Case Study: Installing Programs without Licensing

One of the partners from an accounting firm goes to one of the computer technicians and recommends him to go to one of their clients from the firm and installs a computer program with one of the licenses from the firm. The technician tells the partner that he cannot install the program because it is illegal to install programs in other computers without the right licensing. The technician also recommended that it would be better for the client to buy the license and that he would install the program for his company. His boss answered that he is one of the most important clients in the office and that the client wasnt interested in buying the program. Nevertheless, he promised that they would install the program and that he shouldnt worry because he would make himself responsible.

Questions: What is the ethical issue the technician is facing? Who are the stakeholders? What are the possible actions the technician can take and the outcomes of each action? What is your decision and why did you select this course of action? Evaluate the possible actions. Which option will produce the most good and do the least harm? (The Utilitarian Approach) Which option best respects the rights of all who have a stake? (The Rights Approach) Which option leads me to act as the sort of person I want to be? (The Virtue Approach)