ITMG 281 University of Manitoba Wk 4 Patents and Trade Secrets Discussion

Jayson Rich posted

As a Google user, I just noticed advertisements relating to webpages I had recently visited. I became frustrated and wondered why the advertisements are so closely related to my most recent searches. I then began to feel violated and wondered if my privacy was being invaded. After reading this week’s case, I have a better understanding of how AdSense works. Although, I do not favor the advertisements; I feel more at ease and do not feel that my privacy has been invaded. With that being said, I am not totally convinced about whether the advertisements are generated only on the basis of content of the recent pages viewed. In my experience, I noticed on several occasions advertisements for upgrades to products that I recently purchased or downloaded. I have also noticed advertisements for the exact products sold on a webpage I just viewed. For example, I downloaded the software for my neat scanner yesterday; today I see advertisements selling the Neat scanner on pages I view. I purchased a new laptop and had to download my software from multiple websites. Each time I download the software I will see advertisements for the software on pages I visit. Is this just a coincidence, or are they really basing the advertisement on the actual websites I visit? In my opinion this is not a coincidence, therefore it seems to me that my privacy has been invaded. In my opinion, there should be laws in place that protects Google users from their privacy being invaded.

Byce did not acquire the source code through improper means, because as an employee he was already in possession of the code. In order for Byce to be guilty of acquiring the source code through improper means, he would’ve had to gain access to the code without permission. Although Byce did not acquire the source code through improper means, his actions seem to be unethical.