|
|
This is only a preview of the paper
Click here to register and get the full text.
Existing members click here to login
|
|
|
This case study analysis will discuss whether or not Accolade, Inc. exercised ethical business practice when they used reverse engineering to develop computer games that could be played on Sega’s Genesis system. I will discuss the utilitarian view of the case as well as; the rights of both of the parties, Kant’s categorical imperatives, the concept of caring, and distribution of justice and finally conclude with my view on the case. I’ll start now with a summary of the case of Accolade versus Sega.
Accolade, Inc. is a small computer software company that made games that could be played on a Sega console system. Accolade was not licensed by Sega to do this and Sega did not receive any income from sales of Accolade games. In the early 1990’s, Sega marketed its new game console called Genesis. This system had secret codes and security devices embedded in it which prevented any other game cartridges from working on the console except those made by Sega. Through the process of reverse engineering, the analysis of how a product is made and functions, the folks at Accolade were able to decipher the security features and develop games that would work on the new Sega system. Sega quickly sued, claiming that Accolade had infringed on its copyright by illegally making copies of its source code when Accolade reverse engineered Sega’s software programs. The source code was owned by Sega and Accolade had effectively stolen this code when they reverse engineered the software to develop their games. ... District Court agreed with Sega and issued and injunction which forced Accolade to remove its Sega compatible games from the market. Accolade appealed this decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, claiming that the secret code and security features that had to be known to allow games to work on the Sega console were a public interface standard that cannot be owned by anyone.
Approximate Word count = 1566
Approximate Pages = 6.3
(250 words per page double spaced)
|
|
|
|
|
|