Intellectual Property and Development in the Arab World: A Development Agenda for Libyan Intellectual Property System

Intellectual property (IP) laws in Libya are under revision. The proposed revision will raise the standards of protection and enforcement for IP holders. Policymakers assume that raising the standards of protection can help promote development. This research evaluates that assumption in the Libyan context. It argues that Libya's level of development requires resisting unnecessary privatisation of knowledge resources thorough IP laws. Libya needs an IP infrastructure that provides an enabling environment for people to capitalise on knowledge resources. This has to be done by adopting several policy measures and legislative reforms oriented towards expanding the open zone for accessing and reusing knowledge and cultural resources.