Software manufacturers/programmers frequently avoid responsibility for buggy code through the use of legal
disclaimers absolving them of any liability. (This is sometimes true even for bugs that were known to the
manufacturer!) Accordingly, the consumer currently bears the brunt of most damages arising from OTC
software errors.
Do you agree with this practice? As a computer scientist, what do you believe your professional responsibility
should be with regard to code that causes damages to the consumer? Under what circumstances (if any)
should the consumer accept the fallout, and under what circumstances (if any) should the manufacturer be
held liable for the consequences? Does it matter what the code is used for?
Write a short essay (800+ words) presenting a thoughtful discussion of the above issues. As part of your
essay, please reference at least one of the ethical theories presented in Chapter 3 of the CS 306 Online
textbook ( other than those discussed in Part C). You may also wish to reference one or more of the professional codes of ethics, but this is not required. A general citation to your textbook is presumed, so no
bibliography or citations are required unless specific quotations are used. (Using the specific words of others
ALWAYS requires quotation marks AND citation references.)