Final answer:
With personal integrity at the forefront, the right action would be to notify Microsoft about the increased value of the chip, allowing them to reconsider or renegotiate, which reflects professional transparency and ethical business practice.
Step-by-step explanation:
When handling the situation of selling the rights to a chip that has suddenly tripled in value, it is important to act with personal integrity while also considering the best interests of your company. Since an agreement with Microsoft is pending, and in light of the new discovery, you should communicate the new information to Microsoft transparently.
The key step is to notify Microsoft about the new use for the chip that increases its value. This approach maintains professional integrity and provides Microsoft an opportunity to renegotiate the terms if they wish, reflecting the chip's new market value. When dealing with intellectual property and technology sales, it is vital to consider the implications of intellectual property rights and fair competition, as Microsoft has had historical issues with unfair competition practices, which emphasizes the need for transparent dealings in technology transactions.