Interesting that this applies in outer space, but not on Earth...
To be fair, this also applies to Antarctica. And of course, the rest of the world was already claimed by the time we truly had a 'globalized' world.
It is more likely to end up like The Expanse series where Mars and then the other planets claim independence from Earth.
“I’ve been thinking about laws on Mars. There’s an international treaty saying that no country can lay claim to anything that’s not on Earth. By another treaty if you’re not in any country’s territory, maritime law aplies. So Mars is international waters. Now, NASA is an American non-military organization, it owns the Hab. But the second I walk outside I’m in international waters. So Here’s the cool part. I’m about to leave for the Schiaparelli Crater where I’m going to commandeer the Ares IV lander. Nobody explicitly gave me permission to do this, and they can’t until on board the Ares IV. So I’m going to be taking a craft over in international waters without permission, which by definition… makes me a pirate. Mark Watney: Space Pirate.”
But I do believe that is going to be ineffective for the future. Progress would be very slow if there is nothing to claim on Mars, or another celestial body for that manner.
A very interesting discussion, as I do see this treaty changing in the future, but whether it will be country oriented or market oriented will be the big question that defines humanity's voyage outside earth
Also, the United States did not ratify the Moon Treaty. It is in force for the 13 signatory nations, but none are space powers.
More: http://www.popularmechanics.com/space/moon-mars/a3358/426432...
I have no doubt that once a nation, Company, top 1% elite get somewhere out there in space, their language will change and they will say it belongs to them.
Look at Antartica ... it has already been divided up into regions more or less belonging to different nations despite the retoric.