Computer Ethics, Fall 2021

Mondays 5:30-8:00, Dumbach 6

Class 2 Readings

Before class 2, finish reading chapter 1 and read the first three sections of chapter 4.


Epic v Apple

Basically, Epic lost; Apple apps must still use the Apple in-app payment system, with its 30% take.

Apple does have to allow developers to list non-Apple-store routes to their product. The Apple "anti-steering rules" had forbidden this; it's a bit like stores not being allowed to advertise a surcharge for credit-card users (though they can advertise a discount for cash users).

Of course, for games, there are no other routes. Well, there might be, if Epic were allowed to put a game "shell" on the app store and then sell game modules on the Internet. 

Epic now has to figure out if they can make up with Apple. Currently they have been kicked out.

Some good discussion by Florian Mueller: www.fosspatents.com/2021/09/app-developers-must-know-that-any.html.


Texas Senate Bill 8

Nothing to do with computers, but what is going on in the world of constitutional law?


Paper 1


Pick up with Variants of Utilitarianism

    Would a Utilitarian be a Communist or a Capitalist?

The e-book Theft! A History of Music: web.law.duke.edu/musiccomic/download.

Deontological Ethics

Utilitarian Ethics

    variants

Lying

Other approaches to ethics

Copyright analysis

Wrong vs Harm

Ethical arguments: what about the one that says "I can't afford it, so they're not losing money on me"

Video games example

Jump to Fair Use.