1. Ethical Issues When Using Computers
The reason ethics are important in computing isn’t the computers; it is the information stored in the computers.

2. What are Information Ethics?
The rules that define right and wrong behavior in the computing profession.
They are the basis for trust and cooperation among workers and organizations.

3. What Information Ethics are not
Laws that carry a criminal penalty
Detailed instructions for every possible situation

4. An Ethical person . . .
Has an inner sense of what is moral and is able to choose correct behavior in many different situations, including those that are new and different. In the absence of laws or rules, the Ethical person knows what is right or wrong.

5. Consequences of unethical choices
Lost opportunities
Destruction of trust
Damage to people and things
Possible criminal charges

6. Copyright ©
Copyrights are a form of protection for the authors of "original works of authorship," including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other creative works.
Defined as the rights possessed by the author of the work. These rights include:
Copying
Reselling
Leasing
Lending
Publicly displaying or performing the work
Transferring the copyright

7. Copyright Continued
Any software or data created with a computer is owned by its creator and is automatically copyrighted as soon as it’s in any tangible form. “Tangible” means it’s recorded somehow. You cannot copyright a thought.

8. Trademark ™
A trademark protects a word, phrase, symbol or design (or a combination of these), that identifies and distinguishes the goods or services of one person or company from those of others.

9. Registered ®
The registered trademark bug ® is used to indicate that your trademark is registered with the government, which gives you a wider range of statutory remedies in case of infringement.
You only use the registered bug if you've actually registered the trademark formally, but you can use ™ freely. 

10. Places to look for Copyright notification
Packaging containing one of these symbols:
© Copyright
™ Trademark
® Registered
Symbol stamped on the Disk or CD-ROM
Execution of the program

11. Citing Information
Technology has made information readily available. Thus, the issue of misusing information becomes a concern particularly when you use something and claim it as your own.
Individuals creating “intellectual property” have the right to receive credit and be protected from the incorrect use of their creations.

12. “Fair Use” within Copyright Laws
You can paraphrase or quote small portions of someone else’s work, provided that you give proper credit to the author for the material that you use.

13. Plagiarism
If you don’t cite your work, you will probably give the impression to some of your readers that the material you borrowed originated with you.
Plagiarism is a form of fraud. The dictionary defines fraud as “the act of deceiving or misrepresenting”.

14. Plagiarism Continued
PLAGIARISM is extremely unethical, usually illegal, and always a serious violation of school policy.
Don’t PLAGIARIZE, always give credit where credit is due.

15. Software Licenses
When you buy software, you’re not buying the software itself. You’re buying permission to use the software.
Breaking “this seal” means you agree to the terms of the license agreement.

16. Types of software licenses:
Public Domain
Freeware
Shareware
Open Source
All rights reserved
Creative Commons

17. Public Domain License
This software has no owner and is not protected by copyright law. It was either created with public funds, or the ownership was forfeited by the creator
Rare
Unreliable
Poor quality
Virus-laden
No cost? That may be exactly how much this software is worth.

18. Freeware License Some freeware is “really good stuff.” Pegasus Mail
Freeware is copyrighted software that is licensed to be copied and distributed without charge.
Freeware is free because the license says it is, but it’s still under the owner’s control.
Some freeware is
“really good stuff.”
Pegasus Mail
Eudora Light
Netscape
Internet Explorer
Firefox

19. Shareware License
The software is licensed for copying and sharing for a trial period, but payment must be made to the owner for permanent use.
Some shareware trials expire on a certain date
Purchasing (the right to use) the software may also get you a version with more powerful features and published documentation.

20. Open Source Examples include: Apache Linux Open Office PHP Miro VLC
Free and Open Source software refers to the availability of source code. By providing the source code and stipulating that it remain open, programmers can add functionality and features to the software. Changes in the software must be available to other users.
Examples include:
Apache
Linux
Open Office
PHP
Miro
VLC
AbiWord

21. All Rights Reserved License
May be used by the purchaser according the exact details spelled out in the license agreement.
You can’t legally use it--or even possess it-- without the owner’s permission.

22. All Rights Reserved Characteristics
Operate on one PC at a time
Make one back-up copy of the software
Permission stays with the software
Software is not guaranteed for any particular purpose

23. Creative Commons
A Creative Commons (CC) license is one of several public copyright licenses that enable the free distribution of an otherwise copyrighted work.
A CC license is used when an author wants to give people the right to share, use and build upon a work that they have created. CC provides an author flexibility to specify who can use the work (for example, they might choose to allow only non-commercial uses of their own work).

24. Acceptable Use Policy
A policy that is established by computer owners regarding acceptable use of the computer.
Mountain Crest High School has an Acceptable Use Policy. You signed this AUP, before you were given your login account, giving you access to use the computers.

25. AUP Guidelines Computer use is a privilege, not a right.
These terms are set up by the owners of the computers.
By signing the AUP you agreed to these terms.

26. AUP Guidelines continued
Typical AUP guidelines include:
Password and Login information
Where to store your files
Ethical Conduct
Not using someone else’s login and password
Not using the network for commercial use
No illegal activities
No obscenity
No downloads

27. School Computers Cannot be used for the following purposes:
Commercial purposes (own business)
Religious (promote religion)
Political (endorse candidates)

28. Inappropriate Email Uses
Spamming: Bulk, mass or repeated mailings. Many copies to one destination or one copy to many destinations.
Flaming: message that expresses a strong opinion or criticism
Trolling: Sending messages that contain statements intending to bait an argument or confrontation.
Phishing: A form of criminal activity to fraudulently acquire sensitive information such as credit card details and passwords while masquerading as a trustworthy person or business.

29. E-mail Messages (as defined by receiver)
Nuisance: Messages that continue after the recipient asks that they stop and are defined as a nuisance and are illegal.
Harassment: Nuisance messages that are intimidating or threatening are even more illegal.

30. Conclusion
Information Ethics is not just knowing how to make use of computers, it is making good decisions regarding professional and social conduct, specifically when information/computers are involved.