Who owns the Moon? Dr. Gary DeBoer discusses space & extraterrestrial intellectual property and resource ownership, and the strange case of Dennis Hope, who made $10 million selling stakes on lunar soil.
Dr. Gary DeBoer is a Professor of Chemistry at LeTourneau University, Director Of The LeTourneau Ingenuity Center, and AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the U.S. Department of Energy.
In addition to career expertise in general chemistry, physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and analytical chemistry, Gary has developed new courses in patent law, nanotechnology and public science policy, computational chemistry, and quantum mechanics.
Gary has a BA in Chemistry & Mathematics through Calvin University, a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Iowa, and extensive career experience in science & technology roles at the Air Force Research Lab, Ames National Lab, Pacific Northwest National Lab, the US Naval Research Lab, NASA and Gentex, as well as patent and intellectual property experience through the AMD Law Group and Brennan Manna Diamond as a USPTO Registered Patent Agent.
LINKS & RESOURCES:
Gary DeBoer (Website & LinkedIn)
https://www.letu.edu/academics/arts-and-sciences/fac-bio-deboer.html
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garydeboer/
Space Seminar (YouTube) -
"Extraterrestrial intellectual property law: current status and future trajectory"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb4sOy64nr4
NewScientist: International fleet of spacecraft is heading to the moon in 2024
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034712-700-international-fleet-of-spacecraft-is-heading-to-the-moon-in-2024/
UN Outer Space Treaty of 1967
https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/treaties/outerspacetreaty.html
UN Moon Agreement 1979
https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/treaties/intromoon-agreement.html
35 U.S. Code § 105 - Inventions in outer space
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/35/105
WIPO Article 21: Intellectual Property and Space Activities
https://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/patent-law/en/developments/pdf/ip_space.pdf
51 U.S. Code § 51303 - Asteroid resource and space resource rights
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/51/51303
Executive Order 13914—Encouraging International Support for the Recovery and
Use of Space Resources
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/DCPD-202000245/pdf/DCPD-202000245.pdf
Star Naming
https://star-naming.com/