Ethical Behaviors in Intellectual Property

Facts:

· Derek Evans worked for Loctite Inc. developing software for management tasks. He was was a primary contributor in designing an innovative software system for customer services.

· During his time at Loctite, Inc., he was never asked, nor did he sign an Intellectual Property agreement stating that any software he designed during his employment with Loctite, Inc. became the company’s property.

· Derek now works for SofTec, which is a much larger firm than Loctite. Inc. His job is in customer service. SofTec required Derek to sign an Intellectual Property agreement when he was hired.

· Derek realized that the software he had helped build at his former employer would greatly improve his productivity and performance at his new job at SofTec. He decided to make a few tweaks to the SofTec with some of the components he had helped build at Loctite. Inc., which made his, job a lot easier.

· After word soon gets out about Derek’s new software tweak, it soon reaches those higher up and quickly there are plans to make his software upgrade companywide policy. Derek is tasked with the job of implementing these changes.

· Prior to Derek installing the software for personal use, he had had a conversation with a friend who thought Derek’s attempt to make the tweak that he had learned from his old job was unethical. His defense was that he was not trying to sell the idea and it was just for his use. Now that the idea was about to be implemented across the company and was not restricted t his use, he had some ethical qualms with it. He tried to persuade his superiors at SofTec to contact his previous employers at Loctite to limited success. When he refuses to install the software system without the consent of his previous employers, he is told in no uncertain terms that if he doesn’t want the new job, someone will be invited. Therefore, he will be without work and his idea will still be used.

Ethical Issues:

· Derek is...