What are the facilities of software computer ethics
Software Computer Ethics
Computer software ethics are a set of protocols that direct the use of computer software including software code, database, and other software protocols. It is the academic’s views about software use and reproduces.
The software does a huge kind of task for the user at a high speed without feeling tired.
But sometimes people copy the software or the piece of software from other software without thinking that it is illegal and can be fined.
There are some important facts about the software computer ethics that must be understood by all the people before coping with the other software or piece of software code.
Copyright Law for Software Authors
There is a copyright law for software authors or programmers same as the patent law that protects the inventors.
It is absolutely illegal to copy and paste the software or piece of software of programmers or authors.
Unauthorized copy of software code by an individual
It is very harmful to copy and paste the software program or its some part by the individual.
If it is there in any university and institution, it creates legal difficulty for the organization, and also it creates further problems for the organization in negotiating the software cost which is available at less cost for the educational organization.
Unauthorized copying of software also limits the organization and developers for the future support and benefits that may be given to them by the software company.
Therefore to protect the entire community of software people always avoid it.
Software and Intellectual Rights
Respect for Intellectual work and creativity is important in academics. This is related to the work of all the authors and publishers.
It comprises the respect for the right to acknowledgment, right to privacy, and also right to determine the form, manner, and terms of publication and distribution.
Because computerized information is volatile and can be easily reproduced, hence, respect for the computerized work is especially critical.
Academic authorities or organizations should not allow unauthorized copying of software or piece of software.
The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) is the well known and the largest academic scientific computing society.
Society has some Code of Ethics and a set of ethical principles that were also approved by the IEEE also, as the standard for teaching and practicing software engineering.
These Software Engineering Code of Ethics and Professional Practice and some guidelines are as below:
- Contribute to society and human well-being
Programmers should work to develop computer systems that can reduce negative consequences to society, such as threats to safety and health, and that can make everyday activities and work easier. It is “an obligation to develop to high standards” (Savage).
- Avoid harm to others
Computer systems have an indirect impact on third parties. They can cause loss of information and resources that might result in severely harmful for users, the general public, or employers. Therefore, software developers should minimize the risk of harming others due to coding errors, or security issues, by following standards to design and test systems (Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct).
- Be honest and trustworthy
This principle encourages programmers to be honest and aware of their limitations in knowledge and education when writing computer systems. Also, if a programmer knows there is something wrong with a computer system, he or she should report it immediately to avoid undesirable consequences.
- Give proper credit for intellectual property
It is mandatory for every software developer to never use and take credit for someone else’s work, even when it has not been protected by copyright law, patent, etc. They must recognize and fully credit other people’s works, and they should use their own ideas to develop software.
- Respect the privacy of others
Computer systems are wrongly used by some people to violate the privacy of others. Software developers should write programs that can protect users’ private information and that can avoid other undesired people to have unauthorized access to it (Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct).
- Honor confidentiality
Unless required by law or any other ethical guideline, a programmer must keep secret any additional information related to his or her employer that arises from working in a project.