This presentation aims to provide a brief insight into the legal regulation of space data, both nationally and internationally. Starting with the Remote Sensing Principles, a set of rules intended to provide legitimate access to Earth Observation Data “on reasonable terms,” the presentation then turns to more recent legal models for licensing Earth Observation Systems taking into account national interests in terms of climate and foreign policy interests. The paper emphasizes the driving forces behind Earth observation regulations and the importance of access to Earth observation data; In particular, different accesses can be observed by examining how the data are made available for disaster relief and for purely economic purposes. Complex issues of normative and/or contractual licensing and intellectual property issues need to be considered in more detail. This is an area where broadband internet has enabled new growth areas at the downstream level. Coherent arguments are present for expanding the use of Earth observation data, and for the deployment of earth observation data into new information services or products.