ownership

Ownership is the legal right to use, possess , and give away a thing. Ownership can be tangible such as personal property and land, or it can be of intangible things such as intellectual property rights.

Some common usages of the term “ownership” in a legal sense include:

  • In the context of property , cases such as this one from Louisiana , explain that “the three elements of complete ownership of property are the right to possess, enjoy the use of, and to dispose of property.”
  • This case from Arizona , explains that “ownership for property tax purposes signifies the collection of rights to use and enjoy property, including the right to transmit it to others.”
  • In the context of copyright infringement action, cases such as this one from Texas , explain that ownership of a valid copyright can be established “by proving the originality and copyrightability of the material and compliance with statutory formalities.”

[Last updated in July of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team ]

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