De Minimis Non Curat Lex

/deɪ ˈmɪn.ɪ.mɪs/

Latin for 'the law does not care for trifles'; a defense establishing that copying so trivial, brief, or obscured as to be negligible does not constitute actionable copyright infringement.

Operational Jurisprudential Axiom:

“Fleeting echoes and microscopic fragments do not summon judicial retribution.”

Canonical Precedent:

Newton v. Diamond (Beastie Boys), 388 F.3d 1189 (9th Cir. 2004)

Archival Notes:

Eliminated for sound recording masters in the 6th Circuit (Bridgeport), but preserved in the 9th Circuit (VMG Salsoul).