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Multimedia CommunicationMultimedia Communication

Ethics and Copyright

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What are Computer Ethics?What are Computer Ethics? Moral guidelines that govern use of computers

and information systems Unauthorized use of computer systems Information privacy Intellectual property rights Software theft (piracy) Information accuracy Codes of conduct

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What do you think about ethical What do you think about ethical issues?issues?

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What do you think about ethical What do you think about ethical issues?issues?

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Why is information accuracy Why is information accuracy important?important? Inaccurate input can result in erroneous

information and incorrect decisions based on that information

Evaluate Web page’s value before relying on its content

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Why is information accuracy important?Why is information accuracy important?

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What are the ethics of using What are the ethics of using computers to alter output?computers to alter output? Alteration could lead to deliberately misleading

photographs

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Intellectual PropertyIntellectual Property The term intellectual property describes the rights available at law to

those who engage or invest in creative effort. Intellectual property law has been shaped by different forces from

country to country in order to protect investment in various intellectual endeavours.

Modern intellectual property laws are dictated by our former ties to the UK.

Intellectual property is a concept that deals with the tangible and intangible property produced as a result of creative intellectual endeavours, such as books, movies and multimedia applications.

Intellectual property dictates the ownership of ideas and control over the tangible or virtual representation of those ideas.

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Digital AgendaDigital Agenda The digital revolution has altered pre-existing

notions of intellectual property in relation to the physical embodiment of ideas in tangible goods.

Ease of copying, communications and manipulation of data in a digital form pose enormous challenges to conventional copyright law.

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LawLaw In Australia, copyright law is contained in the

Copyright Act 1968 (Commonwealth). There are also a number of court decisions that

have applied and interpreted the Copyright Act. Unfortunately copyright law varies from country

to country. Why is this fact important?

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What is Copyright?What is Copyright? There are a number of existing laws that govern

the ownership of information. Copyright protects the expression of ideas &

information. In Australia, copyright law arises without

formality as soon as the work has been created. The US requires a © symbol.

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Intellectual Property RightsIntellectual Property Rights Intellectual property (IP) refers to work created by

inventors, authors, and artists Intellectual property rights are rights to which creators are

entitled for their inventions, writings, and works of art

©copyright

TMtrademark

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Protected WorksProtected Works Dramatic works: play or screenplay. Artistic works: paintings, cartoons, sculpture, craft

works, photos and maps. Musical works: songs, music and lyrics. Literary works: novels, instruction manuals,

computer programs and tables of figures. What is multimedia?

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Other Subject MatterOther Subject Matter Cinematograph films: Films and videos are protected

separately to any copyright which may subsist in works on the film or video, such as music or a screenplay.

Sound recordings: A compact disc or cassette are protected separately.

Broadcasts: The broadcaster will have a separate copyright for films and music that they transmit (TV/radio).

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Duration of Copyright.Duration of Copyright. In general, for the life of the author (creator) plus

50 years. Performances: 20 years from the date of recording

or performance. Published edition: 25 years from the date of

publication. It is important to note that the period of protection

may be different overseas.

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Who owns Copyright?Who owns Copyright? The author or creator owns copyright of “works”. Producer owns copyright of film or sound

recording. Joint authorship implies joint copyright. As a result no single author can exercise exclusive

rights without the permission of other authors.

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ExceptionsExceptions Works created in the course of employment

where the creator is an employee, rather than a freelancer.

Commissioned works. Works made or first published by the government

belong to the government. These exceptions may be excluded or modified by

agreement.

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The Legal Rights of Copyright OwnersThe Legal Rights of Copyright Owners Owners of copyright in works have the exclusive

right to: Reproduce the work. Make the work public for the first time. Broadcast the work. Transmit the work to subscribers of a diffusion

service.

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Copyright and the InternetCopyright and the Internet The open nature of the Internet makes it difficult to prevent

unauthorised use of copyright material. Identifying the author and copyright owner is often a complicated

task. Are current copyright laws adequate and appropriate for the Internet

and other on-line technologies. The Internet began as a forum for the free exchange of information

and ideas. Copies are easily made with no degradation of quality and can be

easily altered. It is difficult to identify who is liable (ISP). Technology plays an important part in ensuring unauthorised use. Is the designer of a home page an author?

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Exceptions to InfringementExceptions to Infringement Fair Dealing : The use of a reasonable portion of a

work for the purposes of research, study, reporting the news and criticism.

Some educational institutions have the right to copy up to 10% of a book for educational purposes under special provisions in the Copyright Act.

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SamplesSamples Using parts of material may be an infringement of

copyright if a substantial part of the work has been used.

What constitutes a substantial part of a protected work is determined on a case by case basis.

A sample is likely to be substantial if it is an essential part of the whole.

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IT code of conductIT code of conduct Written guideline that

helps determine whether specific computer action is ethical or unethical

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Information privacyInformation privacy Right of individuals and companies to deny or

restrict collection and use of information about them

More difficult to maintain today because huge databases store this data in online databases Should employers monitor your computer usage and

e-mail messages? Is data about an individual really private?

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What privacy laws have been What privacy laws have been enacted?enacted? Many federal and state laws regarding storage and

disclosure of personal data, such as:

Computer Abuse Amendments Law

Outlaws viruses

Child Online Protection Law

Penalizes those who distribute material deemed harmful to

children

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What is employee monitoring?What is employee monitoring? Using computers to observe employee’s computer use,

including e-mail, keyboard activity, and Web sites visited Legal for employers to use monitoring software programs

Privacy for Consumers and Workers Act

Proposed law that employers monitoring electronic

communications must notify employees

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SpywareSpyware Program placed on

computer without user's knowledge

Secretly collects information about user

Can enter computer as virus or as a result of installing new program

Adware

Spyware used by Internet advertising

firms to collect information about user’s

Web browsing habits

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How can you control spam?How can you control spam? E-mail filtering

Service that blocks e-mail messages from designated sources

Collects spam in central location that you can view any time

Anti-spam program Attempts to remove spam Sometimes removes valid e-mail messages

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One of the most controversial One of the most controversial issues surrounding the Internetissues surrounding the Internet Availability of

objectionable material such as racist literature and obscene pictures

The 1996 Communications

Decency ActMade it a criminal offense to

distribute indecent or patently offensive material online

Declared unconstitutional in June 1997 by

Supreme Court

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Filtering softwareFiltering software Can restrict access to specified Web sites Some filter sites use specific words Others filter e-mail messages and chat rooms

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ReferencesReferences Discovering Computers World 2003 (Ch. 3, 12) Australian Copyright Council, Multimedia

Producers and Copyright. 1997. McKeough, Intellectual Property in Australia, 2nd

edition. 1997.