Assignment 1 (professional ethic)

Research on how professional ethics to be applied to subjects below:
1. Use of Font
2. Use of Software
3. Use of Media ( Audio / Video / Photography )
4. Use of Illustration

Ethics in the use of fonts

Fonts each have its own creative design created by their designers and is easy to be shared among computers but the legal and moral issues are often ignored.

Ethical Practices

There are four rules we must practice in font licensing they are :

• Contact the foundry or supplier of the font if you have questions. Even if you don't know who the foundry/supplier is, you can ask for another foundry/supplier of another font to help identify the creator of the font.
• Making sure the we have the license to use the font even if it is already installed into our or someone else computer.
• When installing a font that you wish to use, we must make sure that we have the license to install it if not, then we have to acquire the license before using it.
• Never give or lend a font to anyone, even your friends or colleagues. They must first acquire the license to use such font.

Font are not brought by anyone, instead they are licensed for a limited amount of people. Licences for these fonts can be obtained from specific foundries that created the font and granted in a form of an EULA(end-user licence agreement)

Using a font without a licence will have consequences such as paying the foundry with an extra cost penalty and could prevent you from obtaining a full compensation.

Ethics in the use of software

Computer software is an intellectual property that is owned by the people who created it. Using a software without a licence or permission is illegal. When buying a software, you are also purchasing the licence to use it.

Using a software without licence is wrong (Piracy)

Software programs can only be installed and be used on one computer per copy. If the same copy of the software is installed on multiple computers, it is deemed software piracy and the publisher can take legal action.

Risks of using an illegal software

An illegal software may have and could be outdated, contains bugs, can damage data and even hides viruses.
These problem may cost you a lot more to repair damage than you may have saved. Using illegal software may get you into serious trouble if caught. It will damage your reputation as well as landing you into prison.

Internet piracy 

There are many websites that are selling illegal software products and are a serious threat to electronic commerce. While there are many publishers who offer their legal software online, we must be aware that pirate operations are also on the internet as well.

Tips to help ensure you are buying not buying an illegal software on auction sites :

>If the product doesn't look original. It may be pirated
>If the software is too cheap. It may be pirated
>If there are no manuals that comes with software. It is pirated

Ethics in the use of Media(Audio / Video / Photography)

The hardest ethical problems are in media as people need to deal with things ordinary people would usually not do. Truth is the top problem in media ethics which also conflicts with multiple values.

• Taste : photos that cover war and disasters tend to capture the shock of their audience
• Privacy : Details of the lives of public figures (actors, singers) is mostly the most interested media topic in  media. Making it public will not always make the information true.
• Interest : Secrets and other sensitive government related information may pose an interest to the public.

There are many methods to enforce ethical behavior by acquiring commitment to ethical behavior from employees and adhering a code of ethics.

Ethics in the use of illustration

Illustrations provides a unique feel to any work. Each of these illustrations brings different ideas and perspective. Illustrations can bring freshness and unique view to any content as well as help communicate messages.

Pricing

Fee for the use of a certain illustration should be based on how it was going to be used and not whether it is original or not. The fee should base on how exclusive it will be used and whether a client wants all uses for a limited time.

Original works belongs to the creator

We must remember to protect the value of the work. Every artist works are protected by an artist's copyright. This protection will be in effect until the artist passes away and even have an extra 70 years additional protection after death. Every original artwork belongs to the creator although it can be reproduced with a limited time licence. Changes to the artwork is prohibited unless it is done by the creator him/herself or was given permission by the creator.

Reference

http://www.aiga.org/design-business-and-ethics/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_ethics#Ethics_of_entertainment_media
http://college.cqpress.com/sites/masscomm/Home/chapter14.aspx