Software - Social and Ethical Issues

Copyright laws have been slow to keep up with developing technologies. Each of these issues touches on a different aspect of copyright protection. As a group prepare a presentation for the class regarding the issue assigned to your group. You may decide to break the group into two smaller groups since each group will be presenting both sides of the issue or work on both sides together. Your presentation to the class must involve each member in the group.

Create a shared Google presentation document that all members have access to.

The issues each group will be discussing can be found at the following web site:

http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/giftfire/ - go to Presentation/discussion topics and then select the link to the 2nd Edition and then click on Chapter 6.

General instructions given to students

The presentations should analyze the situation, use analogies and similar cases where possible, mention various possible risks or consequences, etc. Include some discussion of how the new technology changes the situation. What advantages or problems result from using it, compared to the old way of doing things? Present the group's proposals and/or conclusions, supported by arguments.

Presentation assignments

Asmt 1: Copyright of software
Should software be copyright-able or should it be in the public domain? Are property rights in intellectual property such as software ethically or socially justified? Include arguments of the Free Software movement (supporting or criticizing them).
Group 1: Yes.
Group 2: No.

Asmt 2:
In 2009 the British government proposed "new legislation which could see people who illegally download music and films having their internet connection slowed down or cut off altogether."
Group 1: You represent the music industry who supports the new legislation.
Group 2: You represent a group of music artists who oppose the new law because of how it will affect consumers.

Asmt 3: The future of copyright
Is copyright for written materials, photos, music recordings, and so on, reasonable and/or practical in the age of electronic media and the Internet? Why, or why not?
Group 1: Yes.
Group 2: No.

Asmt 4: The DMCA
Suppose Congress were considering repealing or amending the anti-circumvention provisions of the DMCA. The groups are presenting testimony in Congress.
Group 1: A civil liberties organization arguing for repeal of all restrictions on publishing or distributing software that circumvents copy protection.
Group 2: An on-line activist organization arguing for repeal of all restrictions on devices that circumvent copy protection but have some legal uses.
Group 3: The music and movie industries arguing against any change.
Group 4: Make what recommendations and arguments you think are most reasonable.

Asmt. 5: The music industry spends billions of dollars each year to fight piracy and yet they continue to lose billions in revenue annually.
Discuss some of the newer business models that are having a positive impact on reducing piracy by making music more affordable. How has i Tunes impacted piracy? How about Amazon Prime Music? Compare these business models and discuss their impact on piracy. Is this a better solution than aggressive prosecution of those who pirate music?

Asmt. 6: Fair Use and search engines (New)
Google (and perhaps other search engine providers) make copies of Web sites to provide an archive of sites for users. A person sued Google over this practice, claiming it infringed his copyright for material he wrote and posted on his website.
Group 1: Attorneys for the plaintiff, arguing that Google's practice infringes copyright (and is not protected by the Fair Use guidelines).
Group 2: Google's attorneys, claiming the practice is a "Fair Use."
Group 3: A panel of judges. After listening to the arguments, make a decision and explain your reasons.
Note to instructors: The actual case is Field v. Google, decided in Nevada, Jan. 2006.

Return to A Gift of Fire home page.

This project will be scored on a number of different points:

1. Participation and evaluations
2. Overall presentation - how persuasive was your presentation, did you clearly explain the issue and the related laws.
3. Each member's presentation