The Ethics in Technical Writing

Subtlety may deceive you; integrity never will. – Oliver Cromwell

This is a strange post for me to write and yet it is one I have thought about writing on and off for many years. Each time a company or individual crosses the line to try to take from another company what should be earned, I am tempted. Each time, I resist.

Years ago, a company approached its competitors’ writers with offers of work. This may not be something my company would do, but it is certainly not unethical. Some might even call it good business. During the interview process, the fishing began. Tell us, the company asked, who did you work with? What are the names of the contact people? I was lucky. My writer was smart enough to see the fish and explain these were WritePoint clients. Another company’s writer was not so quick to see the tactic.

The company didn’t hire the writer, but they did use the information. They contacted the customer and offered their services at a rate that was approximately 50% lower than the going rate. What could the company do? How could it justify paying 50% more? The CFO called the writing company they had been using for years. In the end, the writing company was able to keep its client, but it was forced to cut its rate below market value just to keep its writers working. Legal? Perhaps. Ethical? Not by a long shot.

A few days ago, a competitor called me. We have competed for years and yet we remain friends. I have never tried to take a client from them; they have never tried to take a client from me. We will both send writers for a job, and honestly and truthfully, be happy if either company lands the job. My competitor, my friend, was very upset. I have decided to name names here and so I will say that my friend is the well respected Miriam Lottner, her company, Tech Tav.

Miriam was very upset – a mutual competitor, a company that is not very active on Techshoret or any forums that share knowledge and expertise, but one that has been around for many years, has taken a Google Ad and used her company name to try to divert visitors from Tech Tav to their site. Visitors would search for “tech tav” and be directed to this other website when they click on the sponsored ad that comes up. Legal? Perhaps. Ethical? Not by a long shot.

<The image that was here (showing one of the offending advertisements), has been removed under threat of a 640,000 NIS lawsuit. In removing it, I have yielded to the concept of doing what is smart, against the concept of doing what is right.>

Today, I got an email from Barbara Sher. In my earliest days of technical writing back in the early 1990s, the name of Barbara Sher was well known and respected. That has not changed in all these years. She was very upset. A competitor had done something to her, she wrote, and to me. Sure enough, it was the same.

<The image that was here (showing one of the offending advertisements), has been removed under threat of a 640,000 NIS lawsuit. In removing it, I have yielded to the concept of doing what is smart, against the concept of doing what is right.>


<The image that was here (showing one of the offending advertisements), has been removed under threat of a 640,000 NIS lawsuit. In removing it, I have yielded to the concept of doing what is smart, against the concept of doing what is right.>


This competitor has registered her personal name and that of her company. Google “Barbara Sher” in Hebrew or “docustar” and you will find an ad leading you to this other company’s website. Google “Paula Stern” in Hebrew (and with an aleph) or Google “writepoint” and again, this company’s sponsored as link is there. Legal? Perhaps. Ethical? Not by a long shot.

<The image that was here (showing one of the offending advertisements), has been removed under threat of a 640,000 NIS lawsuit. In removing it, I have yielded to the concept of doing what is smart, against the concept of doing what is right.>

<The image that was here (showing one of the offending advertisements), has been removed under threat of a 640,000 NIS lawsuit. In removing it, I have yielded to the concept of doing what is smart, against the concept of doing what is right.>


It is interesting to me that I was less upset than Barbara or Miriam. Perhaps this is because I learned of this perfidy already knowing I was being targeted among Israel’s finest companies, rather than thinking I was being alone. In some sick way, this may actually be a compliment.

Of course, it is also a twisted sort of logic – what they can’t earn honestly, it seems, must be taken by deceit. And so, Israel’s hi-tech companies have now officially been challenged.

Google runs by the law in allowing or not allowing the placing of an advertisement. One can only hope that Israel’s high-tech industry holds itself to a higher standard. You can go with a company that has not broken any laws in the strictest sense of the word. But wouldn’t you rather go with a company that is ethical?

If they would act questionably against their competitors to try to gain your business, should you expect them to be ethical with the work you might give them?

Are you sure you can trust them with your business secrets?

I wouldn’t.