Nemo dat quod non habet, literally meaning "no one gives what he doesn't have" is a legal rule, sometimes called the nemo dat rule, that states that the purchase of a possession from someone who has no ownership right to it also denies the purchaser any ownership title. This rule usually stays valid even if the purchaser does not know that the seller has no right to claim ownership of the object of the transaction (a bona fide purchaser); however it is often difficult for courts to make judgments as in many cases there is more than one innocent party. As a result of this there are numerous exceptions to the general rule which aim to give a degree of protection to bona fide purchasers as well as original owners.
Read more about Nemo Dat Quod Non Habet: United States, Recording Statutes, English Law
Famous quotes containing the words nemo, dat and/or quod:
“You were sent to get food, not treasure. You can’t eat pieces of eight.... You place an absurd value on the cheapest of human commodities.”
—Earl Felton, and Richard Fleischer. Captain Nemo (James Mason)
“St. Louis woman, wid her diamon’ rings,
Pulls dat man ‘roun’ by her apron strings.”
—W.C. Handy (1873–1958)
““Hastou nat herd,” quod Nicholas, “also
The sorwe of Noee with his felaweshipe?”
—Geoffrey Chaucer (1340?–1400)