Basic Concepts of Property
Property is defined as something that can be appropriated (i. e. something you can own under your
rights if ownership or can be the object of a contract.) It is used for moral and economic wants and can
exist by itself as a whole. Not all things are property, but all properties are things. Things are classified
into the following groups:
1.) Res nullius
No owner, either because they have been abandoned by their owners or that they were never
appropriated in the first place. They can be appropriated and are considered as property.
2.) Res communes
Belonging to everybody. They aren't owned by anybody in particular, but they're for everybody's use.
They can't be appropriated. Ex. public roads.
3.) Res alicujus
Tangible objects or intangible ones (rights) which belong to someone. They can be appropriated.
Property is classified into the following:
1.) Movable (personal) or immovable (real) -as to movability
2.) Public dominion or private ownership -as to ownership
3.) Alienable or outside human commerce (can't be bought or sold, like government projects) -as to
alienability
4.) Present or future property -as to existence. But take note, future inheritances can't be sold
5.) Tangible or intangible -as to materiality
6.) Generic or specific -as to nature
