Ethics and Ownership
Professional ethics, intellectual property, software licensing, copyright law, and the societal impact of computing.
7.1 Ethics and Ownership
What Is Ethics in Computing?
Ethics are moral principles that govern a person's behaviour or the conducting of an activity. In computing, ethics guide how professionals create, use and manage technology responsibly.
Computing professionals face unique ethical responsibilities because their work affects:
of individuals whose data they handle
of systems used in critical infrastructure
of networks and personal information
through automation, AI and misinformation
Professional Bodies: BCS and IEEE
BCS — British Computer Society
- UK professional body for computing
- Sets standards for computing professionals
- Members must follow a Code of Conduct
- Code: act in public interest; maintain competence; respect confidentiality; work within law
IEEE — Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
- Global professional body (US-based)
- Develops technical standards worldwide
- IEEE Code of Ethics covers: public safety; conflict of interest; honesty; fairness to colleagues
Intellectual Property (IP)
Intellectual Property refers to creations of the mind — software, music, books, inventions. IP law protects creators' rights to benefit from their work. The main forms relevant to computing are copyright and patents.
| Protection Type | What It Covers | Duration | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copyright | Automatically protects creative works: software code, written text, music, images | 70 years after author's death | Source code of an application |
| Patent | Protects inventions/innovations; requires registration | Up to 20 years | A novel hardware invention |
| Trade Secret | Confidential business information kept private | Indefinite (while secret) | Google's search algorithm |
| Trademark | Protects brand names, logos | Renewable indefinitely | Apple logo, Microsoft Windows name |
Software Licensing
🏢 Commercial / Proprietary
Pay to use; source code hidden; redistribution prohibited. Example: Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop.
🆓 Open Source
Source code freely available; can be studied, modified, redistributed (usually). Example: Linux, Firefox, Python.
🔬 Shareware
Free to try for limited time/features; pay to unlock full version. Example: WinRAR trial.
💸 Freeware
Free to use at no cost; source code NOT provided; redistribution usually prohibited. Example: Adobe Acrobat Reader.
✅ Open Source — Advantages
- Free to use and distribute
- Community finds and fixes bugs fast
- Transparent — can audit security
- Customisable for specific needs
- No vendor lock-in
⚠️ Open Source — Disadvantages
- No dedicated support guarantee
- Anyone can create malicious forks
- May lack polished user experience
- Documentation sometimes poor
- Commercial support costs money
Copyright Infringement
Using, copying, or distributing copyrighted work without permission or a valid licence. This includes: pirating software, sharing unlicensed music, copying source code without attribution.
Consequences: Civil lawsuits → financial damages. Criminal prosecution (for commercial-scale piracy). For organisations: fines, reputational damage, loss of trading licence.
Impact of Computing on Society
| Area | Positive Impacts | Negative / Ethical Concerns |
|---|---|---|
| Employment | New tech jobs; remote working; productivity tools | Automation displaces manual workers; skills gap |
| Privacy | Better authentication; encrypted communications | Mass surveillance; data harvesting by corporations |
| Health | Medical diagnosis AI; wearable health monitors | Sedentary lifestyle from screen time; cyber-addiction |
| Environment | Smart energy grids; precision agriculture; remote work reduces travel | Data centre energy consumption; e-waste disposal |
| Education | Online learning; access to global knowledge | Digital divide; misinformation online |
| Artificial Intelligence | Medical imaging; fraud detection; accessibility tools | Bias in AI decisions; deepfakes; autonomous weapons |