Business Conduct Policy – Apple Inc.
| Business Conduct | ||
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The way we do business worldwide |
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Business Conduct The way we do business worldwide Apple conducts business ethically, honestly, and in full compliance with all |
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Business Conduct The way we do business worldwide July 2010 |
Apple’s Principles of Business Conduct Apple’s success is based on creating innovative, high-quality products and Honesty. Demonstrate honesty and high ethical standards in Respect. Treat customers, suppliers, employees, and others Confidentiality. Protect the confidentiality of Apple’s Compliance. Ensure that business decisions comply with all Your Responsibilities Apple’s Business Conduct Policy and principles apply to employees, If you have knowledge of a possible violation of Apple’s Business Conduct When facing a tough decision: Use good judgment. Apply Apple’s principles of business Need some help? When in doubt about how to proceed, Retaliation is Not Tolerated Apple will not retaliate:and will not tolerate retaliation:against any |
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Contents |
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| Customer and Business Relationships | ||
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Customer Focus |
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Customer and Third-Party Information |
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Nondisclosure Agreements |
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Obtaining and Using Business Intelligence |
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Third-Party Intellectual Property |
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Copyright-Protected Content |
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Giving and Receiving Business Gifts |
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Kickbacks |
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Side Deals or Side Letters |
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Competition and Trade Practices |
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Endorsements |
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Open Source Software |
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| Governments and Communities | ||
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Governments as Customers |
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Gifts to U.S. Officials |
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Gifts to Non-U.S. Officials |
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No Bribery or Corruption |
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Political Contributions |
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Charitable Donations |
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Hiring Government Employees |
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Trade Restrictions and Export Controls |
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Environment, Health, and Safety |
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Community Activities |
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| Responsibilities to Apple | ||
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Protecting Apple’s Assets and Information |
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Confidential Apple Information |
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The Apple Identity and Trademarks |
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Apple Inventions, Patents, and Copyrights |
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Activities Related to Technical Standards |
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Accuracy of Records and Reports |
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Business Expenses |
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Establishing Bank Accounts |
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Loans, Advances, and Guarantees |
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Money Laundering |
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Document Retention and Legal Hold |
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| Individual Conduct | ||
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Conflicts of Interest |
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Outside Employment and Inventions |
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Personal Investments |
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Workplace Relationships |
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Buying and Selling Stock |
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13 |
Harassment and Discrimination |
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14 |
Confidential Employee Information |
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14 |
Privacy |
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14 |
Public Speaking and Press Inquiries |
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14 |
Publishing Articles |
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14 |
Substance Abuse |
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| Taking Action | ||
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15 |
Your Obligation to Take Action |
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15 |
Business Conduct Helpline |
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| Additional Resources | ||
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16 |
Policies and References |
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Business Conduct
The way we do business worldwide
July 2010
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Customer and Business Relationships |
Business Conduct The way we do business worldwide July 2010 |
4 |
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Customer Focus Every product we make and every service we provide is for our customers. |
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To what extent may I use an existing customer list to market other Before using a customer list for marketing, sales, or other activities, talk |
Customer and Third-Party Information Customers, suppliers, and others disclose confidential information to Apple |
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Where can I learn more about information protection and nondisclosure View the Apple policy on Confidential, Proprietary, and Trade Secret Where can I get a nondisclosure agreement? In the U.S., see the forms Apple provides for nondisclosure agreements. |
Nondisclosure Agreements When dealing with a supplier, vendor, or other third party, never share |
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As long as the information helps Apple, why is the source of business Obtaining information illegally or unethically could damage Apple’s |
Obtaining and Using Business Intelligence Apple legitimately collects information on customers and markets in which we |
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Third-Party Intellectual Property It is Apple’s policy not to knowingly use the intellectual property of any |
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May I keep my personal music on my computer at work? If you are authorized to make copies of the music for personal use (for |
Copyright-Protected Content Never use or copy software, music, videos, publications, or other |
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Customer and Business Relationships |
Business Conduct The way we do business worldwide July 2010 |
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Are business meals, travel, and entertainment considered Yes. Anything of value given or received is considered a gift. Can I avoid these rules if I pay for gifts to customers or business No. If the gift is given for business reasons and you are representing Apple, |
Giving and Receiving Business Gifts Employees may not give or receive gifts or entertainment to or from current Nominal value. The value of the gift is less than US$150. Customary. The item is a customary business gift and would No favored treatment. The purpose of the gift is not to Legal. Giving or accepting the gift is legal in the Recipient is not a government official. Never provide a This policy does not preclude Apple as an organization from receiving and Important Note: Certain departments (e.g., Operations and |
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What is an example of a kickback? Apple provides discounts to certain customers. However, if a customer gets an What is an example of a side deal? In a sales environment, a side deal may involve a guarantee to accept back |
Kickbacks Kickbacks are payments or items of value given to individuals in connection Side Deals or Side Letters All of the terms and conditions of agreements entered into by Apple must be |
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Customer and Business Relationships |
Business Conduct The way we do business worldwide July 2010 |
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What can I do if a reseller complains to me about low prices at Advise the reseller that you can’t discuss or attempt to influence pricing of How should I handle customer inquiries about resellers and service Apple resellers and service providers are key members of the Apple family. |
Competition and Trade Practices Laws regulating competition and trade practices vary around the world, but You should not: Agree with competitors or exchange information with competitors on prices, Agree with a competitor that the competitor will sell goods and services to Agree with resellers on the resale pricing of Apple products without Legal Require vendors to purchase Apple products in order to sell products or Describe the products or services of competitors inaccurately to promote Engage in any pricing or other practices that could defraud a supplier or Violate fair bidding practices, including bidding quiet periods, or provide |
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What is an example of an endorsement? A friend writes a great book on software design and asks you to endorse the |
Endorsements When representing Apple, never endorse a product or service of another Open Source Software Open source software is software for which the source code is available |
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Governments and Communities |
Business Conduct The way we do business worldwide July 2010 |
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| Tell me more about pricing products that are sold to governments. |
Governments as Customers |
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Governments shouldn’t be charged more for our products or services than Apple |
Governments are unique customers for Apple. Governments often place special |
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| Can I avoid a gift limitation by paying for a gift, such as lunch or golf, myself? |
Gifts to U.S. Officials |
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No. If you are representing Apple, any gift to a government employee would be What is considered a gift to a U.S. or foreign official? In most cases, anything of value that is given is considered a gift. This Who is considered a government official? Any official or employee of a government, a public international organization |
It may be illegal to give a gift, even an inexpensive meal or a T-shirt, to a |
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To prevent violations, review planned gifts to government officials with |
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Gifts to Non-U.S. Officials In many countries it is considered common courtesy to provide No Bribery or Corruption Offering or giving anything of value to a government official for the purpose |
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For additional information, see Apple’s Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Policy. |
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Political Contributions |
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Apple contributes selectively to political candidates and committees. All |
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Governments and Communities |
Business Conduct The way we do business worldwide July 2010 |
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Charitable Donations |
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Employees are encouraged to support charitable causes of their choice, as |
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What should I do if I’m interested in hiring a current or recent Contact Government Affairs before beginning any negotiations to hire a |
Hiring Government Employees Laws often limit the duties and types of services that former government, |
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Trade Restrictions and Export Controls |
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Many countries periodically impose restrictions on exports and other dealings |
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If your work involves the sale or shipment of products, technologies, or |
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How do I get more information regarding Apple’s environmental, Visit the Environment+Safety site. |
Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) Apple operates in a manner that conserves the environment and protects the In keeping with our commitment to the safety of our people, Apple will not |
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What if I want to get more involved in community activities? Contact Community Affairs. This group promotes, supports, and facilitates |
Community Activities At Apple, we comply with all laws and regulations and operate in ways that If you hold an elected or appointed public office while employed at Apple, |
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Responsibilities to Apple |
Business Conduct The way we do business worldwide July 2010 |
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What are assets? Assets include Apple’s extremely valuable proprietary information (such as Where can I learn more about information protection and nondisclosure View the Apple policy on Confidential, Proprietary, and Trade Secret |
Protecting Apple’s Assets and Information |
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As an Apple employee you must protect Apple’s property and abide by the Follow all security procedures and be on the lookout for any instances you Protect physical assets such as equipment, supplies, cash, and charge Use extreme care to protect Apple’s proprietary information from improper Follow procurement policies and procedures when acquiring goods or services Use Apple’s assets in a manner that prevents damage, waste, misuse, or Dispose of assets only with appropriate approval and in compliance with |
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| If I believe that it is appropriate to disclose confidential proprietary information to a vendor or other third party, what should I do? |
Confidential Apple Information One of Apple’s greatest assets is information about our products and |
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First, verify that there is a business need for the disclosure. Second, |
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How do I identify confidential Apple information in Mark these documents “Apple Confidential.” What if I have a specific question on the use of the Apple name, Please direct questions about the Apple corporate identity to How can I find out more about patents? Visit Apple’s Patent Information site. |
The Apple Identity and Trademarks The Apple name, names of products (such as iPhone), names of services (such |
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Apple Inventions, Patents, and Copyrights Apple’s practice is to consider for patenting the inventions of its |
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If you create original material for Apple that requires copyright protection, |
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Responsibilities to Apple |
Business Conduct The way we do business worldwide July 2010 |
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Activities Related to Technical Standards There are numerous organizations that develop or promote technical standards Accuracy of Records and Reports Accurate records are critical to meeting Apple’s legal, financial, and Never misstate facts, omit critical information, or modify records or reports |
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| How can I learn more about procedures for meals and travel? |
Business Expenses |
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See Apple’s Travel policy or talk to your manager. |
All employees must observe policies and procedures regarding business |
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Establishing Bank Accounts |
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All Apple bank accounts must be approved and established by Apple’s Treasury |
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Loans, Advances, and Guarantees |
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Other than through established corporate programs, such as programs for |
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Money Laundering |
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Advise your manager or contact the Apple Legal Department. |
Money laundering is the process by which individuals or organizations try to |
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Attempts to make large payments in cash Payments by someone who is not a party to the contract Requests to pay more than provided for in the contract Payments made in currencies other than those specified in the contract Payments from an unusual, nonbusiness account |
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Responsibilities to Apple |
Business Conduct The way we do business worldwide July 2010 |
11 |
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Tell me more about “legal holds.” In a litigation case or other legal matter, Apple may be required to produce |
Document Retention and Legal Hold |
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As an Apple employee, you have a responsibility to manage documents and make At times, Apple may need to retain documents beyond the period they would |
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Individual Conduct |
Business Conduct The way we do business worldwide July 2010 |
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Can you give an example of conflicts of interest or potential divided Your brother-in-law owns a business, that business is being considered as a |
Conflicts of Interest A conflict of interest is any activity that is inconsistent with or opposed Do not conduct Apple business with family members or others with whom you You shouldn’t use your position at Apple to obtain favored treatment for |
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| Am I allowed to develop outside iPhone or iPad apps on my own time? |
Outside Employment and Inventions |
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No. Employees are not permitted to have any involvement in the development of |
Full-time Apple employees must notify their manager before taking any other |
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May I occasionally use my Apple email address for my outside Limited personal use of your Apple email is permitted for activities such as I’m working on an invention on my own time. Does Apple need to If your invention relates to your job at Apple or could compete with current May I serve on the board of directors of an outside enterprise or If you plan to serve on a board, you must obtain approval from your manager |
Do not: Use any time at work or any Apple assets for your other job, outside Use your position at Apple to solicit work for your outside business or Use confidential Apple information to benefit your other employer, outside Participate in an outside employment activity that could have an adverse Participate in an outside business or outside employment, or develop an Before participating in inventions or businesses that are in the same area as |
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Individual Conduct |
Business Conduct The way we do business worldwide July 2010 |
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I have stock in companies that do business with Apple. Is this a It’s unlikely that this is a problem. However, it could be a concern if (1) |
Personal Investments Many Apple employees have investments in publicly traded stock or privately Workplace Relationships Personal relationships in the workplace may present an actual or perceived |
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How do I know whether information is material? Determining what constitutes material information is a matter of judgment. In Does Apple’s policy apply to buying or selling stock in other Yes. For example, say you learn about a customer’s nonpublic expansion plans |
Buying and Selling Stock Never buy or sell stock while you are in possession of information obtained In addition, employees are prohibited from investing in derivatives of Members of Apple’s Board of Directors, executive officers, and certain other Review Apple’s Insider Trading policy. Specific questions on buying and |
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What is harassment? Harassment can be verbal, visual, or physical in nature. Specific examples of Need more information? In the U.S., refer to Apple’s Harassment policy. Outside the U.S., contact |
Harassment and Discrimination Apple encourages a creative, culturally diverse, and supportive work These requirements apply to interactions with employees, customers, If you feel that you have been harassed or discriminated against or have |
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Individual Conduct |
Business Conduct The way we do business worldwide July 2010 |
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| Where can I learn more about policies on confidential employee information? |
Confidential Employee Information |
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View the Apple Safe Harbor Privacy Policy. |
As part of your job, you may have access to personal information regarding |
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| Is personal information on my computer system private? |
Privacy |
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Limited personal use of Apple equipment and systems is allowed, but subject |
Subject to rules or regulations affecting an employee’s rights, Apple may |
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| If I make a presentation on my own time, may I accept a payment? |
Public Speaking and Press Inquiries |
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That depends. If you are representing Apple, you may not accept payment. If |
All public speaking engagements that relate to Apple’s business or products |
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All inquiries from the press or the financial analyst community must be |
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Publishing Articles If you author an article or other publication, do not identify yourself in |
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What if I have a substance abuse issue? Help yourself and Apple by taking action. Talk to your Human Resources |
Substance Abuse |
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Employees are prohibited from manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, |
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Taking Action |
Business Conduct The way we do business worldwide July 2010 |
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Your Obligation to Take Action Always apply Apple’s principles of business conduct, follow Apple policies, If you know about a possible violation of Apple’s Business Conduct Policy or Employees must cooperate fully in any Apple investigation and must keep their Business Conduct Helpline The Business Conduct Helpline is available 24/7 to all employees worldwide to The Business Conduct Helpline is committed to keeping your issues and Due to legal restrictions, anonymous use of the Business Conduct Helpline is Apple will not retaliate:and will not tolerate retaliation:against any Information on contacting the Business Conduct Helpline:including via email, |
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Additional Resources |
Business Conduct The way we do business worldwide July 2010 |
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Policies and References Alcohol in the Workplace Books and Publications Business Conduct Helpline Buying and Selling Stock: Blackout Periods Buying and Selling Stock: Insider Trading Community Affairs Confidential, Proprietary, and Trade Secret Information Copyright Information Copyright Policy Corporate Identity Guidelines Customer Privacy Policy Diversity Employee Assistance Program (U.S. only) Environment+Safety Equal Employment Opportunity Export Control Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Policy Government Affairs |
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Additional Resources |
Business Conduct The way we do business worldwide July 2010 |
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Policies and References (continued) |
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Harassment Information Security Intellectual Property Legal Department Contacts Mail and Electronic Communications Name and Logo Use Questions: corpID@apple.com Nondisclosure and Confidentiality Agreements Open Communication Open Source Software Outside Business Activities Patent Information Patent Policy Personal Relationships Political Compliance Procurement Reasonable Accommodation Records Management Safe Harbor Privacy Policy Standards Legal Policy Trademarks Travel Policy |
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2010 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, |
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