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JAN ONDŘEJ
CYIL 4 ȍ2013Ȏ
zdroje získané při těžbě z nebeských těles, c) také výsledky činnosti v oblasti dušev-
ního vlastnictví.
Key words:
sovereignty, ownership, outer space, private persons
On the Author:
Doc. JUDr. Jan Ondřej, CSc., DSc., is an Associate Professor
(Docent) of International Law at the Charles University Law School in Prague,
and the Vice-Rector and the Head of the Department of Law and Security at the
Private University College of Economics Studies, Ltd. in Prague. Mr. Ondřej is the
author of a textbook of International Public, Private and Trade Law (2012) and of
many publications on international spaces (space law, law of the sea, Antarctica) e.g.
publication The Law of International Spaces (2004), disarmament and international
security, e.g. publication Disarmament – Means of Ensuring the International
Security (2008). He also co-authored the publication International Humanitarian
Law (2010).
Introduction
The launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik I, on 4 October 1957, marks
the beginning of Outer Space exploration. The successful launch has no doubt
influenced the development of civilian activities in Space. The topic of Outer Space,
which was until then a purely military domain, began to be transferred at the end of
the 50s in many states into the civilian sector. In 1958, space programs in the USA
were transferred from the Department of Defense to the newly established civilian
agency NASA.
Some development can be traced in the exploration of Outer Space. In the
first years, it was the search for scientific information and data. This information
was spread around the world basically without any restrictions. In the 60s some
industrial corporations realized that Outer Space could be used for commercial
purposes. The need to protect information therefore increased.
At the beginning of
the 70s
the activities carried out on the Moon and also communication satellites
steadily modified the objectives of the activities in Space. Economic interests slowly
but increasingly overtook scientific interest.
1
Commercial activities in the form of
communication satellites started to develop – INTELSAT was launched in 1971,
INMARSAT in 1976. Further development in the 80s of the 20 century is connected
with further activity in the form of remote sensing of the Earth, and also the first
space stations were being built in orbits around the Earth. Space is used for industrial
applications. For example, the French corporation ARIANSPACE took over the
construction of expendable launch vehicles (ELVs) from the European Space Agency
(ESA).
2
Currently, the most significant activity carried out in Space is the building
1
See Oosterlinck, R.
Intellectual Property and Space Activities
. 25th Colloquium on the Law of Outer
Space, Paris, 1984, p. 161.
2
ibid.