Ask HN: is this ethical?

#1

Post by 4-2011 » Sun, Apr 03, 2011, 3:09 PM UTC

A program director of a funding agency joins a start-up formed to commercialize the research he has funded until very recently.

I am certain this is unethical. The real questions is, how common is this?

Re: Ask HN: is this ethical?

#2

Post by lachyg » Sun, Apr 03, 2011, 3:13 PM UTC

Sorry, could you provide a little bit more detail?

Re: Ask HN: is this ethical?

#3

Post by 4-2011 » Sun, Apr 03, 2011, 3:24 PM UTC

lachyg wrote: post #2

Sorry, could you provide a little bit more detail?

I don't want to identify the company or the agency...

Re: Ask HN: is this ethical?

#4

Post by trevelyan » Sun, Apr 03, 2011, 4:15 PM UTC

It is only unethical if there is a conflict of interest. Not enough details to in your write-up to identify one.

Re: Ask HN: is this ethical?

#5

Post by 4-2011 » Sun, Apr 03, 2011, 4:56 PM UTC

trevelyan wrote: post #4

It is only unethical if there is a conflict of interest. Not enough details to in your write-up to identify one.

The person controls government money and now reaps the benefits, conflict? Judging by your answer, this isn't considered unethical, so it must be common.

Re: Ask HN: is this ethical?

#6

Post by Yana_Convelife » Sun, Apr 03, 2011, 5:13 PM UTC

It depends on what government money he controls. In California, I don't think this would be very common as it may violate some conflict of interest regulations depending on when he left the agency, when he joined/formed the start-up, and some other facts. I suspect similar regulations apply to federal agencies.

Re: Ask HN: is this ethical?

#7

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Apr 04, 2011, 9:14 AM UTC

4-2011 wrote: post #5

trevelyan wrote: post #4

It is only unethical if there is a conflict of interest. Not enough details to in your write-up to identify one.

The person controls government money and now reaps the benefits, conflict? Judging by your answer, this isn't considered unethical, so it must be common.

[deleted]