Proprietary rights and commercial use of space stations

The treatment of proprietary rights related to commercial activity aboard an international space station is discussed, with a focus on the relationship between the acquisition (on earth or in space) and protection of such rights. The applicable national and international law is briefly characterized, and consideration is given to patent, trade-secret, and copyright considerations. It is concluded that the provisions of present commercial law can be applied relatively straightforwardly to rights acquired on earth, while the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 and the Convention on Registration of 1976 apply to rights obtained in space.