As a content creator in the behavior analysis field, I’ve spent countless hours developing digital materials to support the work of BCBAs and professionals like me. These materials include everything from books and planners to supervision tools and parent assessments, and creating these take significant time, energy, and expertise. So, imagine my shock and disappointment when I stumbled upon one of my products—something I had carefully crafted—on a free download site, available to anyone without my permission. I felt a sinking feeling. This wasn’t just a loss of potential income; it was a violation of the integrity of my work.
That moment made me reflect on a larger issue I’ve seen within the BCBA community, the common practice of sharing digital resources. Many of us are guilty of this. You buy something from Teachers Pay Teachers or another site, find it helpful, and want to share it with your colleagues, trainees, or other professionals. But just because it feels helpful or convenient doesn’t mean it’s ethical.
Ethics Code and Professional Responsibility
As behavior analysts, we are guided by the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts. Section 1.0: Responsibility as a Professional, emphasizes our responsibility to uphold the highest standards of professionalism. This includes respecting intellectual property and ensuring that we follow legal and ethical guidelines related to the resources we use. Sharing someone else’s work without permission violates these ethical standards.
More specifically, the Core Principle “Behave with Integrity” requires that behavior analysts promote an ethical culture and encourage others to act ethically. When we distribute or share materials that we don’t have a license to redistribute, we are not acting with integrity. We are inadvertently engaging in unethical behavior that undermines the trust and professional respect that should exist within our community.
What Happens When We Share Without Permission?
When digital materials are shared without proper authorization, several things happen, none of them good. First, the creators of these materials lose out on compensation for their work. For many of us, creating these tools is not only a passion but also a way to support our businesses. Sharing them freely reduces the incentive for creators to continue producing high-quality, useful resources. This can stifle innovation and creativity in our field.
Secondly, unauthorized sharing sets a harmful precedent. As professionals, we model behaviors for our colleagues, trainees, and even our clients. If we normalize unethical behavior around intellectual property, we risk diminishing the importance of ethics in other areas of practice.
Lastly, this behavior can lead to legal consequences. Copyright laws protect creators and their intellectual property. By sharing materials without permission, you could be opening yourself and your organization to liability.
The Problem with “But It’s So Common”
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking, “Everyone does it, so it must be okay.” In the digital age, sharing is indeed common, and the line between what’s ethical and what’s not can become blurred. With so many downloadable resources available on the internet, it’s easy to assume that anything we find online is free to share. But this is simply not true.
When you purchase a resource from sites like Teachers Pay Teachers or directly from the creator's website, what you’re buying is a license for your individual use. It’s like buying a book—you can read it, use it, and take notes from it, but you don’t have the right to photocopy it and hand it out to everyone you know. The same principle applies to digital downloads. The creator has granted you the right to use their work, not to distribute it to others unless explicitly stated.
Many creators offer extended licenses for educators or professionals who want to share their resources. If you find something valuable and think others would benefit from it, check to see if the creator offers a licensing option that allows for distribution. Respecting this boundary not only protects the creator’s rights but also upholds the ethical standards we’re bound by as behavior analysts.
The Consequences of Digital Theft
The behavior analytic community is relatively small, and many of us create resources to help each other. When one of those resources is stolen or shared without permission, it feels deeply personal. It’s more than just losing out on financial compensation—it’s a form of intellectual theft that devalues the time, effort, and expertise that went into creating the product.
For me, seeing my work on a free download site was heartbreaking. I had invested hours into developing something that would be useful for other BCBAs, only to find it distributed without my knowledge or consent, and unfortunately, I’m not the only behavior analyst this has happened to. This experience made me think critically about how I engage with other people’s digital products. If I want to protect my own work, I have to be vigilant about respecting the work of others.
A Call to Action: Respect and Responsibility
So, what can we do? The solution is simple: respect the rights of creators and be responsible with the digital materials we use. Before sharing a resource, ask yourself:
- Do I have permission to share this material?
- Is there a licensing option that allows me to share it with colleagues or trainees?
- How would I feel if someone shared my work without my consent?
We need to recognize that, just like in our clinical work, every action we take has consequences. Sharing digital materials without permission may seem harmless, but it affects not only the creators but also the culture of ethics and respect within our field.
A More Ethical Path Forward
As behavior analysts, we are committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in every aspect of our work. By being mindful of how we handle digital materials, we can foster a culture of integrity and respect. This means purchasing the appropriate licenses for materials we want to share, supporting creators who develop valuable resources, and modeling ethical behavior for our colleagues and students.
In a field that values science, data, and ethical conduct, we must also value the intellectual property of those who contribute to our growth. Let’s strive to be as ethical in how we handle digital resources as we are in every other area of our work.
The next time you come across a great resource that you want to share, take a moment to ensure you’re doing it the right way. Instead of sharing the resource itself, share the link to where others can purchase the resource on their own. Support your fellow creators, respect their hard work, and uphold the ethical standards that guide us. After all, the best way to promote a culture of sharing and collaboration is through mutual respect and ethical behavior.
References
Behavior Analyst Certification Board. (2020). Ethics code for behavior analysts. https://bacb.com/wp-content/ethics-code-for-behavior-analysts/
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