Computer Ethics -- 3
Budget: $10 – $30 USD
1- During the 2008 presidential campaign, a graphic designer found a photo of Barack Obama on the Internet, modified it to look more like a graphic design, and made the very popular “Hope” campaign poster without credit to the photographer or permission from the Associated Press, which owns the photo. AP argued that the designer infringed AP’s copyright and that the design, on sweatshirts, etc., produced hundreds of thousands of dollars in income. The designer claimed his use was a fair use. Using the fair use criteria, evaluate the claims.59
2- Which of the following activities do you think should be a fair use? Give reasons using copyright law and/or court cases. (If you think the ethically right decision differs from the result that follows from applying the fair use guidelines, explain how and why.)
(a) Making a copy of a friend’s spreadsheet software to try out for two weeks, then either deleting it or buying your own copy.
(b) Making a copy of a computer game, and playing it for two weeks, then deleting it.
2- Which of the following activities do you think should be a fair use? Give reasons using copyright law and/or court cases. (If you think the ethically right decision differs from the result that follows from applying the fair use guidelines, explain how and why.)
(a) Making a copy of a friend’s spreadsheet software to try out for two weeks, then either deleting it or buying your own copy.
(b) Making a copy of a computer game, and playing it for two weeks, then deleting it.