International space law prohibits national sovereignty over celestial bodies yet it allows states to retain jurisdiction and control over objects registered under their authority in space. This jurisdiction-by-registration approach has become the default mechanism through which spacefaring states have extended domestic patent law into outer space. In these settings, the territorial anchors that patent law depends on become weaker. Non-appropriation principleThese challenges intersect with the foundational principles of international space law. Article I of the Outer Space Treaty frames outer space as a domain to be explored and used for the benefit of all humankind.

Source: The Hindu January 29, 2026 14:05 UTC