[photopress:moon__company.jpg,full,alignright]A Chinese company has lost an appeal against a court ruling barring it from selling plots of land on the moon.
‘Lunar Embassy to China,’ a Beijing-based company that was selling plots of lunar land to individuals, sued the Beijing Administration of Industry and Commerce which had revoked its business license and fined it RMB50,000 in October 2005.
The Haidian District People’s Court ruled against the company in November 2005. According to the Beijing News last week the Beijing First Intermediate People’s Court ruled against the company’s appeal, saying no individual or state could claim ownership of the moon.
The court cited an international treaty that China signed in 1983 which states that ‘outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by other means. . . . The exploration and use of outer space shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries.’
The Chinese company offered to sell individuals ownership of an acre of lunar land for RMB298 ($38). Within three days of opening for business it was reported that 34 clients had bought 49 acres of land.
Source: Hindu Times
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