Comment Re:Ownership of recovered artifacts (Score 2) 119
Regardless of ownership of underseas artifacts, the finder only get's 10% . If they're taking from a civilian ship lost centuries ago, the finder only get's 10%. If the ship is a 'military' ship, salvaging a hold still only grosses the salvager 10%. But, the government doesn't necessarily own the military ships. Modern ships lost are often insured, in which case the insurance company owns the ship and it's contents, and the salvager still only get's 10%, the S.S. Port Nicholson is a good example where this is possible. I'm sure percentage is complicated if the 'owners' of a ship are unknown, EG ancient Roman ships; typically though the government which owns the territory 'owns' the territory the artifact is on and get's to keep 90%.
Now, I would enjoy hearing how it works out for Bezos claiming a 10% salvage lien on two priceless artifacts which cost many millions in the first place...
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