Space Materials Intellectual Property Management:
Rules and A Roadmap of Rising Relevance
William N. Hulsey III
Principal, HULSEY^IP Intellectual Property Lawyers, P.C.
Senior Research Fellow, IC2 Institute, University of Texas at Austin
1250 S. Capital of Texas Highway, Building 3,

Suite 610

Austin, Texas 78746
[O] 512-795-1295/[F]512-233-2602
Bill.Hulsey@HulseyIPLaw.com/www.HulseyIPLaw.com
Today, two different segments of the aerospace industry are becoming increasingly apparent: commercial space and privatized space. On the one hand, NASA’s Crew Exploration Vehicle, the U.S.’ Exploration Vision, and similar international efforts require the commercial space industry to develop new material and fabrication technologies. On the other hand, material and fabrication technology demands are emerging in the nascent privatized space industry for space tourism, space manufacturing, and other non-governmental and non-NASA efforts. Such areas of technology development include, for example, space structures; emerging alloys; joining, forming/machining technologies; and flexible/inflatable/deployable structures.  These growing areas of industrial development are receiving greater investments for research and development (R&D), resulting in accelerated space industry innovation and invention.  Entities investing in such R&D will require patent and other intellectual property (IP) protection for the results they achieve.  Because engineers, technology managers, and business leaders in these areas are the major stakeholders in such developments, a need arises for their understanding the rules of engagement in this IP-rich business environment. With a focus on space applications materials and fabrication technologies, this presentation addresses these rules and provides a roadmap to help major stakeholders in materials science and engineering efforts succeed in today’s commercial and privatized space industries.Space Materials Intellectual Property Management:
Rules and A Roadmap of Rising Relevance
William N. Hulsey III
Principal, HULSEY^IP Intellectual Property Lawyers, P.C.
Senior Research Fellow, IC2 Institute, University of Texas at Austin
1250 S. Capital of Texas Highway, Building 3,

Suite 610

Austin, Texas 78746
[O] 512-795-1295/[F]512-233-2602
Bill.Hulsey@HulseyIPLaw.com/www.HulseyIPLaw.com
Today, two different segments of the aerospace industry are becoming increasingly apparent: commercial space and privatized space. On the one hand, NASA’s Crew Exploration Vehicle, the U.S.’ Exploration Vision, and similar international efforts require the commercial space industry to develop new material and fabrication technologies. On the other hand, material and fabrication technology demands are emerging in the nascent privatized space industry for space tourism, space manufacturing, and other non-governmental and non-NASA efforts. Such areas of technology development include, for example, space structures; emerging alloys; joining, forming/machining technologies; and flexible/inflatable/deployable structures.  These growing areas of industrial development are receiving greater investments for research and development (R&D), resulting in accelerated space industry innovation and invention.  Entities investing in such R&D will require patent and other intellectual property (IP) protection for the results they achieve.  Because engineers, technology managers, and business leaders in these areas are the major stakeholders in such developments, a need arises for their understanding the rules of engagement in this IP-rich business environment. With a focus on space applications materials and fabrication technologies, this presentation addresses these rules and provides a roadmap to help major stakeholders in materials science and engineering efforts succeed in today’s commercial and privatized space industries.