Legal and Ethical Concerns Chapter Notes | AP Computer Science Principles - Grade 9 PDF Download

Introduction

Intellectual Property

• Definition: Creations of the mind, including inventions, artistic works, designs, symbols, names, and images used in commerce, as defined by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
• Ownership: Digital creations like images or writing belong to their creator unless signed away, such as in work-for-hire contracts where the hiring organization owns the rights.
• Challenges: The internet makes it easy to copy and distribute intellectual property, making it hard for creators to control access to their work.
• Purpose of protection: Protecting intellectual property encourages innovation by ensuring creators receive credit and financial benefits for their work.

Copyright

• Definition: The legal right of a creator to their work, granting control over its use.
• Economic rights: Allow creators to gain financial benefits from their work’s use.
• Moral rights: Include non-financial rights, such as being recognized as the creator or protecting the work’s integrity.
• Historical context: Copyright has existed since the 18th century, but digital technology creates new challenges for enforcement.
• Usage considerations: Not all online content is free to use, especially for profit; always check the copyright license before using or reposting.
• Consequences: Using content without permission or citation can lead to fines or orders to remove the material.
• Best practice: Always cite content you didn’t create, even if permission isn’t required, to avoid plagiarism.

Plagiarism

• Definition: Taking someone else’s work or ideas and presenting them as your own, including written content, ideas, or phrases.
• Accidental plagiarism: Can occur by forgetting to cite a source, but it still has consequences.
• Consequences: In academia, plagiarism can lead to expulsion for students or career damage for professionals, with potential legal repercussions.
• Detection: Tools like image searches and Turnitin.com make it easy to identify plagiarism or copyright violations.
• Impact on creators: Seeing their work used without permission or credit can be deeply discouraging for content creators.

Legal Ways to Use the IP of Others

• Creative Commons: A licensing system allowing creators to share their work with specific usage permissions. For example, many Wikipedia images use Creative Commons licenses, offering six levels of permissions.
• Fair Use: A legal exception permitting limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes like education or news reporting. However, determining fair use can be complex, so use caution.

Open sourcing vs. Open access

• Open Sourcing: Freely sharing software code for public use, modification, and distribution, fostering collaboration.
• Open Access: Providing unrestricted access to scholarly research, often free of copyright restrictions, though verification is key.

Other Legal and Ethical Concerns

• Illegal Streaming: Violates copyright, deprives creators of revenue, and may spread malware.
• Biased Algorithms: Can misrepresent or exclude groups, as discussed in computing bias topics.
• Data Privacy: Continuous user monitoring (e.g., step or screen-time trackers) raises concerns about personal data usage.
• Digital Divide: Ethical issues stem from unequal access to technology.
• Misinformation: Spreading false information online can harm public health and well-being.
• Echo Chambers: Social media algorithms can reinforce biases, fostering polarization.
• Free Speech: Debates persist about the extent of free speech on private social media platforms, which aren’t bound by the First Amendment.
• AI Art: Raises ethical questions about art theft, artists’ rights, and biased data sources.

Conclusion