In Defense of Advertising in Space
- Paper number
IAC-06-E6.5.15
- Author
Dr. J. H. Huebert, Global-Weyer Media Company, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Walter Block, United States
- Year
2006
- Abstract
The prospect of orbiting "space billboards" visible from Earth -- which have become technologically feasible -- has disgusted many, and led to passage of laws against them in the United States as well as plans to ban them by international agreement. We, however, disagree with the conventional view, and find legal prohibition of such signs unjustified. Our paper will demonstrate first that the common law has not recognized and should not provide a "right to a view." We will also show that legislation is not desirable or necessary to address this putative problem. Further, we will show that existing international agreements that major spacefaring nations have signed do not mandate a prohibition on space advertising -- and that to the extent that they might be so interpreted, they should be amended or repudiated out of respect for private property rights, including the important right to free speech.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-E6.5.15.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.