Table of Contents
General Provisions
1. Scope of Application
2. Implementation System
3. Internal Reporting and the Protection of Informants
4. Disciplinary Actions and the Dismissal of Employees
Section 1— Code of Conduct : In the Workplace
1. Respect for Customers
2. Code of Conduct for Employees and Executive Staff
3. Engineering, Production, and Quality and Safety Assurances
4. Sales
5. Procurement
6. Environmental Awareness
7. Inappropriate Expenditures
8. Intellectual Property
9. Accounting
Section 2— Code of Conduct : Between the Company and Individuals
10. Respect for Individuals
11. Respect for Company Information and its Intellectual Property
Section 3— Code of Conduct : Disclosure of Information
12. Public Relations
13. Advertising
Section 4— Code of Conduct in Relation to Society at Large
14. Relating to Society
15. Political Contributions
Main Text
General Provisions
In the broad scope of our business, we will respect the law and observe social standards and business ethics. We will also carry out our responsibilities in the areas of environmental protection, corporate social responsibility, and human rights as defined by the basic policies of our company. The Code of Conduct of the Shuppan Bunka Sha Corporation (hereafter referred to as the Code of Conduct) will be implemented as the basic policy for both employees and executive staff alike.
2. Implementation System
(1) Each office in this company will appoint a person responsible for the enforcement of the Code of Conduct (hereafter the Code of Conduct Responsible).
(2) The Code of Conduct Responsible will ensure the enforcement of the Code of Conduct and will be responsible for driving the implementation of all of the basic standards in their area.
(3) Others also responsible for the Code of Conduct in their jurisdiction (i.e. the employees of that department who are not the Code of Conduct Responsible) will implement them, and where necessary support the implementation and enforcement of the legal measures, engage in education on these matters, and above all support the Code of Conduct Responsible for its overall implementation.
(4) The office of the executive president will stand as the management office for the implementation and enforcement of Code of Conduct.
3. Internal Reporting and the Protection of Informants
(1) Wherever action is taken that is incongruent with the Code of Conduct or there is information indicating that this is so (hereafter referred to as risk compliance information), the employee or executive who discovered it should employ the internal communications systems and take their concerns straight to the Code of Conduct responsible within their department. Using our internal communications systems (the use of e-mail, telephone, and face-to-face interviews) we will initiate and manage a risk discussion hotline system.
(2) The Code of Conduct Responsible who receives risk compliance information will ensure swift and appropriate communication on the matter.
(3) We will not disadvantage the employees and executives who send sincere, well-intentioned risk compliance information in any way.
4. Disciplinary Actions and the Dismissal of Employees
Disciplinary action, including the dismissal of employees, is applicable wherever the Code of Conduct has been transgressed.
Section 1: Code of Conduct: In the Workplace
1. Respect for Customers
1. The Basic Policies of Shuppan Bunka Sha
(1) We shall respect our contractual and legal obligations at all times, while listening to our customers and providing them with satisfying products in what we refer to as our products services.
(2) As part of our products services we are happy to earnestly discuss the customer's requests.
2. Code of Conduct for Employees and Executive Staff of Shuppan Bunka Sha
(1) We shall attempt to offer high-quality goods and comprehensive service to ensure the satisfaction of the customer.
(2) As well as ensuring the appropriate and swift dispensing of information related to our products services, we will ensure that our discussions with customers is honest, swift and correct.
3. Engineering, Production, and Quality and Safety Assurance
3-1. The Basic Policies of Shuppan Bunka Sha
(1) We will carry out all contractual and legal obligations in relation to production of goods, product quality assurance, and product safety.
(2) Regardless of the hardware or software at our disposal, we plan to continuously innovate new ideas and offer safe, high-quality goods produced from the latest and best technology.
3-2. The Code of Conduct for Employees and Executive Staff of Shuppan Bunka Sha
(1) We will carry out our responsibilities on quality assurance from the point of view of the customer.
(2) We will strive to constantly review our technological expertise to progress our abilities and strengthen our Research and Development. We will also attempt to accumulate a legacy of technological expertise and accurately communicate changes in the technological environment to plan for the integration of new technologies as and when they occur.
(3) Through the planning and production stages of our business we will plan for the application of positive measures to protect company's intellectual property. We will also respect the limited legal rights of third parties to this information. We will never use inappropriate methods when acquiring third party information, and we will not show or leak any third party’s corporate information without engaging in appropriate procedures.
4. Sales
4-1. The Basic Policies of Shuppan Bunka Sha
(1) We aim, in full accordance with the law, to run a fair business which offers excellent products and high quality service.
(2) We will do our best to protect the knowledge of valuable proprietary information of third parties obtained through business affairs (including information of outside companies as well as information of individuals)
4-2. Code of Conduct for Employees and Executive Staff of Shuppan Bunka Sha
(1) We will show every customer the fair and just manner in which we conduct business.
(2) Through observance of the law and sound business practices, we will run a business based on common ideals.
(3) We will follow the Code of Conduct in complying with the anti-trust legislation and regulation, and we will engage in fair and free market competition.
(4) We will use fair and legal methods to acquire information of third parties. We will not follow set procedures and we will not show or leak this information to other third parties.
(5) In protecting personal information, the gathering, use, and management thereof will be done through reasonable and fair methods.
5. Procurement
5-1. Basic Policies of Shuppan Bunka Sha
(1) In accordance with the law and through fair and appropriate dealings we will procure necessary goods and services within appropriate timeframes, price, and quality.
(2) Our competitors will have a fair opportunity to compete for our suppliers.
5-2. Code of Conduct for Employees and Executive Staff of Shuppan Bunka Sha
(1) We will procure necessary goods and services through fair evaluation in accordance with the standards set out below.
・Appropriate grade and quality
・Economically rational price
・In keeping with deadlines
・Appropriate services to follow-up
・Goods from a secure and stable supply
・Goods and services with consideration for the environment
(2) We will not derive individual profits from our duties arising from our dealings procurements. Furthermore, we will honestly and sincerely fulfill our contractual responsibilities, pay full observance of the law, and behave with proper and ethically sound business practices when fulfilling our purchasing needs.
(3) We will not acquire sensitive information on third parties (including those with whom we deal with directly) through unfair or illegal means in our procurement activities. We will never use inappropriate methods when acquiring third party information, and we will not show or leak any third party’s company information without engaging in appropriate procedures.
6. Environmental Awareness
6-1. Basic Policies of Shuppan Bunka Sha
(1) In order to pass down an ecologically sound environment of our “irreplaceable Earth” to the next generation, we must contribute to the creation of a prolific, healthy society which rebuilds the environment.
(2) We will adhere to the international standards set out in ISO14001, all related laws, agreements, global business indicators as well as voluntary standards.
(3) We will contribute to society by providing goods and services that are produced with careful consideration on the key points of their environmental impact.
6-2. Code of Conduct for Employees and Executive Staff of Shuppan Bunka Sha
(1) We will make every attempt to research, develop, and produce goods which are well-suited to the preservation of the environment. Through the appropriate use of energy and resources, we will take positive steps to prevent the progress of global warming and achieve zero emission waste.
(2) The company, throughout its offices, shall engage in the policies, plans, and practices put in place to protect the environment, and through continuous review shall derive continuous improvement.
(3) As part of undertaking ISO14001 we are subject to standard measures and inspections, and will take appropriate steps to comply and protect our record. If we are ever found to be incongruent with the standards, then we will act quickly to solve the issue and take measures to prevent future lapses.
(4) We will participate in local events relating to the environment and undertake the exchange of information relating to this where possible.
7. Inappropriate Expenditures
7-1. Basic Policies of Shuppan Bunka Sha
We will not undertake unfair or unreasonable expenditures which contradict laws or appropriate business conduct.
7-2. Code of Conduct for Employees and Executive Staff of Shuppan Bunka Sha
(1) We will not pay fees, entertain, or give gifts to employees (including former employees) or political representatives (and candidates) of public resource management groups (including regional public offices, special legal entities, governmental resources and etc.) that contradict the law or proper business conduct. We will never offer these people the opportunity to profit from their position.
(2) When engaging in proxy offices or representative bodies, we will decide on appropriate and reasonable fees before engaging their services. When paying for these services that are within the law and appropriately regulated, we will follow the applicable laws.
(3) When offering gifts, entertainment, and other courtesies to customers through the course of business, we will observe the law and respect the established policies of the customer.
8. Intellectual Property
8-1. Basic Policies of Shuppan Bunka Sha
(1) We will observe all applicable laws relating to patents, publishing rights, and copyrights and any other laws relating to the control of intellectual property.
(2) We will protect the control of intellectual property that results from engaging companies, and take strong action in the application of these measures. We will also respect the fair and just control of third parties' intellectual property.
8-2. Code of Conduct for Employees and Executive Staff of Shuppan Bunka Sha
(1) In order to strengthen the market's competitive forces, we will take action to acquire and use intellectual property rights.
(2) We understand and respect that the functions of invention, innovation, design of compositions, program layout, and other functions relating to book publications and intellectual property rights inevitably revert to the company that owns them.
(3) Where we undertake the just and fair use of intellectual property from a third party, we will respect that party's ultimate control of the intellectual property.
* ”Control of Intellectual Property" refers to the control of composition, publication, practical use of patents, design, management secrets obtained through business correspondence (ie. specialist know-how) and etc.
9. Accounting
9-1. Basic Policies of Shuppan Bunka Sha
We will observe the laws and standards relating to accounting, and employ proper transaction and reporting methods.
9-2. Code of Conduct for Employees and Executive Staff of Shuppan Bunka Sha
(1) Accounting information will be recorded correctly; we will not record insufficient or misleading information.
(2) In order to present accounting information quickly, we will maintain and attempt to improve our accounting systems.