Article I. On the Acceptance of Another's Thing

Only the owner of a thing has dominion over it, wherever it may be found here and now. All laws establish this and reason confirms it; for to be the owner of some thing essentially involves the idea of disposing of it, and consequently the right of excluding others from possession of it. But it is said wherever, etc., because for retaining dominion the mere intention suffices, without a continuation of real occupation being required.

From this general principle there flow of themselves four very well-known axioms which will recur very often in the course of this treatment, namely: 1st. The thing cries out to its owner; 2nd. The thing bears fruit for its owner; 3rd. The thing naturally perishes for its owner; 4th. No one ought unjustly to be enriched from another's thing.

But these principles, besides the fact that sometimes according to different laws of places they receive different application, are further modified according to the different condition of the possessor. For someone can possess another's thing either in good faith, or in bad faith, or in doubtful faith. Therefore it must be said: 1st, concerning the possessor of good faith; 2nd, concerning the possessor of bad faith; 3rd, concerning the possessor of doubtful faith.