Exhibit 14
CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICS
OF
RELATIONSERVE MEDIA, INC.
-----------------------
JULY 13, 2005
Employment by RelationServe Media, Inc. or its subsidiaries
(collectively, the "Company") carries with it the duty and responsibility to be
constantly aware of the importance of ethical conduct when dealing with
competitors, suppliers, customers and other employees. Each of us, whether an
employee, officer, director, agent or representative, has an individual
responsibility to deal ethically in all aspects of the Company's business and to
comply fully with all laws, regulations, and Company policies. Each individual
is expected to assume the responsibility for applying these standards of ethical
conduct and for acquainting himself or herself with the various laws,
regulations, and group policies applicable to his or her assigned duties. This
Code of Conduct and Ethics (the "Code") is applicable not only to the conduct of
each employee of the Company, but also to the conduct of any associate or
relative of such employee in regard to the Company. For the purposes of this
Code, a relative is any person who is related by blood, marriage or adoption or
whose relationship with the employee is similar to that of persons who are
related by blood, marriage or adoption. For the purposes of this Code, an
associate of a person is (1) a corporation or other entity of which such person
is an officer or partner, or is, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of
10 percent or more of any class of equity securities; and (2) any trust or other
estate in which such person has a substantial beneficial interest or as to which
such employee serves as trustee or in a similar capacity. In complying with the
Company's Code, each of us is expected to exercise high standards of integrity
and good judgment and to apply the following guiding principles:
1. CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS. You must avoid any "conflict of interest",
which occurs when an individual's private interest interferes in any way, or
even appears to interfere, with the interest of the Company as a whole. Such a
conflict of interest can arise when (i) you take actions or have an interest
that makes it difficult to perform Company work objectively or effectively, (ii)
you or your family receive improper personal benefits as a result of your
position in the Company and (iii) you or your family receive a loan or a
guarantee of an obligation from the Company. To this end, you should never
accept any gift, favor, entertainment or anything else of value from a current
or prospective person or organization that does or desires to do business with
the Company (other than gifts that are consistent with customary business
practices, are not gifts of value, would not be viewed as improper by others and
do not violate applicable laws or regulations). Should a potential conflict of
interest arise, please contact the President of the Company or the Chairman of
the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
2. USURPATION OF CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES. You owe a duty to the Company
to advance the Company's legitimate interests when the opportunity to do so
arises. You must refrain from taking part or exercising influence in any
transaction in which your personal interest may conflict with the best interests
of the Company, including (i) taking for yourself personally opportunities that
are discovered through the use of Company property, information or position,
(ii) using Company property, information or position for personal gain, and
(iii) competing with the Company.
3. FAIR DEALING. You must endeavor to deal fairly with the Company's
customers, suppliers, competitors and employees. You must not take unfair
advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged
information, misrepresentation of material facts or any other unfair-dealing
practice.
4. PROTECTION AND PROPER USE OF COMPANY ASSETS. You must protect the
Company's assets and ensure their efficient use. Theft, carelessness and waste
have a direct impact on the Company's profitability. All Company assets should
be used for legitimate business purposes. You should cooperate with your
coworkers and supervisors in the use of the Company's materials, equipment and
facilities, and refrain from using them for non-business purposes.
5. CONFIDENTIALITY. You must exercise good judgment in the use of
information you may acquire in the course of doing Company business including,
but not limited to, methods of operations, sales, products, profits, costs,
markets, key personnel, licenses, trade secrets and other know-how of the
Company. You must maintain the confidentiality of all such information, except
when disclosure is authorized or legally mandated.
6. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS. You must comply with all
laws, rules, regulations, policies and guidelines applicable to the Company,
including insider trading laws. You must never induce or encourage employees to
engage in illegal or unethical conduct.
7. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT. You must conduct yourself in a manner to
provide fair and equal opportunity to all employees regardless of race, color,
sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, national origin, veteran's status or
disability and to avoid harassment or unequal treatment of co-employees, as well
as to strive to establish and maintain a work environment that is free from
intimidation, threats or violent acts and the effects of alcohol and drug abuse.
8. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS. You must conduct yourself in an honest manner
and advance the interests of the Company. To this end, you must:
a. treat all employees with dignity and respect individual rights;
b. be mindful of the health and safety of all Company employees;
c. conduct yourself as a responsible and useful corporate citizen;
d. never make a payment, contribution, gift or provide services or
facilities to a public official on behalf of the Company (you are
free to contribute personal time or funds to any political
candidate or party without expectation of reimbursement or time
off from work to conduct political activities);
e. make commercial decisions that are in the best interests of the
Company;
2
f. fully and fairly disclose the financial condition and results of
operations of the Company in accordance with applicable
accounting principles, laws, rules and regulations, and in such
connection, to keep the books and records of the Company so as to
fully and fairly reflect all Company transactions;
g. provide full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable
disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with
or submits to regulatory authorities, as well as in financial
government, stockholder and other internal or external reports,
certifications, documentation or audits;
h. implement Company programs, systems, practices or procedures, or
changes thereto required to enforce the Code and/or to avoid
ethical problems; and
i. promptly report knowledge of any illegal or improper activity or
violations of laws, rules, regulations or this Code of Conduct
and Ethics to the officer provided below or any supervisor,
manager or other appropriate personnel of the Company, with the
assurance that the Company will not allow retaliation for reports
made in good faith.
Failure to comply with this Code of Conduct and Ethics may result in
disciplinary actions, including warnings, suspensions, termination of employment
or such other actions as may be appropriate under the circumstances.
Violations of this Code of Conduct and Ethics must be reported promptly to
the President of the Company or the Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Board
of Directors. Any questions pertaining to this Code of Conduct and Ethics are to
be directed to the officer provided above or the Chairman of the Audit
Committee.
3
CERTIFICATION
I hereby state that I have read the Code of Conduct and Ethics of
RelationServe Media, Inc. dated July 13, 2005 and that I understand my
responsibilities thereunder. I agree to abide by the Code of Conduct and Ethics
to the best of my ability. I am not aware of any violation, or any possible
violation, of the Code of Conduct and Ethics or any applicable law or
regulation.
Signature:_______________________________ Date:____________________________
Name (please print):_______________________
4
