Statement of Policy on Professional Practices

I. PURPOSE
1.1 The purpose of the Statement of Policy on Professional Practices is to provide all Creative Media Alliance of Colorado (CMAC) Members with a clear standard of professional conduct expectations. As an organization, CMAC encourages the highest level of professional and ethical conduct from each of its members. The policy reflects the view of CMAC on the kind of professional practices that are in the best interest of its members, the respective professions represented, business clients, and the community at large.

1.2 CMAC also recognizes the responsibilities, power, and influence of the medium in which we work. It is because of this that we set forth the following principles for professional behavior and ethical conduct. These principles are primarily intended to aid CMAC Members individually and collectively in maintaining a high level of professionalism and integrity in the marketplace.

1.3 For the purposes of this document the words "CMAC Member" means an individual, practicing as a freelancer or salaried creative professional, or group of creative professionals acting in partnership or other form of collaboration.

II. PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
2.1 A CMAC Member shall at all times act in a way which supports the aims of CMAC and its members, and encourages the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, and integrity.

2.2 A CMAC Member shall not undertake, within the context of his or her professional practice, any activity that will compromise his or her status as a professional nor tarnish their association with, or the reputation of, the CMAC organization.

2.3 A CMAC Member should engage in fair and equitable practices and treatment of those rendering services to themselves, their clients, employees or employers, competitors, and should follow sound professional procedures for evaluation and selection of products and services.

III. RESPONSIBILITY TO CLIENTS
3.1 A CMAC Member shall acquaint him/herself with a client's business and standards expectations, and shall act in the client's best interest within the limits of professional responsibility.

3.2 A CMAC Member shall not work simultaneously on assignments which create a conflict of interest without agreement of the clients or employers concerned, except in specific cases where it is the convention of a particular trade to work at the same time for various competitors.

3.3 A CMAC Member shall treat all work in progress prior to the completion of a project and all knowledge of a client's intentions, production methods and business organization as confidential and shall not divulge such information in any manner whatsoever without the consent of the client. It is the CMAC Member’s responsibility to ensure that all staff/crew members act accordingly.

IV. RESPONSIBILITY TO COLLEAGUES
4.1 CMAC Members in pursuit of business opportunities should support fair and open competition based upon professional merit and applicable expertise.

4.2 A CMAC Member shall not knowingly accept any professional assignment on which another CMAC Member has been or is working without notifying the other CMAC Member or until he/she is satisfied that any previous appointments have been properly terminated and that all materials relevant to the continuation of the project are the clear property of the client.

4.3 A CMAC Member must not attempt, directly or indirectly, to supplant another CMAC Member through unfair means; nor must he/she compete with another CMAC Member by means of unethical inducements or fabricated fee undercutting.

4.4 A CMAC Member must be fair in criticism and shall not denigrate the work or reputation of a fellow CMAC Member.

4.5 A CMAC Member shall not accept instructions from a client which involve infringement of another person's property rights without permissions, or consciously act in any manner involving any such infringement.

4.6 A CMAC Member should inform their requesting clients and supervisors of the stipulations and interpretations of laws governing copyright and ownership of material, as well as other laws affecting their respective professions

4.7 A CMAC Member working in a country other than his or her own shall observe the relevant Code of Conduct of the national society concerned.

V. FEES and PRICING
5.1 A CMAC Member shall not undertake any work for a client without adequate and equitable compensation, except with respect to work for charitable or non-profit organizations where circumstances may justify deviation from rate standards.

5.2 A CMAC Member shall not undertake any speculative projects either alone or in competition with other CMAC Members for which compensation will only be received if a CMAC Member is accepted or used. This applies not only to entire projects but also to preliminary proposals as well.

5.3 A CMAC Member shall work only for a fee, a royalty, salary or other agreed upon form of compensation. A CMAC Member shall not retain any kickbacks, hidden discounts, commission, allowances or payment in kind from vendors or suppliers without first disclosing such opportunity to, and receiving approval from, the client.

5.4 A CMAC Member whose relationship with any vendor which may benefit from any recommendations made by the CMAC Member in the course of a project, shall secure the approval of the client or employer of this fact in advance.

5.5 A CMAC Member who is asked to advise on the selection of other CMAC Members shall not base such advice in the receipt of payment from the CMAC Member(s) recommended.

VI. PUBLICITY
6.1 Any self-promotion, advertising, or publicity must not contain deliberate misstatements of competence, experience or professional capabilities. It must be fair both to clients and other CMAC Members.

6.2 A CMAC Member may allow a client to use his or her name for the promotion of work(s) produced or services provided but only in a manner which is appropriate to the status of the profession.

VII. AUTHORSHIP
7.1 A CMAC Member shall not claim sole credit for a project on which other CMAC Members have collaborated.

7.2 When not the sole creator of a project, it is incumbent upon a CMAC Member to clearly identify his/her specific responsibilities or involvement with the project. Examples of such work may not be used for publicity, display or portfolio samples without clear identification of precise areas of authorship.

VIII. COMMENT
8.1 The preceding, as from time to time deemed appropriate, may be modified to address current circumstance, industry and/or market conditions.

8.2 The Statement of Policy on Professional Practices will be used as the basis for disputes brought in front of any assembled CMAC grievance committee or panel adjourned on behalf of requesting parties.