United Kingdom: Intellectual Property

As commercial space activity accelerates and nations invest in orbital manufacturing and extraterrestrial bases, the question of patent protection beyond Earth becomes increasingly urgent. With no comprehensive framework for intellectual property rights in outer space, how might existing terrestrial patent systems be adapted to protect innovations on Mars, the Moon, and beyond?

The Emotional Perception saga has become a defining case for patenting AI inventions in the UK. Most significantly, the Supreme Court judgement1 of February 2026 has reformed the examination of mixed-typed inventions in general, i.e. inventions containing a ‘mixture’ of technical and non-technical features.

Advanced materials science is revolutionizing space exploration, from lightweight composites reducing launch costs to radiation-shielding alloys protecting deep space missions. As governments and private companies pursue sustainable exploration and settlement beyond Earth, innovations in materials engineering are becoming both a competitive advantage and a commercial imperative, with intellectual property protection playing an increasingly critical role in securing investment and building long-term value.