Our Interpretations of Canon 5 are as follows:

a) Engineers shall negotiate contracts for professional services on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualifications for the type of professional service required.

b) Engineers shall not request, propose, or accept professional commissions on a contingent basis if, under the circumstances, their professional judgments may be compromised.

c) Engineers shall not falsify or permit misrepresentation of their, or of their associates', academic or professional qualification. They shall not misrepresent or exaggerate their degrees of responsibility in or for prior assignments. Brochures or other presentations used to solicit employment shall not misrepresent pertinent facts concerning employers, employees, associates, joint ventures, or their accomplishments.

d) Engineers shall prepare articles for the lay or technical press that are only factual. 1. Technical Communications (theses, articles, papers, reports, etc.) that are based on research involving more than one individual (including students and supervising faculty, industrial supervisor/researcher or other co-workers) must recognize all significant contributors. Co-authors listed on proposed and accepted publications should enter a joint authorship arrangement by mutual consent before they submit the document for publication, and should obtain written permission to use others' published work if it serves as the major basis or key component of the publication. 2. Technical communication should adhere to clearly-defined and appropriately-disseminated guidelines on authorship. These guidelines should be promulgated and publicized in corporate, university or other employer policies and should consider professional technical society recommendations on ethical practice. 3. Plagiarism, the act of substantially using another's ideas or written materials without due credit, is unethical.

e) Engineers shall not maliciously or falsely, directly or indirectly, injure the professional reputation, prospects, practice or employment of other engineers, nor shall they indiscriminately criticize others' work.

f) Engineers shall not use their employers' equipment, supplies or facilities to practice privately, without consent.

Canon 5 and its interpretations promote the fundamental principle that engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor and dignity of the engineering profession by being honest and impartial, and by serving with fidelity the public, their employers, their clients, their colleagues, their collaborators, and their fellow engineers.