Reverse engineering a schema - any ethical or legal imlications?

[sam1a]

ahem ahem

I have been offered a short contract to convert data from one application to another.

They want me to extract data from a competitors application/db to their system while their client transitions from one system to the other. This is to be done by reverse-engineering the schema and mapping to the fields in their application and extracting it via odbc/whatever.

The two rival systems will remain in place, one extracting the data from the other, at the client over a period of time, perhaps months. They may want to repeat the operation for future clients/rival products. They will want me to sign an NDA.

I used to work for the competitor on that product years ago. That product is still in development and is not at all legacy - they are a market leader.

My understanding is that decompilation is against the law if used for competitive reasons. I regard reverse engineering a schema as part of the decompilation process, though this may be technically incorrect. They argue the client owns the data, and they've been through it all with lawyers.

So:

I feel uncomfortable with the ethical and legal implications, and want to know if I am being naive/precious/stupid believing the following:

1. Its too much reverse engineering and direct mapping to an application for a bog-standard data conversion.
2. I used to work with the rival on the product and feel a duty of confidentiality (and they were my mates).
3. Its at best a legal grey area and should there be comeback later on, I will be particularly exposed as a contractor, even insured in a ltd.

Basically, is it dodgy or perfectly normal and above board?

this is interesting. reminds me of Robert Cringley's reverse engineering tip in his movie. Guess you should watch Triumph of Nerds