The company, Lunar Embassy to China, had sold a total of 49 acres (20 hectares) to 34 customers before authorities acted, Xinhua news agency said.

An appeal court on Friday upheld an earlier ruling against the Beijing-based firm which had been selling the lunar plots.

In 2005 the company had its business licence revoked and was fined 50,000 yuan (6,450 dollars) by commerce authorities. It sued but the court ruled against the firm.

On Friday, the Beijing intermediate court rejected its appeal, saying no individual or country could claim ownership of the moon.

The company had reportedly lunar land at a less than astronomical price of 298 yuan an acre, Xinhua news agency said.

China is planning to launch its first lunar probe this year and hopes to have the ability to land a man on the moon within 15 years.

China became the third nation to place a man in space, after the former Soviet Union and the United States, when Yang Liwei piloted the Shenzhou V on a short mission in October 2003.

Two years later, the Shenzhou VI carried two astronauts into space on a five-day mission.

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