Russian Lawyer Privatizes Earth’s Clouds

[zavvy]

<b>Russian Lawyer Privatizes Earth’s Clouds</b><br /><br />(<i>Plans to Sue for Property Damage</i>)<br /><br />LINK<br /><br />A Russian lawyer made his contribution to helping the environment when he announced his privatization of all the clouds in the sky this week. <br /><br />Vladimir Osipov, from the southern Russian town of Yeisk, showed up at his local notary office in the Krasnoyarsk region with a document affirming his ownership of all the clouds in the air over Earth, the Novye Izvestia daily reported.<br /><br />“As derelict natural resources originating on Earth, not belonging at this point to any government or person, are my property,” he declared in the document, which he is sending out to the governments of 150 countries.<br /><br />But while privatization is often associated in Russia with shady schemes to make off with as much as possible before the next strongman takes it away from you, Osipov has privatized the clouds with more noble intentions. He will use his property rights to sue anybody who pollutes the atmosphere. <br /><br />As the rightful owner, Osipov intends to sue anyone for damaging property that belongs to him. He has no intention, however, to trade in precipitation. <br /><br />

 

[CalliArcale]

Dummy. If this was even remotely valid, he would be opening himself up to major lawsuits whenever people get flooded out, or even just for lost revenues by power companies when clouds block their solar collectors. <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /><br /><br />Realistically, though, he has about as much of a case as the "lunar real estate" folks. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[bobvanx]

Clouds!?<br /><br />He should have privatized the Ozone layer.

 

[zavvy]

I thought it was a bit unrealistic too. It'll be interesting to track this story to see where it leads...<br /><br />I'll keep an eye out for any follow-ups... <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[wisefool]

Them commies sure have learned how to hype themselves in the best Madison Avenue tradition!

 

[bobvanx]

I think I'll privatize van der Waal's forces, since that's so similar to my last name. Then I can charge people for using them.