Problem:
Company X in the Marketplace simulation is one of three joined in a strategic alliance for the development of product feature technology. One provision of the alliance agreement restricts each member from licensing alliance developed features to companies outside the alliance. Company X has received licenses for two popular features and has been approached by a non-alliance company regarding licenses for those features. Currently, Company X is struggling. A substantial emergency loan was taken in the previous quarter, and the firm is close to bankruptcy. The non-alliance company is offering substantial amounts of cash for the features.
What are the ethical issues facing Company X?
Can you envision a way for Company X to license the features to the non-alliance company?