Lucy has just finished her PhD in Business, which involved working on a problem that has aspects that are directly patentable. As a result, she solved a major problem in the disk drive industry. She has recently been offered a job with Hitachi and accepted. When she arrives at her new job on the first day, she discovers that the work she had done as a PhD student, which is still in the patent process, will solve a problem at her new company. If Lucy reveals what she knows to her new employer then she will be seen as an immediate hero, but this will compromise the patent process at her original institution.

Q1. What are the ethical considerations or risks that need to be considered in this case?

(Use specific examples from the cases to explain what values/criteria will need to be evaluated when making an ethical decision. Consider if there is any conflict with a UK law in support of one or both of your below analysed ethics systems?)

Q2. What ethical system would respond to this case by supporting Lucy's decision to tell her new company what she knows?

(Explain the ethical system and make direct reference to the case study and how these ideas can be applied. If this ethical system has a main theorist, consider including a short quote from them/something they wrote and explaining how that applies to this case study)

Q3. What ethical system would respond to this case by supporting Lucy's decision to stay quiet and not jeopardise the patent process?

(You can either use another personal ethical system that applies OR apply an institutional value system/code of ethics IF one applies to this case study)