive legal framework dedicated to the effective protection of trade secrets. Nonetheless, certain limited provisions exist that address aspects of this issue. Art. 19 of the Private Investment Law (Law No. 15/2017) stipulates that all investors are entitled to the protection of industrial secrets, as well as any other intellectual property rights recognised by law. In a related provision, Art. 184 of the Penal Code (enacted through Decree-Law No. 19/2009) criminalises the unauthorised disclosure of confidential information pertaining to commercial, industrial, professional, or artistic activities. This applies to individuals who acquire such information by virtue of their position, occupation, employment, profession, or artistic engagement. However, prosecution under this provision is contingent upon the lodging of a formal complaint by the aggrieved party.
In addition, a Draft Bill concerning the Industrial Property Code, which is anticipated to include specific provisions on the protection of trade secrets, remains pending enactment.

It is reported that passive infrastructure sharing is not legally mandated in Timor-Leste. Nevertheless, Arts. 38 and 40 of "Decree-Law No. 15/2012 of 28 March 2012 on the Regulation of the Telecommunications Sector" prescribe conditions under which the sharing of cell sites must occur. Despite the absence of a general legal obligation, reports from 2020 indicate that infrastructure sharing is nonetheless practised in both fixed and mobile telecommunications services.

The Government holds shares in the telecommunications company Timor Telecom. In 2023, the State became the company’s largest shareholder, increasing its ownership from 20.6% to 77.6%.

Art. 37 of Decree-Law No. 15/2012 stipulates the requirement for accounting separation for telecommunications operators possessing significant market power (SMP). No obligation pertaining to functional separation has been identified.

Pursuant to Art. 30 of Decree-Law No. 15/2012 (last amended in September 2024), any individual or entity intending to provide telecommunications services or operate a telecommunications network is required to register with the National Communications Authority. In addition, under Art. 61, the utilisation of radio-frequency spectrum or the operation of radio equipment is prohibited without the appropriate licensing. Although no restriction has been inditified in the country’s telecommunications legislation, it has been reported that there is a minimum capital requirement for obtaining a telecommunications licence.

It is reported that procurement procedures are characterised by a significant lack of transparency. Contracts are occasionally awarded outside the formal procurement framework or facilitated through political channels. Although a public procurement website exists, it is reported that is inconsistently updated and not all tenders are published. Reports further indicate that, when tenders are posted, they are often available for only a brief period, and the selection of winning bidders may be predetermined.

Timor-Leste is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) but it does have observer status since September 2024.

The Private Investment Law delineates the conditions and incentives applicable to both domestic and foreign investment, while affirming the principle of legal equality for international investors. Pursuant to Art. 9.3, there is a list of specific activities and sectors from which foreign investors are excluded. Notably, this list does not encompass any activities pertinent to digital trade. Art. 24 of the Social Communication Law No. 5/2014 stipulates that foreign ownership in the share capital of media entities shall not exceed 30% of the total equity of the respective organisation. However, it is not clear whether this restriction applies to digital media platforms.

Timor-Leste is a signatory to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) of 1996 and its 2015 expansion (ITA II). The country joined these Agreements with its accession to WTO membership in August 2024, except for duties on products in ITA tariff lines 378 and 27, which will be eliminated in 2027 and 2030, respectively.

Pursuant to Section 49.1 of Decree-Law No. 22/2022, the contracting authority may restrict participation in procurement valued at less than USD 100,000 to Timorese natural persons and/or companies established in Timor-Leste, provided that the majority of their capital is held by Timorese citizens. In addition, under Section 49.2, such a restriction may also be applied to procurement procedures equal to or exceeding USD 100,000, where the subject matter of the procurement pertains to sectors, goods, or administrative areas designated by government resolution as strategic and/or subject to special protection.

Section 49.3 of Decree-Law No. 22/2022 provides that, for procurement processes exceeding USD 1,000,000, the contracting authority may stipulate that the proposal must contribute to economic and social development. This may be achieved through the transfer of technology or expertise to local workers and enterprises, the inclusion of a minimum proportion of goods and services sourced from the local or national market, or the employment of a specified minimum number of national workers.

Law No. 117-1992 on Consumer Protection, together with the Electronic Exchanges and Electronic Commerce Law No. 2000-83, establishes a comprehensive consumer protection framework that also extends to online transactions.