Inane Legalities #527: Sr. Vera's Claim to the Moon
In 1954, Jenaro Gajardo Vera, a Chilean lawyer, filed a claim of ownership over the moon. Surprised critics found they didn't have legal grounds to dispute Vera's claim. It wasn't until 13 years later, in 1967, that the Outer Space Treaty specifically prohibited ownership of non-artificial celestial bodies. However, this specifically covers government ownership. The 1979 Moon Treaty specifically prohibits private ownership, but this document has only been ratified by a spare few countries (Chile is on that list but, interestingly, the US isn't).
All sorts of tales have circulated about different fallout from Vera's claim, but it's difficult to tell to what degree they are based in fact, if at all, and how far removed from their kernel of truth they've come. Click the picture above to read more about these stories.
However, what is possibly the most amusing punchline to Vera's claim is his reason for doing it: He was applying for membership to a club, but had been rejected because he didn't own property. This was his solution.
(picture from 1902 French sci-fi "action" movie, Voyage dans la lune)
No comments:
Post a Comment