Every writer must think about

the legal and ethical

considerations while writing to
avoid
 When written claims are made, the
concreteness and technical quality
of the statements can mask
limitations and inconsistencies, thus
posing potential legal and ethical
problems.
 Bias

Conflict
of
Interest
 Libel

Censorship

Copyright
Writers must properly copyright their
work otherwise their content and
ideas will be stolen by another. On
their manuscripts, the copyright must
be clearly exposed. So it must appear
on the front cover of the script and
on the foot of every page in the
script.
For censorship, writers are restricted in
using profane and vulgar themes like drugs,
sex or violence. It is doubtful to release a
film that shows real sexism and racial
intolerance. However, some will argue that
these contents are good for showing in a
positive and creative way. It will be
permissible though after satisfying the
requirements and controls of the censorship
board.
A libel issue is worse for a writer
because it could end his/her career. So
the screenwriter must write the truth
about its personal experiences and what
it can prove. A libel issue can affect a
fiction and a non-fiction writer. If it was
about a real person, it must be made
with due care so the person will not be
harmed in the process.
Rules to Observe in Technical Writing

Plagiarism Doctoring Truth and

quotes accuracy

Confidential Made-up
Citation Sources Names and
Places
The stealing of another persons
ideas, methods, results or words
without giving proper attribution. Plagiarism

Technical writers are expected to

report truthfully and accurately.
The quickest way to lose the Truth and
respect of your editors, your
Accuracy
peers and your audience is to
falsify information deliberately.
An entry in the bibliographic
references section of the work for
the purpose of acknowledging Citation
the relevance of the works of
others to the topic of discussion

Moral obligation not to tamper

with someone elses words. Take
Doctoring
the words as if you were the
author (paraphrasing) quotes
If you promise anonymity and
confidentiality to a source, Confidential
you have a moral obligation source
to uphold it

As a general rule, you will not Made-up

make up people or places.
names and
Separate facts from opinions
places
1. Be aware of the difference between expert and
layperson.
The expert uses his or her specialized knowledge to
solve a problem. Hence, the expert assumes an
authority and uses a language that the layperson is
usually not able to judge. Some sources of liability
include a failure to
point out alternatives
note negative secondary effects
give the whole picture
acknowledge gaps in logic
cite or credit sources
2. Be specific about deliverables.
If you aren't specific about what you are going to
deliver, you can easily find yourself in a contested
situation. Generally, you need a specific written
agreement about what will be accomplished in
your work. This is important for anyone, from the
student writing his or her thesis proposal to the
research proposal writer or the professional
consultant.
3. Keep clear and well-organized records.
No recording or unorganized documentation
practice can lead to compromising and damaging
consequences. Written records and communications
are widely accepted means of establishing
accountability. The written record is often scrutinized
in court to study the fairness and thoroughness of a
work record. The written record is often the only
means you will have of demonstrating that an
appropriate quantity and quality of work was
completed.
4. Be aware of potential sources of
plagiarism or other intellectual theft
Be sure you understand what plagiarism is. It is the
copying, whether deliberate or unintentional, of
ideas or portions of text without citing the source/s
for credit. It is also the use of other people's ideas
without attributing them to the proper source unless if
it is a common knowledge.
5. Seek permission or make proper
attribution for borrowed pictures and
non-textual element
Seeking permission or citing the source of a
borrowed picture or graphic is not only ethical but
also protects the borrower for possible legal
impediments.
THANK YOU!