Exploring Ethics

In This Lesson, You Will Learn

Why copyrights are necessary

How to use technology ethically and legally

How to cite online sources

Ethics and Technology Ethics - The rules we use to define behavior as

“right” or “wrong.”

To determine whether an action is ethical or unethical, ask yourself:How will this affect others?What would happen if everyone did this?

What Is Intellectual Property?

The law helps people act ethically by protecting both physical property and intellectual property.

Intellectual Property - Ideas and concepts created or owned by a person or company; examples are books, music, movies, software, and inventions.

Copyright

Individuals or companies can apply for a copyright to protect their intellectual property.

Copyright - The legal protection for intellectual property.

Trademark

They can also use a trademark to protect a specific name or image that identifies an organization or its products.

Trademark - A name, symbol, or other feature that identifies a product with a specific owner;

signified by ™ or ®.

How Can I Copy Legally?In general, permission is required to

reproduce copyrighted material.Permission - Approval by the owner or creator of

a work to let someone else use the work in a way that was not its original purpose.

What you can and cannot copy from a Web site is usually addressed in the site’s Terms of Use. Terms of Use - A Web site’s rules regarding

permission.

What is Fair Use?According to fair use, some copyrighted works may

be legal to use or copy without permission. Fair Use - The right to use or copy a copyrighted

work without seeking permission.

• For example: Teachers may copy a book page for a lesson. Students may usually include copyrighted material in a school report. You may listen to (but not copy) a friend’s music CD. You may use TiVo® to record a TV show for private use.

What is Public Domain?Public Domain - Describes material that people can

freely use without permission.

Materials within the public domain also do not require permission.

Examples are: Material on which the copyright has expired Government-published information Material offered free to the public by the creators

What Is Piracy and File Sharing?

Piracy - The act of copying or sharing copyrighted material without permission. Ex: Copying software, music or videos from the

original disks or the internet without obtaining permission.

File sharing - Downloading copyrighted music and videos and sharing them

for free with other users

It is legal to download or copy the following types of software with few restrictions:

Shareware – ltd version Freeware – full version

Draw Conclusions

Give one reason the owner of intellectual property would require that you get permission before using or copying material.