In a lawsuit, a court applies the de minimis principle to avoid deciding trivial matters that are not worthy of judicial scrutiny. Courts have dismissed copyright infringement cases on the grounds that the alleged infringer's use of the copyrighted work was so insignificant. i.e. it was a de minimis use.

What is the de minimis rule copyright?

The exclusive right of a copyright owner to copy his work is infringed if anyone copies another's work without the consent of the copyright owner. However, there is no infringement if the copying is not of a substantial part of the work. In other words the old de minimis rule applies.

What does the legal term de minimis mean?

(dee minn-uh-miss) Trifling or of little importance. Usually refers to something so small, whether in dollar terms, importance, or severity, that the law will not consider it. legal theory.