Possession in law recognises a person’s right to possess an object even though he is not physically in possession of it. On the other hand, ownership is exclusively a legal concept. Apart from this, possession is a factual concept, whereas ownership is a strictly legal concept.

Ownership involves the absolute rights and legitimate claim to an object. It means to own the object by the owner. Possession is more the physical control of an object. The possessor has a better claim to the title of the object than anyone, except the owner himself.

In conclusion, the difference between possession and ownership lies in aspects and rights based on property relationships. Possession is the tangible control over an object, while ownership is the legal recognition and protection of rights associated with that object.

‘Possession is in fact what ownership is in right. Possession is the de facto exercise of a claim; ownership is the de jure recognition of one. A thing is owned by me when my claim to it is maintained by the will of the State as expressed in the law; it is possessed by me, when my claim to it is maintained by my own self-assertive will.