3.6 Create opportunities for members of the organization to learn the principles and limitations of
computer systems.
As we consider different social issues related to computing, we will discuss them in light of the ACM Code
of Ethics.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Modern societies recognize physical property rights as a necessary foundation of economic activity.
Without the incentive to profit from the act of creation, fewer people would invest the time, energy, and
resources to create new property. For example, if a farmer builds a new plow, and anyone can come to their
farm, take the plow away, and appropriate the plow for the use of someone else, the farmer will not likely build
another. The effect of abandoning property rights would be a decline in economic activity, which would impoverish
the greater society.
170 SOCIAL ISSUES [CHAP. 9
The same thinking has been applied to intellectual property. If authors, scientists and artists cannot profit
from their efforts, such activity may decline, leading again to a general impoverishment of society.
Yet, there are differences between physical and intellectual property. For one thing, intellectual property
can be copied, while physical property cannot be.
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