All Science Fields have some kind of ethics document, for professionals of that field to abide by:
For Example, Engineering has code of Ethics prescribed by IEEE(Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering)
Medicine has Hippocratic Oath, and finally
Computer Science has ACM (Association of Computing Machines) Code of Ethics

Why do we have Codes of Ethics?

Professional Association's way to establish themselves as a Profession
As a means to regulate their membership and thereby convince the public that they deserve to be self-regulating
A way to deter unethical behavior of its members

When do we learn Ethics?

Formative Childhood
Learn basic ethical principles
Adult/Professional Career

Augment and interpret the ethical values we learned earlier

Advancement in Computers and Data Communication

Reevaluate the application of ethical principles and establish new agreements on ethical practices

Why Change and Re-evaluate ethical principles in Computer and Data Communication?

Alteration of relationships among people
Data communications takes place without personal contact, without visual and aural senses
Communication occurs so quickly that one may not have time to consider implications of information before it has been sent and received

Computers and Data Communication systems provide for high-speed, low-cost processing, communication, copying, and printing of in

tangible intellectual property
new factors in decisions about proprietary rights
residual rights
plagiarism
piracy
eavesdropping
violation of privacy

Negative events happen so easily, sometimes without the initiators' even considering the consequences

On Positive a note

Freedom of Expression is greatly leveraged and magnified to the extent that far more good may be done with the creation, use, and dissemination of information.
Business transactions rely on handwritten signatures, yet nearly all electronic transactions take place without any signatures.
As automated means for transmitting legally recognized signatures become available, ethical norms will need to change

Unlike the computer field, some sciences and professions have had hundreds of years to develop the ethical concepts that form the basis for dealing with new issues. They nonetheless continue to wrestle with new and troublesome ethical problems raised by technological advances

In contrast, Computer Science and technology have been in existence for only 30 years. The need for ethical standards is equally as critical in computer science, technology, and business as it is in other fields

In addition, ethical issues in the computer field may be more separable and public than in medicine and law, which often affect average citizens as well as highly specialized professional

Some of the computer-specific ethical issues that have arisen as a result of the development of computers include:

Repositories and processors of information
Unauthorized use of otherwise un-used computer services or of information stored in computer
Fairness
Invasion of privacy
public's right to know(freedom of information)

Computers as producers of new forms and types of assets

Software

Application Programs

Systems Software

etc.

Computers have attained Symbol of intimidation and deception:

The anthropomorphic view of computers as thinking machines
Infallible
Absolute-truth producers, yet they are subject to blame

An unfortunate reality of modern computing environment is that some users will not behave ethically:

Software piracy
Plagiarism
Unethical use of technology

Some businesses abuse technology by creating sweatshops to increase productivity

Currently, Law(federal, state, and provincial) cannot keep up with the fast paced growth of technology

To overcome this, ACM has instituted the code of ethics for professionals, and students in the field of computer science

ACM Code of Professional Conduct is not a Law document but the guidelines to make judgment calls, for situations that are not clear or unavoidable

ACM - 1972

First Code of Ethics was adopted in 1972

Called Code of Professional Conduct
Deterred unethical behavior of its members
Tended to list possible violations
Threatened sanctions to violations of ethics published
Difficulty in implementing an ethics review system

ACM - 1992

Called Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
Self-regulation rather than enforcement
Commitments are not all rules, but also ideals
Essential function is to clarify and state ethical requirements
emphasize education or socialization rather than enforced compliance

Function of the Code of Ethics

Clarify the professionals' responsibility to society
Hold professional accountable to public
Aid Individuals in the decision making process

Contents of ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct

Commitment to ethical professional conduct is expected of every voting, associate, and student member of ACM
Contains many but not all, issues that professional are likely to face
Divided into sections

Section 1: Fundamental ethical consideration

Section 2: Consideration for Professional Conduct

Section 3: Pertain about individual in leadership position

Section 4: Principle involving compliance with this code

Contains 24 imperatives

Bill C-60 COPYRIGHT LEGISLATION

Intellectual property law

Industrial design law

Patent law

Trademark law

Trade secret law

The Copyright Act, written in 1921 and became law in 1924
Bill C-60 is amendments to the current Copyright law

Amendments of Bill C-60

Protection of computer program as literary works

Right of owner to make backup copy( 1 copy), right of owner to translate the program into a different computer language

Provides clarification what materials are protected under the copyright law and industrial design law
Rights for mechanical reproduction are abolished and replaced by negotiated settlement
Copyright board established, having jurisdiction over such matters as fees for collectives and non-locatable owners of copyright

Collectives will provide a means through which to obtain licenses or permissions to reproduce material protected under copyright law

Also assist copyright owner, who cannot be located

Moral rights of creators are enhanced

Moral rights include distortion, modification, use of material in association with products, services, or institutions which infringe on the integrity of the author

Choreography is protected under copyright law, regardless of the work having a plot or storyline

Under Bill C-60, fines for conviction of a summary offense are increased to a maximum of $25,000 with a maximum jail sentence of six months

A maximum fine of 1million dollars, with five-year jail term may follow a conviction for an indictable offense

Methods of Enforcing and Teaching Code of Ethics

Computer Use Policy(CUP) - All institutions (Universities, Colleges, etc.) use them to regulate the use of computers and communication

i.e. Paper we get with password and login accounts

Compulsory Courses for Computer Science students (CPSC451)
Research for writing CUP, projects in other senior level courses
Research for projects in other courses

i.e. MGIS321, CPSC547, etc.

Sources:

ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct: COMMUNICATIONS OF THE ACM, 1991 p.98-p.108
ftp.cc.utexas.edu
Self-Assessment E.A. Weiss, Communications of the ACM, 33(11), 1990 pp. 110-132.
Big brother and the sweatshop: computer surveillance in the automated office. P. Attwell, Computerization and Controversy: Value Conflicts and Social Choices, Eds. C. Dunlop & R. Kling, 1991 New York: Academic Press.
Battle for the Soul of the INTERNET: TIME, 1994 p.40-46.
Special Issue:Welcome to Cyberspace, TIME, Spring 1995