Game of Thrones in Space

Troy

No, I'm not about to introduce a wacky spin-off idea!

The Atlantic recently wrote about life as an astronaut on the ISS and how they have access to streaming the latest TV series in their downtime. Great article.

Even Astronauts Binge-Watch TV While in Space

This got me thinking about how terrestrial IP constraints translate to space. I'd imagine it will be legal to watch an HBO stream in a US module, but not elsewhere, since the nation who the module belongs to dictates the legal jurisdiction of the module.

With more and more commercial space flight and tourism opportunities on the horizon, how should IP law translate to space as we increase habitat infrastructure? I'd imagine there's an upper limit on how applicable existing law would be if I'm correct with the above analysis. Will we need to indicate that Earth Orbit and the Moon are separate jurisdictions, similar to a nation? Or maybe it's time we remove jurisdictions all together?

What do the experts think?

🤔

AstroEsq

When I saw this thread, I thought it was about a book series I just finished, "Luna" by Ian McDonald. It really is Game of Thrones set on the Moon, except it's a near-future projection of our current reality.

So, IP in Space. It really is handled module by module. Or more specifically, "space object" by "space object." Whatever country launches that object will retain "jurisdiction and control." If you have something international like the ISS, the ISS Agreement (basically a contract between participating countries) makes it very clear who has jurisdiction in each module. If you have a country launching their payload on another country's launch vehicle, that launch contract should make it clear who is claiming jurisdiction once in space.

Troy

AstroEsq I'll have to take a look at Luna!

Some interesting aspects of the module by module national jurisdiction approach I was chatting about with Donna Lawler this morning, was that there seems to be a grey area around when an astronaut is wearing a space suit, and whether the suit is considered a part of a particular jurisdiction also.

If so, a spacewalk is less like being in international waters. What happens if someone commits a crime while wearing a US suit in a Russian module?

But in line with the original topic, will terrestrial IP law be sufficient for in-space international projects? What about the transmission of IP material through foreign telecommunications infrastructure broadcasting (or multicasting) to multiple spacecraft? Will we need a complex framework to manage this, will we need to update laws, or will it just not be a problem at all if international collaboration in space doesn't grow much beyond the ISS?