Belize has a clear regime under the Copyright Act 2000 of copyright exceptions that follow the fair dealing model, which enables the lawful use of copyrighted work by others without obtaining permission. Arts. 55-85 list the exceptions, which include: research and private study (Art. 56); criticism, review, and reporting (Art. 57); educational purposes (Arts. 60-65); copying by librarians or archivists (Arts. 66 to 70); public administration (Arts. 71-72); literary, dramatic, musical, or artistic works (Arts. 76-80); among others.

It is reported that Belize’s approach to SIM registration requires mobile network operators to collect and store users’ personal information and proof of identity. The relevant legislation could not be found.

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

According to Art. 4 of Online Gaming Regulations, any person who conducts or intends to conduct any online gaming in or from within Belize shall apply to the Gaming Control Board for a licence.
In June 2025, the government announced that Belize had imposed a moratorium on the issuance of online gaming licences. Consequently, no online gaming operators are presently licensed to conduct business from within Belize.

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

According to Regulations 3 and 4 and the Schedule to the Telecommunications (Importation and Distribution of Type Approved Telecommunication, Broadcasting and Radio Communication Equipment) Regulations, S.I. No. 152 of 2002, no person may import, install, sell for use or use the specified telecommunications, broadcasting or radio-communication equipment in Belize without a permit from the Public Utilities Commission, PUC. Applicants must submit a written application, the prescribed fee and relevant technical documentation and may be required to provide an equipment sample. The covered products include radio transmitters and transceivers, broadcasting equipment, radio-frequency amplifiers, satellite receivers, Very Small Aperture Terminals, VSATs, antennas and telecommunications equipment intended for connection to licensed networks. Regular telephones, fax machines, specified limited-range cordless telephones and cellular phones are excluded.
In addition, according to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Resolution, no person or entity shall import, install, sell or use any telecom equipment in Belize without a permit from the PUC.

Belize does not possess a comprehensive framework that affords robust protection for trade secrets; nevertheless, the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the country constitutes a multifaceted process grounded in both statutory provisions and Common Law principles.

Under Section 3 of the Customs Regulation (Prohibited and Restricted Goods) (Consolidation) Order, the goods listed in Part II of the Schedule under the heading “Restricted Goods – Outwards” may not be exported from Belize unless the conditions or restrictions specified therein are fully observed. Consequently, any apparatus, or any component part of such apparatus, intended for the transmission of radio waves may be exported only when a permit has been granted by Belize Telemedia Limited, the State‑owned telecommunications enterprise, or by a licence holder who has been authorised by that company to engage in the trade of such equipment.

According to Art. 4 of the Infrastructure Sharing Regulations, all licensees shall (i) have a right and, when requested, an obligation to negotiate the sharing of infrastructure and facilities with each other for the purpose of providing public telecommunications services, or for any other purpose deemed to be in the public interest by the Commission; (ii) negotiate in good faith with each other on matters concerning the sharing of infrastructure and facilities; (iii) neither withdraw from nor impair arrangements for the sharing of infrastructure and facilities once already granted, unless authorised to do so by the Commission. Furthermore, pursuant to Art. 7 of the Regulations, a licensee shall provide infrastructure and facilities sharing under the same terms and conditions as that offered to any other licensee.

Section 3 of Statutory Instrument No. 152 provides that no person or entity may import, install, sell for use, or use any item of equipment in Belize listed in the Schedule, which includes radio receivers, transmitters, transceivers and accessories, satellite communications equipment, telecommunications equipment, and electromagnetic radiating devices, unless the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has issued a permit for that category of equipment. Under Section 4.2, an applicant for such a permit must submit a sample of the equipment where required, the prescribed fee, relevant literature, and the corresponding technical specifications. Section 5 authorises the PUC to recognise type approvals granted by other countries, provided the applicant supplies satisfactory documentary evidence demonstrating that the equipment qualifies for the recognition or exemption sought. Where a licensed telecommunications operator or service provider wishes to supply customer premises equipment and related services, it is sufficient for the operator or provider to attach a report confirming that the equipment has met acceptance testing requirements or has obtained international type approval.

Sections 143 and 144 of the Constitution of Belize stipulate that the government shall, at all times, retain majority ownership and control of Belize Telemedia Limited, the nation’s principal telecommunications provider.

It is reported that the government owns shares in Belize Telemedia Limited, the country’s largest telecommunications provider. The Government is the majority shareholder: it directly holds 49.3% of the issued ordinary shares, while the Social Security Board, another state entity, holds an additional 34.3%. The Central Bank of Belize holds a further 8.07% shareholding.

According to Art. 30 of the Telecommunications Act, the Public Utilities Commission of Belize may prescribe reasonable accounting procedures in accordance with international accounting and costing standards to determine the cost of operations, which shall be followed and implemented by all public telecommunication service providers. However, it is reported that no obligation requiring accounting separation or functional separation for SMP or dominant telecommunications operators have been set.

According to Art. 16 of the Telecommunications Act, the Public Utilities Commission of Belize (PUC) may consider any element of national interest, policy or security in granting a license. In addition, under Art. 18, the PUC, in granting the license, shall require the licensee, at the request of the Government, to cooperate with the Minister in national security matters. In addition, according to Art. 19, the PUC may suspend, modify, revoke or refuse to renew a license for national security or public interest reasons.

Belize has appended the World Trade Organization (WTO) Telecom Reference Paper to its schedule of commitments.