Legal Definitions - opus manufactum

Opus manufactum is a Latin term used in civil law to describe any object, structure, or work that has been created, constructed, or significantly altered by human effort. It distinguishes something artificial or manufactured from something that exists purely in its natural state.

• Example 1: A modern suspension bridge spanning a river.

  This bridge is a clear example of an opus manufactum. While it interacts with natural elements like the river and its banks, the bridge itself—composed of steel cables, concrete towers, and a roadway—is entirely a product of human design, engineering, and construction. It does not occur naturally but is a deliberate artificial creation built to facilitate transportation.

• Example 2: A meticulously cultivated vineyard.

  Even though a vineyard involves living plants, it is considered an opus manufactum. The land has been cleared, terraced, and irrigated by human hands; the grapevines have been specifically planted, pruned, and trained in rows; and the entire layout is a result of intentional human agricultural practices, transforming a natural landscape into a managed, artificial production system.

• Example 3: A complex piece of software designed for financial trading.

  Although intangible, a sophisticated software program is an opus manufactum. It is a "work" created entirely through human intellect, coding, and development. Its algorithms, user interface, and functional logic are all artificial constructs, designed and built by programmers and engineers, rather than being a naturally occurring phenomenon.