1. RESPONDING TO
WHISTLEBLOWERS

Whistle-blower
A
term for someone who reports illegal or unethical
conduct to superiors or to the public.
 In

some cases, these actions are protected by law.
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 Makes it illegal to fire or punish employees who help
authorities investigate stock market fraud.

Management’s response to whistle-blowing sends a
message of company support of business ethics.

2. WRITING A CODE OF ETHICS

A code of ethics describes a business’s moral
philosophy and gives concrete guidelines for
carrying it out.
 Forces
you to clarify your own values and principles.
 Helps resolve and prevent problems
 Provides some protection against claims of
unfairness.

Companies hire a compliance officer to handle
these situations.

3. WRITING A CODE OF ETHICS

The code must balance contrasting qualities in
an effective way:
 Must
be general enough to apply to many situations,
yet specific enough to offer practical help.
 The code should reflect your values but also respect
the beliefs of those who will be effected.
 The values can be idealistic, but the guidelines must
be realistic.
 Code of Ethics should be continually evolving without
drifting from its core benefits.

4. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Intellectual Property
 Is
artistic and industrial creations of the mind.
“Possession” of these creations is protected by law.
 The owners are entitled to credit and usually some
form of payment when their works are used,
especially used for commercial gain.

Artistic creations are protected by copyrights
 Exclusive
right to perform, display, copy, or
distribute an artistic work.
 Applied as soon as work is created

5. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Patent
 Is
the exclusive right to make, use or sell a device or
process.

Trademark
A
symbol that indicates that the use of a brand or
brand name is legally protected and cannot be used
by other businesses.

6. VIOLATING INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY LAWS

Infringement
 Violating
rights

a copyright, trademark, or patent holder’s
Ways to avoid infringement
 Fair

Use
Law for the limited quotation of a copyrighted work without
permission or payment to the copyright holder
 Public

Domain
Means the copyright or patent has expired

7. CONFLICT OF
INTEREST/CONFIDENTIALITY

Conflict of Interest
 Exists
when personal considerations and professional
obligations interfere with each other.

Confidentiality
 Can
create a conflict of interest with employees
 Sign
a Non-Disclosure clause so when you leave the
company, you are not permitted to speak, or reveal
facts about the company.
 Taking
advice from inside information can lead to
prison time.