CPW Writing Ethics and Copyright 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A blogger copies an entire news article, adds a one-line comment, and publishes it. Under fair use analysis, this is most likely:
- Protected as commentary
- Not protected because the entire work is reproduced (Correct answer)
- Protected because it is non-commercial
- Not protected only if the blog earns revenue
Correct answer: Not protected because the entire work is reproduced
Reproducing an entire work, especially when it substitutes for the original, weighs heavily against fair use even if minimal commentary is added.
Question 2: Which statement about public domain works is accurate?
- They cannot be republished without permission
- They can be freely used, copied, and adapted by anyone (Correct answer)
- They require a Creative Commons license to use
- They are protected for 10 years after entering the public domain
Correct answer: They can be freely used, copied, and adapted by anyone
Once a work enters the public domain, it is free for anyone to use, reproduce, adapt, or distribute without permission or payment.
Question 3: A medical writer employed by a pharmaceutical company is pressured to downplay drug side effects in patient materials. The ethical course of action is to:
- Comply to maintain employment
- Report the pressure to a professional ethics body and refuse to falsify (Correct answer)
- Include side effects in footnotes only
- Use vague language that neither confirms nor denies risks
Correct answer: Report the pressure to a professional ethics body and refuse to falsify
Falsifying or minimizing medical information endangers patients; professional writers must prioritize public safety and accurate disclosure.
Question 4: The 'moral rights' concept, prominent in many countries but limited in the US, primarily protects:
- The economic value of a copyright
- The author's right to attribution and integrity of their work (Correct answer)
- The publisher's exclusive distribution rights
- The right to create derivative works
Correct answer: The author's right to attribution and integrity of their work
Moral rights protect the author's personal connection to their work, including the right to be credited and to object to distortions of the work.
Question 5: A writer quotes 400 words from a 500-word blog post for a research paper. Which fair use factor is most unfavorable here?
- Purpose and character of the use
- Nature of the copyrighted work
- Amount and substantiality of the portion used (Correct answer)
- Effect on the potential market
Correct answer: Amount and substantiality of the portion used
Quoting 80% of a work (400/500 words) indicates an excessive amount taken, which weighs strongly against fair use.
Question 6: When a writer self-plagiarizes by republishing a previously sold article as new content without disclosure, the main concern is:
- Breach of copyright, since the original buyer may own the rights (Correct answer)
- Violation of trademark law
- Failure to obtain a Creative Commons license
- Infringement of moral rights
Correct answer: Breach of copyright, since the original buyer may own the rights
If the writer sold all rights to the original publisher, republishing without permission infringes on the buyer's copyright.
Question 7: Which of the following is an example of a conflict of interest a professional writer must disclose?
- Specializing in a single industry niche
- Reviewing a book written by a close friend without disclosing the relationship (Correct answer)
- Using a style guide preferred by their employer
- Writing under a pen name
Correct answer: Reviewing a book written by a close friend without disclosing the relationship
Reviewing work by a personal connection without disclosure creates a conflict of interest that undermines editorial objectivity and reader trust.
CPW Writing Ethics and Copyright 4
A blogger copies an entire news article, adds a one-line comment, and publishes it.
Under fair use analysis, this is most likely: