Ethics Case Studies

Online Tutorial: Crash Course in Copyright

Ref BJ 63.A66 1998

Should we consider a more "socialist" view of intellectual property and consider it more public than private property?

Some have argued that no government in the world knows more about its citizens than the United States Government, yet no citizenry in the world is as free as U.S. citizens.  If this is true, why is it true? 

What is distinctive about the American system of government that allows our balance of privacy and freedom?  How does the Internet affect this?

How can Americans protect privacy and freedom? 

From The Net -Angela: "Just think about it. Our whole world is sitting there on a computer.  It's in the computer, everything: your DMV records, your social security, your credit cards, your medical records.  It's all right there.  Everyone is stored in there.  It's like this little electronic shadow on each and everyone of us, just...just begging for someone to screw with, and you know what? They've done it to me, and you know what? They're gonna do it to you." 

--Taken from Movie Quotes for The Net. 

Angela Bennett discovers that the bad guys have collected private information about her from the Internet.  (approximately 1 hour into the film)

York College of PA: Policies

1. Schmidt Library: Acceptable Use Policy
2. YCP Information Systems Policy Statement
3. York College Student Handbook

1. The Electronic Frontier Foundation
2. Ethics and Etiquette of Internet Resources.  Covers plagiarism, piracy, privacy, copyright and computer use ethics.

1. computer crime, Britannica Online

1. Purdue University Copyright Office - excellent overview of copyright issues and laws including basics, fair use, public domain, and current cases and legislation.
2. Copyright Website - see examples of famous copyright infringements; includes sound and video
3. 10 Big Myths about Copyright Explained
4. When Works Pass Into the Public Domain
5. Copyright Basics--U.S. Copyright Office
6. Chilling Effects Clearinghouse: Intellectual Property Online
7. World Intellectual Property Organization

Digital Divide

1. The Digital Divide Network
2. Study finds gaps in digital divide theory CNET News.com, October 29, 2003
   

1. Overview:  Working in Groups
2. Guidelines for Working in Groups
3. The Essential Elements of Cooperative Learning in the Classroom  ERIC Digest

1. First Amendment CYBER-TRIBUNE
2. Free Speech and the Internet

1. Avoiding Plagiarism
2. Plagiarism and the Art of Skillful Citation
3. Cut-and-Paste Plagiarism
4. Plagiarism Articles, Case Studies, Detection Tools, and more
5. Hansen, Brian. "Combating Plagiarism." CQ Researcher, September 19, 2003, 773-796

1. privacy, rights of, Britannica Online
2. Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
3. EPIC Online Guide to Practical Privacy Tools
4. What is spyware?
5. The Unofficial Cookie FAQs by David Whalen - What are cookies?

YCP network policy 

YCP Student Handbook

Copyright

Plagiarism

Ethical behavior in group work

Consequences of unethical behavior
 

Plato

"Plato posed the central ethics issue addressed in this publication in The Republic: suppose you had a ring which, when you turned the stone, made you invisible.  Why then should you act justly?  The same question faces today's computer user who, with technology's aid, can effectively become invisible. 

The problem was ancient in Plato's time; the philosopher makes his point with the Ring of Gyges already a legend in 400 BC. The ethical questions we face today are as old as the pyramids, and the circumstances as new as the latest piece of computer software.  How do we best assure the just and effective use of the new technologies that are an increasingly vital part of both our personal and professional lives?"

Skills

Ability to make mature, informed judgments

Outcomes

Use information ethically