Exam Prep/ study guide

1. For each of the following please explain why it is or it is not a real property:

(a) An air-conditioning unit installed on the top of the roof of a commercial building

(b) An apple tree planted in the back of your home's yard

(c) A refrigerator in your home's kitchen

(d) Your home's kitchen cabinets

(e) A house trailer

(f) The sprinkler system installed in your back yard

2. Please explain the key differences or characteristics between the following types of property ownership:

(a) Joint tenancy

(b) Tenancy in common

(c) Tenancy by the entirety

3. Bob owns a 2-acre parcel of land. He purchased 5 years ago to build his vacation cottage home when he retires next year. Earlier this year the City of Wander in an effort to control the rapid growth of the community and to maintain the country setting of the neighborhoods amended its existing zoning ordinance to limit the size of buildable lots to 4 acres. However, the ordinance did not modify the existing permission to place any size of RV or other mobile structure on city lands. Bob filed for an application for a building permit with the city when he was told his request was denied due to the zoning requirements. Bob contents that the zoning ordinance constitutes a deprivation of property without due process of law? Is he correct? Why or why not? Please briefly explain your answers.

4. Tyler, an avid hunter, discovered a place in the State of Moss to be any hunter's paradise. Although he knew that he had no rights to the property, he decided 15 years ago to build a lodge to use during his hunting trips. Annually at least 5 times per year he visited the lodge for hunting, ranging from 10-day to 15-day trips each time. Two years ago he decided to further improve the property and he installed a wooden fence around the lodge covering approximately 2 acres of land and a small detached garage for his pickup truck. He continuously visited the site for over 20 years before one day while on his hunting trip a stranger, named Tim, walked over the lodge and asked him to leave from the property because Tim was the owner and Tyler had no right to stay on the property. To persuade Tyler, Tim showed Tyler a valid warranty deed he possessed. Tyler, one of your good friends, called you and asked for your advice. What advice you will give Tyler and why? Please briefly explain your answer.

5. Please provide an answer and a brief explanation to each of the following scenarios:

(a) Sissy, a well known chemist, after years of research developed a chemical substance that can be used as a detergent to remove stains from fabrics. She wants your advice as to how she should protect her invasion.

(b) Karen, an outdoors enthusiast, developed a device that would prevent any wild animals and reptiles from approaching closer than 100 feet radius from the device. She likes to market her invasion but before she does, she would your advice as to what property protections are available to her based on the type of product she plans to market.

(c) Mary a successful marketing executive has developed a strategy to successfully market newly developed products overseas. She is afraid that one day her strategy will be revealed or discovered by other professionals in the industry and would like to know what her options are in protecting such successful business idea.

(d) Tom, a computer savvy, after years of using computers and playing computer games he developed a unique computer game for adult players. Each player of this game can create multiple themes, scenarios, and other imaginable concepts as part of the game and save them for future access. Tom wrote the software code (program) for the game and designed all the characters that participate in the game. Tom would like you to help him with protecting his computer game. What type of protection does he need to successfully protect his intellectual rights?

6. Kelly recently purchased a water view property at Big Dream Lake. After she moved into her new home at the property, she realized that she would also like to swim and sit on the beach during the warm weather days at the lake. You are the owner of the 10-acre parcel of land separating her property from the lake. She approached you and asked you if she can use your land to access the lake. You have no objection, but you like to make things formal especially after you studied property law in college. What are your options? Which option is best for you and why?