Continue reading »]]> Does international space law either permit or prohibit the taking of resources in outer space and on celestial bodies, and how is this relevant for national actors? What is the context, and what are the contours and limits of this permission or prohibition?

A background paper was prepared, written by various authors under the overall responsibility of Professor Stephan Hobe, Cologne, Chair of the IISL Directorate of Studies, and presented to the IISL Board of Directors at its session of 26 March 2017.

Download the IISL DoS study here

Continue reading »]]> In view of recent misleading views and discussions on this subject in the press, the IISL Board considers that it is appropriate to further clarify a number of salient points as follows:

International Law establishes a number of unambiguous principles, according to which the exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, is permitted for the benefit of mankind, but any purported attempt to claim ownership of any part of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, or authorization of such claims by national legislation, is forbidden as following from the explicit prohibition of appropriation, and consequently is prohibited and unlawful. Since there is no territorial jurisdiction in outer space or on celestial bodies, there can be no private ownership of parts thereof, as this would presuppose the existence of a territorial sovereign competent to confer such titles of ownership.

Read more in the full statement issued below:

IISL Board of Directors statement

Continue reading »]]> Claims to own the Moon or parts thereof by private parties have been made for many years, but so far such claims have not been taken very seriously. However, this could change, as “deeds to lunar property” have started to appear, raising the opportunity for individuals to be misled. In addition, the scope of such claims has been extended recently to other celestial bodies. Thus, the Board of Directors of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) has concluded that there is a need for a statement regarding the current legal situation concerning claims to private property rights to the Moon and other celestial bodies or parts thereof. While this issue is only a small part of a much broader context surrounding private sector activities on the Moon and other celestial bodies, this statement is limited only to the topic of claims to private property rights to the Moon and other celestial bodies or parts thereof.

Read the full statement below:

IISL Outer Space Treaty Statement