You are asked to read Chapter 8 (Computer Ethics) from the course book:

Introduction to Engineering Ethics, Mike W. Martin and Roland Schinzinger.

Then answer the following questions

1)

Consider an engineer who develops a program used as a tool in developing other programs

assigned to her. Subsequently she changes jobs and takes the only copy of the first program with

her for use on her new job. Suppose first that the program was developed on company time under

the first employers explicit directives. Taking it to a new job without the original employers

consent would be a violation of that employers right to the product (and possibly a breach of

confidentiality). As a variant situation, however, suppose the program was not written under

direct assignment from the first employer, but was undertaken by the engineer at her own

discretion to help her on her regular work assignments. Suppose also that to a large extent the

program was developed on her own time on weekends, although she did use the employers

facilities and computer services. Did the employer own or partially own the program? Was she

required to obtain the employers permission before using it on the new job?