Ethical Business Practices Guide for Suppliers

At Gooblum, we are committed to conducting business responsibly and ethically. This guide outlines the standards we expect from all suppliers, partners, and third parties who work with us. It reflects our dedication to legal compliance, respect for human rights, and environmental stewardship in accordance with applicable Japanese laws and international best practices.

1. Legal Compliance

We expect all suppliers to comply fully with applicable laws and regulations in every jurisdiction where they operate, including but not limited to:

Labor Standards Act (労働基準法): compliance with all employment laws, including working hours, minimum wage, overtime compensation, and rest periods.
Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI / 個人情報保護法): proper handling, storage, and processing of personal data in accordance with Japan's data protection framework.
Industrial Safety and Health Act (労働安全衛生法): maintaining safe and healthy working conditions for all employees and contractors.
Tax laws: compliance with all applicable tax obligations, including timely filing and accurate reporting.
Unfair Competition Prevention Act (不正競争防止法): prohibition of unfair business practices, including bribery of foreign officials, misappropriation of trade secrets, and deceptive business conduct.
Basic Environment Law (環境基本法): compliance with environmental protection regulations and standards.

Suppliers must also comply with all applicable international trade laws, export controls, and sanctions regulations.

2. Commitment to Labor and Human Rights

Gooblum expects all suppliers to uphold fundamental human rights and labor standards:

No forced labor: suppliers must not use any form of forced, bonded, indentured, or involuntary labor. All work must be voluntary, and workers must be free to leave upon reasonable notice.
No child labor: suppliers must not employ individuals below the minimum working age as defined by applicable law and ILO conventions.
Fair compensation: workers must receive fair wages and benefits that meet or exceed applicable legal minimums, paid in a timely manner.
Equal opportunity: suppliers must provide a workplace free from discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, or any other protected characteristic.
Freedom of association: workers' rights to freely associate and collectively bargain must be respected in accordance with applicable law.
Health and safety: suppliers must provide a safe and healthy working environment, including proper training, protective equipment, and emergency procedures.

3. Upholding Ethical Standards

All suppliers are expected to maintain the highest ethical standards in their business dealings:

Anti-corruption and anti-bribery: suppliers must not engage in any form of corruption, bribery, extortion, or embezzlement. This includes both direct and indirect payments to government officials, public servants, or private parties to obtain or retain business advantages.
Intellectual property protection: suppliers must respect the intellectual property rights of Gooblum and third parties. Technology and know-how must be transferred in a manner that protects intellectual property rights.
Data protection: suppliers who process personal data on behalf of Gooblum must comply with APPI and implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect personal information.
Accurate records: all business records and reports must be accurate, truthful, and maintained in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Falsification of records is strictly prohibited.
Gifts and entertainment: suppliers must not offer gifts, entertainment, or hospitality that could improperly influence business decisions or create a conflict of interest.
Conflicts of interest: suppliers must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest that may affect their business relationship with Gooblum.

4. Environmental Responsibility

We expect all suppliers to operate in an environmentally responsible manner and to minimize their environmental impact:

comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations, including the Basic Environment Law;
implement practices to reduce waste, emissions, and energy consumption;
promote the efficient use of natural resources and materials;
support recycling and responsible disposal of waste;
work toward continuous improvement of environmental performance;
obtain and maintain all required environmental permits and registrations.

5. Confidential Information

Suppliers must protect all confidential and proprietary information shared by Gooblum during the course of the business relationship. This includes, but is not limited to:

business plans, strategies, and financial data;
customer and partner information;
technical data, trade secrets, and proprietary processes;
any information marked or reasonably understood to be confidential.

Confidential information must not be disclosed to third parties without prior written consent from MadTech Rocks LLC, except as required by law. Obligations of confidentiality survive the termination of the business relationship.

6. Raising Concerns

We encourage all suppliers, their employees, and any stakeholder to report any concerns about potential violations of this guide or applicable laws. Reports can be made in good faith without fear of retaliation.

To raise a concern, please contact us at contact@gooblum.com. All reports will be treated confidentially and investigated promptly.

7. Enforcement and Review

MadTech Rocks LLC reserves the right to monitor compliance with this guide, including through audits, assessments, and requests for documentation. Suppliers who fail to meet the standards set forth in this guide may be subject to corrective action, including termination of the business relationship.

This guide is reviewed periodically and may be updated to reflect changes in law, regulation, or best practices. Suppliers will be notified of material changes and are expected to comply with the updated requirements.