IEEE CODE OF CONDUCT

Approved by the IEEE Board of Directors, June 2014

We, the members and employees of IEEE, recognize the importance of our technologies in affecting the quality of life throughout the world and we accept a personal obligation to our professions, the members of IEEE, and other individuals involved in IEEE activities in our fields of interest. By this obligation we commit ourselves to the highest standards of integrity, responsible behavior, and ethical and professional conduct. We agree to be bound by the following rules:

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1. Be respectful of others:

     • We will be respectful of others, including IEEE members and IEEE employees,            and will act in a professional manner while participating in IEEE activities.

     • We will be respectful of the privacy of others and the protection of their                      personal information and data.

2. Treat people fairly:

     • We will not engage in harassment of any kind, including sexual harassment, or          bullying behavior whether in person, via cybertechnology or otherwise.

    • We will not discriminate against any person because of characteristics                        protected by law (e.g., age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national origin,        race, religion, gender, sexual or affectional orientation, gender identity, gender            expression, appearance, matriculation, political affiliation, marital status, veteran        status).

3. Avoid injuring others, their property, reputation or employment:

    •We will avoid injuring others, their property, data, reputation, or employment               by false or malicious action.

    • We will not engage in or participate in the spreading of any malicious rumors,           defamation or any other verbal or physical abuses, against an IEEE member,               employee or other person, whether on the Internet or otherwise.

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4. Refrain from retaliation:

    • We will not retaliate against any IEEE member, employee or other person who           reports an act of misconduct, or who reports any violation of the IEEE Code of             Ethics or this Code of Conduct.

    • We will not retaliate against any person who makes IEEE aware of the violation         of any laws, rules or regulations in connection with IEEE activities.
 

5. Comply with applicable laws in all countries where IEEE does business and with the IEEE policies and procedures:
 

    • We will comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations governing IEEE’s         business conduct worldwide and all relevant procedures established by IEEE               whenever and wherever we are acting on behalf of IEEE, or participating in IEEE         activities, including but not limited to the following:
 

               a) Rejecting bribery in all forms.
 

               b) Avoiding real or perceived conflicts of interest whenever possible, and                     disclosing them to affected parties when they do exist.
 

               c) Protecting confidential information belonging to IEEE and personal                             information belonging to IEEE members, employees and other persons.
 

               d) Not agreeing with competing persons to fix prices or reduce price                             competition through allocation of customers or markets, manipulate bids in                 any competitive bidding process, or engage in other acts that result in                           restraining trade.
 

               e) Not misusing or infringing the intellectual property of others.

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