Fox has an interesting short article on various efforts to begin mining the moon. Unfortunately, it doesn’t deal with the legal aspect of space development, which may be the biggest obstacle. My understanding is that current treaties make it nearly impossible for any entity, public or private, to gain any benefit from resources on the Moon, or anywhere else in space. I understand and agree with the desire to keep one country from acting like seventeenth century European kings and claiming vast amounts of real estate for themselves, the current situation where nobody can own anything in space (except their own vehicles, obviously) seems to me to be just as ridiculous. And in the long run, possibly even more harmful.
