The patent has apparently been granted by the Russian Patent and Trademark Agency and involves the positioning of satellites, with attached reflectors, around the earth. Perhaps bizarrely, the satellites would be connected together by a long cable, which would also have attached reflectors.
Lavryonov told Interfax:
"If a certain number of satellites are positioned at a certain distance from each other, it would be possible to see them well from the earth as a moving and sparkling image. People would be able to see writings in the skies from the earth no worse than they see the stars."
He said that his method could be used to display geometric symbols, labels and text, visible both day and night. But it is one thing to have a patent granted, and quite another to fund and implement the invention it describes. Unlike the average inventor, Lavryonov will have an additional hurdle to cross before we see ads in space: international space law.
According to the Outer Space Treaty:
"The activities of non-governmental entities in outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, shall require authorization and continuing supervision by the appropriate State Party to the Treaty."
Presumably Lavryonov has to persuade the Russian Government to take responsibility for his outer space advertising agency before we begin seeing celestial billboards for Diet Coke or Finding Nemo DVDs.
