Elon Is Really Thinking Interplanetary
This is circulating from the @SpaceXStarlink TOS. Yes, people will be arguing about the Outer Space Treaty thing but it is interesting to see a company thinking ahead to providing services to people living offworld. Or maybe this is a @SpaceX lawyer having a little fun. Or both. pic.twitter.com/QUKW4hhszJ
— NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) October 28, 2020
I guess they pick the State of California because SpaceX is incorporates but they might want to check out the laws in other states that are more business friendly.
However the part about the legal environment on Mars could be seen to be in violation of Article VI of the OST which places nationals, including corporations, under the control of their governments. So as a U.S. firm SpaceX, and Starlink, would be under the legal authority of the U.S. government in general, and as a communication entity, under the control of the FCC regulations who granted Starlink its license for services.
Space is not as lawless as many folks seem to believe because of Article VI of the OST.
SpaceX is incorporated in Delaware. Friendlier corporate laws and courts there.
If so then it is even more interesting they picked the California laws in the agreement as standard practice is to pick the laws of the state the corporation in incorporated in. Especially since picking the California laws might subject them to the California Tax Franchise Board.