Ethics paper

Group:
TEAC 259
Assignment 1
Issues With the Internet

Would you really want to share everything with your friends on the Internet? I suppose it depends on how open of a person you are, and what sort of information it is that you are sharing. While one might like to share their opinion on how the local football game went, that same person might not want to share their pin number to their bank account. Just as people place value on what information they give out, personal space is highly valued as well. While some people think of personal space as just the area around that individual, another side of personal space includes having privacy. Many times, this is something people take for granted. You have the choice of what information you want to tell and to whom you are going to tell it. People do not walk around town with a sign saying, “Here is my phone number”, or “I live at this address.” This type of action would be considered silly, weird, as well as possibly being dangerous. However, with the Internet, this type of information sharing is now possible and could happen on a regular basis. Internet and technology seems to have had an impact on how much information based privacy an individual actually has. The sharing of opinions, statements and information has been a tell tale tradition of the Internet. In fact the Internet is one giant social and informational network. Information travels instantly to your screen, from all parts of the world. In today's day and age "Blogging" has become a very popular way to share one's opinion with the multitudes of Internet travelers. Yet, with all this information traveling around how does one sift through what is fact, and what is fiction? How does a person keep information as being their own?
If a person knows how to use the technology and Internet in a safe and smart manner then this can limit the amount of information given to others. The problem comes when people misuse the information that is just waiting on the Internet for their own benefit. One issue with this is the taking of information found on the Internet and not giving credit where it is due. This happens with papers that students take for their college classes, pictures, music, and the list goes on. Any one of these resources can be copyrighted which gives restrictions on who and how you can use that information. That does not even cover the moral or ethical issues to using something and saying it is yours that is not your own. Once again, bringing up the question of what is fact. While many may use Wikipedia as a database for retrieving information, they may not know that the information on many of the subjects it carries are accumulations of information from several different sources. Some information not as factual as others. Why is that, you might ask? Here is where the government made mistakes with copyright laws. "Copyright is a form of protection grounded in the U.S. Constitution and granted by law for original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Copyright covers both published and unpublished works. However, Copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation, although it may protect the way these things are expressed."
Thus allowing information shown on the Internet to not always be factual. One issue dealing with the topic of being factual deals with not doing harm. This is basically talking about how a person can take some information and greatly change the content. This change can have a huge impact on the original author of that information. This is an ethical issue because some people would not think twice about changing some words around from a quote they found to fit their point of view but which actually ends up changing the entire meaning that the author intended.
Copyright and ethics in Internet usage is a very sticky topic. There are those who argue that what is put and published on the Web is free unless it is clearly stated on the site. Copyright laws prove this to not be true. In fact, a person’s work is protected by law even without the formal paper work being filed with the government. With regards to what is seen on the Internet, the best policy is to assume that all work is protected unless it is clearly stated otherwise. While these laws do not prevent us from using materials and gaining information, they are put in place to protect what it is we wish to use. Certain steps should be taken and guidelines followed when gathering and using information on the Web.
The use of clip art, pictures, music, etc, are out there for us, but before we copy and paste them to our blogs or websites we need to be sure we not stealing from others. Generally, for school use, institutions might purchase clip art to be used for educational purposes. Be sure that the copy right was released, otherwise give the image credit. If a Website is labeled as being “public domain”, meaning available for free use, do not use it. The practice of better safe that sorry is the best policy if you do not want to risk a lawsuit. If you wish to directly quote something, again be sure that you are correctly citing your resources and check to limitation usages. More often than not there is a limit to what is can be quoted or paraphrased.
Many of us in this class are going to be teachers so the laws about using copyrighted materials will have slightly more fluctuation. However, they still pertain to us. Is it legal to record a documentary shown on HBO about POW’s from the Vietnam War? What is the harm? It will only be shown to maybe 25 students. The answer? No, this is not legal, it is an infringement of the copyright laws which protect it. We have all seen the warning, or heard the voice telling us it is unlawful and punishable to use, sell, or..., (well we know what is says). Even photocopying, to a certain extent, is considered illegal. People have taken for granted what is legal and what is not. We really need to be aware of what is and what is not legal in terms of using materials for personal and classroom use. Disney has been known to come after college professors and some schools for allowing their movies to be shown. Really thinking about the law; it seems radical, but it makes sense.
Here at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, we have a very strict set of copyright guidelines that we are expected to follow as students. Posted very clearly on the University web-page it states: Use of the UNL network, which is a shared resource, is a privilege that may be revoked if it is abused. By registering your computer, you accept personal responsibility for abiding by University Computer Use Policies. These guidelines go from everything from music to pictures to games. If a student is found to have disobeyed these guidelines on the UNL computer system, by downloading any digital copyrighted item, there is a set process that will occur. It is called the three strikes. After the complaint about a student has been made the university will then verify that the incident happened on the campus network or on a campus computer. If this is found to be true then the first strike would take place, which includes the student receiving and e-mail from the university. The claim would also be entered into the university data base and you would be contacted. Strike two would be set into place which would include another email going out to you and you would be contacted. This would state that you have to submit in a written statement that the illegal behavior will end. The third and final strike would be that your network access will be ended and additional action may be taken with the law.
The University of Nebraska Lincoln takes these cases very seriously and will not tolerate any incidences. We as student need to take this into consideration every time we log onto the UNL network. We are given the trust by the university to follow all guidelines and we need to make sure we do so!
To sum it up: How would you feel if you created a sculpture that took six months to complete, and someone took a picture of it, went home and copied exactly what you made? Do you think that it is right for someone who takes your ideas and uses them as their own? These same feelings and attitudes hold true when publishing on the Web. Not only is it illegal to cut, copy, and paste, but it is unethical. It is important to aware of the laws and to abide by them.



The Website Ethics Code of Ethics
I will show faith in the worthiness of my profession by honest, determined effort with unfailing courtesy, in order to merit a reputation for high quality of service and fair dealing.
I will build ever-increasing confidence and good will with the public, my clients, and my employers through honor, integrity, poise, self-restraint and constructive cooperation.
I will conduct myself in the most ethical and competent manner when soliciting professional service or seeking employment, thus meriting confidence in my knowledge and integrity.
I will provide the services I have quoted at the price and quality that I quoted.
I will protect the intellectual property of others by relying on my own innovation and efforts, thus ensuring that all benefits vest with the originator.
I will strive to attain and to express a sincerity of character that shall enrich my human contacts.
I shall be truthful and honest in all my business dealings.

Works Cited:
McKenzie, Jamie. “Keeping it Legal: Questions Arising out of Web Site Management.”
Npo.org Vol 5 (1996): n.pag. Web. 25 Jan. 2010.
“Copyright and the Internet.” Virginia Montecino 1996
http://mason.gmu.edu/~montecin/copyright-internet.htm. Web 25 Jan. 2010.
From the websites:
http://www.websiteethics.org/coe.shtml

http://www.copyright.go

Group Members:
Christina Buresh
Lydia Burns
Heather Campbell
Danielle Logue
Rebecca Robeson

About Me: I am a Senior Art education major. I have lived in many different places growing up, however I graduated from Beatrice High School in Beatrice, NE. I have been married to my husband for nearly 5 years and have a beautiful daughter named Aisilynn.

My university

Career Aspirations:

I hope to be a High School Art teacher, and maybe theatre as well.

I am a good group member because:

1. I know how to work well on a computer.
2. I work well with others ( I am nice...LOL)
3. I can be very organized.