Ethical and Social...J.M.Kizza1 Module 5: Intellectual Property Rights and Computer Technology ...
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Transcript of Ethical and Social...J.M.Kizza1 Module 5: Intellectual Property Rights and Computer Technology ...
Ethical and Social...J.M.Kizza 1
Module 5: Intellectual Property Rights and Computer TechnologyComputer Products and ServicesInstruments of ProtectionOwnershipInfringementProtection of Ownership RightsA Case for Computer Software
Ethical and Social...J.M.Kizza 2
Computer products and services
Computer products– Have a tangible form– Have intrinsic value
Computer services– Have intrinsic value– Have no tangible form
Computer software– A set of logical instructions in four forms:
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Computer products and services…
• Logical map
• Source code
• Object code
• Executable code
– Has two forms• Product
• Service
– May not have a tangible form
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Computer products and services…
Computer software categories:– CANNED- off-the-shelf software– Designer software – ordered by the customer– Mixed – designer/canned
If it is canned – it is a productIf it is designer ordered – it is a serviceOtherwise a mixed case.
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Instruments of protection
Software is protected by: (1) Copyrights – rights enforceable by law and
accorded to an artist, inventor/creator of an expression or creative works: literary, dramatic, musical, pictorial, graphics, artistic, audiovisual, architectural, or sound recording.– The protected works must have:
• Tangible form(expression)• Originality • Fixation in a medium
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Instruments of protection…
– Copyrights are now universally accepted– International enforcement conventions
include:• WIPO- world intellectual property organization
• UNESCO
• UCC- universal copyright convention
– Once a copyright expires the work goes in public domain
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Instruments of protection…
– Public works include:• Non-copyrightable items( ideas, facts, schedules, names,
etc..)
• Copyrightable items whose copyrights have expired
• Copyrightable works put in public domain by the author
– Duration of copyrights:• Depends on country
• In U.S.( before 1978, 75 years from date of issue, after 1978 lifetime of author plus 50 years)
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Instruments of protection…
(2) Patents – protection of inventions and discoveries
– What is protected must be:• New and useful
• Improvement of any of the following:– Process, manufacturing( products that are not machines),
machines(covering mechanism, mechanical products and composition)
• Utility, Novelty, nonobvious, there must be no disclosure.
– Protection duration in U.S. is 17 years
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Instruments of protection…
(3) Trade Secrets – Information that gives a company a
competitive advantage over the others– No one specific definition of trade secrets– It’s a collection of information in a static
format with a strategic importance– Duration is infinite if no disclosure– See pp. 72/73
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Instruments of protection…
– The following characterize trade secrets:• Extent the information is known outside the
business
• Extent of measures taken to protect the trade secrets
• Value of information to the owner
• Amount of money spent by owner to develop the information
• Ease/difficulty of acquiring such information
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Instruments of protection…
(4) Trademarks – product identifying labels– Include:
• Service marks• Certification marks• Collective marks
– Characteristic of trademarks include( see page 74/75):• Arbitrary marks (say nothing but used for service) • Suggestive marks (symbols and writings)• Descriptive marks ( intended purposes)• General marks (unrelated and not suggestive)
– Duration of trademarks in U.S. is 10 years
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Instruments of protection…
– Trademarks are registered in U.S. if they:• Are in good taste for the public
• Have no suggestive connotations to their origin
• Are not symbols of any recognizable country
• Do not use people’s likeness without permission
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Instruments of protection…
(5) Right of Publicity– This is a less known individual right about
personal attributes ( name, Social Security number, etc..) from exploitation by others
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Infringement
Moving within protected domains of intellectual property rights without permission from rightful owners
There are three types of infringements:– Direct (full knowledge)– Inducement– Contributory
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Infringement…
Types of infringements (see page 77)– Copyrights infringement is difficult to prove
(page 78) – Likewise patent and trademarks infringements
are also difficult to prove
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Protection of ownership rights
As owner/author of a creation, you’re protected by:– Copyrights– Patents– Trademark– Trade secrets
The burden of safeguarding intellectual property rights is with the individual
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Protection of ownership rights…
Methods used vary from:– Spying
– Using hired operatives
– Inspection
– Use of enforcement agencies
– Use of government (big companies)
First Sale Doctrine – copyright owner’s right to distribute one’s material through a lease or license.
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Protection of ownership rights…
Fair Use Doctrine – a balance between the protection of inventor/creator and the benefits to the community (see page 79)
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A Case for Computer Software
The 1980 U.S. copyright amendment defines a computer program as “a set of statements or instructions to be used directly or indirectly in a computer in order to bring about a certain result”– Written programs are written creative works
just like poems– Programs are copyrightable
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A Case for Computer Software…
Computer programs on the other hand implement ideas (process ideas)– They can be and have been protected as patentable
items.
There are problems with software patents:• Requirement of total disclosure
• Software projects are mostly by individual who cannot afford patent expenses
• Difficult to prove that algorithms are processes, therefore, patentable.