Loophole
A loophole is an ambiguity or inadequacy in a system, such as a law or security, which can be used to circumvent or otherwise avoid the purpose, implied or explicitly stated, of the system.
Originally, the word means an arrowslit, a narrow vertical window in a wall through which an archer could shoot.
Loopholes are distinct from lacunae, although the two terms are often used interchangeably.[citation needed] In a loophole, a law addressing a certain issue exists, but can be legally circumvented due to a technical defect in the law. A lacuna, on the other hand, is a situation whereby no law exists in the first place to address that particular issue.
Use and remediation
Loopholes are searched for and used strategically in a variety of circumstances, including elections, politics, taxes, the criminal justice system, or in breaches of security.[1]
See also
- Ambiguity
- Copyfraud
- Evasion
- Exemption
- Fine print
- Gaming the system
- Gerrymandering
- Grey area
- Grey market
- Gun show loophole
- Legal abuse
- Legal technicality
- Letter and spirit of the law
- Piggybacking (security)
- Quibble (plot device)
Non liquet, otherwise known as a legal lacuna
References
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