ETHICS COMMITTEE
1. An Ethics Committee consisting of three (3) members shall be appointed by the President for a term of one (1) year at such time as all other committees are appointed and such committee shall continue to act until replaced.
2. Complaints of violations to the Code of Ethics may be filed by any member of the Association in writing to the Committee.
A. Upon receipt of a complaint, the Committee shall investigate the same and may afford the party complained against an opportunity to reply to the complaint.
B. After review thereof, if the Committee unanimously determines that a member has violated the Code of Ethics it shall make a report to the Executive Board. The Executive Board may, at its discretion, issue a warning to such a member, and if such a warning is issued it shall announce at a membership meeting of the Association the issuance of same.
C. Warnings shall remain on record with the Executive Board for one (1) year from the date of its issuance. If a member shall receive more than one (1) warning within any one (1) year period the Committee shall recommend to the general membership that appropriate action be taken against such member as called for under the By-Laws.
D. Every effort shall be made to avoid the issuance of warnings, And the burden of proof shall be upon the complainant.
RUG DESIGN FILE
1. Members shall be requested to file with the Ethics Committee color photographs of designs originated or registered by them to be held in a confidential file by the Executive Director of the Association to be accessed only by the Ethics Committee in the event of a dispute as to a design’s ownership.
2. Members who do not submit designs shall have the same rights and protection as those who do submit photographs.
CODE OF ETHICS ORIENTAL RUG IMPORTERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
Members of the Oriental Rug Importers Association, Inc. who have adopted this Code of Ethics by affixing their signatures hereto agree as follows:
1. To abide by the standards set in the By-Laws of the Oriental Rug Importers Association, Inc.
2. To conduct themselves in an ethical and proper manner at trade shows and other business functions where members may be in contact with customers and other exhibitor/members of the Association.
3. To provide accurate information, orally and in writing, to the public pertaining to the construction, materials, country or origin and durability or rugs and carpets, and, not to misrepresent rugs or carpets orally or in writing.
4. To uphold and protect trade names, trademarks, logos, company names, design names and other proprietary right of all rug importers.
5. To use one’s best efforts to apprise all parties connect with the Oriental Rug Trade, including overseas suppliers, of the content and intent of this Code.
6. Not to knowingly purchase another importer’s stock which is currently on order by such other importer from a manufacturer without such other importer’s express written consent.
7. Not to substantially duplicate designs of other importers, whether adapted from historical sources or originated by another importer, without such other importer’s consent. Violations herein include any attempt to replicate another importer’s design that without close scrutiny appears to be the same. Minor design alteration or color modification will not exempt a member hereunder. It is also recognized that certain rights to antique and classical designs may be in the public health domain.
8. To possess rugs designed and imported by another importer only with such importer’s consent and not otherwise.
9. Not to knowingly deal with, sell or participate in fraudulent “Going-Out-Of-Business” Sales, defined as sales in retail stores established or purchased with the intent of conducting a “Going-Out-Of-Business” Sale.