CMS Professional Standards and Ethics 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Altering a news photograph by removing a person from the scene without disclosure most directly violates which principle?
- Truthfulness and accuracy in representation (Correct answer)
- Accessibility
- File compression standards
- Brand consistency
Correct answer: Truthfulness and accuracy in representation
Undisclosed manipulation of documentary images misleads audiences and violates journalistic and professional ethics.
Question 2: A royalty-free stock image license typically means which of the following?
- You may resell the image as-is
- You pay once and can use the image within license terms without per-use royalties (Correct answer)
- You own the copyright after purchase
- The image is free and in the public domain
Correct answer: You pay once and can use the image within license terms without per-use royalties
Royalty-free means a one-time fee for use under license terms; copyright stays with the creator.
Question 3: For works created by an individual author on or after January 1, 1978, how long does U.S. copyright generally last?
- 95 years from creation
- 50 years from publication
- Life of the author plus 50 years
- Life of the author plus 70 years (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Life of the author plus 70 years
Under current U.S. law, copyright for individual authors lasts for the author's life plus 70 years.
Question 4: Which type of intellectual property protection best fits a company's brand name and logo?
- Trademark (Correct answer)
- Patent
- Copyright
- Trade secret
Correct answer: Trademark
Trademarks protect names, logos, and symbols that identify the source of goods or services.
Question 5: You find you have underestimated a project and will miss the agreed deadline. What is the most professional response?
- Blame a subcontractor
- Notify the client early, explain the issue, and propose a revised timeline (Correct answer)
- Wait until the deadline passes to explain
- Deliver incomplete work without comment
Correct answer: Notify the client early, explain the issue, and propose a revised timeline
Early, honest communication preserves trust and allows the client to adjust plans.
Question 6: Using AI-generated imagery in a client deliverable raises which key professional obligation?
- No obligation since AI output is always public domain
- Disclose AI use where relevant and verify licensing terms and copyright status (Correct answer)
- Avoid informing the client to protect workflow secrets
- Claim full copyright as the sole human author
Correct answer: Disclose AI use where relevant and verify licensing terms and copyright status
The U.S. Copyright Office limits protection for purely AI-generated content, so disclosure and license review protect the client.
Question 7: Which item is in the U.S. public domain and free to use without permission?
- A photo found through an image search engine
- A work created by a U.S. federal government employee as part of official duties (Correct answer)
- A song released in 2010
- Any image without a copyright notice
Correct answer: A work created by a U.S. federal government employee as part of official duties
Works created by U.S. federal employees in their official duties are not subject to copyright protection.
