Science returns to Einstein's rural retreat

摘要

A six-year dispute over the ownership of Einstein's summer house in east Germany appears to have been resolved -to the benefit of science. The Amt zur Regelung offener Vermoe-gensfragen (ARV), the German office which establishes ownership of property confiscated by the Nazis, has ruled that the house should be given to Einstein's descendants. This means it will almost certainly be preserved exclusively for scholarly activities, and no longer be used as a tourist attraction. It reverses the ARV's 1992 decision to give ownership to the tourist-hungry village of Caputh, where the house is located -though Caputh is planning to appeal, and objections from some beneficiaries about the rights of others to be considered heirs could still be lodged.