Ownership dispute
An ownership dispute is a disagreement about who owns an asset, such as land, shares in a company, intellectual property or equipment. It may turn on contracts, registered records, who paid for the asset, or claims that someone holds property in trust for another.
How BC law treats it
Common claims include declarations of ownership, resulting or constructive trust claims, and applications under the Business Corporations Act, SBC 2002, c 57 (BCBCA) to rectify a company's securities register. A certificate of pending litigation can be registered against land while a claim to it is decided.
What it means for your business
Clear written records of ownership, such as share registers and intellectual property assignments, prevent most disputes.
Risks and common mistakes
Failing to document who owns intellectual property created by contractors or founders is a frequent source of costly disputes.
Fulcrum's litigation lawyers can help with these issues.
General information about British Columbia and Canadian law, current to October 2026. It is not legal advice.
