Running head: ETHICAL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT 1 ETHICAL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT 3 Hello All, The drilling of the offshore oil had been deemed appropriate; there occurred an explosion on the deep-water Horizon oil Rig under the ownership of and operation of BP. This caused spills due to the pasteurized natural substances that were escaping from the oil well. There were preventive mechanisms that were put in place to ensure the natural substances escaping from the oil wells do not cause destruction on the surface. However, during this case the laid down mechanisms to prevent chaos failed causing oozing out of the natural gas, water, mud, and other materials through the pipes, spreading and causing ignition (Kaye, 2015). The business has the social responsibility of increasing profits in line with the provisions of Milton Friedman’s philosophy (Friedman, 1970). From the case involving BP oil spill and the connection with the philosophy put across by Milton Friedman, BP was in an effort to maximize its production of its offshore oil which would consequently increase its profits. The maximized levels of oil production would generate more profits that would increase the objectives of the shareholder to maximize their wealth. This was the most probable reason as to why the company exceeds its oil rig so that it could maximize its oil production, without taking into account the preventive measures to enhance safety at the site. Friedman’s theory of Shareholders would have influenced decision making by BP, and consequently reduce the chances of a disaster to a great extent. According to the shareholders theory, businesses are supposed to be conducted in manner that it will meet the goals of the shareholders of maximizing their wealth. Besides, the theory continues to support that businesses should also conform to the basic laws of the society both in the law and those based on the ethical considerations of the society. Acting in an ethical way would have enhanced safety of the people, technology, and the marine life. Friedman, M. (1970, September 13). The social responsibility of business is to increase its profits.  New York Times Magazine. Retrieved from http://umich.edu/~thecore/doc/Friedman.pdf Kaye, L.  (2015, February 19). Five years after Deep-water Horizon, can BP repair its reputation? Marketing and Comms. Sustainable Brands. Retrieved from https://www.sustainablebrands.com/news_and_views/marketing_comms/leon_kaye/five_years_after_deepwater_horizon_can_bp_repair_its_reputa Running head: WORKPLACE HARASSMENT 1 WORKPLACE HARASSMENT 2 Hello All, There are many reasons that contribute to workplace harassment. Many a times emp.

1. Running head: ETHICAL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
1
ETHICAL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
3
Hello All,
The drilling of the offshore oil had been deemed appropriate;
there occurred an explosion on the deep-water Horizon oil Rig
under the ownership of and operation of BP. This caused spills
due to the pasteurized natural substances that were escaping
from the oil well. There were preventive mechanisms that were
put in place to ensure the natural substances escaping from the
oil wells do not cause destruction on the surface. However,
during this case the laid down mechanisms to prevent chaos
failed causing oozing out of the natural gas, water, mud, and
other materials through the pipes, spreading and causing
ignition (Kaye, 2015).
The business has the social responsibility of increasing profits
in line with the provisions of Milton Friedman’s philosophy
(Friedman, 1970). From the case involving BP oil spill and the
connection with the philosophy put across by Milton Friedman,
BP was in an effort to maximize its production of its offshore
oil which would consequently increase its profits. The
maximized levels of oil production would generate more profits
that would increase the objectives of the shareholder to
maximize their wealth. This was the most probable reason as to
why the company exceeds its oil rig so that it could maximize
its oil production, without taking into account the preventive
measures to enhance safety at the site.
Friedman’s theory of Shareholders would have influenced
decision making by BP, and consequently reduce the chances of
a disaster to a great extent. According to the shareholders

2. theory, businesses are supposed to be conducted in manner that
it will meet the goals of the shareholders of maximizing their
wealth. Besides, the theory continues to support that businesses
should also conform to the basic laws of the society both in the
law and those based on the ethical considerations of the society.
Acting in an ethical way would have enhanced safety of the
people, technology, and the marine life.
Friedman, M. (1970, September 13). The social responsibility of
business is to increase its profits. New York Times Magazine.
Retrieved from http://umich.edu/~thecore/doc/Friedman.pdf
Kaye, L. (2015, February 19). Five years after Deep-water
Horizon, can BP repair its reputation? Marketing and
Comms. Sustainable Brands. Retrieved
from https://www.sustainablebrands.com/news_and_views/mark
eting_comms/leon_kaye/five_years_after_deepwater_horizon_ca
n_bp_repair_its_reputa
Running head: WORKPLACE HARASSMENT
1
WORKPLACE HARASSMENT
2
Hello All,
There are many reasons that contribute to workplace
harassment. Many a times employees are exposed to various
instances although they are not aware of the nature of the sexual
harassment. Sexual harassment in the workplace is contributed
by two main factors; hostile environment and quid pro quo
scenarios. It comes in the form of unwelcome events such as
touching, due to protected, and severe or pervasive or events
that violates the provisions of workplace relations. Companies

3. must have policies that protect their employees in case they
experience such scenarios (You Tube , 2017). However, in the
event that the company has failed to recognize a workplace
harassment event, one has to hire an attorney to represent in a
court of law. Besides, they should seek guidance of the
company human resource department before they can present
their case in a court of law.
This video is quite helpful because it gives employees as well as
human resource managers an insight to what constitutes a sexual
harassment, and also gives directions on what the affected
parties should do (United States Equal Opportunity Employment
Commission). It is an important to guide and train new
employees on the procedures they want to follow during
workplace training, and also giving a clear definition of what
constitutes a sexual harassment, whether a hostile environment,
or quid pro quo.
The supervisory acts that constitute sexual harassment should
be held as a consequence of the actions of the individual person
while they are serving the business. The provides a definition of
a sexual harassment, factors that constitute a sexual harassment,
as well as the possible approaches that are at the disposal of the
affected parties to solve the underlying problem. The video is,
thus, in line with the provisions of the Faragher v. Boca
Raton, 524 U.S. 775 (1998), Supreme Court Case (US Supreme
Court Center, 1998).
United States Equal Opportunity Employment Commission.
(n.d.). Overview. Retrieved from United States Equal
Opportunity Employment Commission:
http://www1.eeoc.gov/eeoc/index.cfm
US Supreme Court Center. (1998, June 26). Faragher v. Boca
Raton, 524 U.S. 775 (1998). Retrieved from
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/524/775/
You Tube. (2017, December 07). Knowing Your Rights:
Workplace Sexual Harassment. Retrieved from You Tube:

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_7VTt87mTk
Running head: CASE BRIEF
1
CASE BRIEF
2
Hello All,
Why was Citizens United's video publication an issue?
The case was an issue in the sense that Section 441b prohibited
corporate independent lection expenses. Besides, there was the
issue of BCRA disclaimer, disclosure, and reporting was to be
determined whether they were constitutional. According to the
District Court Sections 201 and 203 were constitutional when
applied to the Movie and recognized that the disclosure of
donors might have been unconstitutional if it sabotaged freedom
to associate with a particular course. The case sort to clarify
whether section 203 violated the First Amendment when applied
to the Movie, and whether the application of section 201 and
203 were constitutional when applied to the movie (Citizens
United v. Federal Election Commission, 2010).
Decision of the Supreme Court
The outrage regarding Citizen’s United had not much to do with
the nature of Hillary, corporations, the Movie or even the
judicial activism. The case presents an important dispute that
regards the meaning of the First Amendment and clarifying that
its role not restricted to campaigns elections. However, the First
Amendment in the case represented the individual rights. In the
case, the court upheld that the movie had performed an
equivalent function of expressing advocacy since it informed
the voters that Hillary Clinton as not fit for office; therefore,
section was applied according to the constitution (Cornell Law
School, 1992).

5. Do you agree that a business entity other than a sole
proprietorship have the same First Amendment rights as
individual humans? Why or why not?
Yes. The First Amendment grants business entity similar rights
to those of citizens. For instance, the citizens are given the
same rights as human individuals (Severson, 2012). They are
given a right for religious establishment. They are also given
the right of freedom of speech. Besides, they are given the right
to assemble peacefully. The same rights that are disposed to the
humans are also disposed to the corporation. Besides, the
corporations also have been given the right to petition the
government to address their grievances.
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310
(2010) (Supreme Court of the United States January 21, 2010).
Cornell Law School. (1992). First Amendment. Retrieved from
Cornell Law School:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment
Severson, K. (2012, July 25). Chick-fil-A thrust back into the
spotlight on gay rights. Retrieved from New Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/26/us/gay-rights-uproar-
over-chick-fil-a-widens.html
Running head: REQUIREMENTS OF A PATENT
1
REQUIREMENTS OF A PATENT
3
Hello All,
A patent denotes a form of intellectual property that
excludes others from making use or benefiting from it.
However, this limitation is usually for a number of years, and
usually exchanged for publishing an enabling public disclosure

6. of invention (Eisenberg, 2008). For a patent to be recognized, it
has to be statutory, which means it must be eligible. The
invention is required to be new for it to be patentable. This
means that any new idea, process, or device should not be
disclosed to the public prior to being patentable. Besides, the
invention should be useful, and should be used to accomplish a
specific purpose. Besides, it should satisfy the requirement of
not being obvious, which means that it should be totally new
and not an improvement over a previous invention.
Companies should not be given the right to patent life
forms or any other form of genetic materials because they are
naturally occurring. However, the methods and ways used to
isolate these genes are patentable because they can only be
devised through human intelligence, unlike the genes that occur
naturally. It does not matter whether the life form is sentient or
non-sentient because both have life and are naturally occurring.
Therefore, they cannot be attributed to be a property to any
individual (Chernoff, 2008).
There is no one, including the government, has the right to
end life. There is no specific law that defines life as a property
or where life is beyond a person’s or business appropriation
(Huber, 2018). However, a being that has life can be treated as a
property to a person, but they do not have a right to own the life
of the particular being. That is a person can only own the being
and not the life in it.
Chernoff, Vilhauer, McClung & Stenzel, LLP. (2008). Patent
law you can use, part II. Findlaw. Retrieved from
http://corporate.findlaw.com/litigation-disputes/patent-law-you-
can-use-part-2.html
Eisenberg. (2008). Patent law you can use, part I. Findlaw.
Retrieved from http://corporate.findlaw.com/intellectual-
property/patent-law-you-can-use-part-1.html
Huber, P. (2018, Autumn). Who owns the code of life? City
Journal. [Web version.] Retrieved from https://www.city-

7. journal.org/html/who-owns-code-life-13601.html
Forehand, M. (2008) Overview of a lawsuit. Findlaw.
http://corporate.findlaw.com/litigation-disputes/overview-of-a-
lawsuit.html
Wagner, A. (2017, September 26). What really motivates people
to be honest in business. TED. YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qhomjw2P-V0
Reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code. U.S. Courts.
http://www.uscourts.gov/FederalCourts/Bankruptcy/Bankruptcy
Basics/Chapter11.aspx
The truth about monopolies and anti-trust laws. [Video File.]
Available at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSFawZ_qNA
Chernoff, Vilhauer, McClung & Stenzel, LLP. (2008). Patent
law you can use, part II. Findlaw. Retrieved
from http://corporate.findlaw.com/litigation-disputes/patent-
law-you-can-use-part-2.html
Eisenberg. (2008). Patent law you can use, part I. Findlaw.
Retrieved from http://corporate.findlaw.com/intellectual-
property/patent-law-you-can-use-part-1.html
Huber, P. (2018, Autumn). Who owns the code of life? City
Journal. [Web version.] Retrieved from https://www.city-
journal.org/html/who-owns-code-life-13601.html
Stuerer, M. (2008). Executive summary of the antitrust laws.
Findlaw. Retrieved from http://corporate.findlaw.com/business-
operations/executive-summary-of-the-antitrust-laws.html
Romine, N., Stephonson, M., Uthe, J., Ye, H., & Chen, L.
(2013). Case study: Patenting human genes.[PDF]. Retrieved
from https://jwcwolf.public.iastate.edu/336/Myriad%20Genetics
%20Case%20Study%202011%20rev%202013.pdf

8. Judicial Education Center. (n.d.) Contract law. University of
New Mexico. Retrieved
from http://jec.unm.edu/education/online-training/contract-law-
tutorial
Missouri Bar Center. (2008). Forms of business
organizations. Findlaw. Retrieved
from http://corporate.findlaw.com/corporate-
governance/business-organizations.html
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310
(2010). Available
at http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-205.pdf
Marcantel, J. (2010, June 5). The corporation as a "real"
constitutional person. U.C. Davis Bus. L.J. 11. Available
at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1620993
Arnold, C. (2009, October 15). Small businesses squeezed as
banks limit lending. NPR. ]Web]. Retrieved
from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113
816657
United States Equal Opportunity Employment Commission.
(n.d.) Overview. Retrieved
from http://www1.eeoc.gov/eeoc/index.cfm
United States Equal Opportunity Employment Commission.
(n.d.) Prohibited employment policies/practices. Retrieved
from http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/practices/index.cfm
United States Department of Labor (n.d.) Summary of the major
laws of the Department of Labor. Retrieved
from https://www.dol.gov/general/aboutdol/majorlaws
United States Equal Opportunity Employment Commission.
(n.d.) Laws enforced by EEOC. Retrieved
from http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/index.cfm
United States Equal Opportunity Employment Commission
(n.d.) Workplace laws not enforced by the EEOC. Retrieved
from http://www1.eeoc.gov/laws/other.cfm

9. Hasl-Kelchner, Hanna. (2006). The business guide to legal
literacy: what every manager should know about the law.
Friedman, M. (1970, September 13). The social responsibility of
business is to increase its profits. New York Times Magazine.
Retrieved from http://umich.edu/~thecore/doc/Friedman.pdf
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(Search by authors or title.)
What is corporate social responsibility? (2019). University of
Edinburgh, webpage. Available
at https://www.ed.ac.uk/careers/your-
future/options/occupations/csr (NOTE: In addition to
definitional explanation of CSR, consider this reading in
context of modern trend of CSR in business globally.)
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0348/2011_01_01_Corporate%20_Social_Responsibility.pdf?se
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Chapter One in: Halbert, T., & Ingulli, E. (2008). Law & ethics
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[Read the following 3 blogs of David Gebler together, each 1
page. They are in sequence]:
Gebler, D. (2010, April 14). Banana logic. Blog: Business
Ethics, Culture and Performance. Retrieved
from https://managementhelp.org/blogs/business-
ethics/2010/04/14/banana-logic/
Gebler, D. (2010, April 19). Toyota ethics: Questions to get
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ethics/2010/04/19/toyota-ethics-questions-to-get-to-answers/
Gebler, D. (2010, April 28). Goldman Sachs - Trust, corporate
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Kaye, L. (2015, February 19). Five years after Deepwater
Horizon, can BP repair its reputation? Marketing and
Comms. Sustainable Brands. Retrieved
from https://www.sustainablebrands.com/news_and_views/mark
eting_comms/leon_kaye/five_years_after_deepwater_horizon_ca
n_bp_repair_its_reputa
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What every manager should know about the law. [Books24x7
version]. Appendix C - The Lessons of Sarbanes-Oxley.
Available

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SN311/AppendixC.pdf
The Sarbanes Oxley Act. (2012, February 9). thatnewbeat.
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direct=true&db=bth&AN=66249887&site=ehost-live.
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