Copyright is a protection that applies to all tangible and creative works. Title 17 of the U.S. code provides protection for such copyrights. This assists the creators of such work to control how it is used. It helps prevent different unauthorized uses like reproduction, altering, or displaying. There are certain time limitations to works. If it was done before 1922, it is public domain. Between 1923 and 1978, works are copyrighted for 95 years. Another limitation is that it lasts 70 years after the death of the author. It is always necessary to ensure certain works are not protected, under copyright or others. In terms of education, the Fair Use Act allows schools and libraries to use works with certain restrictions like the percentage of the work used or how it would affect the work’s market. Technologically, almost all works on the web are protected in some way and software has no Fair Use concept.
In accounting, the importance of following rules, laws and guidelines is insurmountable. In 2002, the amount of expectations, tasks, rules and guidelines to follow increased drastically after the fall of Enron and the firm Arthur Andersen. While it did not occur because of copyright law, it is very similar in that protection and regulations are there for a reason. Also, in accounting, much research is done and past court rulings and instances help define our responses. It is important to not plagiarize but to use the resources in an appropriate manner. Ethics has become a major focus in the accounting profession and is something that every firm has high expectations for.
The following is a really cute video from YouTube done by a teacher displaying the Fair Use rule as well as explaining copyright law. It is done by taking approved-length clips from different Disney movies and piecing them together to form a presentation and speech about copyright. Clever!
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