#1 ICT/2

Intellectual Property on the Internet

Intellectual property describes a wide variety of creations of the mind and products of intelligence, such as inventions. It refers to artistic and literary works, symbols, designs, pictures, images and names used in commerce, also trademarks, patents, copyright and so on. IP is protected by law that enables authors to benefit from their creations. 

Nowadays, spreading information is much easier then it used to be, thanks to development of various technologies. The Internet, besides being a source of information is also a tool to infringe intellectual property. If you want to use somebody's work, you have to fulfill two conditions: the author need to know that their work is shared and agree to it. Currently, intellectual property seems to be a hot issue in media. You can read more about it for instance on The Guardian. 

Further explanation:

Another issue connected with intellectual property is plagiarism. As plagiarism we understand using and publication someone's "language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions" as your own. In jurisdiction plagiarism is not exactly a crime, but is widely considered as dishonest and immoral. At universities is sanctioned with failing or even expulsion. That's the general idea. Nevertheless, there are several services online, where you can detect plagiarism. Currently, it is a hot issue if the Internet has increased plagiarism in schools. On the Internet, plagiarism refers to illegal use of written work, photographs, graphics etc. on a webside. Usually it's just coping and pasting some data from one page to another, without giving credit to the author of original content. 

How to avoid it:

Why is it that important? Why we just cannot copy someone's work? 

First of all, it's dishonest. When you're presenting something as yours, while it isn't, it's simply a theft. I think it will take some time before our society will be aware that intellectual property is the same important as material one. The second reason - imagine you're an author. You have already created something, probably you've been working on it very hard. And then appears someone who copies your work, who wants to make a profit on something that is yours. Infuriating, isn't it? It's not that now all of you have to stop using the Internet. Do it, but act consciously and responsibly.

Nowadays technologies are an inseparable part of our lives. As far as socio-cultural aspects of ICT are concerned, the same rights and laws apply to the real life as the the virtual one. One has to respect somebody's intellectual property in real life and on the Internet as well. The same refers to issues like plagiarism and one has to be aware that they cannot act with impunity.