"Trivial"?

> If something is considered a violation of a law, but it is so
> insignificant that it would seem inconceivable that it would be
> challenged by anyone, do you do it anyway if you feel that it is not
> hurting anyone else? This is particularly at issue where fair use
> and music performance are concerned. How do other institutions deal
> with seemingly trivial issues which are advantageous to the program,
> but "on the books" a violation of copyright law.

> de minimus non curat lex.

(The law doesn't concern itself with trivial matters; for those who aren't familiar with Latin.)

"Trivial" appears to be in the eye of the beholder. Is one a beneficiary of the law, or of selectively choosing to ignore the law? In any event, given the interest to date fair use appears to be non-trivial.

Bob Weiner
<74044.3505[_at_]compuserve.com> Received on Tue Nov 15 1994 - 21:01:03 GMT