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MAIT is writing code of ethics for members

The code will put the hardware industry among the select few that have moved towards self-regulation. Others that have taken such a step are advertising and timeshare industries.

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MAIT President Ram N Agarwal has been quoted as saying that members have for the first time arrived at a consensus on a code of ethics to be adopted by the association.

The main objective is to discourage unfair trade and marketing practices in the industry, he said.

"The response to the idea was overwhelming and at the MAIT executive council meeting held at Goa recently. We decided to move ahead on operating issues such as action against erring members and how to go about the issue of amending the association's constitution,'' Agarwal said.

The details are being worked out on which MAIT is in the process of seeking legal opinion.

The code of ethics, which is being drafted by a committee, states members will not provide misleading or non-factual information in print, or otherwise, regarding their products and services.

Agarwal said all comparative advertisements or statements against other vendors would have to be backed by facts.

The code will require members to accept loss of sales orders to competition in the right spirit.

Another interesting point to be made a part of the ethics code is that members should provide factual and correct information on their company's turnover.

"There have been instances of companies providing inconsistent figures - for instance difference between the figures made available to the media and that to MAIT,'' he said.

The code will also require members not to make contradictory representations to the government or other agencies. Instead, they will be required to try and settle all differences through MAIT.

Further, members will not be allowed to sell, provide or encourage pirated software.

Also, MAIT members will have to use only new components in the products they manufacture. They will not sell used parts without explicitly informing customers.

- Compiled from the Indian media

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