property
Property is anything (items or attributes/tangible or intangible) that can be owned by a person or entity . Property is the most complete right to something; the owner can possess, use, transfer or dispose of it. According to California Civil Code (CIV) Section 657 and 663 , the property is divided into real property and personal property. Real property consists of land and items which are immovable by law (like structures or bridges); property which is not real property is personal property. Property that exists in physical form is tangible property; like houses, apples, and cellphones. Property which cannot be physically held is considered intangible property; like copyrights, trademarks, or the goodwill of a company. Copyrights , trademarks , trade secrets , and patents are also intellectual property . If the property is held by the government or a public department, it should be listed as public property ; otherwise it would be considered private property .
[Last reviewed in March of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team ]
Keywords
Wex
- COMMERCE
- commercial activities
- PROPERTY
- property & real estate law
- trusts, inheritances & estates
- business law
- business organizations
- wex definitions
- business sectors
- commercial transactions
- intellectual property
- copyright law
- patent law
- trade secrets law
- trademark law
- legal education and practice
- property law