The European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) provides a comprehensive framework for data protection that applies to all EU Member States. Poland implemented the GDPR in 2018 through the Act of 10 May 2018 on the Protection of Personal Data.

Poland is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

There is no general principle for the use of copyright-protected material comparable to the fair use/fair dealing principles. Directive 2001/29/EC defines an optional but exhaustive set of limitations from the author´s exclusive rights under the control of the “three-step test” in line with the Berne Convention that establishes three cumulative conditions to the limitations and exceptions of a copyright holder’s rights. The Directive has been transposed by Member States with significant freedom.
The Act on Copyright and Related Rights establishes a series of copyright exceptions, including copies for private use, incidental reproduction, news reporting, critique and analysis and pedagogical use.

Copyright is not adequately enforced online in Poland. It is reported that stakeholders identify online copyright piracy as a significant concern in the country and note inconsistent enforcement by law enforcement agencies, along with backlogs in the Polish courts.

Poland and the European Union have adopted the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty. Poland acceded to the Treaty on 23 December 2003, with its provisions coming into force on 23 March 2004. Subsequently, the European Union ratified the Treaty on 14 December 2009, and it entered into effect on 14 March 2010.

Poland and the European Union have adopted the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty. Poland acceded to the Treaty on 21 July 2003, with its provisions coming into force on 21 October 2003. Subsequently, the European Union ratified the Treaty on 14 December 2009, and it entered into effect on 14 March 2010.

The Directive 2016/943 on the protection of undisclosed know-how and business information (trade secrets) is key in harmonising national laws concerning trade secrets. Poland transposed the Directive with the Act of 5 July 2018, amending the Unfair Competition Act and certain other acts in 2018.

It is reported that passive sharing is mandated in Poland, and it is practised in the mobile and fixed sectors based on commercial agreements. In addition, Directive 2014/61/EU (Art. 3.2) establishes that Member States shall ensure that, upon written request of an undertaking providing or authorised to provide public communications networks, any network operator must meet all reasonable requests for access to its physical infrastructure under fair and reasonable terms and conditions, including price, with a view to deploying elements of high-speed electronic communications networks. Such written request shall specify the elements of the project for which the access is requested, including a specific time frame.

It is reported that the government fully owns NASK (Naukowa i Akademicka Sieć Komputerowa), a Polish institution dedicated to developing and maintaining the country’s scientific and academic network infrastructure. NASK’s primary role is to provide secure and advanced network services, such as internet connectivity, high-speed networks, and cybersecurity, to research institutions, universities, and other educational organisations. It also manages domain registration and web hosting services, supporting the Polish academic and scientific community's technological needs.

It is reported that Poland does not mandate functional separation for operators with significant market power (SMP) in the telecom market. However, accounting separation is required by law.

It is reported that the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE), the executive authority for the supervision and administration of services in the telecommunications sector, is independent from the government in the decision-making process.

Under the Act on Gambling Games, Art. 15.d, online gambling providers have to store data related to gambling activities and transactions within the EU or the European Economic Area and provide permanent remote access to tax authorities.

Under Art. 47 of the Electronic Communications Law of 2024, telecommunications providers are required to store certain types of user data for 12 months, including user identity, date and time and the type of connection, in the territory of Poland. The Electronic Communications Act entered into force on 10 November 2024, thereby superseding the Telecommunications Act of 2004. Under Arts. 180a-180c of the repealed Telecommunications Act, telecommunications providers were required to store certain types of user data for 12 months, including user identity, date and time and the type of connection, in the territory of Poland.

Art. 85 of the Utilities Directive (2014/25/EU) contains provisions allowing contracting public entities to reject foreign goods not covered by any EU international commitments from its tender procedures. In these cases, a tender submitted for the award of a supply contract may be rejected where the proportion of the products originating in third countries exceeds 50% of the total value of the products constituting the tender (Art. 85.2). Additionally, in cases of equivalent offers, the provisions provide for a preference for European tenders and tenders covered by EU's international obligations. In practice, this possibility has rarely been used.
In Poland, the Directive has been transposed with the publication of the consolidated text of the Act - Public Procurement Law.

Poland promotes the establishment and ownership of business enterprises by both domestic and international entities, encouraging participation across diverse economic sectors. This framework is governed by the Entrepreneurship Act, effective since April 2018, which outlines legal provisions for business activities under the Commercial Companies Code. However, the government imposes restrictions on foreign ownership and equity investments in certain strategic sectors, including air transport, radio and television broadcasting, and airport and seaport operations. These restrictions do not apply to sectors relevant to digital trade.