This is an individual assignment that each student must submit his/her own report.
We all need to be ethical in our dealings with others, and often practical ethics means avoiding even the appearance of wrongdoing. It is important to understand the legal limits on behavior, so that we can set our own ethical system well inside the boundaries of what is legal. Also, some of the legal restrictions are unexpected, and make it possible to do wrong by accident.
Below is a (by no means all-inclusive) list of legal regulations on daily professional behavior.
Activity
Body of Law that Restricts it
Using another company’s inventions, logos, slogans, corporate name, etc.
Copyright, patent, and trademark laws
Disclosing “material” public information to a few people and not to others. (“Material” means having a substantial impact on a company’s earnings.)
Regulation Fair Disclosure
(Reg FD)
Using material non-public information to make investment decisions
“Insider trading” laws
Not disclosing income
Tax laws
Misstating earnings, shipments, costs, or other material financial matters
Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX)
Accepting gifts from vendors / Giving gifts to customers
Federal employee guidelines, company policy
Cooperating with competitors to set prices or restrict territories
Racketeering laws (RICO)
Practices that discourage competition
Anti-monopoly laws, and possibly racketeering laws
Unsafe equipment or practices in an office or jobsite
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations
Performing actions in a foreign country that would be illegal in the US, even if the actions are considered “routine” in the foreign country
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Exporting materials without proper certification – especially materials with potential military uses (e.g. decryption)
Export control laws
Homework: Pick three examples (3 rows) of “body of law”. Write 1 paragraph each on the law and how it affects engineers.
Cite references….