Legal Definitions - object of a right

The object of a right refers to the specific item, asset, service, or status that a legal right pertains to. It is the subject matter over which someone has a legal claim, entitlement, or power. Essentially, it is what the right is about or what the right exists in respect of.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: Ownership of a Car

  Imagine a person who legally owns a car. Their ownership grants them various rights, such as the right to drive the car, sell it, or prevent others from using it without permission. In this scenario, the car itself is the object of the right. All the owner's legal entitlements and powers are directed towards and exist because of that specific vehicle.

• Example 2: A Patent for an Invention

  Consider an inventor who obtains a patent for a new type of energy-efficient battery. The patent grants the inventor exclusive rights to make, use, and sell that specific battery design for a certain period. Here, the design and functionality of the energy-efficient battery (as defined by the patent claims) constitute the object of the right. The inventor's legal protection and monopoly are specifically tied to this particular invention.

• Example 3: A Contract for a Service

  Suppose a homeowner enters into a contract with a landscaping company to design and install a new garden. The homeowner has a contractual right to receive the completed garden as per the agreed specifications. In this case, the completed and installed garden (the specific service and outcome promised) is the object of the right. The homeowner's legal entitlement is to that particular landscaping project being delivered.