Software Piracy :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Software Piracy It is becoming increasingly difficult to manage a company without being involved with decisions concerning software. In our current North American society, nearly every firm uses some form of specialized software whether in the payroll department where the Chief Financial Officer most certainly employs specialized financial software to make financial projections, or through the use of computer interaction with the company bank. Manufacturing firms for example, rely heavily on specialized software for inventory control, billing, shipping and other critical functions. There are also various firms that develop new products and often use computer-aided design (CAD) software to develop and refine product ideas. This perhaps may lead one to argue that virtually every department within a modern company relies somewhat on the use of computer software (Baumer & Poindexter, 2002: 85). As such, it becomes increasingly important to recognize the various forms of software piracy and the necessary steps to be taken in order to prevent such abuses of Intellectual Property. Make or Buy: Weisband and Goodman (1993: 30-33) define software piracy as the direct, unauthorized copying of a program for commercial gain. The use of software involves a classic â€Å"make or buy† decision based on three options. The first option is that a firm may hire programmer-employees or an outside firm to create the software. The drawback in this situation is that the final product may be less than â€Å"perfect,† as employees who have previously created working software for a firm often re-use certain parts of it to save money. In these situations, the issue of ownership of the software is relatively simple. If the creator of the software is an employee, the employer of that person is automatically the owner of the copyright. The second option available to the firm is to contract with a software vendor of copyrighted and trademarked software for installation of their software, noting that a license agreement is necessary and secondly that various terms in the license agreement can be negotiable. In this situation the use of software is often restricted to â€Å"normal operations† meaning that the licensee cannot sell or rent access of the software to any other firm, and secondly that the use of software is restricted to a limited number of people within the firm (Baumer & Poindexter, 2002: 102).

Cold War :: essays research papers

Cold War My first inclination would be to answer the first question with a clear "YES". But come to think of it, the causes of war really have not changed at all, or at least very little. Rather than changes, there has been a shift in the causes. The cause of war which has dominated the last 50 years was the cause of ideology. However, due to the recent end of the Cold War, this cause of war, has significantly declined and is almost trivial. The causes of war have shifted from mainly ideological ones to economic, ethnic and others. Although these reasons have always played a role as causes of war throughout history, they were in the last 50 years overshadowed by the cause of ideology. Now, with ideology not on top of the agenda anymore, these causes have regained their importance. After the second World War the world was dominated by two superpowers; the USA and the USSR. The Cold War was a result of this division of power and of the important policy of spheres of influence. In the post WWII-era the Americans thought that the Russians were aiming to incorporate Western Europe (the US & British sphere of influence) into their sphere of influence (Eastern Europe) by supporting the communists in these countries. Their fears were enforced when a "coup substituted communist for coalition rule in Prague." (Calvocoressi, p.15)(even though this is an Eastern European Country, the fact that a coup was staged against a democratic government is reason enough to raise their fears). In this ideologically hostile environment the Cold War began. It was characterised by the arms race between the two superpowers who were eager to preserve their spheres of influence. Both developed such powerful weapons which were too dangerous to be used in practice, but which contributed to the feeling of security, because they acted as deterrent. (These weapons could be used "politically"[as deterrent] but not "militarily"[since they would bring complete annihilation].) "Each side armed itself to win a war which it expected the other to begin but for which it had no stomach and no plans." (Calvocoressi p.4) Europe was a very stable area in the post-WWII era. All the conflicts between the superpowers, were never directly between US and Soviet troops, but in these conflicts one superpower supported one side and the other one the other side. These were staged in the Middle-East, Africa, and Asia.

Party influence in Congress Essay

The decline of party strength and influence began in the 19th century, partly due to the growth of the federal government under FDR whose ‘New Deal’ establishment served to undermine traditional social functions once carried out by party machines, thus weakening party loyalty. In the 1960’s and 1970s new issues such as civil rights, feminism, environmentalism and consumer rights arose to challenge traditional voting habits. These issues did not divide neatly along party lines and more voters indulged in â€Å"ticket-splitting† (voting for different parties in different elections). Partly in response to these trends, the parties themselves began to question their own policies and challenge their leaders. In Congress, reforms democratized or ‘opened up’ selection procedures to broader participation. Senior members found themselves surrendering committee chairmanships to unknown newcomers. Whips found it harder to enforce party discipline and junior members increasingly pursued their own personal projects to gain media attention and impress their constituency voters. Congress members have much to gain, in publicity and in tangible rewards (grants for their constituencies) from unpredictable behavior. The effect upon presidential influence in Congress has been destructive. President Carter struggled to pass bills through a House and Senate controlled by his own party. President Reagan’s early successes were largely due to Democrat ‘Boll Weevil’ defections. President Clinton has likewise been unable to rely upon solid party support, particularly for his anti-crime legislation and Healthcare Reform bill. Congress has been split by the new individualism of its members. The rise of the primary in presidential selection was another method used to ‘open up’ the political system and weaken party influence. Primaries allow voters a direct say in the choice of the party’s standard bearer in the presidential election. However, they enable candidates to hijack the party nomination for president by assembling teams of consultants, lawyers, financiers and media advisers, many of whom have no party affiliation and no loyalty or goal beyond the victory of their chosen leader. The victorious candidates sometimes lack any experience of government at the national  level. Modern presidents, facing a fragmented Congress, aggressive pressure groups and a skeptical media, cannot afford the luxury of limited experience. Unfortunately, the modern election system tends to favor those candidates who are effective campaigners rather than those who may be effective administrators. Given these difficulties, it is not surprising that recent Presidents have appeared to struggle. The cement of practical experience, party loyalty and common cause is too often thin or nonexistent at both ends.

Health Policy

Value Dimensions of the Affordable Care Act President Obama’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) enacted in March 2010 will increase health insurance coverage to millions of Americans. This is the first significant reform in health care in over 40 years and targets closing the gap of uninsured Americans by mandating insurance. There has been debate over the individual health insurance mandate and whether it is constitutional. Opinions on the individual mandate and the values it impacts are conflicting among all stakeholders.This talk will concentrate on the following stakeholder groups: (1) Insurance companies and (2) uninsured individuals who might otherwise choose not to purchase health insurance or do not have the means to do so (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2012). It is no secret that health care has become increasingly unaffordable; cost of medical treatments and insurance premiums keep rising and society feels a moral obligation to insure that its citizens do not suffer from the una vailability of health care. The individual mandate provision has been and will continue to be one of the most controversial elements embodied in the ACA.This provision requires individuals to maintain minimum essential coverage each month or pay a penalty. This new law allows the American people to choose health insurance plans that work best for them by providing a short, plain language summary of benefits and coverage (SBC) as well as a glossary of commonly used insurance terms to all patients. Coverage includes those who, until now, have continuously been denied because of their existing health conditions Beginning (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island, 2010). January 1, 2014, all U. S. esidents are required to maintain the previously mentioned essential coverage unless the individual falls into certain categories including the following: religious conscience exemption, incarcerated individuals, undocumented aliens, when contribution exceeds 8% of household income and individua ls with a coverage gap of less than 3 months, individuals in a hardship situation as defined by the Secretary of Department of Health & Human Services, individuals with income below the tax filing threshold, and members of Indian tribes (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island, 2010).The Affordable Care’s Act does decrease the number of uninsured compared to if this legislation did not pass. The policy of mandating insurance provides an incentive for individuals to purchase insurance or face paying fines. Tax benefits induce employers to provide coverage to their employees. Employers may even provide more health awareness programs to reduce health costs. Provisions under this legislation also decrease the number of underinsured including the healthy young individuals who might otherwise choose not to purchase health insurance.The ACA will also eliminate barriers for interstate insurance providers and encourage more competition to provide a low-cost advantage for the uninsured. This may also lead to nonprofit agencies being developed to provide a low cost option for the uninsured. The Individual Mandate and the entire ACA will impact the health of all Americans. The ways the individual mandate may impact consumer access to healthcare, healthcare quality and costs and insurance companies is still debatable depending on which stakeholder group you are aligned with.The ACA will expand coverage to nearly 95% of consumers that reside in the U. S legally (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2012). Consumers previously not covered under government programs such as Medicaid will be able to receive healthcare benefits through those programs. In addition, preventive care will be free and seniors will have access to cheaper prescription drugs. The ACA also provides incentives to primary care providers to practice in underserved areas which will also expand consumers’ access to healthcare.On the other hand, cuts in Medicare will take place at a time when millions of bab y-boomers become eligible for Medicare and some Americans could lose access to their current health care plans as a result. The ACA also establishes several new rules and controls for insurance companies including requiring that they cannot deny coverage for pre-existing conditions, must spend a certain percentage of premiums collected on actual patient care costs.These new rules provide protection for consumers and ensure insurance companies are held accountable for the care and services provided to patients that are enrolled in their plans (Friedman & Becker, 2012). Another major issue that has raised considerable debate and even led to law suits being filed is the constitutionality of the ACA. Those who oppose healthcare reform argue that it is unconstitutional for Congress to require that every person purchase health insurance. However, the ACA improves ccess to healthcare which promotes the general welfare of consumers, and thus congress has the power to spend money to promote general welfare. Although the ACA has several short-comings that are currently being debated and others yet unknown, the bill’s potential to improve access to care for the uninsured, reduce healthcare costs and make insurance companies more accountable make it worth the trouble. As with any major change, working out the problems over time will be required to allow the ACA achieve the goal of improving the health status and overall life quality of consumers (Friedman & Becker, 2012).References Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island. (2010). Federal Healthcare Reform. Patient protection And affordable care act individual mandate & subsidy. Retrieved from: https://www. bcbsri. com/BCBSRIWeb/pdf/Individual_Mandate_Fact_Sheet. pdf Friedman, A. & Becker, N. (2012). Understanding the Individual Mandate’s SCOTUS Pivot Points. Justices ponder adverse selection, a potential death spiral and severability. Retrieved from: http://ldihealtheconomist. com/he000023. shtml Kaiser Famil y Foundation (2012). Health reform. Retrieved from: http://healthreform. kff. org/

Crj 100

Assignment 1 Robert D. Brown Professor Aprille W. Campbell Lithonia Campus CRJ 100 April 13, 2013 STRAYER UNIVERSITY [pic] The criminal justice system is a group of component agencies, which consist of the police, followed by the courts, and the corrections. Each component supports each other to achieve the overall success of the criminal justice system. The system begins with the police where the law is enforced, if a crime is committed it is the policeman duty to investigate and apprehend the criminals for questioning.These are not the only functions of the police according to; Frank Schmalleger Criminal Justice Today Eleventh Edition â€Å"the police enforce the law, investigate crimes, apprehend offenders, reduce and prevent crimes, maintain public order, ensure public safety, provide emergency and related community services, and protect the fundamental rights and freedom of individuals. Many individuals look at the policeman as the â€Å"BAD GUY† but this is a very impor tant job and is critical to the criminal justice system. The criminal courts system is the second phase of the criminal justice system.Is very important to maintain professionalism at all times, fairness, integrity, and impartiality is expected of all criminal justice personnel at every stage of the criminal case processing. During this process it is the duty of the courts to ensure that the highest standards and expectations are met and maintained during the entire criminal courts process. The criminal courts must conduct fair and impartial trials, decide criminal cases, and ensure due process, the idea that laws and legal proceedings must be fair.The Constitution guarantees that the government cannot take away a person's basic rights to ‘life, liberty or property, without due process of law. ‘ Courts have issued numerous rulings about what this means in particular cases, (According to www. lectlaw. com). The courts system must determine guilty or innocent, and only imp ose sentences on guilty personnel. The criminal justice system is charged to uphold the law and be fair throughout out the justice process. Protect the freedom and rights of anyone facing processing by the justice system, and must provide a check on the exercise of power by other justice system agenciesThe third and final stage of the criminal justice system is the correctional agencies, once an offender has been sentenced, the corrections stage begins. Once in the correctional system there are many local procedures and the individual are assigned to confinement facilities and treatment facilities. All correctional facilities are charged to provide safe and humane custody and supervision of offenders. Some criminals with minimal offenses are housed in lower security facilities and have many more privileges. Those with more serious crimes such as rape, killers, and organized crimes are housed in the maximum security facilities.The purpose of the correctional facility is to punish cri minals for their crimes and depending on the charge try to rehabilitate the individual, followed by reform, and reintegrate convicted offenders back into the community. The rehabilitation phase is a lengthy process, which includes counseling, and many different classes that are designed to help the convicted offenders make better choices in life. The correctional facility often has repeat offenders; some of these crimes are Murder, Rape, Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Burglary, Larceny-theft, and Motor Vehicle Theft.While serving time in a correctional facility, the legal and human fights of the convicted must be treated with respect at all times. The criminal justice system is a long and drawn out process, that has many steps to ensure that everyone is entitled to fairness and equal treatment. Without following the correct procedures, in the criminal justice system there could be errors that could include false imprisonment, and could create many other problems for the criminal justi ce system. References Frank Schmalleger Criminal Justice Today Eleventh Edition, Retrieved April 13, 2013 www. lectlaw. com

Creative Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Creative Strategy - Essay Example The target audience in this advertisement is the customers who shop online. Managers have upgraded firms with the latest technology that makes their products available online. Using social sites like Facebook and twitter will have the attention of website browsers. The target audience is the youths in the society. They are up to date with the latest trends in the technological sector (Burrow p45). Communication brings understanding. It can assist in building a rapport between employees in the business. It could help increase the business production levels. Communication assists in building the customer relations and fosters relationship between the management and the employees. In the end, the team will be motivated. The advertisement should encourage the target audience on the importance of the product. Low prices are a motivating statement. The advertisement should give assurance to the target audience that prices will be low. Advertisements have to come with the advantages of purchasing the product. With the advantages in place, the target audience will have the supporting information that would convince

Banking System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Banking System - Essay Example Due to this banks started experiencing liquidity issues and were unable to have the amount of money required to remain in business and were on the verge of its default. As a result of this, the government came out with a bailout plan to help the banks from experiencing bankruptcy. The bailout can be both beneficial and disadvantageous at the same time. Mostly governments tend to bailout those banking institutions that are too huge too fail and their failure can further increase the economic crises (Scott, 2012). But such policies are anti competitive in nature. This is because when the government bails out an organization, it tends to hold certain shares of the entity and have the right to make decisions. Due to this the government may choose to be very secure in their policies and competition may decline as credit flow to different individuals and organizations may decline and this can slow the process of economic improvement and