From noisy birds to holograms, eight curious property rights debates in 2019

Bangkok

FIGHTS over property rights extended to pavements, space, the sea, data, dead people's images, and even noises and smells in 2019, with governments scrambling to define and legislate emerging areas of concern.

At the same time, deadly conflicts raged over land and water with at least 108 people killed trying to protect land from industries in 23 nations from January to November compared to 91 a year ago, said human rights advocacy group PAN Asia-Pacific.

The Philippines was the deadliest country for a third year with 50 killings, or nearly one killing per week, it said.

Here is a look at eight property rights disputes that broke new ground in 2019.

River rights

In February, voters in Ohio approved the Lake Erie Bill of Rights to amend the Toledo city charter to state that Lake Erie had the right to "exist, flourish and naturally evolve" and to do so free of violation.

It is part of a growing global movement as environmentalists try new legal routes to protect the planet - vesting rivers, reefs and threatened habitats with "rights of nature" that override the long-held human right to harm.

Floating homes

In April, Thai authorities threatened death sentences for a couple who had set up an offshore home near a Thailand island.

But even that failed to damp the "seasteading" movement that claims the right to floating settlements that advocates say are more sustainable than land reclamation.

With 90 per cent of the world's largest cities vulnerable to flooding, a United Nations-backed partnership earlier said it would study the prospect of floating cities.

Rooster rules

In September, a French court ruled that Maurice the rooster could continue his dawn crowing despite complaints from neighbours, in a case cast as a battle between the old rural way of life and modern values creeping in from the city.

It also highlighted the increasing fights among property owners over sights, sounds, and smells they find disturbing.

Face-off

Also in September, California's legislature passed a three-year ban on state and local law enforcement from using body cameras with facial recognition software, a sign of the growing backlash against the technology that human rights campaigners said poses a threat to civil liberties.

San Francisco and Oakland voted earlier to ban city personnel from using the technology.

Space jam

Hotels, insurance, advertising billboards, and in-space manufacturing are among the business opportunities firms are exploring amid a boom in commercial space activity.

Billionaires Elon Musk, Tesla's chief executive, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos are pouring cash into cutting edge private spacecraft, even as astronomers complained that the 120 satellites Mr Musk's SpaceX launched this year are jeopardising space research. Thousands more are due to be launched.

Pavement squeeze

The fight for pavement space is getting more heated, with pedestrians in Singapore winning the battle in November after a fatality led to a ban on electric scooters on pavements. Countries such as France, Germany and Britain earlier imposed similar bans.

Hologram stars

Ethical and practical questions swirled over who owns the intellectual property rights of dead celebrities being resurrected with computer generated images and holograms.

Six-time Grammy winner Amy Winehouse, who died in 2011, was to be featured in a holographic show slated to launch at the end of 2019. It was postponed after the producer said it had run into some "unique challenges and sensitivities".

A Whitney Houston hologram tour featuring the late singer's image accompanied by her original backing band is also planned.

Iconic actor James Dean, who died in a car crash in 1955, is to star in a new movie, where he will be recreated through a mixture of old photos and footage, along with computer generated creations. A different actor will lend his voice.

Cosmic country

Private villages, private islands and private countries raised questions about rights and privilege.

In Spain, thousands of empty villages are up for sale, some for less than 100,000 euros (S$151,000).

Meanwhile, a holy man who is on the run after charges of abduction and rape in India, has declared the creation of a new country for Hindus - Kailaasa - with its own flag, government and passport. REUTERS