DIRECTV 2009 Annual Report Download - page 33

DIRECTV
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
All DIRECTV companies maintain active programs for identifying and protecting our important
intellectual property. With the exception of certain U.S. trademark registrations held by DIRECTV
U.S., Sky Mexico and Sky Brazil pursuant to trademark license agreements and various intellectual
property licensed from third parties, DIRECTV Group owns all of our intellectual property for the
benefit of our company and our subsidiaries.
We believe that our growing portfolio of pending and issued patents are important assets. We
presently hold over 1,950 issued patents worldwide relating to our past and present businesses,
including over 450 patents developed by, or otherwise relating to, the businesses of DIRECTV U.S. We
hold a worldwide portfolio of over 1,100 trademarks in over 130 countries related to the DIRECTV
brand, the Cyclone Design and DIRECTV products and services. In particular, DIRECTV U.S. holds
trademark registrations relating to its business, including registrations of the primary ‘‘DIRECTV’’ and
Cyclone Design trademarks. In many instances, these trademarks are licensed royalty-free to third
parties for use in support of the DIRECTV U.S. business. We actively protect our important patents,
trademarks and other intellectual property rights against unauthorized or improper use by third parties.
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION
We are subject to the requirements of federal, state, local and foreign environmental laws and
regulations. These include laws regulating air emissions, water discharge and universal and hazardous
waste management activities. We have an environmental management function designed to track,
facilitate and support our compliance with these requirements and attempt to maintain compliance with
all such requirements. We have made and will continue to make, as necessary, capital and other
expenditures to comply with environmental requirements. We do not, however, expect capital or other
expenditures for environmental compliance to be material in 2010. In addition, we periodically review
environmental stewardship concepts (such as green initiatives and energy conservation strategies) and
implement these whenever feasible. Environmental requirements are complex, change frequently and
have become more stringent over time. Accordingly, we cannot provide assurance that these
requirements will not change or become more stringent in the future in a manner that could have a
material adverse effect on our business.
We are also subject to environmental laws requiring the investigation and cleanup of
environmental contamination at facilities we formerly owned or operated or currently own or operate
or to which we sent hazardous wastes, including specified universal wastes, for treatment, service,
disposal or recycling. We are aware of contamination at one of our former sites. We are in the process
of complying with the requirements stipulated by the government agency overseeing the site clean up
and have allocated the funds to achieve the decontamination goals.
SEGMENT REPORTING DATA
Operating segment and principal geographic area data for 2009, 2008 and 2007 are summarized in
Note 18 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, Part II of this Annual
Report, which we incorporate herein by reference.
EMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 2009, DIRECTV U.S. had approximately 15,900 full-time and 300 part-time
employees, DIRECTV Latin America had approximately 5,700 full-time and 1,200 part-time employees
and Sports Networks and Other had approximately 200 full-time employees.
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