Hasbro 2008 Annual Report Download - page 17

Employees
At December 28, 2008, we employed approximately 5,900 persons worldwide, approximately 3,200 of
whom were located in the United States.
Trademarks, Copyrights and Patents
We seek to protect our products, for the most part, and in as many countries as practical, through
registered trademarks, copyrights and patents to the extent that such protection is available, cost effective, and
meaningful. The loss of such rights concerning any particular product is unlikely to result in significant harm
to our business, although the loss of such protection for a number of significant items might have such an
effect.
Government Regulation
Our toy and game products sold in the United States are subject to the provisions of The Consumer
Product Safety Act, as amended by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, (as amended, the
“CPSA”), The Federal Hazardous Substances Act (the “FHSA”), The Flammable Fabrics Act (the “FFA”), and
the regulations promulgated thereunder. In addition, certain of our products, such as the mixes for our EASY-
BAKE ovens, are also subject to regulation by the Food and Drug Administration.
The CPSA empowers the Consumer Product Safety Commission (the “CPSC”) to take action against
hazards presented by consumer products, including the formulation and implementation of regulations and
uniform safety standards. The CPSC has the authority to seek to declare a product “a banned hazardous
substance” under the CPSA and to ban it from commerce. The CPSC can file an action to seize and condemn
an “imminently hazardous consumer product” under the CPSA and may also order equitable remedies such as
recall, replacement, repair or refund for the product. The FHSA provides for the repurchase by the
manufacturer of articles that are banned.
Consumer product safety laws also exist in some states and cities within the United States and in certain
foreign markets such as Canada, Australia and Europe. We utilize laboratories that employ testing and other
procedures intended to maintain compliance with the CPSA, the FHSA, the FFA, applicable international
standards, and our own standards. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there can be no assurance that our products
are or will be hazard free. Any material product recall could have an adverse effect on our results of
operations or financial condition, depending on the product and scope of the recall, and could negatively affect
sales of our other products as well.
The Children’s Television Act of 1990 and the rules promulgated thereunder by the United States Federal
Communications Commission, as well as the laws of certain foreign countries, also place limitations on
television commercials during children’s programming.
We maintain programs to comply with various United States federal, state, local and international
requirements relating to the environment, plant safety and other matters.
Financial Information about International and United States Operations
The information required by this item is included in note 16 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements included in Item 8 of Part II of this report and is incorporated herein by reference.
Availability of Information
Our internet address is http://www.hasbro.com. We make our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished
pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, available free of charge on or
through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish
it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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