When things belonging to different owners have been united so as to form a single thing, and cannot be separated without injury, the whole belongs to the owner of the thing which forms the principal part; who must, however, reimburse the value of the residue to the other owner, or surrender the whole to him.
AccessionAccession to Personal Property
Section § 1025
If items owned by different people are combined into a single item and cannot be taken apart without damage, the owner of the most important part owns the entire item. However, this owner must pay for the value of the other parts to the other owner or give up the whole item to them.
united possessions separation damage principal part ownership
Section § 1026
This law explains what happens when two objects are attached to each other. If one object is mainly there to improve or complete the other, then the first object is considered the main one. However, if the second object is more valuable and was attached without the owner's knowledge, the owner can ask to have it separated and returned, even if this process might damage the first object.
That part is to be deemed the principal to which the other has been united only for the use, ornament, or completion of the former, unless the latter is the more valuable, and has been united without the knowledge of its owner, who may, in the latter case, require it to be separated and returned to him, although some injury should result to the thing to which it has been united.
principal object use ornament
Section § 1027
This law states that when you can't figure out which part of something is the main part, you decide based on which part is more valuable. If the parts are about the same value, then the part that takes up more space or volume is considered the main part.
If neither part can be considered the principal, within the rule prescribed by the last section, the more valuable, or, if the values are nearly equal, the more considerable in bulk, is to be deemed the principal part.
principal part value comparison bulk consideration
Section § 1028
If you create something using someone else's materials, the original owner can take it by paying for your work. However, if your work is worth more than the materials, the completed item is yours, but you need to pay for the materials.
If one makes a thing from materials belonging to another, the latter may claim the thing on reimbursing the value of the workmanship, unless the value of the workmanship exceeds the value of the materials, in which case the thing belongs to the maker, on reimbursing the value of the materials.
ownership rights reimbursement workmanship value
Section § 1029
If someone creates something using materials that partly belong to them and partly to another person, and these materials can't be easily separated afterward, then the new item belongs to both parties. Each person owns a share relative to the value of their materials and, if applicable, any work they contributed.
Where one has made use of materials which in part belong to him and in part to another, in order to form a thing of a new description, without having destroyed any of the materials, but in such a way that they cannot be separated without inconvenience, the thing formed is common to both proprietors; in proportion, as respects the one, of the materials belonging to him, and as respects the other, of the materials belonging to him and the price of his workmanship.
shared ownership joint proprietors inseparable materials
Section § 1030
This law covers what happens when things owned by different people get mixed together. If the mix happened without one owner's consent, that person can ask for the materials to be separated, as long as it is easy to do so. If separating isn't possible, the owners have to share the new thing created, based on what and how much they contributed. However, if one person's materials were much better and more valuable, they can take ownership of the whole thing if they pay the others for their materials.
When a thing has been formed by the admixture of several materials of different owners, and neither can be considered the principal substance, an owner without whose consent the admixture was made may require a separation, if the materials can be separated without inconvenience. If they cannot be thus separated, the owners acquire the thing in common, in proportion to the quantity, quality, and value of their materials; but if the materials of one were far superior to those of the others, both in quantity and value, he may claim the thing on reimbursing to the others the value of their materials.
admixture materials ownership separation of materials
Section § 1031
This law says that if someone deliberately uses someone else's materials without permission, the final product made from those materials belongs to the original owner, as long as the materials can still be identified in the product.
The foregoing sections of this Article are not applicable to cases in which one willfully uses the materials of another without his consent; but, in such cases, the product belongs to the owner of the material, if its identity can be traced.
willful use without consent owner of material
Section § 1032
If someone finds out that their materials have been used to make a different product without their permission, they can either ask for their materials back in the same state or ask for the money worth the materials. Alternatively, if they have a right to the new product, they can ask for the product or its value instead.
In all cases where one whose material has been used without his knowledge, in order to form a product of a different description, can claim an interest in such product, he has an option to demand either restitution of his material in kind, in the same quantity, weight, measure, and quality, or the value thereof; or where he is entitled to the product, the value thereof in place of the product.
material use without knowledge product formation restitution options
Section § 1033
If you use someone else's materials without permission, you're responsible for paying them for any harm or loss caused.
One who wrongfully employs materials belonging to another is liable to him in damages, as well as under the foregoing provisions of this Chapter.
wrongful use materials damages
