Glossary
AI Art
Art created using artificial intelligence tools, often through algorithms that generate images or other media based on text prompts or existing datasets. It raises questions about authorship, originality, and copyright.
Example:
An artist using a program like Midjourney to generate a unique digital painting from a text description is creating AI Art.
Biased Algorithms
Algorithms that produce unfair or discriminatory outcomes due to flaws in their design, training data, or implementation. They can perpetuate or amplify existing societal biases.
Example:
A hiring algorithm that disproportionately filters out female applicants based on historical data could be considered a Biased Algorithm.
Copyright
The legal right granted to a creator or author of original works, giving them exclusive control over how their work is used and distributed. It protects the expression of an idea, not the idea itself.
Example:
A musician holds the Copyright to their songs, meaning others need permission to perform, record, or distribute them.
Creative Commons (CC)
A public copyright license that allows creators to share their work with specific permissions while retaining some rights. It offers a standardized way to grant public permission to use creative works under certain conditions.
Example:
Many online images are available under a Creative Commons license, allowing users to share or adapt them as long as they provide attribution to the original creator.
Digital Divide
The gap between those who have ready access to computers and the internet, and those who do not. This disparity can be based on socioeconomic status, geographic location, or other factors.
Example:
Students in rural areas without reliable internet access face a Digital Divide compared to their urban counterparts when it comes to online learning resources.
Echo Chambers
Situations, often online, where a person is exposed only to information or opinions that confirm their existing beliefs. This can lead to a lack of exposure to diverse perspectives and reinforce biases.
Example:
If a social media user only follows accounts that share their political views, they might find themselves in an Echo Chamber, rarely encountering opposing arguments.
Economic Rights
A component of copyright that grants the creator the exclusive right to financially benefit from their work. This includes rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, or display the work publicly.
Example:
A photographer selling prints of their landscape photos is exercising their Economic Rights under copyright law.
Fair Use
A legal doctrine that permits limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the rights holder for purposes such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.
Example:
A student using short clips from a documentary in a school presentation for educational purposes might be covered under Fair Use.
Intellectual Property (IP)
Creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, and symbols, names, and images used in commerce. It represents original creations that are legally protected.
Example:
When a student writes an original computer program for a school project, that code is their Intellectual Property.
Misinformation
False or inaccurate information that is spread, regardless of intent to deceive. It can be spread accidentally or deliberately.
Example:
Sharing an unverified news story on social media about a health cure that isn't scientifically proven is an example of spreading Misinformation.
Moral Rights
A component of copyright that protects the personal and reputational interests of the creator, even after the work has been sold. These rights include the right to be attributed as the author and to prevent derogatory treatment of the work.
Example:
An artist can invoke their Moral Rights to prevent a distorted version of their sculpture from being displayed publicly, even if they no longer own the physical piece.
Open Access
A publishing model that makes research outputs freely available online to anyone, often without copyright restrictions. It aims to remove barriers to accessing scholarly information.
Example:
Many scientific journals now offer Open Access articles, allowing researchers globally to read and build upon new discoveries without subscription fees.
Open Sourcing
A development model that allows free sharing, distribution, and modification of a product, typically software. The source code is made publicly available for anyone to inspect, modify, and enhance.
Example:
Linux, an operating system, is a prime example of Open Sourcing, where developers worldwide contribute to its improvement.
Plagiarism
The act of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own without proper attribution. It applies to text, images, code, and other creative works.
Example:
Submitting a research paper that includes paragraphs copied directly from a website without citing the source is an act of Plagiarism.