Law Chpt 4 – Property Law

 

13. An engineer designs a foundation system. Another firm copies the drawings without permission.

Which legal concept is involved?

A. Trespass
B. Copyright infringement
C. Contract breach
D. Tort negligence

Ans. B

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14. A contractor damages underground utilities on a site owned by another party.

The property type involved is:

A. Real property
B. Intellectual property
C. Personal chattel
D. Corporate property

Ans. A

Chattle	Moveable personal property Not attached to  the land
Real Property	Attached to the land permanently
Intellectual	Ideas Design Patent Copyright Copyright 70 years, immediately, non renewable Patent 20 filling the date of the application, non renewable Trade Mark 10 yrs, renewed for successive 10 yrs period Trade secret: no set time limit unless it is disclosed
Fixture	One moveable but now fixed. Permanently attached to the building

 

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15. A company purchases heavy equipment used in construction.

This equipment is classified as:

A. Real property
B. Chattel
C. Intellectual property
D. Fixture

Ans A wrong

Why?

✅ Correct answer: B. Chattel

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🔍 Why B is correct

Chattel means movable personal property — things that are not attached to land.

·         Heavy construction equipment (excavators, bulldozers, cranes):
✔ Can be moved
✔ Not permanently attached
✔ Owned as personal property

👉 Therefore, they are chattels

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❌ Why the other options are wrong

·         A. Real property
Refers to land and things permanently attached to it (e.g., buildings)
❌ Equipment is movable → not real property

·         C. Intellectual property
Refers to ideas, designs, patents, copyrights
❌ Equipment is physical, not intellectual

·         D. Fixture
A fixture is something that was once movable but is now permanently attached to land/building
(e.g., built-in machinery, bolted systems)
❌ Typical construction equipment is not permanently attached

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🧠 NPPE memory trick

·         Chattel = “Can carry” (movable)

·         Fixture = “Fixed” (attached)

·         Real property = Land + attached things

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⚠️ Common exam trap

They may try to confuse you with wording like:

·         “Equipment bolted into a building” → then it may become a fixture

·         But standard construction equipment → always chattel

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16. An engineer develops a unique design calculation method and publishes it.

Which protection may apply?

A. Patent or copyright
B. Tort protection
C. Criminal law
D. Insurance law

Ans. A