Which action is not always considered an ethical violation?

Revealing confidential information about a product without permission is indeed an action that is generally viewed as unethical, especially in contexts involving proprietary information. However, it's important to recognize that the classification of ethical violations can vary depending on several factors, such as the specific circumstances, context, and the agreement or understanding between the parties involved concerning confidentiality.

In contrast to the other actions listed, revealing confidential information may not always constitute an ethical violation if, for instance, the information has been made public or if there is no explicit confidentiality agreement in place. In some cases, legal obligations or beneficial disclosures to the public might mitigate the ethical implications. Each situation must be evaluated on its own merits, considering the nuances and intentions behind the disclosure.

The other actions are more clearly defined as ethical violations: signing plans without proper diligence undermines professional integrity, granting contracts where one has a conflict of interest can lead to corruption, and accepting fees from contractors during a project raises issues of impartiality and fairness. These actions typically violate established ethical standards regardless of the contextual specifics.