Sunday, 16 October 2011

Project Business Ethics


“Only In It for the Money”:
For many institutions, nontraditional and distance learning programs are cash cows. They do not require an investment in buildings or the overhead to run them. They can be operated, often, by relatively few staff members. They are very profitable.
It is certainly not unethical to earn a profit. However, it is unethical to operate a distance learning program, starve it for resources, and squander those resources either on overhead or campus expenses.
Virtual Students should be very wary of schools that charge high tuition rates for courses that meet in off-campus office buildings or online. This is a sign that the school is using its nontraditional programming to subsidize its campus operation. In itself, this may or may not be unethical, but on the underlying matter of providing a better learning experience for the campus-based students, certainly there is an integrity issue.
Integrity in the distance learning environment is an important and complex issue. It is worthwhile for Virtual Students to consider integrity: their own, that of their peers, and that of their institutions.

  1. Online Gambling:
Unlawful Internet Gambling contain the- Engaged in a business of betting or wagering from knowingly accepting in connection with the participation of another person in Internet gambling: (1) credit; (2) electronic fund transfers or funds transmitted by or through a money transmitting business; (3) any instrument drawn by or on behalf of another and payable through any financial institution; or (4) the proceeds of any other form of financial transaction involving a financial institution as payer or financial intermediary for another.
Includes in the definition of bets or wagers: (1) the purchase of a chance or opportunity, predominantly subject to chance, to win a lottery or other prize; (2) sports betting; and (3) any instructions or information pertaining to the establishment or movement of funds in an account by the bettor or customer with the business of betting or wagering.
Excludes from the definition of bets or wagers: (1) any activity governed by the securities laws for the purchase or sale of securities; (2) any transaction subject to the Commodity Exchange Act; (3) over-the-counter derivative instruments; (4) any other transaction exempt from regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act or from State gaming or bucket shop laws; (5) any contract of indemnity or guarantee, or for insurance; (6) deposits or transactions with a depository institution; (7) any participation in a simulation sports game or an educational game or contest that meets certain requirements; and (8) any lawful transaction with a business licensed or authorized by a State.
Prescribes judicial guidelines under which the Federal district courts exercise exclusive jurisdiction to prevent or restrain violations of this Act. Authorizes the Attorney General or any State attorney General to institute proceedings for injunctive relief. Grants the United States enforcement authority for violations on Indian lands.
Directs that relief granted under this Act against an interactive computer service: (1) be limited to the removal of, or disabling of access to, an on-line site violating this Act, or a hypertext link to such site, that resides on a computer server that the service controls or operates, with an exception; (2) be available only after notice to the service and an opportunity to appear are provided; (3) not impose any obligation on a service to monitor its service or to affirmatively seek facts indicating activity violating this Act; (4) specify the service to which it applies; and (5) specifically identify the location of the on-line site or hypertext link to be removed or access to which is to be disabled.
Requires the court, in considering granting relief against any payment system, or any participant in a payment system that is a creditor, credit card issuer, financial institution, operator of a terminal at which an electronic fund transfer may be initiated, money transmitting business, or international, national, regional, or local network utilized to effect a credit transaction, electronic fund transfer, or money transmitting service, or a participant in such network, to consider the following factors: (1) the extent to which the person is extending credit or transmitting funds knowing the transaction is in connection with unlawful Internet gambling; (2) the history of that person in extending credit or transmitting funds with such knowledge; (3) the extent to which that person has established and is maintaining policies and procedures in compliance with regulations prescribed under this Act; (4) the feasibility that any specific remedy prescribed in the order issued under this Act can be implemented without substantial deviation from normal business practice; and (5) the costs and burdens the specific remedy will have on that person.
Directs the Attorney General or a State attorney General to: (1) Notify that person and the appropriate regulatory agency of the violation or potential violation and the remedy sought; and (2) Allow that person 30 days to implement a reasonable remedy. Prescribes a criminal fine and/or up to five years imprisonment for violations of this Act. Authorizes a court to enter a permanent injunction enjoining any person convicted of a criminal offense under this Act from any activity related to illegal bets or wagers.
Specifies circumstances for the liability under this Act of any creditor, issuer, institution, operator business, network, or participant or any interactive computer service or telecommunications service.
Makes liable under this Act any such creditor, issuer, institution, operator, business, network, or participant that has actual knowledge and control of bets and wagers and: (1) operates, manages, supervises, or directs an Internet website at which unlawful bets or wagers are offered or may be placed, received, or otherwise made; or (2) owns or controls, or is owned or controlled by, any person who operates, manages, supervises, or directs such a website.
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations requiring any designated payment system to establish policies and procedures reasonably designed to identify and prevent restricted transactions.

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