What ethical problems does this easy access to information cause in the area of academic honestywe are writing about plagiarism in college and work...

Absolutely agreed with the above post.  On another ethical
level, the trend towards plagiarism, especially of essays and research work, has led to
the appearance and spread of websites and individuals who sell pre-written essay work,
and/or contract their services to write research papers for
someone.

As far as simple copying and pasting goes, I am
starting to see a classroom trend where there is no social stigma to plagiarism, and
even some students who believe it is a sound academic practice, that they are entitled
to copy other works. I see this when I grade them, and hand out F's for plagiarism, then
hear endless protests - not of their innocence - but of how they do this all the
time.

In the workplace, the ethical problems are even
greater, as you are being hired and paid in a position to create and do your own work
for a company, but are tempted to be paid for someone else's work instead.  This can
then run the company into copyright issues and intellectual property
lawsuits.