THERE is an adage that says "possession is nine-tenths of the law".

Not only is this not in fact the case, it appears that a considerable proportion of the populace - including the legal profession - does not know when mere possession becomes actual ownership.

A 12-week consultation has been launched on a Bill put forward by the Scottish Law Commission, which aims to clear up this vexed matter.

This process follows a report by the commission, which is proposing legislation that will mean that when somebody possesses an object for 20 years they would gain full ownership, provided they acted in good faith.

The Bill would also mean that bodies receiving lent or deposited property, such as museums or art galleries, would gain ownership after 50 years if the owner or the owner's successors cannot be contacted.

Some of the subject matter - such as a provision that the Crown can acquire ownership of objects after 60 years when nobody possesses them - may sound dry and technical, but the aim of clarifying this complex field is laudable.

Disappointingly, though, the proposed legislation carries a cumbersome title - it is the Prescription and Title to Moveable Property (Scotland) Bill. We could imagine some heated debate on a Finders Keepers (Losers Weepers) Bill.