De minimis facts for kids

De minimis is a legal idea that means the law doesn't usually bother with very small or unimportant things. It comes from a longer Latin saying: de minimis non curat lex, which means "the law does not concern itself with trifles" (or small matters). This principle helps courts and legal systems focus on important issues instead of tiny details that don't really cause harm.

What Does De Minimis Mean?

The idea of de minimis is like saying, "Don't sweat the small stuff." In law, it means that if something is so minor that it has no real impact, a court might decide not to deal with it. This prevents the legal system from getting bogged down with tiny problems that don't need a judge's attention.

Why Is De Minimis Important?

This principle is important because it helps keep the legal system fair and efficient. Imagine if every tiny mistake or minor issue, no matter how small, had to go to court. The courts would be overwhelmed! De minimis helps judges and lawyers decide when something is truly worth pursuing.

Examples of De Minimis in Action

You can see de minimis in many different areas of law. It's often used in cases about copyright, which protects creative works like books, music, and art.

De Minimis and Copyright Law

In copyright law, de minimis means that if someone uses a very small part of a copyrighted work, it might not be considered a copyright violation. For example, if a song briefly samples a tiny, unrecognizable sound from another song, a court might say it's de minimis and not a problem. The key is whether the copied part is so small or unimportant that it doesn't really affect the original work's value or the creator's rights.

De Minimis in Other Areas

The de minimis rule can also apply to things like small errors in contracts or very minor environmental issues that don't cause any real pollution or harm. It's all about deciding if the issue is significant enough to require legal action.

Images for kids

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  The country of Georgia has rules about using images of buildings. A wide view of a city like Batumi, which doesn't focus on one building, is often allowed because of the de minimis principle.

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  This movie poster is protected by copyright. If an image only shows a tiny, unimportant part of it, it might be considered de minimis.

See also

• In Spanish: De minimis para niños