Mine! Summary

Ownership isn’t just about what you have, but also about the stories and rules that determine who gets what—and why.

1. Ownership is a subtle tool that shapes behavior

Ownership isn’t just about claiming something—it’s a way to nudge people towards certain actions. Businesses and governments often use ownership rules as hidden levers to guide choices, especially when resources are scarce. Whether it’s high-occupancy vehicle lanes meant to reduce traffic or membership perks enticing frequent-flyer customers, these measures influence decisions without making the mechanism overt.

Take HBO, for example. Many users share account passwords, which goes against the company’s policies. Yet HBO doesn't aggressively crack down on sharing. They hope that those users will eventually subscribe once they can afford it. The company uses ownership boundaries not only for enforcement but also as a marketing tool to create future customers.

Institutions like Duke University also leverage ownership principles. The school organizes a “Campout” event where students endure a weekend outside the basketball stadium to earn the chance to buy season tickets. This fosters loyalty among fans and strengthens Duke’s brand nationwide—an indirect yet highly effective use of ownership design.

Examples

• High-occupancy vehicle lanes encourage carpooling by making solo driving less convenient on key routes.
• HBO knowingly tolerates passive piracy, hoping shared users will pay for subscriptions later.
• Duke University’s “Campout” activity convinces participants to stay engaged and invest emotionally in the school.

2. Being first doesn’t always mean being served

The principle of “first-come, first-served” has exceptions that reveal much about how resources are allocated. Long lines don’t necessarily determine priority; instead, factors like money and influence often decide the outcome, as seen in arenas from courtroom accessibility to amusement parks.

In Washington, DC, Supreme Court hearings are theoretically open to anyone early enough to secure a position in the line. Yet professional line-standing businesses exploit this system by paying standers minimum wage to hold spots, later selling them to wealthy clients for thousands of dollars. This practice raises questions about fairness and opportunity versus the economic benefits of line-standing jobs for low-income individuals.

Amusement parks like Disney World have adopted additional layers of access, such as high-priced FastPass+ programs or the exclusive Private VIP Tours. These perks bypass the universal fairness of traditional queues, allowing guests willing to pay thousands to skip hours of waiting time. While such systems cater to wealthier clients, they also demonstrate how ownership rules adapt to profit motives.

Examples

• Companies profit from standing in for wealthy clients, selling early spots in lines for court appearances.
• Disney’s FastPass+ pre-booking system allows ticket holders to bypass rides’ long wait times.
• VIP Tours enable Disney clients to skip lines, promoting exclusivity within a broader public space.

3. What you have may not be truly yours

Ownership is often murkier than it seems. The distinction between possession and ownership highlights how our assumptions can be misleading. In some cases, long possession, or adverse possession laws, can even allow others to claim what someone else owns.

A prominent example is the conflict between Don and Susi Kirlin in Colorado, whose neighbors claimed ownership of part of their land after 18 years of informal use. Though the Kirlins bought the property, state law treated consistent, open use by their neighbors as grounds for ownership. Such situations highlight how legal frameworks transform ownership over time.

Digital products like eBooks further challenge perceptions of ownership. Many Kindle users believed they owned purchased digital books until Amazon deleted copies of George Orwell’s 1984 due to a copyright dispute. This illustrates how ownership over digital goods isn’t guaranteed, even after payment.

Examples

• Colorado’s adverse possession laws let neighbors claim property after using it continuously for 18 years.
• Native Americans lost territorial claims under laws recognizing only specific physical possession as ownership.
• Amazon removed purchased eBooks under licensing rules, treating them like rentals rather than property.

4. Rewards of labor don’t always align with ownership

The idea that labor justifies ownership isn’t equally respected across industries. Historically, efforts have been rewarded unevenly, privileging select activities over others—a dynamic exemplified by early US land laws, copyright systems, and intellectual property disputes.

Under the Homestead Act, US settlers earned land ownership by cultivating it, but similar rights were denied to Native Americans who lived off the land through hunting and farming. The difference in recognition underscores how society’s value systems exclude certain labor from ownership claims.

In other contexts, modern industries like fashion face challenges securing intellectual property rights. Fast fashion brands legally replicate high-end designs without compensating designers. Conversely, Martin Luther King Jr.’s estate owns the copyright to his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. These examples show how labor and intellectual ownership vary by context and perceived societal value.

Examples

• The Homestead Act gave land rights to settlers improving property but excluded indigenous farming and hunting.
• Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech remains privately copyrighted, limiting its public accessibility.
• Fast fashion thrives on legally copying designer creations, undermining original labor efforts.

5. Attachment doesn’t always secure control

You might assume that owning something means owning everything attached to it. However, this isn’t always true, especially as laws evolve to adapt to modern disputes and technologies.

Reclining space disputes on airplanes remain an unresolved gray area in ownership. The reclining passenger feels entitled to lean back, while the person behind resents losing their legroom. This small, undefined zone lacks clear attachment ownership rules, causing daily conflicts for travelers.

Other situations see attachment-driven ownership overturned. In Florida, hurricanes reshaped the coastline and forced the state to rebuild Destin’s beaches. Residents who previously owned beachfront property lost their exclusive rights as the recovered land became public.

Examples

• Airplane seat reclining raises questions over ownership of the personal space directly behind the seat.
• Kentucky homeowners can refuse drones flying above their property, while laws on airspace vary nationwide.
• Florida beach restoration made formerly private land public after natural disasters like hurricanes.

6. You don’t fully control your own body

Ownership of one’s body, especially regarding selling parts for money, varies widely by law, geography, and ethics. While certain body parts can legally be sold in specific areas, others remain regulated to avoid exploitation.

Legal kidney sales in Iran eradicate waiting lists for transplants. Conversely, in the US, where kidney sales are banned, thousands perish due to shortages despite donors needing only one kidney to live. Critics argue against organ sales, deeming them unethical, despite life-saving potential.

Other disparities relate to bone marrow or prostitution. In Nevada, sexual services can be sold legally in certain counties, but the same acts are outlawed elsewhere. Such variations reveal how ownership of one’s body depends on systemic principles rather than individual choice.

Examples

• Iran allows kidney sales, while such transactions remain banned elsewhere globally.
• Prostitution is legal in parts of Nevada, reflecting differing perceptions of bodily freedom.
• Selling bone marrow might be permitted in some states and illegal in others within the US.

7. Inheritance rules shape ownership after death

Ownership doesn’t stop at death—it creates disputes and legacies that impact future generations. Inheritance laws, trusts, and estate plans allow individuals and systems to define where assets go after someone passes.

South Dakota’s abolition of the “rule against perpetuities” lets the wealthy create never-ending dynasty trusts. These protect assets indefinitely, ensuring continual wealth transfer and shielding money from creditors or taxes. While advantageous for some, such rules aggravate income inequality.

Even seemingly trivial inheritance cases like a shared rocking chair from a deceased relative can fuel disputes. Burr McDowell’s children argued over such a chair, leading a judge to rule they share it every six months—a lesson in the complexities inheritance can bring.

Examples

• South Dakota trusts allow assets to remain untaxed and infinitely passed down to family members.
• Burr McDowell’s rocking chair became a court case between siblings' sentimental disputes.
• Creating estate plans outlines asset division for heirs while avoiding state-imposed decisions.

Takeaways

1. Understand the ownership laws that govern physical and digital assets to prevent surprises in what you truly own.
2. When planning your estate, create a will or trust to ensure your intentions are honored and minimize disputes.
3. Question ownership systems in your daily life—for example, consider who benefits or loses from shared resources or rules.