A party who is entrusted to hold the goods of another person.
Bailment
When a party entrusts goods to another party.
Bailor
The party who gives his/her own goods to another to hold.
Common Carrier
A party who transports goods for hire and is strictly liable for any damage to those goods. Damages are generally limited by statute though.
Copyright
Intellectual property right that provides protection for the original expression of an idea.
Deed
A written instrument that transfers ownership of real property.
Easement
A legal right to use another's property in a specific manner.
Fair use doctrine
Allows copyright material to be used without paying royalties. Use is generally limited to educational, news and other not-for-profit purposes.
Joint tenancy
A type of co-ownership of real property with the right of survivorship.
Landlord
The owner of the leased premises.
Lease
A contract used to rent real property for a period of time.
Mortgage
A security interest in real property
Mortgagee
The party with the security interest in the real property (the lender)
Mortgagor
The party who uses his/her real property as collateral to secure a loan (the borrower)
Notice Statute
A law that applies to the recording of interests in real property. Notice states allow parties who take an interest in real property without notice to have a superior interest than a party who had an earlier interest.
Notice-race statute
A law that applies to the recording of interests in real property. Notice-race states allow parties who take an interest in real property without notice to have a superior interest than a party who had an earlier interest if the subsequent party records before the party with the earlier interest.
Patent
An intellectual property right that gives an inventor the exclusive right to use the invention.
Race statute
A law that applies to the recording of interests in real property. Race statutes give the superior interest to whichever party records its interest first.
Real Estate Contract
A written instrument that contains the terms of the bargain to transfer real property.
Real Property
Land, the interests in land, and the permanent structures attached to the land.
Recording
The filing of property interests with the appropriate local government that allows the party who records to protect its interest against subsequent parties.
Tenancy by the entirety
A type of co-ownership of real property that is only available to married couples. Helps to protect the property from claims of individual creditors.
Tenant
The party who rents the rental property and acquires a right to use the premises.
Tentants in Common
A type of co-ownership of real property that does not include the right of survivorship.
Title Insurance
Insures against defects of title of the real property.
Trademark
A distinctive mark, word, symbol, design, etc. that a manufacturer/seller uses to identify its goods.
Trade Secrets
Information that a business does not want disclosed to the public. Business must take extraordinary measures to keep the information private.