A couple of points: The term seizing implies the use of force, not necessarily the absence of compensation. When you have no choice but to sell, seizing is in

A couple of points: The term seizing implies the use of force, not necessarily the absence of compensation. When you have no choice but to sell, seizing is indeed the appropriate term. I'm not educated in the law, so I cannot speak with authority to your assertion about the incorrect use of the term "public-domain". However, given that the term is in quotes and the the author is Beauchamp Brogan Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Tennessee, my guess is that the term has a historical context of which I am unaware. Just because Columbia serves many "less well-off" students, or is a 501(c)(3) non-profit does not mean that Columbia is not the big bad meanie in this case. They are an enourmously powerful and influential institution. Using this legal power to seize (And I use this term advisedly) a small business owners property makes them a bully in my book. There is probably a price at which he would sell willingly, Columbia almost certainly has the resources to pay that price, they are using the power of this law to twist his property out of his hand backed by the power of the state, this in order to further their "Vision". That is wrong.