Copyright, Piracy,
and Ethics
Lisa Dorsey
After reading the
suggested websites, I was able to develop answers to the two following
scenarios:
Scenario I
You find an outstanding World Wide Web
site on the Internet and want your web page to contain some of the glittering
wonderfulness of this site. You download
and use part of the web page.
Response:
This is ok if several things take place. First, you are not copying logos, graphics, etc. that are trademarks of an organization. It is also important that the information represented is not distorted or changed in any way. This would violate the author/artists intention and would be in violation of their copyright. It is suggested that only a portion of a site, a poem, etc. be used – and not the majority. Providing a brief piece of the site and a URL link directly to the site would be the best way to handle this situation. The law leans more favorably toward not-for-profit/educational use, but if the information is for personal or for-profit gain, and you are cheating them out of a potential book sale, for example, then it is not advisable.
Scenario II:
Mr. Jamweimer,
the parent of one of your most intellectual students, wants to download a
wonderful computer software program for his little Einstein Jamweimer
wants “our school” to be the best and sends a copy of the downloaded file to be
used by the students on the computers at school. Some of the kids use it and win Nobel prizes
in science, literature, physics, chemistry, and playground.
Response:
Ahhh, Mr. Jamweimer, you have such good intentions! However, I find fault with your decision. You are pirating the software, stealing money from the poor software manufacturers! This is illegal and unethical. My suggestion would be that Mr. Jamweimer create a proposal and present it to the teacher on the wonderful benefits of the software program that we hope he purchased for his child. These usually have one user limitations. The teacher can, if it seems a good idea, request funding from the school. If funding is not available, be creative and find a grant that would fund the purchase of software. If the software is from Mr. Gates’ company, for example, try their foundation or a local group that takes interest in the school. Let them know that you have budding Nobel prize winners who only need this software to excel. But please, no copying of copyrighted software!