Violations of civil law usually result in fines or other forms of financial compensation. Criminal law prohibits certain acts and dictates non-financial forms of punishment. Despite the complexity of the legal system, there is a lot of room for individual interpretation. Where laws can't govern all our actions, societal influences generally guide us. For example, what we consider a gift or bribe in this country may be a common practice in another country.
Ethical issues relate to customers in general or business relationships.
Issues of honesty and communication are often closely monitored by consumer groups or other regulatory bodies. Misleading or false advertising, deception, improper labeling, and discrimination are fairly well protected under law. Business relationships, on the other hand, are more vague. Conflicts of interest, keeping company secrets, and plagiarism are less clear areas of ethics. Regardless of the issue, there are some steps you can use in a business situation to help you make an ethical decision.