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. Using a multinational space-research hypothetical, this presentation examines who owns inventions created aboard commercial spacecraft and how spacecraft registration and mission architecture affect patent jurisdiction. It also explores the implications 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.