Ethics & Ownership

— Computer Science · AS Level (9618) · Paper 1 —

★ Exam Tip: Sir says this is a "common-sense" chapter — but a few things must be memorised: the 8 IEEE codes (you may be asked to explain any two), the bullet points of each licence, and the AI answer pattern (learn from past experience → mistakes → better). AI questions are new in 9618 and examiners love them: 3–4 already asked (specimen + past papers).

1. What is Ethics?

DefinitionEthics = a system of moral principles that guides behaviour, based on philosophical and religious issues.
Example: respectful and considerate behaviour.

Everyday ethics = how to eat, talk, communicate — they vary from family to family and religion to religion (e.g. in Japan there are very strict etiquette rules: how to sit with a senior, apologising if you start eating first).
Computing has advanced so much that the field needs its own rules to keep things under control ⇒ ethics of computing.
Different companies make their own ethics, but in computer science everywhere you work we use the 8 IEEE Code of Ethics.

2. The 8 IEEE Code of Ethics

IEEE = Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers — the body that wrote the rules. The 8 rules are for software developers to be ethical in their work. When you start a new job the company makes you sign its code of conduct (agree: yes / no).

Remember: the words "consistent with the public interest" appear in codes ①, ② and ④ — public interest always comes first!

#	Code	Rule (board wording)	Sir's meaning / example
①	Public	Developer must act consistently with the public interest.	Act as the public would want. e.g. client asks for an app promoting wine culture in Pakistan → first ask: is it consistent with public interest?
②	Client & Employer	Developer must act in the best interest of their client and employer, consistent with the public interest.	Find out what client/employer needs and fulfil it — but don't look only at the client; check public interest too.

③	Product	Software engineers should ensure their product meets the highest professional standard.	Any app you create must meet professional standards — e.g. an app with poor visuals that doesn't meet the standard = unethical.
④	Profession	Software engineers shall advance the integrity and reputation of the profession, consistent with public interest.	Integrity = no cheating / shortcuts. e.g. stuck on a loop in client's code and showing it to a friend ⇒ against integrity — never expose company code to anyone.

⑤	Judgement	Software engineers should maintain integrity and independence in their professional judgement.	Judge people's work fairly. e.g. judging code by you, Munim and Muhammad — if you favour a relative with bonus/accommodation ⇒ unethical.
⑥	Management	Software engineer managers should promote an ethical approach to the management of software development and maintenance.	Managers must promote ethics while software is being developed and maintained: treat colleagues well, keep integrity.

⑦	Colleagues	Software engineers should be fair and supportive to their colleagues.	Don't exploit juniors — e.g. senior makes the intern do everything while he relaxes on full salary. Ethical: give some work, teach, support, help them grow.
⑧	Self	Software engineers shall participate in life-long learning regarding the practice of their profession.	Keep learning as technology advances (CS, law, doctorate…). e.g. full-stack dev (HTML, CSS, JS, .NET, React) learns blockchain / AI → boosts the company.

8 IEEE codes — every one must stay consistent with the public interest (②, ④ even say it in the rule)

Memory hook: Public · Client · Product · Profession · Judgement · Management · Colleagues · Self → "Public Clients Prefer Perfect Judgement, Managers Care Seriously"

★ Exam Tip: Typical question: "Explain any two of the IEEE codes" or the examiner picks two for you (e.g. Self and Colleagues). Write rule + a short example. The examiner can ask any of the 8 — know all.

3. Ethics Exam Questions

Sir: these are common-sense questions — write sensible, relevant points; each point earns a mark.

Q1How can a developer ensure he is acting in the best interest of his clients?

Keeps client's personal data private — e.g. client gives card info / password / email to buy a domain name: never use or share it, keep it safe.
Involve the client in development — client wants an e-course website (LMS) → don't just go build a "YouTube"! Show each stage: "stage done, check it, ask for changes now".
Provide the solution that the client asked for — work on what the client says.
Keep the project running on time — deadline given (e.g. 15 September) must be met; submit on time.
Keep the client informed — tell them which stage you've reached.

Business tip (sir quoting Hisham Sarwar): when a sale closes, the real work opens — do the first job well, involve the client, deliver on time and communicate well ⇒ the same client becomes long-term (much bigger repeat projects) instead of paying $100 once.

Q2What can a developer do to feel more confident before joining a new job?

Read about the language that he/she will be using
Visit the office prior to starting
Speak to her manager about concerns

Q3Ethical action done by the manager to make a new developer feel comfortable?

Prepare an introduction
Invite the developer before starting
Introduce the developer to the team

Q4Ethical action done by a colleague to make a new developer feel comfortable?

Prepare a greeting
Provide structured support
Invite the developer to social events

Q5Why should a professional code of conduct be signed before starting?

To confirm that the developer understands the code of conduct
To make sure what behaviour is expected from the developer
To make the developer understand there may be consequences of some actions
To ensure all employees adhere to the same standard

4. BCS Code of Conduct

BCS = British Computer Society — another professional body with its own code. Four principles (from the board):

① The Public Interest

Members prioritise the public interest in their work: ensure the safety, health and welfare of the public · safeguard necessary data and privacy · consider the wider societal impact of their work · commitment to inclusivity — how technology affects all segments of society.

② Professional Competence and Integrity

Keep high professional competence: only take tasks you are trained and qualified for · maintain skills through continuous professional development. Integrity = honest and trustworthy · avoid conflicts of interest or situations where professional judgement could be compromised.

③ Duty to Relevant Authority

Comply with the laws and regulations of the countries they practise in · respect the authority of the organisations that employ them. BUT not absolute — balanced by the other principles, especially when the authority's demands conflict with public interest or professional standards.

④ Duty to the Profession

Promote the reputation of the profession and the professional body · support fellow members · share knowledge · increase public understanding of computing and its consequences · oppose misleading or detrimental practices · help develop professional standards and practices.

5. Ownership — Copyright

What is meant by Copyright?• The formal and legal rights to ownership
• Protects against unauthorised reproduction of work
• Provides for legal right of redress

how a copyright claim works

Legal rights: I make a video; someone downloads it and re-uploads it on their channel without credit or permission and puts ads on it. I own the content, so I can make a copyright claim → they must remove it. 2–3 claims can even get their channel banned.
Unauthorised reproduction: don't give my work to others ⇒ copyright protects me. Same for music: either seek permission or don't monetise (monetise = ads / earning money).
Redress = compensation for the wrong done. e.g. a news channel used a person's drone footage → owner claimed copyright → channel paid $500 for it.

Common mistake: "I gave credits so it's fine" — NOT enough if you earn money from it; credits alone don't replace permission.

Note: "Copyright-free" music libraries (e.g. Epidemic Sound) are allowed only because the creators gave permission. Some YouTubers use claimed music but don't monetise — then there's no problem.

6. Software Licensing

When you create software it is released under a licence. 4 types: ① Commercial · ② Free software · ③ Shareware · ④ Open source (e.g. MS Word = commercial; OneNote on Windows 10 = free).

quick scenario test: find the clue in the question, follow the arrows to the licence

① Commercial licence

What is meant by a commercial licence?• Restricted use (can restrict until you pay)
• Source code NOT provided — only the compiled program
• Anyone can purchase / download if they agree to the terms
• Limited number of installations (e.g. one device per key)
• Software key needed to install (= product key)

Why no source code? So nobody alters it, renames it "Word 2" and sells it for $5 while Word sells at $100.

e.g. Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Windows — pay → get product key → enter key → software activates. Sharing one key with the whole family = breaks the licence.

Benefit to the OWNER

• Can charge a fee
• Retains copyright (ownership stays with them)
• So the software cannot be distributed by a third party

Benefit to the CUSTOMER

• Potentially better support as fee is paid
• Redress available if software doesn't work correctly (refund / replacement)
• Likely to have fewer bugs (bug = problem in software)

② Open-source licence

What is meant by an open-source licence?• The source code is released with the program
• User can edit the source code to suit their needs
• User can re-release their version under the same terms
• Can be cost-free but may also need payment

user gets only the finished program

user gets program AND the code

e.g. user removes a logo or adds extra features by editing the code, then re-releases it. Examples: Mozilla Firefox, Linux, Apache web server.

③ Shareware licence

What is a shareware licence?• User gets a free trial which may be limited in features
• No access to source code
• The user has to pay after the expiry date

Benefit to the customer

• They can check if it works
• without paying a fee if it does not

e.g.

Word's 1-week free trial; online courses where the first lecture is free — then you pay after the trial.

④ Freeware (free software) licence

What is meant by a freeware licence?• There is no fee
• The software could be copyrighted
• Modification, redistribution is prohibited without permission

e.g. YouTube videos: free to download, no fee, but still copyrighted — you can't modify them or redistribute them (like the drone footage given to the news channel, who got a claim). (Board lists "Free Software" as ② and "Freeware" in the question — same thing.)

Licence	Fee?	Source code?	Modify / redistribute?	Key point
Commercial	Yes	No	No	restricted use, key, limited installs
Open source	Free or paid	Yes (with program)	Yes — same terms	edit + re-release
Shareware	After trial	No	—	free trial (maybe limited), pay on expiry
Freeware	None	No	Prohibited w/o permission	free but still copyrighted

Common mistake / ethics link: cracked software, sharing product keys, making 15–20 new accounts to keep a trial running, or sharing someone's paid course = breaking the licence (and the creator's copyright). Sir: use the legitimate options.

Exam style: very easy scenario questions — "There is no fee — which licence?" / "There is a trial basis — which licence?" / "Source code is given — which?" Use the quick test above.

7. Artificial Intelligence

DefinitionAI is the ability of a computer, or a robot controlled by a computer, to do tasks that are usually done by humans because they require human intelligence.

Human intelligence = using our brain to do tasks: clicking a button, driving, playing chess, noting sensor values, raising an alarm.
Make a computer / robot do the same tasks ⇒ artificial intelligence (artificial = self-made, a replication of human intelligence).
Paper 1 asks two things: Impacts of AI and Applications of AI (deeper AI is in Paper 3).

Impacts of AI — social · economic · environmental

Every industrial revolution (guns, motors…) has both positive and negative impacts. AI is the next revolution — so we study both and prepare. (Syllabus reason!)

Impact	Positive (+)	Negative (−) / risk
Social (Easier life)	Daily life easier and more efficient (e.g. email/WhatsApp vs letters). Repetitive or dangerous tasks (e.g. factory packaging) done by AI ⇒ frees the human workforce for creative work.	— (see economic row: people must change what they do)

Economic
(Economic crisis)

For every job lost, ~10 new ones open (e.g. email killed letter delivery but created many email jobs). New fields: data science, machine learning, data analyst/scientist, creating algorithms, maintenance, creative jobs.

Jobs disappear — drivers, call centre, customer support, factory work, maybe even pilots. If you don't adapt ⇒ economic crisis.

Environmental
(Monitoring and control system)

Monitor global warming, flood detection (water level rising → pre-planned alert), agriculture (measure soil pH, learn correct fertiliser amounts from past mistakes).

Carbon emissions: running systems needs electricity made by burning fossil fuels (positives outweigh).

Sir's advice: ADAPT to every new technology (TikTok / Shorts algorithm is interest-based and will change the world). Data is everything — AI, ML, business analysis all need data.

Tip: Even if you don't know a question's exact angle, write something sensible on social / economic / environmental impacts — examiners reward relevant points.

Applications of AI — the answer pattern

the one idea behind almost every Paper-1 AI answer

★ Exam Tip: "Describe an application of AI" (3 marks) = 1 mark to identify the application + 2 marks to describe how AI is used. Check the mark allocation and practise past papers with the mark scheme, marking yourself.

Pattern to follow: the whole mark scheme says ONE thing — makes mistakes → learns → does better. Stop what makes things worse, repeat what makes things better ⇒ efficient, faster, safer.

Different scenario? The factory question won't repeat — expect e.g. monitoring and control or self-driving cars. Apply the same points to the scenario: self-driving cars follow traffic rules, avoid human mistakes → rate of accidents decreases; learn from past accidents; store the rules.

ApplicationsDescribe applications of Artificial Intelligence

① Police identifying wanted people

Uses image recognition
to identify features in an image
(newer: crime-identification cameras notice suspicious actions, e.g. reaching for a pocket → alert police)

② Self-driving cars

Directs its position on the road and within the traffic
Follows a route, collision avoidance and self-parking

③ Game playing

Models characters in a computer game
to allow computer characters to react according to the player's movement

ChessDescribe how the computer would use AI to play the chess board game.

The rules, past moves and decision-making algorithms of the game will be stored
The AI program is trained by playing many times
AI will look ahead at possible moves
and analyse the pattern for past choices
and choose the move most likely to be successful
Computer could learn how to improve from previous mistakes
by storing positive / negative results of choices
and changing its future choice

Why "trained many times"? (sir's analogy): blindfolded, you can name an apple by taste because your brain has past data. A fruit you've never eaten (e.g. a desert fruit from Taif) — you can't name it the first time. Eat it again and again → the taste gets stored → you identify it. AI is the same: wrong 1st, 2nd, 3rd time … right the 4th.

FactoryExplain how the use of AI can help improve the safety and efficiency of a factory.

Machines can learn from past problems
They can adapt to stop the same problem occurring again
They can learn to predict what might happen and raise an alert
Machines can learn how to work efficiently
When an action slows the system down, it can prevent this happening again
When an action increases the speed of the system, it can repeat this when necessary to improve the efficiency

8. Quick Recap — Cheat-Sheet

✓ Ethics

Ethics = system of moral principles guiding behaviour (philosophical + religious). e.g. respectful, considerate behaviour.
IEEE 8: ① Public ② Client & Employer ③ Product ④ Profession ⑤ Judgement ⑥ Management ⑦ Colleagues ⑧ Self
BCS 4: Public interest · Professional competence & integrity · Duty to relevant authority (not absolute) · Duty to the profession
Best interest of client: keep data private · involve client · give what's asked · on time · keep informed
Code of conduct signed: understands · expected behaviour · consequences · same standard for all

✓ Ownership

Copyright = formal & legal rights to ownership · protects against unauthorised reproduction · legal right of redress
Commercial: restricted use · no source code · buy/download if you agree terms · limited installs · key. Owner: fee, keeps copyright, no 3rd-party distribution. Customer: better support, redress, fewer bugs.
Open source: code with program · edit · re-release same terms · free or paid
Shareware: free trial (maybe limited) · no source code · pay after expiry. Customer: check it works, no fee if it doesn't.
Freeware: no fee · could be copyrighted · no modification/redistribution without permission

✓ Artificial Intelligence

AI = computer (or computer-controlled robot) doing tasks usually done by humans because they need human intelligence
Impacts: easier life (repetitive/dangerous tasks → frees workforce) · economic crisis (jobs lost, new ones → adapt) · environmental (monitoring & control)
Applications: police image recognition · self-driving cars (route, collision avoidance, self-parking) · game playing (characters react to player)
Answer pattern: store rules/past data → train many times → look ahead → learn from past mistakes (+/− results) → change future choice → efficient
3-mark "describe application": 1 identify + 2 how AI is used