How are interests in land, typically an easement, acquired through continued use?

The correct answer is related to the legal doctrine known as "Prescription." This concept pertains to the acquisition of an easement through continued and unopposed use over a certain period of time, as specified by law. In California, for example, this is typically recognized when someone uses a portion of another person’s land openly, notoriously, and continuously for a statutory period, which is usually five years.

This means that if the use of the land is regular and visible, and the owner of that land does not object, the user may eventually gain a legal right to continue using that land as if it were their own. This is significant because it helps to resolve disputes over land use and can establish rights that may not have been formalized or documented in writing.

In contrast, adverse possession requires a specific set of conditions that typically involves taking possession of land with the intent to claim it as one's own, including paying property taxes, rather than just using it without permission. Licensing refers to permission granted to use someone else's land temporarily and does not confer any ownership rights. Leasehold refers to a tenant's interest in property that involves a rental agreement, which also does not relate to acquiring interests through continued use. Thus, prescription most accurately describes the situation