In a landmark decision, a meteorite that landed on private land is declared “immovable property,” favouring the landowner over the finders

In a case that captivated public interest and legal circles, a Swedish appeals court has decreed that a meteorite, weighing 14 kilograms (31 pounds) and containing iron, is to remain with the owner of the land where it fell. This ruling, delivered by the Svea Court of Appeals, clarifies that such extraterrestrial objects are to be considered part of the “immovable property” where they land, thus integrating them into the land itself due to their composition.

The legal journey began when the meteorite made its terrestrial entry on November 7, 2020, on private property in Uppland, north of Stockholm. The landowner, Johan Benzelstierna von Engeström, entered a legal battle after two geologists discovered the meteorite in December 2020 and subsequently transferred it to the Swedish Museum of Natural History.

The court’s decision overturns a previous ruling from the Uppsala district court in December 2022, which had sided with the finders, Andreas Forsberg and Anders Zetterqvist, arguing that the meteorite, being a “movable property without an owner,” did not constitute part of the land. The appeals court, however, emphasized the meteorite’s composition of substances already present in the Earth’s surface as a key factor in its judgment.

This ruling not only highlights the unique nature of meteorites but also underscores the Swedish legal perspective on property rights and the definition of immovable versus movable property. The court also referenced the Swedish law ‘Allemansraetten,’ which allows public access to nature, noting that it does not extend to the removal of meteorites from private property.

The implications of this decision reach beyond the immediate parties involved, potentially setting a precedent for future cases involving natural discoveries on private lands. As the legal process concludes, the ownership of the meteorite firmly rests with Johan Benzelstierna von Engeström, marking a victory for landowners’ rights in Sweden