October 3, 2006; HW #6; Theoretical Ethical Question

( from #1 of "Concise Guide. . ." pgs 115-116)

First off, I'd make absolutely certain that this software that I, as a technical communicator at Callista Incorporated, would preparing and distributing documents for, does indeed have this illegally acquired algorithm from my company's competitor [Io Industries].

As to the ethical issues themselves, I fee my relationship to myself (my self-respect, self-esteem} is of prime importance--no job no matter what the pay range, is worth losing my self-respect over! So, with that being written, I believe what I would do is quit my job, voluntarily, before the proverbial "s___ hits the fan", and without my publishing the illegally acquired algorithm.

Now, on 'the flipside'--as a technical writer for Io Indutries, I would certainly hold any other technical communicator ethically "liable" for publishing and benefiting from this acquisition.

In the theoretical situation posed in our textbook, I am now part of the ethical committee of a technical communicators professional organization and as such, I'm make a judgment regard this dilemma. I would indeed make a judgement in favor of Io Industries {the 'wronged', in this instance} to publish this information because Callisto Inc. had no right to that algorithm as it had been acquired illegally.
I don't feel that my ethical standards would change as my self-interest is affected. Each ethically challenging situation needs to be determined or judged individually