prior rights

Prior rights refer to the legal entitlements or claims that individuals or groups have based on their previous usage, arrangements, or established legal agreements. For example, in property law, prior rights might allow a tenant to remain in a rental property even if the landlord sells it, because their lease agreement predates the sale. In other contexts, like copyright or patents, prior rights ensure that original creators maintain their claim over their work despite others' attempts to use or replicate it. These rights protect individuals and organizations, affirming their previously established interests in a specific context.