Analysis: Copyright and Ethical Concerns of Internet Memes

This report examines the ethical and legal implications of meme creation and sharing, focusing on copyright infringement and ethical dilemmas. The analysis centers on a case study involving the unauthorized use of copyrighted material in memes, exploring the perspectives of utilitarianism, deontology, contract theory, and virtue ethics. The report discusses how memes, often considered derivative works, can violate copyright laws by using images, text, or other content without permission, potentially affecting the rights of the original creators. It highlights the ethical concerns related to the unauthorized use of copyrighted material, affecting the sentiments of content creators and their ability to profit from their work. The report concludes that posting memes can be illegal if they violate copyright laws, offering insights into the ethical considerations surrounding the use of copyrighted material in the digital age.

Running head: WHAT DO YOU MEME IT’S NOT LEGAL
WHAT DO YOU MEME IT’S NOT LEGAL
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1WHAT DO YOU MEME IT’S NOT LEGAL
Table of Contents
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................2
2. Discussion..............................................................................................................................2
2.1. Analysis of the Ethical Issues.........................................................................................2
2.1.1. Utilitarianism............................................................................................................3
2.1.2. Deontology...............................................................................................................3
2.1.3. Contract....................................................................................................................4
2.1.4. Virtue........................................................................................................................4
2.2. Argument Visualization..................................................................................................5
3. Conclusion..............................................................................................................................5
5. References..............................................................................................................................7

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1. Introduction
The meme is a video or an image or a piece of text or a picture which is typically
humorous in nature that can spreads like the wildfire on internet (Hunter, 2013). It is
generally described as the virally transmitted cultural symbol or the social idea. In the terms
of copyright, a meme is considered the derivative work in sense that it is the copy of
alternative work (Brower & Blanchard, 2013). So, it is normally owner of the actual work
which has copied that is entitled to make also then share the derivative works. The main
problem with the memes, though it is how they can enable the rotation of the material which
is false. To analysis the case, the four classical ethics theory are used that are utilitarianism,
deontology, contract and virtue (Lantagne, 2017). By analysing this case by these four ethical
theory, it can be concluded that the posting of meme is legal and ethical or it is illegal and
unethical. In the terms of copyright, a meme is considered the derivative work in sense that it
is the copy of alternative work.
2. Discussion
2.1. Analysis of the Ethical Issues
In the given case study, it is described that posting a meme has a major unethical issue
that it cannot follow the law of copyright. The copyright is the method of the safety that
delivered by the laws of United States to the writers or the photographers, or any person who
invent something new of the original works of the authorship. It contains dramatic, pictorial,
music, literary and some other creative works. In this case study, some persons posted other
photos with some funny comment in the Instagram and this memes are spread widely on the
social media also other people can comment on it. But they collect this picture or phrase
without the permission of the owner of it and break the copyright law. These type of people
only searched picture or any phrase from any book from the Google and use it as a meme by

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adding some funny or entertaining comment. But they did not understand that they are
downloading this things without permission of the owner and break the copyright law.
So the main ethical issue which is found from this case study is the breaking of the
law of copyright by posting the meme. Also it might affect the sentiment of the owner who
deserve the credit also ability for making money from their work (Hunter, 2013).
2.1.1. Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism is the classic theory of ethics. This mentioned ethical theory defines
correct from incorrect by remained dedicated on consequences (Mill, 2016). Utilitarianism is
in reality the method of consequentialism. The current ethical concerns interrelated with
meme can analyse by means of this utilitarianism ethics theory. Though, since no one can
guess the future, it is very problematic to distinguish with confidence whether significances
of the actions will be good or bad. This is one of the restrictions of utilitarianism. While
analysing this case by utilitarianism theory, it is noticed that for some of the people, meme is
a great entertainment which is spread rapidly over the social media (Lawrence et al., 2016).
Meme is considered to be the jokes using some pictures, piece of text or many more this type
of things (Lawrence et al., 2016). It does not follow the law of copyright which illegal. So the
funny meme has affect the sentiment of the owner who has the right to claim their credit and
they can earn money from their work.
2.1.2. Deontology
The deontology is the normative theory of ethics. This deontology describes the ethics
of the action must base on whether this act is correct otherwise incorrect below certain exact
guidelines somewhat than the significances produced from this action (Mandal, Ponnambath
& Parija, 2016). It uses some rubrics to differentiate correct from incorrect. It is simple to
apply also needs persons to monitor rubrics. While analysing this case by deontology theory,

4WHAT DO YOU MEME IT’S NOT LEGAL
it is noticed that for posting some meme, there are some rules which are set by the society,
one of the major rule is the copyright law (Brower & Blanchard, 2013). It uses some rubrics
to discriminate correct from incorrect. It is simple to apply and needs people to monitor the
rubrics. If this rules are followed by the person who shared the meme, then it is ethical and
also right. But if any rule is broken by this person who shared the meme, then it is considered
as unethical and also wrong. It is sometime made the violation of the privacy.
2.1.3. Contract
The theory of ethics of the contract describes that certain contracts are recognized by
public also these contracts are secured also should deliver the high importance. In this feature
attaining smaller number of difficulty will not disrupt contract (Fisher, 2018). Hence, this is
entirely principled in this perspective. It states that persons who live composed in the society
in unity with the contract which inaugurates the political and moral rules of behaviour. While
analysing the case by contract theory, it is confirmed that in society an ethical agreement is
formerly established to protect the bad phase of the people (Lawrence et al., 2016). If anyone
post a meme which break the agreement and any specific person or group who has the
copyright of this work such as picture, phrase which is used in this meme and for this reason
they are feel hurt then it is illegal and unethical.
2.1.4. Virtue
Virtue ethics is normative theory of ethics. This highlights benefit of the mind,
intellect of the morality also the character. The virtue ethics are really concentrated on
significances of action (Prior, 2016). It is the journey to recognize and live the life of ethical
character. If any person cannot post any meme which can hurt someone or some groups by
their own because they don’t want to hurt someone, then it is showing an ethical character
which is defined in this virtue ethics theory (Brower & Blanchard, 2013). Therefore, this
virtue ethics supports to recognize what it means to be the worthy human being also it offers

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the monitor to live life short of providing the definite instructions for solving the ethical
problems. It is the journey to recognize and live the life of ethical character.
2.2. Visualization of the Argument
Figure 1: Argument Visualization
(Source: Created by author)
3. Conclusion
From above discussion it can conclude that the posting of the meme is illegal if the
picture or the phrase which is used in this meme are violate the law of copyright. The meme

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is for entertainment which give some funny moment and enjoyment. The owner of this things
are not informed about using their things and they are not acknowledged for using these
things in meme for posting in the social media. From this analysis it has assessed that in this
case study, there is the main perspective from which posting the meme is unethical is the
violation of the law of copyright. For this analysis, the four type of ethical theory are used
that are utilitarianism, deontology, contract and virtue. The posting of meme in the social
media have many issues such as it does not follow the copyright law, for this it has an effect
on the violation of the privacy also sometime it might affect the sentiment of individual or a
group of person who has the copyright of this things which is used in the meme posted on the
social media.

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5. References
Brower, C. N., & Blanchard, S. (2013). What's in a Meme-The Truth about Investor-State
Arbitration: Why It Need Not, and Must Not, Be Repossessed by States. Colum. J.
Transnat'l L., 52, 689.
Fisher, T. (2018). The Architecture of Ethics. Routledge.
Hunter, A. (2013). A probabilistic approach to modelling uncertain logical arguments.
International Journal of Approximate Reasoning, 54(1), 47-81.
Lantagne, S. M. (2017). Famous on the Internet: The Spectrum of Internet Memes and the
Legal Challenge of Evolving Methods of Communication. U. Rich. L. Rev., 52, 387.
Lawrence, J., Duthie, R., Budzynska, K., & Reed, C. (2016). Argument Analytics. In
COMMA (pp. 371-378).
Mandal, J., Ponnambath, D. K., & Parija, S. C. (2016). Utilitarian and deontological ethics in
medicine. Tropical parasitology, 6(1), 5.
Mill, J. S. (2016). Utilitarianism. In Seven masterpieces of philosophy (pp. 337-383).
Routledge.
Ohl, R. (2014). Computer supported argument visualisation: Modelling in consultative
democracy around wicked problems. In Knowledge cartography (pp. 361-380).
Springer, London.
Prior, W. J. (2016). Virtue and knowledge: An Introduction to ancient Greek ethics.
Routledge.
Slade, S., & Prinsloo, P. (2013). Learning analytics: Ethical issues and dilemmas. American
Behavioral Scientist, 57(10), 1510-1529.

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