england-and-wales legal-terms
Possessory vs Proprietary as adjectives
<p>Posessory (embolded) and Proprietary (embolded and italicized) here can't be synonyms, because the author is using them in opposition. Notice the &quot;rather than&quot; in the sentence footnoted 54. Thus how does Possessory differ from Proprietary?</p>
<blockquote>
<p>        Secondly, if a third party steals the trust property, the beneficiary has no claim in the tort
of conversion against the third party,<sup>53</sup> whereas the trustee would. The beneficiary would
be able to sue in conversion if they had been in possession of the property, but then the
beneficiary would be relying on their <strong>possessory right</strong> rather than their equitable <em><strong>proprietary
right</strong></em>.<sup>54</sup> Similarly, where the property is negligently damaged, the beneficiary has no
direct claim against the tortfeasor for property damage or economic loss, because such a
claim can be brought only by a person who has a legal <strong>proprietary interest</strong> or <strong>possessory
interest</strong> in the property.<sup>55</sup>  A claim can be brought if the trustee is made a party to the proceedings,<sup>56</sup> but not if the trustee consented to the interference with the property, because
then the third party will not have committed any wrong.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Virgo, <em>The Principles of Equity &amp; Trusts</em> 2020 4th edn. Page 49. All boldings and italics are mine.</p>

<p><strong>proprietary</strong> = under legal ownership (whereas factual possession may not necessarily be happening)</p>
<p><strong>possessory</strong> = under factual legal possession but with no legal ownership</p>
