Final answer:
An easement acquired through open, uninterrupted and adverse use of someone else's land for a legally designated period is known as an easement by prescription, which allows for the right of use without obtaining title to the land.
Step-by-step explanation:
An easement granted to a landowner who openly, continuously, and adversely uses another’s land for a legally prescribed period is known as an easement by prescription. This concept is tied to the legal doctrine of adverse possession, which allows a trespasser to eventually gain ownership of land just by occupying it. In the context of easements, however, the user does not gain title to the land but rather gains the right to use a piece of the property for a specific purpose, such as crossing over it to access their own land.
Easements play an important role in land use and are beneficial for both private and public interests. For example, they help maintain open spaces by precluding construction on certain parcels of land, thus contributing to conservation efforts and preserving natural landscapes for public enjoyment. Easements may also surface in discussions of land rights and restrictions, such as usufruct rights in traditional societies or restrictive covenants in modern property developments.