Discuss the importance of protecting intellectual property and the ethical implications of fair use and sustained innovation.

Recall from your reading this week that the founding fathers of the United States included copyright protections in Article I Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. Clearly, it has been an important element of economic growth and property rights since the nation's beginning; however, some have argued that IP rights limit fair use and can stifle innovation. One example of a modern computer ethics IP issue presented in your readings this week that calls this into question is the concept of reverse engineering. As stated in the textbook, Microsoft has at times been accused of this activity, including in its development of the Windows operating system and Office applications.

Answer the following questions as you develop your thoughts and compose a journal entry on the topic:

Do you agree with the framers of the U.S. Constitution that Intellectual Property is a fundamental right and was an important protection for a new country? Why or why not?

Have you ever downloaded "pirated" or illegally obtained music or movies?

Whether you have or have not, do you believe that such activity constitutes an infringement on someone's intellectual property? How would you feel it was music you composed, or an app you developed that others were stealing?

If Microsoft is guilty of reverse engineering, did they engage in unethical practices? Or did they engage in activity that fostered innovation and improved peoples' lives? Is it unethical regardless?

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PART 2

You may be familiar with Moore's Law, which is named for Gordon Moore, a co-founder of Intel. In 1965, in what eventually became known as "Moore's Law," he speculated that the overall processing power of computer chips would double every two years, essentially indicating that technology would advance at an exponential rate. At the time, this seemed far-fetched, but over the last 50+ years, it has proven to be a fairly accurate prediction. Reflecting on the fast pace at which technology has advanced, and knowing that threats to computer security have been present since their inception, answer the following:

• How has Moore's Law (i.e., the exponential rate at which technology has advanced) contributed to the prevalence and increased risk associated with cyberattacks over time and into the future?

• Of the many different types of exploits or computer attacks (as noted in Chapter 3 of the textbook), choose the one that you believe poses the greatest risk to an organization and explain why. Can you envision another type of risk becoming more serious as technology continues to advance? If so, which one?

• In your readings this week, you were presented with several strategies for protecting against cyberattacks and how to respond if an attack did occur. If you were responsible for protecting your organization, what steps would you take to protect it from the attack you identified and how would you respond? Think about the ethical implications of any policies, oversight, communications, and specific technologies you might consider.

• Your post must follow APA7 format and must include at least two sources (one from your textbook and one outside source) to support your position or strengthen your arguments.

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