The lesson stated that script piracy is just as unethical as picture piracy. If there were degrees of script piracy, what would be an example of a less damaging, more innocent copying of a script? What would be an example of a very damaging, unethical copying of a script? Do you think everyone who copies a script is equally guilty? Why or why not?

What will be an ideal response?

Degrees of Piracy (Student answers will vary)

(Hypothetical) More innocent copying of a script:
- Every day JavaScript code that appears on many sites: menus, hyperlinks, loading a page.
- If it didn't take the programmer long to customize it, and it is something that many people are doing, then it could be seen as more innocent.

(Hypothetical) More damaging copying of a script:
- Copying something very specific to a site, easily identifiable with a particular Web site
- If it took the programmer a long time to get it right, and it is something that takes a lot of skill, then it can be seen as more damaging to copy.

Is everyone that copies a script equally guilty? (Student answers will vary)

Yes, copying is copying -- and is wrong. Who are we to judge if a script is more or less valuable or that copying it is more or less damaging? The value of the script is in the eye of the beholder, and it is creative output, owned by the person who developed it.  There are no gray areas, right is right -- and wrong is wrong.

No, there are degrees of guilt. For example, if someone sees a cool way that a menu works on a site, and is having a hard time figuring out the script -- and copies it -- it is not all that harmful.  There are hundreds of sites with the same JavaScript menu, and how can you say who owns it? If someone copied script that was definitely specific for a certain Web site, or project, or particularly artistic, then it is more serious.