Question

Case 1 Theft of a Title for an Ethics Text

Seven years ago, Victor published what has become a popular ethics textbook called Ethics with Applications. The book is now in its third edition. Looking through flyers for new ethics texts, he sees one with exactly the same title as his. Dismayed, he immediately contacts his editor, who tells him that titles, unfortunately, cannot be copyrighted but are fair game for anyone who wants to use them. Victor angrily writes both the publisher and the authors of the other text, complaining that they have stolen his title. They never answer him, and he remains extremely upset. He would never knowingly steal someone’s title and can’t understand their action. Even though what they did is legal, are they morally obligated not to use Victor’s title? Why, or why not? Should they at least apologize for doing so? Is there anything else they could do to make things right, or do they need to? Why, or why not? If titles cannot be copyrighted, then can this be considered stealing? Why, or why not? Is this an important or trivial issue, to your way of thinking? Why, or why not?

Answer 1

Ethics and Morals are two different variants. Ethics and rules and regulations that one is expected to adhere to, whereas morals stem from an individuals belief and value system.

Morally, the unresponsiveness to Victors angry email, is proof of them having some form of moral value that is most definitely not congruent with that of Victors, which leads them to ignore the given approach.

As it is not illegal to use a title, it is definitely not tainted their subconscious with guilt of replicating someone else title choices, which also provides them with the leeway to avoid being held accountable morally, in their minds.

Hence, because of such a thought process, these people won't think it necessary to correct their apparent 'mistake,' for they don't believe they have made one in the first place.

Ethically, if titles cannot be copywrited it won't be considered as stealing, but it was still be labeled as a replication and a copy of the first.

According to me, with the values i harbor, an issue such as this what trouble me as well, as i hold intellectual property, and ideology theft as the worst of all. It is a form of plagiarism for me, that is abhorring,