Software - Social and Ethical Issues

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.

General instructions

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 copyrightable 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: 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. 3: Fair Use and search engines 
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.

Asmt. 4 Google Books Project
What is the Google Books Project?
What was the law suit brought against Google and by whom?
Present both sides of the suit and then present a conclusion.

Return to A Gift of Fire home page.
Presentation/discussion topics source: http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/giftfire/

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