ASU East

 

TWC 451/551
Intellectual Property and Copyright
Multimedia Writing and Technical Communication
Fall 2008

Case Studies

Understanding copyright and intellectual property can be challenging. Just when we think it's starting to make sense, we try to apply it and...it becomes confusing all over again. Often it feels as though we need to be lawyers to understand it all and yet most of the time we don't have the luxury of having a lawyer at our disposal to help. The four case studies you will analyze are intended to help you apply what you learn about copyright and intellectual property to "real world" scenarios that you may encounter either as a student or professional.

Instructions:

In each case you are presented with a scenario and questions. When responding, be sure to go beyond merely answering the questions. Analyze the case so that you explain how principles of copyright and intellectual property apply to it. Think of your responses to the cases an an argument in which you state a decision that you support with an analysis of intellectual property concepts, principles, and case law (if appopriate). You are, of course, not lawyers. However, the purpose of these cases is for you to demonstrate that you are understanding and applying course content. Use your textbook and additional sources, if necessary, to support your analysis. Your responses should be comprehensive, demonstrate that you have completed readings and understood concepts, and are applying those concepts to help you work out how they apply to the scenario. Be sure to cite your sources in APA format both in-text and in a reference list.

Submission format:

Submit your analysis of each case as a properly formatted memo to me by 5:00pm (Arizona time) of the due date.

Grading:

Outcomes met by successful completion of these assignment: R1, CRW1, CRW3, CRW4, KC1, KC2, KC3

Each case is worth a total of 10 points. Grading will be based on the completeness of your analysis and your application of copyright and intellectual property concepts/principles to respond the scenario and its questions. You will also be graded on formatting, style, tone, and mechanics.

Late assignments:

Late assignments will not be accepted. If you have a medical or family emergency, be sure to contact me in advance of assignment due dates to discuss your situation.

Case #1 (Due October 5)

You worked as a freelance consultant and writer at Training A Go-Go, producers and distributors of management training manuals. Your job was to work with the team that writes and designs the manuals. Your contract mentioned the general type of work you do (writing, editing, document design), compensation, and the production schedule you are to meet. You and the team created several short manuals, including the very successful “Manager Run Amok” series. After you leave the company, you start your own training firm and use much of your work from the “Manager Run Amok” series.

Analyze the case in the context of intellectual property. In your analysis of this case, be sure to address issues of ownership, work-for-hire, and fair use.

Case #2 (Due October 19)

In his senior year, Joe purchased a copy of Photoshop from his college bookstore at an educational discount. At the end of the semester, Joe removes the software from his computer and puts his textbooks and the software up for sale on ebay since throughout his time in college he has been able to get a higher price through ebay than he has selling items back to the campus bookstore. Shortly afterwards, Joe receives an email stating that the software has been removed from the sale. Doing a little reading, Joe discovers that selling educational or academic versions of software is not allowed on ebay. While he accepts that this is their policy he is not sure why he can sell his textbooks but not the software. After all, he removed it from his computer since he will never use it again.

Analyze the case in the context of first-sale doctrine and licensing.Be sure to explain why Joe can sell his textbooks but not the software. Also analyze and decide whether Joe could have legally sold the software back to the bookstore instead of attempting to sell it on ebay.

Case #3 (Due November 9)

You work for a leading web and graphic design company. You are invited to give a presentation to hundreds of your colleagues at the Association of Information Science & Technology's Information Architecture Summit. As a reference handout, you copied all or just the best parts of several industry and popular magazine articles that provide background and additional information on your presentation topic. You copied about ten articles total, including a few charts, but no photographs. You obtained the articles from your local public library's online database of magazines and journals. You saved the articles as pdf's and then compiled them into your handout. There were 50 people who attended your presentation, but you didn’t charge for the handouts, naturally. You also made the file (your handout in pdf form) freely accessible to your co-workers on your company’s intranet.

Analyze the case in the context of both the handout and your post on your company's intranet. Be sure to analyze the case in the context of ownership, fair use, and licensing if appropriate.

Case #4 (Due November 23)

You work for a company that produces and publishes yearbooks for high schools and universities. This year, the company has decided to offer schools the option of purchasing a print version or a DVD version. The DVD is sold to students at $10. You've been assigned to the team to produce the DVD version for a local high school. Your team wants to include as many elements as possible to suggest memories of the students' school years and so you decide to include the following:

Since credits are included at the end of the DVD for all material that is used, members of your team believe that you don't need to worry about intellectual property. You're not so sure, though. Discuss potential intellectual property issues involved in this case. Be sure to address ownership, fair use, and licensing issues.

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Page last modified: 19 August 2008