From a business standpoint, this early action on the part of Nike and Adidas is understandable. Locking up the next LeBron could mean millions, maybe billions, in future sales. Unfortunately, this results in the future of these young athletes being placed in the hands of schools and individuals who are more interested in furthering their own interests than they are of furthering those of the athletes. Codes of conduct or codes of ethics help clarify and outline the guidelines for behavior in various organizations. Implementing such codes in organizations in the licensed and branded apparel and footwear industry, however, is not always simple and straightforward