Charter of Ethics

Governing Philosophy

The members of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers (IEICE) shall undertake to contribute to the well-being of all human society as specialists in electronics, information and communication technology through research on, development of and implementation of technology in members' respective fields.

1. [Basic policy] The members of IEICE shall observe the following, in their capacity as specialists and as individuals:

  1. the valuing of fairness and integrity;
  2. the prevention of others from being harmed;
  3. the avoidance of actions which would infringe upon the rights of others. Included in the rights of others are the rights of possession and privacy.

2. [Social responsibility] The members of the IEICE shall observe the following in carrying out their duties:

  1. They shall be aware of the social responsibility that comes with advances in electronics, information and communication technology and its products;
  2. They shall endeavor to find out objective facts on the social impact of electronics, information and communication technology.
  3. They shall endeavor to make the above facts widely known to society.

3. [Social trust] IEICE members shall observe the following in the course of carrying out their duties:

  1. They shall not leak confidential information learned in the course of their duties.
  2. They shall not use confidential information learned in the course of their duties to their own advantage or the advantage of others.
  3. The wording of contracts, understandings, agreements on distribution of responsibility, and other documents signed in the course of duty with mutual agreement shall respect this.
  4. Members shall continually keep up to date with the current legal system (in particular as it concerns electronics, information and communications), and endeavor to study said system.

4. [Quality control] IEICE members shall observe the following in the course of carrying out their duties:

  1. They shall endeavor to ensure the quality of the products of electronics, information and communications technology.
  2. They shall set targets for quality control of electronics, information and communications technology, and act so as to conform to these.
  3. They shall put in place a framework for ensuring quality control of electronics, information and communications, and work towards the maintenance and improvement of said framework.
  4. They shall work towards improving technologies to enable the quality control of electronics, information and communications technology.

5. [Intellectual property rights] IEICE members shall observe the following in the course of carrying out their duties:

  1. They shall respect the originality and ingenuity of others.
  2. They shall not infringe copyright, patents or other intellectual property rights.
  3. They shall be vigilant in the protection and use of their own intellectual property.

6. [Network access] IEICE members shall observe the following in the course of their duties:

  1. Network access shall be restricted to permitted processes and resources.
  2. Members shall not enter systems administered by others without permission. They shall not access the communications of others in an unauthorized manner.
  3. When providing information over a network, they shall only provide authentic information.
  4. When acquiring information over a network, they shall understand the principles of individual responsibility with regard to the outcomes of such actions.
  5. Behavior within the network shall be based on a spirit of mutual collaboration.

7. [Research and development] IEICE members shall observe the following in the course of their duties:

  1. In carrying out research and development of electronic, information and communications technologies they shall respect each others' positions and strive to create a forum where participants can have free debate.
  2. In carrying out research and development of electronic, information and communications technologies they shall adopt a long term perspective, and aim to create an international information community that is safe and reliable.

8. [Performance standards] IEICE members shall observe the following in the course of their duties:

  1. They shall maintain a moderate attitude when posting news releases and announcements on networks.
  2. They shall promote an environment of mutual enlightenment and mutual evaluation.
  3. They shall cooperate with the establishment of an environment which stays constantly aware of the community's reactions.

9. [Administrator standards] When IEICE members assume administrative roles in organizations they belong to, in addition to observing the aforementioned principles themselves, they must carry out the following:

  1. They shall encourage those who they are administering to respect these principles, too.
  2. They shall put in place strategies to create and consolidate frameworks for quality control, protection of intellectual property and personnel training, and pay due consideration to the rational distribution of people and resources.

Addendum

  1. The present Charter shall be enforced on 21 July 1998.
  2. Interpretation and reorganization of this charter shall be carried out where necessary through the formation of committees.