Discussion post for Computer in Society

Instructions:The Discussions should

(1) analyze the situation,

(2) use analogies and similar cases where possible,

(3) mention various possible risks or consequences, etc. Include some discussion of how new technology changes the situation. What advantages or problems result from using it, compared to the old way of doing things? Present the group’s proposals and/or conclusions, supported by arguments.

Pick 3 issues and discuss each of them in one to two paragraphs. There are 5 issues in total. You do not need to do all.

Pick only 3. Thank you.

Issue1: Google loses suit in France

A French publisher (La Martiniere) sued Google for scanning its books and putting extracts online without permission. A French court found Google guilty of copyright infringement and ordered the company to pay a large fine and remove the extracts. Google is appealing the decision. (Dec. 2009)

Issue2: Trademarked search terms

The practice of selling search terms raises intellectual property issues for trademarks. Business pay search-engine companies such as Google and Yahoo to display the business’s ads when a user enters specific search terms. What if a business “buys” the name of another company or some of its products?Users searching for one company will see its competitor’s ads. A company that makes software for learning foreign languages (Rosetta Stone) is suing another several other companies (including Rocket Languages) over this issue. (July 27, 2008)

Issue3: Copyright protection for open source.

A federal appeals court upheld copyright protection for open-source software. The court said a person who distributes open-source software can sue for an injunction against someone who uses the software for commercial products without following the open-source licensing agreement. (The case involves model train software distributed by Robert Jacobsen.) (Aug. 14, 2008)

Issue4: (Make your case):Debate whether Congress should repeal the Digital Millennium Copyright Act’s anti circumvention provisions.

Issue 5: A website hosts written works posted by authors. Some people post copyrighted work by other authors without permission. When an author asks the site to remove such material, the site complies and adds the work to its filter database to prevent reposting without permission. An author sues the site claiming the site infringes her copyright by storing her work.

(1). Argue the author’s case. (2). Argue the site’s defense. Evaluate the arguments and decide the case.

Instructions: The Discussions should
(1) analyze the situation,
(2) use analogies and similar cases where possible,
(3) mention various possible risks or consequences, etc. Include some discussion of
how new technology changes the situation. What advantages or problems result from
using it, compared to the old way of doing things? Present the group’s proposals and/or
conclusions, supported by arguments.
Pick 3 issues and discuss each of them in one to two
paragraphs. There are 5 issues in total. Pick only 3. Thank you.
Issue1: Google loses suit in France
A French publisher (La Martiniere) sued Google for scanning its books and putting
extracts online without permission. A French court found Google guilty of copyright
infringement and ordered the company to pay a large fine and remove the extracts.
Google is appealing the decision. (Dec. 2009)
Issue2: Trademarked search terms
The practice of selling search terms raises intellectual property issues for trademarks.
Business pay search-engine companies such as Google and Yahoo to display the
business’s ads when a user enters specific search terms. What if a business “buys”
the name of another company or some of its products? Users searching for one
company will see its competitor’s ads. A company that makes software for learning
foreign languages (Rosetta Stone) is suing another several other companies
(including Rocket Languages) over this issue. (July 27, 2008)
Issue3: Copyright protection for open source.
A federal appeals court upheld copyright protection for open-source software. The
court said a person who distributes open-source software can sue for an injunction
against someone who uses the software for commercial products without following
the open-source licensing agreement. (The case involves model train software
distributed by Robert Jacobsen.) (Aug. 14, 2008)
Issue4: (Make your case): Debate whether Congress should repeal the Digital
Millennium Copyright Act’s anti circumvention provisions.
Issue 5: A website hosts written works posted by authors. Some people post
copyrighted work by other authors without permission. When an author asks the site
to remove such material, the site complies and adds the work to its filter database to
prevent reposting without permission. An author sues the site claiming the site
infringes her copyright by storing her work.
(1). Argue the author’s case. (2). Argue the site’s defense. Evaluate the arguments
and decide the case.