Acquisition

The act by which a person procures the property of a thing. The thing the property in which is secured. Original acquisition is that by which a man secures a property in a thing which is not at the time he acquires it, and in its then existing condition, the property of any other individual. It may result from occupancy (1 Bouv. Inst, note 490; 2 Kent, Comm. 289), accession (1 Bouv. Inst, note 499; 2 Kent, Comm. 293), intellectual labor, — namely, for inventions, which are secured by patent rights, — and for the authorship of books, maps, and charts, which is protected by copyrights (1 Bouv. Inst, note 508). Derivative acquisition is that by which property is procured from others, either by act of law or by act of the parties. Goods and chattels may change owners by act of law in the cases of forfeiture, succession, marriage, judgment, insolvency, and intestacy, or by act of the parties, as by gift, will, or sale. power acting for him, as his children while minors.

1 N. H. 28. See Dig. 41. 1. 53; Inst. 2. 9. 3.