This document discusses several legal and ethical issues faced by organizations regarding technology use, including privacy laws, internal policies to prevent unethical behavior, and implementing safeguards. It also covers specific issues like copyright, fair use, intellectual property, and privacy policies. Risks include unauthorized copyright use, unlawful file sharing, misuse of intellectual property, and unlawful distribution of personal information. Finally, it discusses challenges in today's marketplace regarding privacy, first amendment rights, and security.

1. Michael Garcia
AET/531
April 14, 2014
Melinda Medina

2. legal and ethical issues
faced by organizations
Technology has advanced the way in which businesses use technology to reach
organizational objectives and their customer base. Nonetheless, these new
technologies can sometimes violate the rights of individuals and may, at times, be
considered unethical.
The issues raised by the arrival of new technologies has prompted government entities
to pass privacy laws and regulate communication companies. Additionally, organizations
have learned that it is necessary to monitor and apply internal policies to prevent
unethical behavior.
This new age of conducting business requires that organizations be even more diligent
in implementing safeguards that protect against unscrupulous use of technology.

3. Copyright
Copyright, as defined by the U.S. Copyright Office, is a form of protection
provided by the laws of the United States (title 17, U. S. Code) to the authors of
“original works of authorship,” including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and
certain other intellectual works. This protection is available to both published and
unpublished works. Section 106 of the 1976 gives specific rights to the copyright
owner and allows the owner to authorize others to use the work in a specified
manner.

4. Fair use
In the general sense, fair use is the copying of copyrighted material done for a
limited and “transformative” purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or
parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the
copyright owner. The heart of Fair Use is a defense against a claim of copyright
infringement. The party that has utilized the copyrighted material must prove that
the use qualifies as a fair use for the transaction to not be considered an illegal
infringement.

5. Intellectual property
Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and
artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce.
IP is protected in law by, for example, patents, copyright and trademarks, which enable
people to earn recognition or financial benefit from what they invent or create.
Examples of IP include:
• Copyright
• Patent
• Trademarks
• Industrial designs
• Geographical indications

6. Privacy Policies
A privacy policy is a statement or a legal document (privacy law) that discloses some or all of
the ways a party gathers, uses, discloses and manages a customer or client's data. Personal
information can be anything that can be used to identify an individual, not limited to but
including; name, address, date of birth, marital status, contact information, ID issue and
expiry date, financial records, credit information, medical history, where one travels, and
intentions to acquire goods and services.
In business, a privacy policy is often a statement that declares a party's policy on how it
collects, stores, and releases personal information it collects. It informs the client what
specific information is collected, and whether it is kept confidential, shared with partners, or
sold to other firms or enterprises.

7. Risks, Legal and ethical issues
Each of the four issues, Copyright, Fair Use, Intellectual Property and Privacy Policy present
inherent risks as well as legal and ethical issues. Some of these are, but not limited to:
• Unauthorized use of copyrighted material.
• Unlawful file sharing
• “Pirating” or unauthorized duplication of work
• Misuse of intellectual property
• Unlawful distribution (selling) of personal information

8. Outlook of Legal and ethical
issues associated with
modern technologies
Today’s global marketplace presents tremendous opportunities for both businesses and consumers;
business can reach a broader market and consumers yield tremendous buying power. To be successful,
companies must not only ensure that their products provide customers with value but that protocols are in
place to protect the organization and its client base. Some of the common challenges are:
Privacy and Confidentiality – Web browsing is not totally private. Browsers use “cookies” to record activities
in history files. Throughout the shopping experience many online e-commerce sites use cookies to track
buying habits. When these cookies are collected into a database, they may reveal identities of individuals
and some companies sell this information to third parties.
First Amendment Rights – Information is easily accessible and unfortunately, this makes it easy to violate
Copyright laws. Regulations and laws have been enacted in an effort to stop individuals from illegal
copyrighting. Nonetheless, many of these measures are mere “speed bumps.” Enforcement of these laws
is often difficult so therefore, it is incumbent that individuals and organizations institute their own measures
that help to prevent, or at least deter copyright violations.
Security – Modern technology has made it easy for “hackers” to hijack information from computers and
websites. For this reason, anti-virus software and firewall technology is a necessity. Individuals and
corporate entities cannot conduct business without protecting their systems. Failure to continuously
upgrade the user’s system provides those adept at stealing information an open door to commit
cybercrimes.

9. References
Ethical Issues With Business Technology | Chron.com . (). Retrieved from
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/ethical-issues-business-technology-27297.html
What is Fair Use :: Copyright Overview by Richard Stim :: Stanford Copyright and Fair Use Center . ().
Retrieved from http://fairuse.stanford.edu/overview/fair-use/what-is-fair-use/
U.S. Copyright Office. (). Retrieved from http://www.copyright.gov/