1 Ethical Issues in Computer Science CSCI 328, Fall 2013 Session 36 More Professional Ethics

2 Licensing Licensing is a legal means of regulating who can engage in certain activities. Texas licenses software engineers. Only state to do so Computer experts in private practice who advertise as "software engineer" must be licensed. Employees working on software need not be licensed. Only 64 licenses issued (as of 2009 writing of Johnson's book)

3 Problems with Licensing Computer Professionals Establishing and maintaining license regulations is expensive. Cost-benefit ratio is high if only a few people are licensed. Standards and tests are controversial. (Why?) Body of Knowledge hard to define. Broad range of knowledge in CS, CSE, etc. No full agreement on academic accreditation. No full agreement on regulations for licensing. Licensing stand-off: Professional societies do not have power to license. Thus, they cannot enforce standards of practice and ethics. Thus, authorities will not give them power to license.

4 Selling Software Is software a product or a service? If hire an expert to write custom software? If buy packaged product off the shelf? Who is responsible when things go wrong? State of US law is in flux.

5 Selling Software and the Categorical Imperative Is seller of software treating the buyer merely as a means to an end? What are the conditions in which selling is ethical (deontologically)? What are the limitations of these conditions?

6 Selling-Buying as a Contractual Relationship Basic contract: Seller provides product; Buyer pays. Other conditions for a software contract? If contract not fulfilled, buyer can sue seller for breach of contract. Companies often hire lawyers or consultants to develop contract terms. Disputes are resolved in the courts. Tort law: torts deal with wrongful acts other than breach of contract for which civil action can be brought. Torts are treated differently depending on whether the software is viewed as a product or a service.