The objectives of this activity are to provide a means for students to examine their attitudes (perceptions) and behavior (actions) as they relate to software piracy and to explore ethical guidelines provided by businesses for their employees. A questionnaire will be used to provide pre-discussion thoughts about software acquisition. Students will find and review business guidelines for ethical behavior as they relate to software. The materials are self-contained and can be used in an ethics course (computer science, engineering, business, etc.) or as a self-contained module in any other course.

Goals for the activity:

The activity is designed to accomplish the following:

1. Students will examine their own attitudes and behaviors related to software piracy.
2. Students will become acquainted with the laws as they relate to software.
3. Students will be provided with examples illustrating proactive business computer ethics.

Through this activity, students will become familiar with the laws related to software and intellectual property rights. They will evaluate their own attitudes and behaviors both prior to and after the discussion using the same questionnaire. Each student will find a reference to a business that has explicitly designated appropriate action regarding the use of software.

Prior to any class discussion or reading assignment, each student will be provided two copies of the questionnaire and asked to complete them. One copy should be returned to the instructor at the next class meeting. The instructor should record that the student returned the form; however, no identifying information about the student should be made. The instructor will tally responses prior to the class discussion. (Note: some institutions may require approval by a "human subjects research" committee prior to administration of any questionnaire.)

Students should be directed to examine materials about copyright laws and software piracy which are provided at least one class period prior to the discussion. Students are to find (either hard copy or a web site) that illustrates a proactive, ethical stance by a business that is not contained on the resource list provided.

During the class period designated for this discussion, the instructor will lead discussion on the legal aspects of software. The following topics should be included:

--1976 Copyright Law

--1980 amendment to Copyright Law to include software protection

--1990 Software Rental Act that forbids commercial renting of software

-- Software Information Industry Association (SIIA) efforts to document software piracy costs, to offer a telephone hotline (1-888-NO PIRACY), and to assist in penalizing businesses (including universities) who violate the laws.

--Proactive efforts by businesses to educate their employees regarding software usage (view TI web site)

Students in a small class should be asked to share what they found with the group; however, if this is to be used in a large class, then small groups should be formed to provide sharing of information.

The video "It Could Have Been So Easy" can be used to stimulate discussion by the entire class.

At the end of the class, students should be directed to complete the worksheet. It should be submitted to the instructor with the student's identifying information contained on it.

The student will receive a score for completing the questionnaire. This would be merely a participatory (or attendance) score. The sharing of the business example (hard copy to instructor and verbally shared in class) should be scored by the instructor (possibly participatory as well). The worksheet should be submitted for a more subjective evaluation and score.

None

Cindy Meyer Hanchey

Oklahoma Baptist University

Shawnee, OK 74804

chanchey@obunix.okbu.edu