History Main / LoopholeAbuse

Sometimes the loophole doesn't really exist, but the competitor is convinced it does based on his own misinterpretation of the rules. If the loophole's existence is explained, one [[JustifiedTrope justification]] sometimes is that when the rule was designed, the Loophole Abuse seemed absurd enough that no one would ever be stupid enough to try it. This is a form of RefugeInAudacity.

* In Sweden, it was once illegal for domestically-run commercial broadcasters to air commercial breaks during programs; they could only do it between programs. So what did [=TV4=] (an OTA network which, unlike its cable-based competitors who broadcast from [[LoopholeAbuse outside the country]], was subject to said rules) do? They split a program with an interstitial, thus allowing them to air ads "between" programs.

* ToolAssistedSpeedrun webite [[http://tasvideos.org/ TASVideos]] often uploads runs that beat the game in a ridiculously low amount of time. The catch is that "beat the game" is defined as "trigger the TheEnd screen", even if that's done by [[GoodBadBugs exploiting an obscure glitch]] rather than, you know, beating the game. A few JustForFun/{{egregious}} examples jump into the ending sequence from the middle of the game for no [[AllThereInTheManual apparent]] reason.

* Creator/TheOriginalAce managed to bypass [[https://youtube.com/watch?v=mAgAfo7l4E8 demonetization by copyright claiming his own video]]... What an absolute madlad.

Several examples refer to the [[Administrivia/FormerTropeNamer old name]] of this trope, Ain't No Rule ([[AnimalAthleteLoophole named for a specific situational loophole]]). Compare NoManOfWomanBorn.

* The famous [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIE-5hg7FoA Apple MacIntosh 1984 Commercial]] is often stated to have only aired once, during the 1984 Super Bowl on Jan. 22 1984. However in order to qualify for the prominent [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clio_Awards Clio Awards]] it had to air at least once in 1983 so they purchased time to run it on a small station in Twin Falls Idaho shortly before midnight on Dec. 31 1983. It was likely only seen by a few hundred people at most and since this was way before social media could spoil it. The result was the ad made it’s impact and is often regarded as the Greatest TV Commercial ever.

** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'', the game which originally popularized [=TASing=], ''[[http://tasvideos.org/6466S.html in less than a second.]]''

* LoopholeAbuse/WebVideos

!!Examples

* LoopholeAbuse/{{Advertising}}

* LoopholeAbuse/{{Podcasts}}

Someone—typically a RulesLawyer—does something outrageous by finding a loophole in the rules, which were too [[ExactWords narrowly written]] to consider such possibilities. This allows the agent to get their way while claiming they were [[MetaphoricallyTrue technically following the rules]].

Someone — typically a RulesLawyer — does something outrageous by finding a loophole in the rules, which were too [[ExactWords narrowly written]] to consider such possibilities. This allows the agent to get their way while claiming they were [[MetaphoricallyTrue technically following the rules]].

* LoopholeAbuse/NewMedia

In RealLife, this is more difficult for two simple reasons: First, loopholes are quickly closed once discovered, sometimes by an ObviousRulePatch. Second, many systems have RuleZero: some designated referee, judge, or [[GameMaster authority figure]] has the absolute final word and can simply throw the argument out wholesale, usually by claiming that the "spirit" of the rule never intended to allow what the "letter" of it seems to say. On the other hand, some "loopholes" were actually [[DevelopersForesight exceptions put in the rule for a reason]] and as such are (or have become) part of the rule.

* LoopholeAbuse/{{Fanfic}}

Also note that before you add an example here (especially under Real Life), loopholes are different than exemptions and provisions. These two are intentional exceptions to simplified version of a law. For example if a government taxes pools and a pool manufacturer starts manufacturing large hot tubs to get around it, that's a loophole. If that same government decides they don't want to tax hot tubs, they will add a provision that says hot tubs are not pools. The former pool manufacturer is now using a provision to manufacturer hot tubs and is completely following the intention of rules but this may not be readily obvious to an outside observer.

** LoopholeAbuse/{{Taskmaster}}

Someone — typically, but not always, a RulesLawyer — does something outrageous by finding a loophole in the rules, which were too [[ExactWords narrowly written]] to consider such possibilities. Loophole Abuse is a form of RefugeInAudacity — which still allows the agent to claim they were [[MetaphoricallyTrue following the rules]].

Sometimes the loophole doesn't really exist, but the competitor makes everyone ''think'' it does. Occasionally, the loopholes were planted to ''enable'' Loophole Abuse. If the loophole's existence is explained, one [[JustifiedTrope justification]] sometimes is that when the rule was designed, the Loophole Abuse seemed [[WhoWouldBeStupidEnough absurd enough that no one would ever be stupid enough to try it.]]

Someone — typically but not always a RulesLawyer — does something outrageous by finding a loophole in the rules, which were too [[ExactWords narrowly written]] to consider such possibilities. Loophole Abuse is a form of RefugeInAudacity — which still allows the agent to claim they were [[JustFollowingOrders following the rules]].

** ''LoopholeAbuse/{{Taskmaster}}''

** [[LoopholeAbuse/LiveActionTVTaskmaster Taskmaster]]

[-[[https://wadeclarke.com/findx Image]] by [[https://wadeclarke.com Wade Clarke]]. Used with permisssion.-]]]

[-[[https://wadeclarke.com/findx Image]] by [[https://wadeclarke.com Wade Clark]]. Used with permisssion.-]]]

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_1ot185_20050713_find_x.png]]

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/find_x_300_2285.jpg]]

%%[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/find_x_300_2285.jpg]]
%%[[caption-width-right:300:And they say math is hard. [[note]]The actual answer is 5 cm, if you're wondering.[[/note]]]]