Res nullius

Res nullius

"Res nullius" (lit: "nobody's thing") is a Latin term derived from Roman law whereby "res" (objects in the legal sense, anything that can be owned, even slaves, but not subjects in law such as citizens) are not yet the object of rights of any specific subject. Such items are considered ownerless property and are usually free to be owned. Examples of "res nullius" in the socio-economic sphere are wild animals or abandoned property. Finding can also be a means of occupation (i.e. vesting ownership), since a thing completely lost or abandoned is res nullius, and therefore belonged to the first taker. Specific legislation may be made, e.g. for beachcombing.

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In English common law, for example, forest laws and game laws have specified which animals are "res nullius" and when they become someone's property. Wild animals are regarded as "res nullius", and as not being the subject of private property until reduced into possession by being killed or captured. A bird in the hand is owned; a bird in the bush is not. Even bees do not become property until hived.

"Res nullius" also has an application in public international law, more specifically called "terra nullius", whereby a nation may assert control of an unclaimed territory and gain control when one of its citizens (often an exploratory and/or military expedition) enters the territory.

This "terra nullius" principle justified colonisation of much of the world, as exemplified in the "carving up" of Africa by the European powers (see Scramble for Africa). It is the concept that even though there may be indigenous peoples residing in "newly discovered" land, it is the right of the "more civilised" to take the land and put it to "good use".

ources

(incomplete)
*Catholic
*1911


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  • Res nullius — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Res nullius es una expresión latina, que significa cosa de nadie , utilizada para designar las cosas que no han pertenecido a persona alguna, o sea, lo que no ha sido propiedad de ninguna persona. No hay que… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Res nullius — (la chose de personne) est une expression latine utilisée en droit civil (droit des biens) qui désigne une chose sans maître, c est à dire qui n’a pas de propriétaire mais qui est néanmoins appropriable. Le droit français connait ainsi les biens… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Res nullius — (del latín, cosa de nadie) es un término jurídico. Lo de nadie, lo que no pertenece a persona alguna, lo que no es propiedad de alguna persona. La tierra no es considerada jamás como res nullius, como cosa sin dueño …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • res nullius — res nul·lì·us loc.s.f.inv., lat. TS dir. bene su cui nessuno ha diritto di proprietà {{line}} {{/line}} DATA: 1885. ETIMO: lat. res nullius cosa di nessuno …   Dizionario italiano

  • res nullius — лат. (рэс нуллиус) вещь, никому не принадлежащая, бесхозная вещь. Толковый словарь иностранных слов Л. П. Крысина. М: Русский язык, 1998 …   Словарь иностранных слов русского языка

  • Res nullius — Die Artikel Terra Nullius und Niemandsland überschneiden sich thematisch. Hilf mit, die Artikel besser voneinander abzugrenzen oder zu vereinigen. Beteilige dich dazu an der Diskussion über diese Überschneidungen. Bitte entferne diesen Baustein… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • res nullius — {{#}}{{LM R33936}}{{〓}} {{[}}res nullius{{]}} {{■}}(lat.){{□}} {{《}}▍ s.f.{{》}} {{<}}1{{>}} Cosa de nadie, o cosa sin importancia: • Me indigna que todos se aprovechen de nuestro trabajo como si fuera res nullius.{{○}} {{<}}2{{>}} Territorio que… …   Diccionario de uso del español actual con sinónimos y antónimos

  • res nullius — The property of no one. See res derelicta …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • Res nullius —    Droit civil: choses qui n appartiennent à personne …   Lexique de Termes Juridiques

  • res nullius — /reɪz ˈnʊliəs/ (say rayz nooleeuhs) noun Law a thing which has no owner. {Latin} …  

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