9. Safeguarding Company Assets including Intellectual Property 9.1 Protect all Company Assets
You should protect the Company's property, information and other assets under your custody and control and guard against potential losses, corruption, misuse or theft. Any suspected fraud or theft of Company assets must be reported to allow for immediate investigations and possible recovery of the asset.
Company 's assets include:
- Funds, securities and negotiable instruments
- Physical property, premises, supplies and equipment
- Computer systems and information technology, including Internet access
- Intellectual property, including trademarks, product formulations and software developed by employees or purchased from third parties.
9.2 Intellectual Property
Creative ideas have value in today’s economy.
Each Company, Division and business unit must safeguard the Company’s intellectual property against theft, unauthorized disclosure, misuse and infringement and against indiscriminate handling. The Company’s rules in relation to the protection of its intellectual property must be followed.
If you develop as part of your work for the Company or with the use of Company facilities, any patentable invention, industrial design or creative work, it belongs to the Company unless a specific exception has been made in writing. Your obligation not to disclose or use confidential information gained during the course of your employment continues after your employment with the Company ends.
Any violation of the Company’s intellectual property, which is known or suspected, should be reported to the Group Secretariat & Legal Department, Corporate Offices and the Chief Operating Officer for the Division affected by the violation.
9.3 Property Entrusted to Third Parties
Only where you are this is properly authorized to do so may the assets of the Company be placed in the custody and safekeeping of third parties. Where this is done the authorization must be properly documented and you must be satisfied that adequate security procedures and controls are in place and documented to protect the Company's assets.
9.4 Use of Company's Property Off Premises
Equipment, supplies, files or other information, property or assets of the Company are may not to be removed from the Company's premises without proper authorization. Where permission is given for Company property or assets to be used at home or off-site, as part of an approved arrangement, you are expected to keep those assets safe and confidential by following proper safety procedures.
9.5 Computer Systems
Computer systems, programmes and information assets must be protected from theft or misuse, and from from intentional or unintentional loss or corruption. It is your responsibility to safeguard any information which you have under in your custody and control. This is the case even when you are disposing of unwanted material. You must comply at all times with the Company's security processes and protection requirements, including any specific requirements applicable to a system or programme, which you use.
Table of Contents | 10. Fair and Equitable Treatment |
