Critique 2: Intellectual Property

Right Click on this link for an MS Word version of Critique 2.

Critique 2 is concerned with an issue related to intellectual property and copyright issues. You will choose your own topic, subject to my approval. Topics include legal, ethical, and case law issues related to intellectual property, copyright, royalties, and encryption technologies to protect intellectual property in digital formats. Please note, these are not opinion pieces, but research papers.

Due date: Tuesday, April 6

Topics

Here are some potential topic assignments for C2:

·        Copyright & Fair Use
·        Copyright & the Kinko’s Case
·        Copyright & Software / CD / Video / DVD Piracy in the USA
·        Copyright & Software / CD / Video / DVD Piracy Overseas
·        The Impact of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (1998)
·        Copyright & Music Royalties
·        Copyright & the Napster Case
·        Copyright & File Sharing Technology & Issues
·        Enforcing Copyright: RIAA Legal Action Against Music Downloaders
·        Enforcing Copyright: Hardware and Format Solutions
·        Copyright & Breaking DVD / CD Protection
·        Copyright & Microsoft’s Effort to Limit Theft of Software
·        Other _________________ (you choose)

Rules and Guidelines

Logistics:
·        This critique should be 3-5 double-spaced pages, plus references
·        C2 is worth 75 points (not the 50 listed in the original syllabus)
·        Topics are chosen on a first-come, first-served basis
·        Please let Dr. Finn know your topic - by e-mail - as soon as possible
·        I will allow some duplication of topics, but after 3 students have chosen any one topic, that topic will be closed

General Organization of Your Critique:
Not all of the points below are intended to be section headers, but rather topics to cover, as appropriate:
·        Introduction (begins with catching readers’ attention; ends with the purpose/scope of paper
·        History of the issue (if there is one)
·        Technology, Design, and User Issues
·        Legal Issues & Court Precedents
·        Present both sides
·        Sum up current state of legal precedents and current thinking on both sides
·        You must have document your sources and have citations for your arguments

Basic MS Word formatting issues:
·        Use one inch margins all around
·        A page is roughly 250-275 words
·        Use headers (and subheaders, as appropriate)

Additional Rules for Students with Web Sites

Your critique should be written in a form appropriate for the web. By that I mean:

• Post it directly on the web, or
• Create an MS Word document written so it is easy for me to convert to the web (note: you can send me a traditional MS Word file for grading the critique points, then post it by the next “Web Site Evaluation” deadline)
• Write in a concise and direct style (minimize introductory remarks – the type you might put in a term paper)
• Document ALL your sources with links in the text (or in parentheses)

Basic formatting issues:
·        Use Ariel font throughout
·        Critique Title: #5 and Bold in HTML (16 point & bold in MS Word)
·        Primary Headers: #4 and Bold in HTML (14 point & bold in MS Word)
·        Secondary Headers: #3, Bold and Italics in HTML (12 point, Bold and Italics in MS Word)
·        Narrative (paragraph) text: #2 in HTML (10 point in MS Word)
·        Basic section titles - see below for section titles, a template showing the basic look, and helpful hints

Certain things work well when moved from MS Word to HTML:
·        Use tables for any information that can be presented in columns (or consider putting ALL your information in tables)
·        Use bold for emphasis; use italics for quotes (but not too much of either – for e.g., there’s almost too much bold in this document)
·        Use bullets for lists
·        Write informative paragraphs, with occasional bullet lists to present or easily summarize information
·        Please use the format below as a guide or template – though you may change the titles if these do not seem to work for your topic:

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Title of Your Critique

Overview

This should be a concise summary of some of the major points/issues to come (a couple paragraphs). This should not be an introduction, or lead-in, to the rest of the paper. Keep in mind you’re writing this as web content - avoid things like “this critique will provide an overview . . .”

A good approach is to cover your points in roughly this order (without the bullets):
·         Intro sentence(s) explaining the importance (e.g., “The issue of ___ has become increasingly important In recent years.” (due to . . ) )
·         Middle sentences listing/covering the biggest issues (e.g., “The primary issues center around ___ “ )

Wrap-up of Overview: (e.g., “These issues will continue to . . . be the subject of court cases, make news, attract investor interest, etc.”)

Specific/Competing Business Interests

Customer Use and Attitudes

Current Status

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