Google 2009 Annual Report Download - page 49

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
We lease approximately 1.6 million square feet of office space and 56 acres of undeveloped land in our
headquarters in Mountain View, California. We also lease additional research and development, sales, and support
offices in the United States in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Atlanta, Georgia, Austin, Texas, Birmingham, Michigan,
Boulder, Colorado, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Chicago, Illinois, Irvine, California,
Kirkland, Washington, Lexington, Massachusetts, Madison, Wisconsin, New York, New York, Palo Alto, California,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Reston, Virginia, San Bruno, California, San Francisco, California, Santa Monica,
California, Seattle, Washington, Thornton, Colorado, and Washington, D.C.
We own land and buildings primarily near our headquarters in Mountain View, California. We own
approximately 2.6 million square feet of buildings and approximately seven acres of developable land to
accommodate anticipated future growth.
We maintain leased facilities internationally in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China,
the Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan,
Kenya, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Africa,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
We also operate and own data centers in the U.S., the European Union and Asia pursuant to various lease
agreements and co-location arrangements.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time to time, we are involved in a variety of claims, suits, investigations, and proceedings arising from
the ordinary course of our business, including actions with respect to intellectual property claims, breach of
contract claims, labor and employment claims, tax, and other matters. Although claims, suits, investigations, and
proceedings are inherently uncertain and their results cannot be predicted with certainty, we believe that the
resolution of our current pending matters will not have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated
financial position, results of operations, or cash flow. Regardless of the outcome, litigation can have an adverse
impact on us because of defense costs, diversion of management resources, and other factors. In addition, it is
possible that an unfavorable resolution of one or more such proceedings could in the future materially and
adversely affect our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows in a particular period. See the risk factors
“Our intellectual property rights are valuable, and any inability to protect them could reduce the value of our
products, services, and brand” and “We are, and may in the future be, subject to intellectual property rights claims,
which are costly to defend, could require us to pay damages, and could limit our ability to use certain technologies
in the future” in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
EPA Investigation
In February 2009, we learned of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigation into an alleged
release of refrigerant at one of our smaller data facilities, which we acquired from DoubleClick, and the accuracy of
related statements and records. We are cooperating with the EPA and have provided documents and other
materials. The EPA investigation could result in fines, civil or criminal penalties, or other administrative action.
While we currently believe this matter will not have a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated
financial position, results of operations, or cash flows, we have noted it in accord with SEC regulations that call for
disclosure of certain environmental proceedings that may result in monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
No matters were submitted to a vote of our security holders during the fourth quarter of 2009.
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