From my company’s online ethics training:
hiring a photographer to fly over a construction site in an attempt to obtain a competitor’s trade secrets may be an unlawful business practice, even if it’s not illegal.
(emphasis mine)
So… it’s unlawful, but it’s not illegal. Wha…?
Bang head HERE
Ok so this is from
http://www.m-w.com Merrian webster online dictonary
Entry Word: illegal
Function: adjective
Text: 1 contrary to or forbidden by law
Synonyms criminal, illegitimate, illicit, unlawful, wrongful
If they are synonyms aren’t they the same or was I just taught wrong from like fourth grade on up?
If I may jump in here?…
Perhaps the presenter is trying to convey the notion that the act of flying over a construction site is not illegal in that there is not law preventing it, but the act of flying over the site to gain trade secrets is illegal, due to the anti-competition and related laws.
s/unlawful/unethical/ , perhaps?
Perhaps they mean unlawful in the sense of being immoral.
my guess
is that they are misusing the terms but mean this:
unlawful – subject to civil suit
illegal – criminal act subject to prevention and action by law enforcement