"Responsible use of open source software and internet accessible code", Profs. Guadalupe Canahuate and Tyler Bell. Software programming, similar to writing, is a creative act. This proposal addresses the complex intellectual property rights of software developers and the software products they produce. Specifically, this proposal aims to educate engineering students about best practices for the ethical use of open-source software (OSS) and other freely available code. In the proposed module, students will learn about various open-source license terms, restrictions, and obligations and will be exposed to the ethical implications of reusing code or software libraries available online. Through in-class exercises, students will implement what they’ve learned within a variety of situations designed to elicit potential ethical dilemmas around the use of OSS. Ultimately, this module’s goal is to educate and establish a framework around the ethical consumption and production of software and creative work, in general.
Read more about the “Enhancing Ethical Context in the CoE Curriculum” here.