The principal part shall mean that part to which the other has been united only for the use, ornament, or completion of the former, unless the latter is the more valuable and has been united without the knowledge of its owner, who in the latter case, may require it to be separated and returned to the owner, although some injury should result to the thing to which it has been united. If neither part can be considered the principal part, the more valuable, or if the values are nearly equal, the more considerable in bulk, is to be deemed the principal part.
47-08-03. Materials of different owners united by labor of one - Inseparable without inconvenience - Common ownership. When one has made use of materials which in part belong to that person and in part to another, in order to form a thing of a new description without having destroyed any of the materials, but in such a way that they cannot be separated without inconvenience, the thing formed is common to both proprietors in proportion, as respects the one, of the materials belonging to that person, and as respects the other, of the materials belonging to that person and the price of that person's workmanship.
47-08-04. Material of several owners - Admixture without consent of the same - Ownership - Determination. When a thing has been formed by the admixture of several materials of different owners and neither can be considered the principal substance, an owner, without whose consent the admixture was made, may require separation if the materials can be separated without inconvenience. If they cannot be thus separated, the owners acquire the thing in common in proportion to the quantity, quality, and value of their materials. If the materials of one were far superior to those of the others, both in quantity and value, that person may claim the thing on reimbursing to the others the value of their materials.