As far as being concerned about putting the other guy out of business…it seems very unlikely.
As I see it, if your client pursues the matter there are one of two things that will happen
Personally, I’d tip the guy off anonymously and then let him do whatever he wants with the information. If he ignores me and loses his business, oh well, I won’t lose any sleep because I feel like I did the right thing.
I’d also finish the product and get my money. If my tip off hurts this clients business, I’d act sympathetic, and be there to help him on his next project.
Business IS cutthroat, and people who inform their business associates of their unethical behavior have absolutely no right to an expectation to be treated ethically as far as I’m concerned.
My father owned a dealership in a part of town that was famous for having many dealers.
His neighbor hated him for a long time, and as far as I know, my father had never done the other guy’s business any harm. In fact, they didn’t even sell the same product.
The other guy somehow convinced my father’s landlord that he’d offer her triple the rent that my father was paying at the time. Long story short, the landlord kicks my father out, in hopes of acquiring a tenant who can afford three times the rent, but the other guy (my father’s competitor) backs out at the last minute and leaves the landlord with an empty lot.
Eventually, the land was purchased by Audi who expanded its dealership next door.
Roual,
I applaud you for having morals. Whoever told you to do what would allow you to sleep best at night was correct.
Just make sure it’s a decision you A) won’t regret, B) will feel so satisfied for making that you won’t feel the need for justifying yourself.
I’ve found that the times I’ve needlessly justified my actions to my peers was when I did something that wasn’t entirely for me (as if it was a defense mechanism), i.e. I did it to garner the approval of at least one person other than myself, which left me disappointed in the end.