Permission is a license to do a thing or an authority to do an act, without such authority, would have been unlawful.

Explanation

(English-origin maxim.) A license or permission authorizes what would otherwise be unlawful — absent such authority, the act remains a trespass or wrong.

Where this applies

• A hunter needs a license to hunt on state land because without that permission, killing game would be poaching.
• A contractor needs a building permit before constructing a house — without the permit, the construction would be unlawful.
• A driver needs a license to operate a commercial vehicle on public roads because without that authorization, driving commercially would be illegal.