Property Ownership

[Bob_Jones]

Some questions on property rights

I am wondering how something first becomes owned (not becoming owned by being purchased from a previous owner) and how you apply ownership to things that move over or through many properties (such as air, rivers, and aquifers).

Also, does an individual own the airspace above his land to an infinite height?

who own's the moon (or how could one come to own it)

[WGD]

You don't own "air" and rivers and aquifers don't move. The Moon will be owned by anybody who lands on it and claims it.

[Betsy]

"I am wondering how something first becomes owned (not becoming owned by being purchased from a previous owner)"

In general, it becomes owned by the first person who uses it. Using a resource like land productively, makes it property. This was the principle behind the Homestead Act which granted unowned land to someone who would farm it for a certain period of years. It was also the principle behind granting mining rights to someone who could "prove" -- i.e., productively develop -- a mining claim.

"and how you apply ownership to things that move over or through many properties (such as air, rivers, and aquifers). Also, does an individual own the airspace above his land to an infinite height?"

There is a well-developed area of the law which deals with these issues, but it gets down to who first uses the resource and how. If someone first uses a river to travel from place to place, his use for transportation cannot be restricted without his consent. A person who builds a house on some land has whatever air rights he needs for the peaceful enjoyment of his house. He may have a right to keep airplanes from flying over at a height of twenty feet because the noise and danger interfere with his use of his house, but he can't keep a passenger jet 30,000 feet up from flying over.

"who own's the moon (or how could one come to own it)"

By using it and making it useful for human purposes -- just like any other piece of real estate.

[Neurosophist]

"who own's  the moon (or how could one come to own it)"

By using it and making it useful for human purposes -- just like any other piece of real estate.

True, years ago someone made an incredible amount of money selling "deeds" to property on the moon, it doesn't mean that there is any recognized validity to those deeds, in fact ther seller, who claimed to have possession of it, should probably be prosecuted for fraud.

[Yaniv]

Here's a great article from CapMag titled "Mars: Who Should Own It":

http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?id=3462

If you want to see the development of Martian civilization in our lifetime, then make Mars private property-now. Make it possible for Martian explorers to keep the fruits of their labors, and fruit aplenty will spring from Martian soil.