Title: Tales from the Linker - The Ethics of Competition

I have a friend....

My friend may have synthesised his story from one or more incidents at different times and places. On the other hand he may not have.

My friend tells me that they have been building a system that has to be compatible with a competitor's...

Now there is compatible and there is compatible. My friend tells me that he and the team wondered how they were going to do this until the Project Manager gave them a spec. This caused some unease, as it was clearly an internal document from the competitor.

It was pointed out by the team that this may not be legal. They were told "Not to worry" by the Project Manager. Some of the team muttered about doing a "Clean room " development. Or at least being able to demonstrate a clean room approach even if they did peek at the "borrowed" document. However due to the time and resource problem it would be hard to show an ISO 9001 development let alone a "clean room" approach. The team reiterated their worry several times. The response was always a verbal "Don't worry about it. We have sorted it out with the legal dept." There was nothing in writing nor a person in the legal Department named. The team would have to take it on trust. Trust in a management that were apparently happy to break the law...

For many reasons, ethics and legality not being part of it, the project was shelved for a while. It got resurrected when a potential customer arose. They put an Engineer on to it immediately. And then told the Engineer he was assigned to the task. The Engineer in question has very strong moral/religious beliefs. This was well known as once a week he and others of his ilk had a prayer meeting at lunchtime. He went and explained his position to the Project Manager. He, the PM, was VERY surprised. "Where's your loyalty to the company?" the Engineer was asked. My friend said the reply was along the lines of "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and Render unto God..."

The Engineer said I can do it "Clean Room" with published specs. So off he went. All is right with the world. Well for a while anyway.

There were contractors in the area. One of these was set to work with the Engineer. Der Managment 'ad a word with the Contractor who, like all contractors has the morals he is paid to have  The Contractor is like most are these days, a bona fide Limited Company in his own right. He phoned up the competitor and said "Hi, XYZ Ltd here. I want to do some stuff that is compatible with yours what specs do you have?" The Company said if you are genuine we can sell you a spec. The Contractor passed muster, bought the spec and lo it arrived in my friend's office.

This caused the Engineer much trouble. He had been there when the call was made. He said "You mislead them". The Contractor said "Standard business practice. Where's the photocopier?"

There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth and soul searching (except for the contractor as they have no souls). There were "discussions". My friend tells me that the Engineer now understands and is "happy to work with the spec." Though there are rumours that pressures were brought to bear along the lines of "well that was the only work we had for you. If you don't do that....".

STOP PRESS: Last night I had a phone call from my friend. He tells me another member of team has just resigned to go and work for the competitor in question. Oh dear! Now who signed for which bits of work...