CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, SUSTAINABILITY & ETHICS
Assessment Task: Case Study
This task is worth 30% of your total assessment for the unit
Assessment Question:
After reading a case study “Copyright Infringement?”write a case study report that demonstrates an understanding of Business Ethics and Technology.
Case Study
Copyright Infringement?
Spotify, the music streaming company, faces a $150 million class action lawsuit led by David Lowery, the front man for Cracker, the alternative rock band, and Camper Van Beethoven, an American rock band. The musicians maintain that Spotify has not been securing the proper licenses for all of the music it offers and has not been paying royalties to all of the appropriate parties. The implication emerging from the lawsuit is that the company that claims to be providing an alternative to online piracy is not living up to its own legal obligations. In short, it’s a case of copyright infringement and some might say it involves stealing another person’s intellectual property.
A license for a piece of music involves two separate copyrights. First is the recording, which is typically owned by the performer’s label and second is the underlying composition, which is often owned by the songwriter or his or her publisher. So, to use a recording, a streaming company such as Spotify would have to get two licenses. This is done by negotiating with the publisher or by sending the rights holder a notice and paying a royalty.
Lowery claims that Spotify frequently skips the second part. He claims that there may be hundreds or thousands of artists who have not been paid for their work including him. Spotify does not argue against this but does say that tracking down the proper rights holders is a complex process and hard to do. The company says it has royalties set aside for cases where royalty rights are not clear, and it stands ready to pay the royalties if the affected artists make a rightful claim. But, one of Lowery’s lawyers argues that artists should not have to track down royalties owed them but that it is Spotify’s responsibility to secure the license and pay the royalty.
Spotify, in its defence, says that the laws and copyright infrastructure that currently exist do not fully factor in the scope and speed with which digital music services operate. The company maintains that securing advance permissions for each track is inefficient and possibly crippling for a company trying to stay competitive. In January 2016, Spotify was hit with a second lawsuit over the alleged and systemic and willful copyright infringement.
Due date: Week 10 via Turnitin
Length: 500 words
Submission: Softcopy, online via Turnitin
References: Minimum of 3 references (academic journals, textbooks, company website).
Weighting: 30% of final mark
Instructions: You must write a case study report addressing four Case Study questions. The best place to start this is Chapter 8 of the Textbook and week 2 seminar.
Case Study Report
Contents Page
Introduction
Paraphrase the assessment question to clearly state the aim of the report
Briefly Outline all the key points in the case study
Clearly state the importance of the case study to the reader
Main Body
Address ALL the following questions:
1. Who are the stakeholders affected in this case and what are their stakes?
2. What economic, legal and ethical responsibilities does Spotify have to its stakeholders? Does Spotify have the responsibility to find the artists and secure permission and pay the appropriate royalty before they stream the music?
3. What are the ethical issues in this case?
4. Is the issue in this case that the law is not keeping up with the high-tech music streaming industry or that Spotify is using this as an excuse to take short cuts and engage in a questionable practice? What recommendations do you have for this case?
Headings and subheadings are to be used.
Use at least 3 sources to justify and support your answers.
Conclusion
Clearly summarise ALL the main findings of the report for the benefit of the reader.
Clearly restate the aim of the report
Clearly make a concluding statement/final comment on the topic without introducing any new ideas.
Reference List
• List all the sources of information you have referred to in the report in Western Sydney Harvard Style.
Important Related Information:
Use academic formal writing.
The report text must be double spaced.
Use the correct Harvard UWS referencing style throughout the report.
Academic Integrity is paramount – Observe the Student Misconduct Rule.
The assessment value is 30 %.
The report world limit is 500 words.
It is of absolute importance to use at least 3 sources.
You may use Studymate.com.au to have your report checked.
You may visit the English Study Lounge to have your report checked.
You must run spell/grammar checks before you submit.
Refer to the marking rubric in the Learning Guide to gain maximum marks.
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