Who Owns an Invention Made in Space? IP licensing, AI inventorship, and the Emerging Space Economy

As research and commerce move into orbit, familiar intellectual property rules become far less predictable. Ed Koellner, Franklin Pierce School of Law, uses a multinational space-research hypothetical to examine who owns inventions created aboard commercial spacecraft and how spacecraft registration and mission architecture affect patent jurisdiction. The effects when AI-assisted discoveries qualify for protection, and why data, telemetry, software, and trade secrets may be more valuable than the patent itself. Attendees will receive practical guidance for drafting space-ready licenses, allocating ownership and improvement rights, documenting human inventorship, preserving orbital evidence, and preparing for enforcement beyond Earth. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.