Computers, Information Technology, the Internet, Ethics, Society and Human Values Philip Pecorino, Ph.D. Queensborough Community College, CUNY Chapter 5 Intellectual Property |
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Overview Around the world many people make copies or download programs and files and have no qualms of conscience about doing so. They do not appear to care about whether or not what they are doing amounts to taking something that belongs to another person-the creator of the work- and that another person may be entitled to some compensation or payment. This is an interesting phenomena to say the least. Is there something more to it than simply not caring or greed or lawlessness? Some think and argue for all such information in any form being available to the whole world once it is created. They want no limits placed on copy and use . Others do. To protect and encourage the process of invention and its productions the government of the USA has the following :
In what manner if any does this provision of the constitution apply to computer technologies? I Should the constitution apply to some of the developments that have come with the advance of computer technologies? n what ways might it? These are just some of the questions related to the intellectual property issues related to computer technologies. Other questions following from those include: Are software programs and digit information property? Who owns them? Who controls them? Is it really morally wrong to copy such property? Why? There are those who argue against property rights and intellectual property rights in particular. There are those who argue for them. The development of computer technologies and their increasing the possibilities for information transfer have brought the issue of property rights and the values placed on property and ownership before the human community once again in a manner not dreamt of when the issues were first settled with various laws.
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Web Surfer's Caveat: These are class notes, intended to comment on readings and amplify class discussion. They should be read as such. They are not intended for publication or general distribution. ppecorino@qcc.cuny.edu @copyright 2006 Philip A. Pecorino Last updated 8-2006 Return to Table of Contents |
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