Chapter 4: Intellectual Property (Part 1)

Name Alexandra Esmonde Class time: 12-12:50

KEEP THIS TO 1-3 – PAGES LONG (excluding reference page)

Author: Sara Baase

Date of Publication: 2008

Book: A Gift of Fire

Sections read:4.1, 4.2, 4.3.1, 4.3.2

• (Knowledge)Tell three interesting elements of this chapter: 
•  There is a difference between patent and copyright, and once copyright expires the information is in the public domain and anyone can have access to it.
•  The goal in the development of copyright laws is to devise good definitions to extend the scope of protection to new technologies (Baase 204).
•  The challenge with copyright and copyright laws is that the benefits of easily available material want to be maintained on the Internet and the creative reuse of material is to be encouraged, but while protecting copyright (Baase 206).

• (Comprehension) Summarize what is being discussed within this chapter? 

This chapter discusses the issues that copyright poses in terms of privacy and what should and should not be copyrighted. Property rights protect the physical property that each individual has and those rights include the right to sell it, to use it, and to prevent others from using it.  The chapter also discussed the rights that the U.S Copyright Law gives copyright holders, including: the ability to make copies of work, produce translations, movies based on books, distribute copies, perform work in public, and display work in public (Baase 204).  The chapter discussed the ways in which copyright is protected under laws and what happens when people violate copyright laws.

• (Application)Name a specific example or NEW solution for this type of problem/similar situation in  society or that you have experienced – be specific and explain? 

A specific example of this issue is the Napster issue. When that high vole of people downloaded music illegally from Napster and it was not shut down, even though it was the most popular downloading site many people questioned if that was the end to copyright (Baase 209).  The issue was that by illegally downloading music it was taking away from the revenue that artists would have made off the sale of their songs or albums.  However, numerous people believed that songs and albums are overpriced and illegally downloading is doing nothing to hurt anybody, since the artists are already millionaires.  However, Napster was eventually shut down and there are strict punishments for illegal downloading that involve heavy fines and sometimes even jail time.

• (Analysis)Address ANY that apply. How can you compare one of the situations in this chapter  to something that does not relate to computers, technology, or the Internet? Be sure to reference the chapter and your solution. What ideas NEW can you add to the issue that is being presented within the reading? Try to connect what you have by reading this article and how it applies to the stages in Bloom's taxonomy in 2 full sentences.  

Bloom's taxonomy applies to this case because the issue needed to be evaluated by all parties that it applied to, the issue needed to be addressed, and then laws and consequences needed to be applied.  The steps that the addressing the problem, determining a solution, and finally reaching doable solutions all followed the steps in Bloom's taxonomy.

• (Synthesis) Address all that apply. Do you agree with what is being said within the article (Why/Why not? Back up with FACTS)?  What new conclusions can you draw about this (or other topics) after reading this material? 

I agree that the issue of copyright and copyright laws is one that is hard to identify and therefor enforce.  Since the laws have not yet caught

up to technology it is hard for infringements to be prosecuted and such if there is no law that really encompasses the violations.  The law needs to catch up with technology, and fast before the Internet gets out of hand.

• (Evaluation) Address all that apply. Judge whether or not this topic is relevant in today’s society? Evaluate why you are viewing the topic in this manner based on your experiences. What ethical evaluations (see Chap1-1.4 for exp of Ethics) or decisions were made/can be assumed from this chapter?  What new ideas will you make after reading this chapter? 

This topic is relevant in today's society because we use the Internet everyday. We download and listen to music every day, and every day music, videos, and other electronic games are downloaded and bought and sold illegally.  This issue is prevalent in today's society because it happens every day in every part of the world, and numerous people have learned how to exploit the law and make a large profit off of selling illegally pirated and downloaded music and so forth.

References

A Gift of Fire By: Sara Baase