The main problem with computer software is that it has not been clear that we could grant ownership of it without, in effect, granting ownership of numerical sequences or mental steps … The ethical issues that arise here take us back to the philosophical basis for property rights. What should be owned? What entitles one to own something? Are there things that should never be priavately owned?
Predictor: Johnson, Deborah G.
Prediction, in context:In a 1991 article in National Forum, Deborah Johnson, author of “Computer Ethics,” writes: ”As computers have developed into the powerful tools they are, the stakes involved in creating computers, computer software, and databases have gotten higher. Attempts to claim ownership of these creations have challenged our legal and moral notions of property. The issue here that has received the most attention revolves around the ownership of software … The main problem with computer software is that it has not been clear that we could grant ownership of it without, in effect, granting ownership of numerical sequences or mental steps. Software can be copyrighted, for here what is granted is ownership of the expression of the idea (not the idea itself); but this does not give software inventors very much protection. Others may see the software, grasp the idea, and write a somewhat different program to do the same thing … The ethical issues that arise here take us back to the philosophical basis for property rights. What should be owned? What entitles one to own something? Are there things that should never be priavately owned?”
Biography:Deborah G. Johnson was a respected scholar in the field of computer ethics in the 1990s. She worked at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and wrote “Computer Ethics & Social Values” (Prentice Hall, 1995) and “Computer Ethics” (Prentice Hall, 1994). (Research Scientist/Illuminator.)
Date of prediction: January 1, 1991
Topic of prediction: Community/Culture
Subtopic: Ethics/Values
Name of publication: National Forum
Title, headline, chapter name: Computers and Ethics
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://web5.epnet.com/citation.asp?tb=1&_ug=dbs+0%2C1+ln+en%2Dus+sid+FEA17A5A%2D2C1A%2D4363%2DA900%2DB8800C5A57D2%40Sessionmgr4%2DSessionmgr3+4053&_us=bs+%7B%22computers++and++ethics%22%7D+ds+%7B%22computers++and++ethics%22%7D+dstb+KS+hd+0+hs+0+or+Date+ri+KAAACBZA00063795+sm+KS+so+phrase+ss+SO+F1D1&cf=1&fn=1&rn=5
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney