Lybia Accedes to the PCT

The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) will enter into force with respect to the Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (Arabic: ?????) on September 15, 2005.

Libya is the fourth largest state in Africa. The name "Libya" derives from the ancient Egyptian term "Lebu," referring to Berber peoples living east of the Nile, and adopted into Greek as "Libya."

According to Wikipedia, the Libyan system of government is "quite unusual." Colonel Moammar al-Qadhafi claims that Libya is a "pure socialist state," and as such the formal institutions of government are purposely quite vague. Qadhafi himself is not even technically the "President" or "Prime Minister" of the country, and instead describes himself as a sort of "guide" or a "leader" to help the Libyan people in socialism. Libya has no constitution, and the laws of the land come from Islamic law, and Qadhafi's Green Book of political philosophy. The government is called a "jamahiriya," a modification of the Arabic word "jumhuriya" (republic) that translates loosely as "people's state." In practice, however, Libya is essentially a dictatorship, with Qadhafi ruling by decree, assisted by a small clique of military and political officials.