An IPSIG shall not accept an assignment or perform any act in the capacity of an IPSIG involving an actual or potential conflict of interest.

Notes:

1. The IPSIG's paramount duty is the diligent performance of the assignment as defined by its terms, without self-interest or concern for self-advancement. The IPSIG's dual reporting responsibilities require the IPSIG to act equally in the interests of the host organization and the reporting entity. As stated in the previous paragraphs, this requires a dedication to integrity and the exercise of independent judgement.
   
   
2. The preservation of independence and the avoidance of conflicts of interest are interconnected. The examples given in the previous paragraph of circumstances in which the IPSIG's independence would be compromised - including misusing a relationship with a host organization or a reporting entity for personal gain, and failing to perform IPSIG services with complete diligence and thoroughness for personal gain or professional advancement - are also conflicts of interest.
   
   
3. Other conflicts of interest not mentioned in the previous paragraph include:
   
   
   1. directly or indirectly using information in the course of an assignment, where that information was acquired from a host organization in the course of another assignment, and where such use is potentially or in fact disadvantageous to that organization. In general, any use of proprietary information is considered to be a disadvantageous use. Use of non-proprietary information may or may not be, depending upon the circumstances and the proposed use. It is the responsibility of an IPSIG to be alert to the potential for conflicts of interest to arise in the use of information acquired in previous assignments, whatever its nature, and to make an objective judgement of that potential on a case by case basis. The use of the information with the consent of all relevant parties is not considered to be a disadvantageous use, provided that full disclosures have been made and the implications of the use of the information have been explained to the relevant parties.
      
      
   2. applying for or accepting an assignment during the currency of another assignment that is potentially or in fact disadvantageous to either or both host organizations. Applying for or accepting such an assignment with the consent of all relevant parties is not considered to be a disadvantageous use, provided that full disclosures have been made and the implications of the application for or acceptance of the assignment have been explained to the relevant parties.
      
      The "relevant parties" in this paragraph may, depending upon the circumstances, include the host organizations and the reporting entities.
      
      
   3. accepting or continuing with an assignment for a host organization in which any IPSIG member has a direct or indirect financial or managerial interest. In special circumstances, such conduct may not constitute a conflict of interest if the informed consent of the reporting entity and the host organization is obtained.