People can deprive owners of personal-property use or possession {property conversion} {conversion of property}|. People must receive permission to use, change, or remove personal property. Even if people have legal possession of another's property, owners must consent to uses. However, conversions can have just causes.
types
Torts include altering, destroying, or disposing of personal property without owner consent. Torts include refusing to return personal property after owner demand, if demand is reasonable and owner identity is clear.
recovery
If owners recover converted property, owners can still sue, but damages decrease.
Copyrights apply to Literary works, musical works, dramatic works, pantomimes, choreographic works, video and sound recordings, art works, architectural plans, menus, product packaging, and computer software are owner property {copyright protection}|. Works must be original and be in "durable" media that allow communication. Copyright protection is automatic, so people do not need copyright registration.
People can steal small items from stores {shoplifting}|.
Customer lists, plans, research, development, pricing information, marketing techniques, and production techniques are personal property {trade secret}|. Company trade secrets can be anything valuable that competitors can use. Torts arise if people use or disclose trade secrets without permission after improper means of discovery or after receiving secret confidentially.
People can use trademarks without permission {trademark infringement}|.
People can take or use personal or real property {trespass}|, without depriving owners of property or use. Entering real private property without owner consent does not require harm to property to be trespass. Trespass committed by mistake is still trespass. Trespass happens when animals walk on property, people use shortcuts, and children play.
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Description of Outline of Knowledge Database
Date Modified: 2022.0225