TABLE OF CONTENTS One of the great strengths of digital technology is the ease with which content can be accessed, made useful in various ways, or, simply, reused for purposes other than the original intent. The technology makes it possible to produce visualizations that can be enlightening and highly effective at communicating ideas. Unfortunately, it also makes it possible to access, copy, and reuse content that may not have been intended for unrestricted use. It also makes it possible for visualizations to be equally effective at misrepresentation.
In the past, many of these issues were of less concern. Misuse of content was more difficult, costly, and easier for authorities to trace. If someone wanted content, they usually acquired it through normal distribution channels. This helped ensure that content creators were paid for their efforts. However, digital technology has changed all of that. It is now cheap and easy to make perfect copies of digital content and nearly perfect copies of everything else. Furthermore, of greater concern is the attitude that many people seem to have towards respecting the rights of those who produce content. Thus, we are now entering an era where the ethics of professional practice need updating with respect to what is legal and appropriate use of content, and what is ethical regarding data manipulation and content visualization.
"Copying extensively from one source is plagiarism; copying extensively from many sources is research."
Anonymous
Dictionary definitions of a profession describe it as a vocation requiring extensive education in science or...
