[alexriddle]

Appreciate the focus is on the US but for contrast in the UK, 'theft by finding' is a specific offence - whilst you can generally keep unclaimed lost property you should make some effort to find the owner before doing so. People have been prosecuted for keeping money they have found on the floor [1]. That said, these days the police don't have the resources to track lost property so it's unlikely most items would ever be reclaimed and after a certain period it does become yours.

[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-39...

[sheepscreek]

Interesting. In this case however, it is up to the Airport authority to make every reasonable effort. Once they auction off the stuff, it is presumed the reasonable effort was unfruitful.

I’d be surprised if UK Airports didn’t do something similar with unclaimed/lost baggage.

[globular-toast]

Tbh I wrote my above comment in a state of barely-awake and missed the important point: by selling the item they are making a claim of ownership.

I was merely stating that nobody should be obliged to try to track down an owner of a lost item, but they equally shouldn't be claiming it as theirs either. You wouldn't just get on somebody's bicycle and ride off with it, so don't put on someone's watch and walk off with it either.

What's interesting is that if you buy a stolen item, even if you don't know it was stolen, you still don't own said item. Happens with cars. Would be interesting if a person who bought a Rolex from a place like this took it to a watchmaker who took it upon themselves to confirm the rightful owner.

[bookofjoe]

>by selling the item they are making a claim of ownership.

Yes!

Reminds me of one of my favorite sayings:

>The test of whether or not you own something is if you can sell it.

By this measure eBooks, shows, movies, games, apps, etc., even though you've purchased them, are NOT owned by you: you've rented them and your access may revoked without notice unilaterally at any time.