Quinn Emanuel Attorneys Jeff Nardinelli and Greg Miraglia Explore IP Protection for Space Manufacturing

As low-orbit manufacturing moves from science fiction to commercial reality, Quinn Emanuel Of Counsel Jeff Nardinelli and Associate Greg Miraglia examine how the unique environment of space is reshaping intellectual property strategy in their latest article for Reuters.  

Low-orbit manufacturing – building products aboard satellites and space stations 100-1,000 miles above Earth – harnesses microgravity to create materials impossible to produce on the ground. With successful productions already underway, from defect-free glass fibers to 3D-printed organs aboard the ISS, companies face a critical choice: patents or trade secrets?

The article explores why trade secrets may offer unexpected advantages in space, from easier secrecy in remote orbital facilities to broader legal protections for first movers. As companies invest hundreds of millions in this emerging industry, understanding these IP shifts is essential.

Read the full analysis here. 

Learn about our Trade Secret Litigation practice here.