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PANAMA

N/A

Pillar Online sales and transactions  |  Sub-pillar Adoption of United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures
Lack of adoption of UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures
Panama has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures.
Coverage Horizontal

PANAMA

Since April 2014, entry into force in July 2015

Pillar Cross-border data policies  |  Sub-pillar Participation in trade agreements committing to open cross-border data flows
Free Trade Agreement between the United Mexican States and the Republic of Panama
Panama has committed to covering cross-border data flow in the Free Trade Agreement between the United Mexican States and the Republic of Panama (Art. 14.10).
Coverage Horizontal

PANAMA

Since March 2019, entry into force in March 2021

Pillar Domestic data policies  |  Sub-pillar Framework for data protection
Law No. 81 on Personal Data Protection (Ley No. 81 - Sobre protección de datos personales)
The Personal Data Protection Law provides a comprehensive data protection regime. The law applies to any person in charge of data processing who is domiciled in Panama and any foreign companies' ongoing commercial online activities targeting the Panamanian market.
Coverage Horizontal

PANAMA

Since July 2008

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Sub-pillar Safe harbour for intermediaries for copyright infringement
Law No. 51 Defines and regulates electronic documents and electronic signatures and the provision of technological document storage and electronic signature certification services, and adopts other provisions for the development of electronic commerce (Ley No. 51 Que define y regula los documentos electrónicos y las firmas electrónicas y la prestación de servicios de almacenamiento tecnológico de documentos y de certificación de firmas electrónicas y adopta otras disposiciones para el desarrollo del comercio electrónico)
Law No. 51 establishes a safe harbour regime for intermediaries for copyright infringements. Arts. 88-91 of the Law provides a safe harbour that shields network operators, service providers, online trade service providers and storage service providers from responsibility. In addition, a safe harbour provision also forms a substantial part of the intellectual property chapter in the FTA entered into between the United States of America and Panama (Art. 15.11, para. 27).
Coverage Internet intermediaries

PANAMA

Since July 2008

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Sub-pillar Safe harbour for intermediaries for any activity other than copyright infringement
Law No. 51 Defines and regulates electronic documents and electronic signatures and the provision of technological document storage and electronic signature certification services, and adopts other provisions for the development of electronic commerce (Ley No. 51 Que define y regula los documentos electrónicos y las firmas electrónicas y la prestación de servicios de almacenamiento tecnológico de documentos y de certificación de firmas electrónicas y adopta otras disposiciones para el desarrollo del comercio electrónico)
Law No. 51 establishes a safe harbour regime for intermediaries beyond copyright infringement. Arts. 88-91 of the Law provides a safe harbour that shields network operators, service providers, online trade service providers and storage service providers from responsibility.
Coverage Internet intermediaries

PANAMA

Since September 2009

Pillar Intermediary liability  |  Sub-pillar User identity requirement
Law No. 51 Which establishes rules for the conservation, protection and provision of data of users of telecommunication services and adopts other provisions (Ley No. 51 Que dicta normas para la conservación, la protección y el suministro de datos de usuarios de los servicios de telecomunicaciones y adopta otras disposiciones)
Art. 4 of Law No. 51 establishes that mobile telephone operators, their subsidiaries and authorised agents that commercialise services with activity systems through the prepaid card modality must keep a record of the identity or general information provided by their customers who acquire a telephone unit or smart card (SIM) with such payment modality.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

PANAMA

Since October 2012

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Sub-pillar Participation in the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Panama is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
Coverage Horizontal

PANAMA

Since October 2012

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Sub-pillar Copyright law with clear exceptions
Law No. 64 - on Copyright and Related Rights (Ley No. 64 - sobre Derecho de Autor y Derechos Conexos)
Panama has a copyright regime governed by Law No. 64. However, the exceptions do not follow the fair use or fair dealing model, which limits the lawful use of copyrighted works by others. Art. 67 outlines the exceptions, including performances of works made at home, provided that there is no direct or indirect profit-making interest; performances for the general good during official or religious ceremonies; and performances in educational institutions for exclusively didactic purposes, among others.
Coverage Horizontal

PANAMA

Since March 2002

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Sub-pillar Adoption of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty
WIPO Copyright Treaty
Panama has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty.
Coverage Horizontal

PANAMA

Since May 2002

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Sub-pillar Adoption of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonogram Treaty
WIPO Performances and Phonogram Treaty
Panama has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonogram Treaty.
Coverage Horizontal

PANAMA

Since May 1996, last amended in October 2012

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Sub-pillar Effective protection covering trade secrets
Law No. 35 of 10 May 1996, on Industrial Property (Ley N° 35 de 10 de mayo de 1996 por la cual se dictan Disposiciones sobre la Propiedad Industrial)
Law No. 35 provides a framework for the effective protection of trade secrets. Title IV of the Industrial Property Law regulates commercial and trade secrets and holds accountable whoever infringes these provisions.
Coverage Horizontal

PANAMA

Since August 2009

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Sub-pillar Passive infrastructure sharing obligation
Resolution AN No. 2848-Telco (Resolución AN No. 2848-Telco)
There is an obligation for passive infrastructure sharing in Panama to deliver telecom services to end users. It is practised in both the mobile and fixed sectors based on commercial agreements. As established by Art. 1 of the Resolution AN No. 2848-Telco and Annex A on Regulations for the installation, operation, and shared use of towers and/or structures that support telecommunications service antennas.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

PANAMA

N/A

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Sub-pillar Presence of shares owned by the government in telecom companies
Presence of shares owned by the government in telecom companies
The government owns 49% of the shares of Cable & Wireless Panama, SA, which is a Panamanian telecom company governed by private law.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

PANAMA

N/A

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Sub-pillar Functional/accounting separation for operators with significant market power
Lack of mandatory functional separation for dominant network operators
Panama does not mandate functional separation for operators with significant market power (SMP) in the telecom market. However, there has been an obligation to separate the accounts since 1999. Resolution JD-1334 of 1999 establishes the criteria which determine if a given company has a significant market share. It is calculated in terms of Gross Revenue that exceeds by more than 25% or more than the other competitors of the respective service.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

PANAMA

Since June 2018

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Sub-pillar Other restrictions to operate in the telecom market
Law No. 36 regulating Economic Concentrations in the Mobile Market (Ley No. 36 que regula las concentraciones económicas del mercado móvil)
Art. 1 of Law No. 36 imposes specific restrictions on obtaining a licence to provide telecommunication services or operate telecommunication facilities, particularly in the mobile telephony sector. The law consolidates the market by limiting the number of concessions for operating mobile telephony services to three.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

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