Question

1. Evaluate the situation that Mason and Shepherd find themselves in with respect to their existing employers. What are the legal and ethical issues raised

Answer 1

Answer:

The answer is provided in two separate headings for Mason and Shepherd with regard to the issues faced by them and how to handle them.

Explanation:

Mason

Mason's goal is start a venture by utilising the information received from the company she has worked for. This could lead to the violation of the agreement with her employer with regard to Non-competition, Non-disclosure and Development provisions.

So to tackle this situation she needs to first of all prove that the business is not a competitor of ATS. Moreover, she must refrain from coming into contact of the current customers of ATS. Finally, data kept in her office computer on the details of the new venture is  currently under the ownership of ATS. Therefore, she should removed that data. Other than that she could negotiate with ATS with the help of a legal consultant.

Shepherd

Shepherd has signed an agreement with NOVA, where he is being bound to disclose all the inventions he has worked on so far. This problem is more likely on the intellectual property law.

To resolve this issue he could own his inventions by way of patent the translate engines as early as possible. While the process may take some years, it will be protected from NOVA as it would in pending status.