CPW Writing Ethics and Copyright 5

Question 1

Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), a website's 'safe harbor' provision protects the platform from liability when it:

Accepted Answer

Promptly removes infringing content upon proper notice

Answer

DMCA safe harbor shields platforms from copyright liability if they have a notice-and-takedown policy and act expeditiously upon receiving valid notices.

Question 2

A grant writer discovers that a colleague submitted fabricated data in a federal grant application. The ethical obligation is to:

Accepted Answer

Report the misconduct through appropriate institutional channels

Answer

Research and grant fraud is illegal and unethical; professional duty requires reporting through proper channels, which may include federal oversight agencies.

Question 3

A copyright holder sends a cease-and-desist letter to a blogger. The blogger believes their use is fair use. What is the safest first step?

Accepted Answer

Consult an intellectual property attorney before responding

Answer

Fair use is an affirmative defense determined case-by-case, so consulting an IP attorney before responding protects the blogger's legal position.

Question 4

Which best describes 'copyright assignment' versus 'copyright licensing'?

Accepted Answer

Assignment transfers ownership; licensing grants permission while ownership is retained

Answer

An assignment transfers copyright ownership entirely, while a license grants specified usage rights without the licensor giving up ownership.

Question 5

A copywriter is hired to write promotional content and knowingly makes false claims about a competitor's product. Beyond copyright issues, this creates exposure for:

Accepted Answer

Defamation and false advertising claims

Answer

False statements of fact about a competitor's products can constitute both commercial defamation (trade libel) and violations of FTC false advertising rules.

(CPW) Certified Professional Writer Practice Test

(CPW) Certified Professional Writer Practice Test

CPW Writing Ethics and Copyright 5