Des Voeux Chambers was honoured to welcome Dr Poorna Mysoor of the University of Cambridge as the Des Voeux Chambers–Cambridge–HKU Visiting Fellow for a public lecture at the DVC Conference Centre. Stephanie Wong from DVC moderated the session.
Addressing one of the most fundamental and evolving questions in private law: how property rights should be understood and classified in the modern era, Dr Mysoor examined the traditional division of personal property rights into “things in possession” and “things in action”, questioning whether this framework remains adequate in light of modern intangible assets such as copyright, patents, crypto assets, and NFTs. She proposed a more flexible “spectrum” model of property rights, under which assets are analysed by reference to factors such as ownership, acquisition, enforcement, and transferability. This approach offers a more coherent basis for classification and provides valuable guidance for courts when addressing emerging forms of property.
The lecture concluded with a dynamic Q&A session, where participants engaged Dr Mysoor with thoughtful and stimulating questions. The event drew an impressive audience, including professors and students from the HKU Law Faculty and leading members of the legal profession.
It was a truly enriching exchange of ideas, and we look forward to continuing these conversations and fostering further dialogue on the evolving landscape of law and legal theory.
