According to Art. 19 of Law No. 03/2016, cross-border transfer of personal data is only permitted to countries considered to provide adequate levels of protection, as determined by the National Data Protection Agency (ANPDP). However, according to Art. 20, the transfer to a legal system that does not ensure an adequate level of protection may be carried out by notifying the ANPDP or is permitted where the data subject has given their consent;
- the transfer is necessary for the performance of a contract between the data subject and the controller;
- the transfer is necessary for the performance of a contract entered into in the interest of the data subject between the controller and third party;
- the transfer is necessary or required by law for the protection of an important public interest or for the declaration, exercise or defence of a right in legal proceedings
- the transfer is necessary to protect the vital interests of a data subject; or
- the transfer is made from a register which, according to the laws or regulations, is intended to provide information to the public and which is open to consultation either by the public in general or by any person who can demonstrate legitimate interest provided conditions laid down in the law for consultation are fulfilled in each case.
In addition, the ANPDP may authorise a transfer or a set of transfers of personal data to a jurisdiction which does not ensure an adequate level of protection provided that the controller ensures adequate mechanisms to ensure the protection of privacy and the fundamental rights and freedoms of persons and of their performance, in particular by means of appropriate contractual clauses.

São Tomé e Príncipe has not joined any agreement with binding commitments to open transfers of data across borders.

São Tomé e Príncipe is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

São Tomé e Príncipe has a copyright regime under the Copyright Code of 2017. However, the exceptions do not follow the fair use or fair dealing model, therefore limiting the lawful use of copyrighted work by others. Art. 75 lists the exceptions, which include reproduction and making available to the public by means of social communication and for the purposes of information; reproduction for scientific research purposes; reproduction as part of teaching activities; and reporting current events, among others.

São Tomé e Príncipe has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty.

São Tomé e Príncipe has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty.

São Tomé e Príncipe is not a signatory of the 1996 World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA I) nor the 2015 expansion (ITA II). In fact, São Tomé e Príncipe is not a member of the WTO, although it is an observer.

According to Art. 43 of Law No. 8/2009, domestic preference margins may be applied in international public tenders, allowing up to 7.5% for works and up to 10% for goods and services produced in São Tomé e Príncipe.

São Tomé e Príncipe is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), nor does it have observer status. In fact, São Tomé e Príncipe is not a member of the WTO, although it is an observer.

Art. 13 of Law No. 2/93 states that journalistic companies with a profit motive, based in the country and subject only to São Toméan law, may have foreign capital participation up to 25% and without voting rights. This includes online newspapers. In fact, Art. 10 defines journalistic companies as those whose main purpose is the collection, processing and dissemination of news, comments and images intended for publication in the periodical press.

Art. 14.1 of Law No. 2/93 requires that directors and managers of journalistic companies must be nationals or natural persons in full possession of their civil rights and resident in the country. This includes online newspapers. In fact, Art. 10 defines journalistic companies as those whose main purpose is the collection, processing and dissemination of news, comments and images intended for publication in the periodical press.

In accordance with Arts. 27, 28 and 29 of Decree-Law No. 19/2016, all inbound investment proposals must be screened and approved by the applicable ministry for the economic sector in coordination with the Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (APCI). Following Art. 14, an investment proposal can be rejected if it threatens national security, public health, or ecological equilibrium and if the proposal has a negative effect or insufficient contribution to the country’s economy. The government encourages but does not require the hiring of the local workforce.

Art. 28 of Law No. 4/2001 and Art. 3 of Decree-Law No. 23/2016 establish that legal and procedural actions related to industrial property can only be filed with the National Service of Intellectual Property and Quality of São Tomé e Príncipe (SENAPIQ-STP) and that natural or legal persons who are not established or domiciled in São Tomé e Príncipe must appoint an industrial property agent with residence in São Tomé e Príncipe to represent them. This is also applicable to the filing of patent applications.