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.

Decree-Law No. 23/2016 - Intellectual Property Code establishes a comprehensive framework for the effective protection of trade secrets in São Tomé e Príncipe, including definitions, penalties, and applicable remedies. According to Art. 278, the disclosure, acquisition, or use of a competitor's business secrets without consent constitutes an offence punishable under this Code, provided the information meets the following criteria:
i) it is secret, meaning it is not generally known or readily accessible, in its entirety or in the specific configuration and assembly of its components, to individuals within circles that typically handle such information;
ii) it possesses commercial value due to its secrecy; and
iii) it has been subject to reasonable measures, under the circumstances, by the lawful holder of the information to maintain its secrecy.
Art. 280 stipulates fines ranging from DBS 5 million to DBS 50 million (approx. USD 200 to USD 2,200) for individuals, and DBS 25 million to DBS 250 million (approx. USD 1,110 to USD 11,150) for corporate entities.

There is an obligation for passive infrastructure sharing in São Tomé e Príncipe to deliver telecom services to end users under Art. 8.8 of Decree No. 6/2013. It is practised in both the mobile and fixed sectors based on commercial agreements.

The government owns 49% of the shares of Companhia Santomense de Telecomunicações, SARL (CST).

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.

Pursuant to Schedule 3 of the Customs (Management and Control) Act, the importation of radio and television transmitting equipment, including walkie-talkies, is prohibited unless authorised under a licence issued by the Minister of Communications.