Case+45-+Ms.+Kelly's+Economic's+Software

Ms. Kelly is an eighth grade social studies teacher who is asked to teach Economics for the first time. Since she knows little about Micro and Macro Economics, she decides to give her students an experience with Economics that is real-life based. Ms. Kelly finds software, //On Your Own//, a financial simulation game, that can teach her students potential problems faced as an adult in today’s financial world. This software can be very beneficial to her students because they program has them face the day-to-day, real-life challenges of living on their own. Purchasing this software solve two problems; Ms. Kelly’s lack of knowledge on Economics and providing an education to her students since they will all need to make financially sound decisions as adults. The problem is, she already spends too much money on her classroom and her principal will not fund the program due to city wide budget cuts. An individual license for //On Your Own// is affordable to Ms. Kelly at $139. If she was to purchase a school license herself, it would cost her $1349. Although she understands purchasing a single license and downloading it on every computer in her classroom is illegal, she purchases it anyway because she is providing her students with an education on how to handle finances and also covers her teaching Economics. Educating students about finances will hopefully prevent the next generation from repeating what today’s adults are experiencing presently. Under the principles of Fair Use, Ms. Kelly’s case is illegal and not proper Fair Use of materials. If taken to court, several things can be used against her. First, sharing software that was purchased for only one license is a violation of copyright even if used for educational purposes. Also, as a social studies teacher, economics falls under content to be knowledgeable of. In addition, as an educator, Ms. Kelly can educate herself on Economics and teach it legally by using non-profit graphs, charts and textbooks. Finally, by illegally downloading one license of the CD to multiple computers, it cuts the company’s sale and profit.
 * Case Study- Ms. Kelly’s Economic Software **
 * Commentary **

I agree with the commentary that this would be an illegal process. The purchase of software such as this is for the use of one individual. Copying the program is a direct violation of the copyright. I would advise her to use the software for her own use and then teach what she has learned using free content online. -Brad Deitsch