Research Center of International Space Law and Comparative Law (SU)

Center Director: Kinji Akashi (Professor, Faculty of Law)

Campus: Mita

The main research objectives of this center are as follows: (1) to address various issues through examination from a legal perspective concerning space activities, (2) to improve the standard of space law research in Japan, (3) to contribute to the training of practitioners and researchers in the field of space law, and (4) to contribute to capacity building in the field of space law in Asia.

Space law, United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, laws on space activities, comparative law, space systems

■Continuing Activities from the Previous Fiscal Year: Background, Rationale, and Goals

Regarding the five study groups, the "Space Debris Study Group" and the "Study Group on the Legal System for Space Passenger Transportation" are scheduled to conclude in fiscal year 2014. However, the publication of the English-language report on the results for space debris is expected to be delayed until mid-fiscal year 2015. The other study groups will continue into the next fiscal year. The GNSS Study Group will have its final year in fiscal year 2015. If the abstracts are accepted, the group plans to give oral presentations of two papers at the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) colloquium to be held in Israel in mid-October 2015, and will report its findings by publishing two papers in the *IISL Proceedings 2015*, to be released in September 2016. The "Study Group on Government Procurement (WTO, Government Procurement, etc.)" will examine space trade in the TPP era. The "Study Group on Legal Policies for Promoting the Space Industry" will consider measures to maintain and strengthen the space industry infrastructure from the perspective of system exports, in line with the 3rd Basic Plan on Space Policy announced in January 2015.

■New Activity Goals, Content, and Implementation Background for Fiscal Year 2015

A new joint research project on "Remote Sensing Data Policy" will be launched for a two-year period starting in fiscal year 2015. The distribution and sale of data and information from remote sensing satellites involve laws on both space and Earth, including space business, security, export control, and intellectual property law, making it difficult to establish a comprehensive and appropriate policy. This project will examine the issue from the perspective of space law (both public and private).

■Implementation Details, Research Outcomes, and Degree of Achievement Relative to the Business Plan for the Fiscal Year

Five joint research projects were advanced according to the implementation plan. The "Space Debris Study Group" aimed to report its findings in English; this fiscal year, it examined international legal issues related to the construction of space debris removal systems, and members are currently drafting their manuscripts. The "Study Group on Legal Policies for Promoting the Space Industry" examined intellectual property, compliance, and European business models. A research trip to the UK and other locations will also be conducted at the end of the fiscal year. The "Study Group on the Legal System for Space Passenger Transportation" further explored the intersection of aviation law and space law toward the formation of a business model for a space tourism legal system. The "Study Group on Government Procurement (WTO, Government Procurement, etc.)" conducted research on the future of the US-Japan satellite procurement agreement from the perspective of maintaining and improving Japan's space industry infrastructure. The "GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) Study Group" members jointly wrote sections related to their respective areas of expertise for an article focusing on the liability system, to be submitted to the *Journal of Civil and Commercial Law*. It is scheduled for submission at the end of March.

Additionally, two abstracts for papers on the theme of GNSS were submitted to the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) colloquium to be held in Israel next fiscal year. Whether they are accepted will be known by June of next year.

Furthermore, two international symposiums were held at the Mita Campus: one in September 2014 (on international cooperation in space exploration) and another in January 2015 (on domestic space law). The former was attended by approximately 100 people, and the latter by approximately 150.

By clarifying the diverse legal issues associated with space activities (including commercial use) and deepening the understanding of the domestic legal systems of countries engaged in space activities, we were able to proceed with a detailed examination of the specific content required for future Japanese legislation related to space activities.