The Handbook of Information and Computer Ethics

Book Review Chapter 23:

Intellectual Property: Legal and Moral Challenges of Online File Sharing: RICHARD A. SPINELLO

Library Reference: N/A

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Information-Computer-Ethics/dp/0471799599/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232853902&sr=8-1

Quote:  “developers must design their code responsibly and embed within that code ethical values in the form of tools that will discourage and minimize misuse”

    This is basically a good idea. Developers should increase security of original product and make it un-piratable. Apple has done just that. When you buy a song in iTunes, you won’t be able to burn the songs into a CD. You can only put them in your iPods and other computers (maximum of 5 computers only) and thus avoiding piracy. Way to go Apple?

Learning Expectation:

    From the title of the chapter, it is definitely about File Sharing. So, I want to learn more about fie sharing more than what I already know of. These days specially, file sharing has rapidly increased as compared to before. I want to learn how ethics deals with file sharing. Plus, there is also the legal and illegal type of file sharing, so I want to know more about it and if there is such a law when one violates it.

Review:

    When you firs hear of file sharing, the first thing that comes into your mind is sharing of files. This is the notion I get when I hear of file sharing and I also feel the improvement or what the possibilities of sharing files can do nowadays. Because before, if you wanted to share a file, you have to have the post office mail the file to each and everyone you want to share it to. It was a slow and difficult process during that time that would involve several people just to do it. Now, file sharing has largely evolved and has transformed to something you alone can already do without breaking any sweat. Although sadly, there have been people who have been using it illegally. Well, I think that before it was legal until people started taking advantage of it and making a business out of it, causing to lose sales in the genuine industry like record labels. They lose sales because of piracy. That is why after sometime, it was stated what’s legal and what’s not about file sharing. Though people still do piracy non-stop. I think that it’s really hard to stop piracy because many people like it to not because of they like piracy, its just that they can’t afford to buy the original ones and so they pursue buying piracy and of course, piracy makers are smiling up to their ear. Unless the anti-piracy and record labels and such do something about this, I think that piracy will never stop.

What I’ve learned:

    I have increased my knowledge about file sharing as compared to before and I have learn what challenge it is to stop piracy or illegal file sharing.

Questions:

1.    Will piracy ever be stopped?

2.    Why don’t the record labels and such do something about it?

3.    How can these piracies even get away with these things?

4.    What’s the use of an anti-piracy group when they haven’t even changed anything yet?

5.    Should the penalty be higher for these pirates?

Citation: (Kenneth Einar E. Himma & Herman T. Tavani, 2008)