The rule of capture is a common law precedent invoked by a pennsylvania judge in 1875 who declared that ownership of oil devolved on the person who initiated dr we use cookies to enhance your experience on our websiteby continuing to use our website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Since the beginnings of the oil industry production activity has been governed by the law of capture dictating that one owns the oil recovered from ones property even if it has migrated from under neighboring land this finders keepers principle has been excoriated by foreign critics as a law of the jungle and identified by american commentators as the root cause of the enormous waste . Finders keepers how the law of capture shaped the world oil industry daintith terence 9781933115832 books amazonca. Finders keepers how the law of capture shaped the world oil industry daintith terence amazoncomau books. Since the beginnings of the oil industry production activity has been governed by the law of capture dictating that one owns the oil recovered from ones property even if it has migrated from under neighboring land this finders keepers principle has been excoriated by foreign critics as