Exam 2: Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations

In one state, West County and East County share a border. The state capital is in East County. Many residents of West County (almost half of all adults in the county) commute to East County for work. East County has high levels of air pollution, and residents there must get their car exhaust systems tested every two years. Although West County has less air pollution than East, the pollution levels in West are rising. The state Department of Environmental Regulation orders that residents of West County must now get their car exhaust systems tested every two years as well. What moral standard best explains this decision by the Department of Environmental Regulation?

You are writing the second edition of a user manual to be included with software sold to the general public. You want to reuse a portion of the introductory materials from the first edition but cannot determine who wrote that section or what the contractual conditions were. What should you do?

When exporting goods, U.S. companies can face ethical challenges that they do not face when selling goods in the United States.

According to Chapter 2, ethicists such as Manuel Velasquez (2011) argue that whistle-blowing is justified if three conditions are satisfied. One condition is that there is strong evidence that the organization is doing something that is hurting or will hurt other parties. What is one other condition?

According to Chapter 2, what is the potential downside to whistle-blowing?

An effective code of conduct has three characteristics. One is that it protects the public rather than members of the organization or profession. What is one other characteristic of an effective code of conduct?

Fair-use guidelines apply to graphics just as they do to words.

Steven is selling a used car that is 10 years old. He found a way to set the odometer back 50,000 miles, making his car appear more valuable than it actually is. A potential buyer looks at the car and is amazed at the low mileage. He asks Steven if anyone has tampered with the odometer. Steven replies, "Hey, that would be illegal. No one wants to get caught doing something illegal." What type of misleading statement did Steven make in his reply?

When warning users about the dangers of products, writers should avoid using mandatory language such as must and shall.

Systems Software, Inc. is introducing a new piece of sophisticated graphics software. A recently hired writer has been assigned to write the Getting Started manual for the product. Being a novice, the writer first pages through similar manuals written by other graphics software companies to get ideas about how to write the manual. Which of the following statements is true?

According to Chapter 2, using social media ethically entails avoiding false endorsements. What are three other guidelines for the ethical use of social media?

Chapter 2 lists four factors governing the fair-use exemption, which allows you to use copyrighted material without permission under certain conditions. One factor is the nature and purpose of the copyrighted work. What are the other three factors?

According to Chapter 2, saying that a new line of air fresheners is "guaranteed to stave off any and every odor that comes your house's way" would be an example of what?

Which of the following preferences does Creative Commons NOT give copyright owners a means to control?

It is generally acceptable to use company boilerplate without attribution.

Chapter 2 lists four areas of law relevant to ethical issues in technical communication. One is copyright law. What are two others?

Contract law affects technical communication because technical documents sometimes contain warranty statements.

According to Chapter 2, saying that a recently fired employee was "offered an alternative career opportunity" would be an example of which of the following?

Under the concept of work made for hire, anything written on the job by an employee being paid by the organization is the property of the organization-provided that the employee agrees after the document is written to surrender his or her copyright.

Fair use is best described as a set of general guidelines on ways to use small parts of someone else's copyrighted material for purposes such as commentary, criticism, and research.