No one can grant or convey what he does not own.

Explanation

(English-origin maxim.) A conveyance is void if the grantor does not hold title to the thing conveyed — the purchaser takes nothing from one who has nothing to give.

Where this applies

• A con artist sells a house he does not own, and the buyer gets nothing because the seller had no title to pass.
• A thief pawns a stolen necklace, but the pawnshop acquires no ownership because the thief never owned it.
• A company tries to license intellectual property it does not hold the rights to, and the license is void from the start.