Which of the following is an example of a legal interest created by common law?

• A. A right to take from land
• B. A right to receive rent charged on land
• C. An equitable interest created by trust
• D. A license to occupy land

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is recognizing which land rights come from common-law creation as formal property interests. A right to take something from land—like minerals, timber, or game—is a profits à prendre. This is a classic legal interest in land recognized by common law. It attaches to the land itself, can run with the land to successors, and is enforceable as a property right, not merely a personal permission.

By contrast, a license to occupy land is just a personal permission that can be revoked and does not create a proprietary interest in the land. An equitable interest created by a trust exists in equity, not as a legal estate. And a right to receive rent charged on land is a form of charge or encumbrance, often arising from deed or statute, not a fresh common-law legal interest in the land itself.

So the right to take from land best exemplifies a legal interest created by common law.