SpaceMiningData
Non-binding guidanceInternationalNon-binding, in effect

Hague International Space Resources Governance Working Group: Building Blocks for the Development of an International Framework on Space Resource Activities (2019)

Non-binding building blocks adopted on 12 November 2019 by a multi-stakeholder working group (governments, industry, academia) to guide development of an international framework; submitted to the COPUOS Legal Subcommittee by Luxembourg and the Netherlands in 2020.

Facts

Level
Non-binding guidance
Scope
International
Citation
Building Blocks (12 November 2019), reproduced in UN doc. A/AC.105/C.2/L.315 (3 February 2020)
Adopted
2019-11-12
Status
Non-binding, in effectA/AC.105/C.2/L.315 states the Working Group adopted the building blocks on 12 November 2019 and encourages their consideration pending an international framework.

Resource provisions

A paraphrase followed by the source wording.

Building block 8: an international framework should ensure resource rights over extracted raw mineral and volatile materials (and derived products) can lawfully be acquired through domestic legislation or bilateral/multilateral agreements, with mutual recognition between states, and consistent with OST Art. II non-appropriation. Also proposes priority rights registered in an international registry.

The international framework should ensure that resource rights over raw mineral and volatile materials extracted from space resources, as well as products derived therefrom, can lawfully be acquired through domestic legislation, bilateral agreements and/or multilateral agreements. [2]

Open evidence gaps

  • Original Leiden University publication blocked this server (captcha); record relies on the UN working-paper reproduction.

Sources

3 sources
  1. UN COPUOS Legal SubcommitteeGovernment recordPublished 2020-02-03Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: adopted date, statuspage 1
    The Working Group adopted the building blocks on 12 November 2019.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  2. UN COPUOS Legal SubcommitteeGovernment recordPublished 2020-02-03Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: resource provisionsarticle Building block 8.1, page 4
    The international framework should ensure that resource rights over raw mineral and volatile materials extracted from space resources, as well as products derived therefrom, can lawfully be acquired through domestic legislation, bilateral agreements and/or multilateral agreements.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  3. UN COPUOS Legal SubcommitteeGovernment recordPublished 2020-02-03Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: resource provisionsarticle Building block 8.3, page 4
    The international framework should ensure that the utilization of space resources is carried out in accordance with the principle of non -appropriation under article II OST.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.