Have DRM systems gone too far, as some critics claim?

Chapter 9 – Quiz 9

Instructions:  There are four (4) topic areas listed below that are designed to measure your knowledge level specific to learning outcome (LO 9) shown in your course syllabus.  You  must  respond to #4 and select  any other  two  of these topic areas providing appropriate responses in essay form.   In most cases the topic area has several components. Each must be addressed to properly satisfy  requirements.

State-wide and in most professional industries, there has been a mandate that college students be more proficient in their writing.  While this is not a writing class, all writing assignments will be graded for grammar, syntax and typographical correctness to help address this mandate.

Pay attention to what you are being asked to do (see Grading Rubric below). For example, to describe  does not mean to list, but to tell about or illustrate in more than two or three sentences, providing appropriate arguments for your responses  using theories discussed in our text .   Be sure to address all parts of the topic question as most have multiple parts.   A verifiable current event  (less than 4 years old)  relevant to at least  one of the topics you respond to is a fundamental component of your quiz as well.  You cannot use information from the text book or any book/article by the author of the text book as a current event.  Make sure that your reference has a date of publication.  For each chapter quiz and final quiz you are required to find and include at least one reference and reference citation to a current event  less than 4 years old (a reference with no date (n.d.) is not acceptable) in answer to at least one question.  This requires a reference citation in the text of your answer and a reference at the end of the question to which the reference applies.  You must include some information obtained from the reference in your answer.  The references must be found on the internet and you must include a URL in your reference so that the reference can be verified. 

You should type your responses directly under the appropriate question. Be sure to include your name on your quiz. Only the first three (3) questions with answers will be graded.   Include  your name in the document filename. Your completed quiz must be  uploaded into the appropriate eCollege Dropbox, no later than 11:59pm on the due date.  Do well.

1.   (a) Have DRM systems gone too far, as some critics claim?  Recall the 2005 Sony BMG copy protection case involving the controversial “rootkit” problem (examined in Scenario 9-2).  (b) Should Sony have been allowed to use a DRM system that cannot easily be uninstalled when circumstances warrant it?   (c) Do companies like Sony need strong DRM systems to ensure the protection of their intellectual property rights?   (d) What kind of compromise position might be reached between users and content owners in the ongoing debate about DRM systems?   Please elaborate (beyond a yes or no answer) and provide your “theoretical” rationale in support of your responses.  (comprehension)

2.  (a) Describe  some concerns involving pornography in cyberspace.  (b) Why was the Communications Decency Act (CDA), sections which were designed to protect children from concerns about pornography on the Internet, so controversial?  (c) Why was it eventually struck down?  (d) Why were both COPA and (portions of) CPPA struck down as being unconstitutional?  (e) Should they have been declared unconstitutional?  Defend your answer.  Please elaborate (beyond a yes or no answer) and provide your “theoretical” rationale in support of your responses.  (comprehension)

3   (a) What is sexting, and what challenges does it pose for prosecuting current child pornography laws?  Recall the examination of the sexting incident at Greensburg Salem High School, PA (in Scenario 9-3).  (b) Should the teens involved in that case have been subject to felony charges under existing child pornography laws?  Explain.   Please elaborate (beyond a yes or no answer) and provide your “theoretical” rationale in support of your responses.  (knowledge)

4   (a) Describe some of the issues underlying the  free speech vs. censorship debate in cyberspace.  (b) What is meant by “free speech”?  (c) Describe the differences between what Catudal calls “censorship by suppression” and what he calls “censorship by deterrence”?  (d) Is this distinction useful for understanding some of the complex issues surrounding censorship?  Defend your answer and please elaborate (beyond a yes or no answer) and provide your “theoretical” rationale in support of your responses.   (comprehension) LO 9

Grading Rubric for Quizzes

Grading criterion                                                                                          Unit Points           Total Points

Uploaded to  correct  Dropbox                                                                            2                            2

Submitted on time                                                                                            15                          15

Document Filename:

Your Last Name,first and middle initial with  correct  quiz number                   5                            5

( Example only: Creider_RD_q1)

Rationally expressed opinions, experiences (personal or observed) ,                   8

arguments and premises (where appropriate) to support responses

(did not simply  restate/summarize  author/textbook

Clearly presented classical ethics theories relative to topic                                8

Included ‘URL’ for  appropriate verifiable current event                                 12                          28

(i.e., example of topic being discussed  WITH EXPLANATION )

NOTE: Must be less than 4 years old

Grammatically correct and appropriate tone                                10

(professional, non offensive language)

Typographically correct                                                               10                     20

Included full citations as needed                                                    3

Used correct APA format                                                               7                     10

Addressed each item within selected topic area                           20                     20

Maximum grade                                                                         100                   100

NOTE: POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM TOTAL ASSIGNMENT GRADE IF EACH QUESTION YOU SELECTED IS NOT INCLUDED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE EACH ANSWER.