Property I begins with a discussion
of the rights protected by property law, including
the right to exclude (trespass law) and the right to
use; how those rights developed; their impact on Native
American aboriginal title; and restrictions on the
exercise of those rights. We’ll review
laws governing the use of water, including the use
of navigable waterways and their streambeds, allocation
of water rights, and stream access. In the area of
personal property, we’ll review the rules that
determine priority of ownership claims to wildlife,
shipwrecks, and lost property. We’ll close the
first semester with a review of basic intellectual
property rights, including copyrights, patents and
trademarks.
Property II begins with a study of present and future
interests in land, and different forms of co-ownership
of property. We will then examine the laws governing
real estate transactions (leases and sales) and the
creation of easements. We’ll
review how parties can control the use of land by agreement through restrictive
covenants, as well as government regulation of land use through zoning. We’ll
survey some important environmental laws affecting property, and conclude the
semester with a study of eminent domain and government takings. |
