Webb v Webb: ECJ 17 May 1994

A Convention action must be based upon a right in rem not in personam. An action for a declaration that a person holds immovable property as a trustee and for an order requiring that person to execute such documents as are required to vest legal ownership under the lex situs in the plaintiff does not involve rights in rem within the meaning of Article 16(1). It was irrelevant that the plaintiff wanted to obtain ownership of an immovable; what is important is whether rights in rem are the object of the proceedings. Since the plaintiff did not claim that he already enjoyed rights directly relating to the property which were enforceable as against the whole world, but sought only to assert rights against the defendant, the action was not a right in rem within the meaning of Article 16(1), but an action in personam.

Times 27-Jun-1994, C-294/92, [1994] ECR I-1717, [1994] EUECJ C-294/92
Bailii
Brussels Convention 1968 16(1)
European
Cited by:
CitedR Griggs Group Ltd and others v Evans and others (No 2) ChD 12-May-2004
A logo had been created for the claimants, by an independent sub-contractor. They sought assignment of their legal title, but, knowing of the claimant’s interest the copyright was assigned to a third party out of the jurisdiction. The claimant . .

Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Litigation Practice

Updated: 01 January 2022; Ref: scu.160957