Keeping track of the entire internet is such a bother

I really appreciate when somebody takes the time to ask questions. So when John Hare asks...

For instance, if the company can lay claim to a thousand kilometers per colonist delivered, why can’t they just claim the whole thing and be done with it? Why can’t another company just muscle in? What’s stopping the third world from using the UN to tie up the Earth assets claimant companies in court?

I'm embarrassed that I didn't see it and give an appropriate response which I shall do now.

Why can’t they just claim the whole thing?

Because the settlement charter along with the registry are legal entities. The members of the charter, both colonists and transportation company, are agreeing to it's terms. The colonists can make their claims simply by possession and their numbers help enforce the legality of their claims. For the transportation companies claim to be enforceable it also must be reasonable. Limiting their claims by tying them to the colonists claims makes it both reasonable and enforceable.

In other words, they could claim the whole thing, but without the legitimacy of the settlement charter they would lose that claim.

Why can’t another company just muscle in?

They can. So what? Think about how that would work. Anybody can go to mars under their own assumptions. But under the charter you have a growing community, all enforcing the terms of the charter. With 144,000,000 sq. km. available, anyone trying to oppose them clandestinely is going to fail. Most will easily be ignored as new colonists, abiding by the terms of the charter, grow the community. Those opposing will not have any support from members because they lose membership (according to charter terms) if they provide any help to the opposition (think Amish shunning.) You prevent conflict by going around it.

Only members will have claims in the registry (and subsequent chain of title.) I have not yet addressed the issue in the charters terms about land registered but invalidated which must of course be addressed... but that isn't a major problem. This is why questions are good. I will fix this.

BTW, other companies are encouraged to become members of the charter. The registry keeps everybody civil. Just thought of another thing. Settlers that are transported to mars by a non-member company may become members and make their claim since the only requirement on them is to agree to terms, register and make their claim. The non-member company would not have any claim covered by the charter, unless they also became a member and agreed to it's terms. This takes nothing away from any company already transporting under the terms of the charter.

What’s stopping the third world from using the UN to tie up the Earth assets claimant companies in court?

Nothing. There is no solution to stupid. The companies will just have to be smarter. For one thing, they don't have to own any of the vehicles involved. They're just buying tickets. Then, how would the U. N. tie up assets on mars that do not rely on any governments blessings on earth in the first place? That leaves the remaining assets derived from plots sold to people on earth. That's what lawyers are for, but even if they do take every dime from the company... they already spent their dimes on the deal which resulted in property those others can't touch.

The U.N. is going to have to go after everybody, because once the first company shows they own valuable property with the potential for trillions in profit... Stuff the U.N.

How it all works out in reality is anyone's guess.

Update: I know the U.N. is angling for it, but when did they become owners of the universe? Putting them back in the bottle might be the best reason for supporting my settlement charter.

Keep in mind that the settlement charter is a contract and not yet in it's final form. For that, you get lawyers and other documents will surely be required as well. It's the concept that's important at this point.