LinkedIn 2011 Annual Report Download - page 17

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business. In the United States and abroad, laws relating to the liability of providers of online services for
activities of their users and other third parties are currently being tested by a number of claims, including actions
based on invasion of privacy and other torts, unfair competition, copyright and trademark infringement, and other
theories based on the nature and content of the materials searched, the ads posted, or the content provided by
users. Any court ruling or other governmental action that imposes liability on providers of online services for the
activities of their users and other third parties could harm our business. In addition, rising concern about the use
of social networking technologies for illegal conduct, such as the unauthorized dissemination of national security
information, money laundering or supporting terrorist activities may in the future produce legislation or other
governmental action that could require changes to our products or services, restrict or impose additional costs
upon the conduct of our business or cause users to abandon material aspects of our service.
In the area of information security and data protection, many states have passed laws requiring notification
to users when there is a security breach for personal data, such as the 2002 amendment to California’s
Information Practices Act, or requiring the adoption of minimum information security standards that are often
vaguely defined and difficult to practically implement. The costs of compliance with these laws may increase in
the future as a result of changes in interpretation. Furthermore, any failure on our part to comply with these laws
may subject us to significant liabilities.
We are also subject to federal, state, and foreign laws regarding privacy and protection of member data. We
post on our website our privacy policy and user agreement, which describe our practices concerning the use,
transmission and disclosure of member data. Any failure by us to comply with our posted privacy policy or
privacy related laws and regulations could result in proceedings against us by governmental authorities or others,
which could harm our business. In addition, the interpretation of privacy and data protection laws, and their
application to the Internet is unclear, evolving and in a state of flux. There is a risk that these laws may be
interpreted and applied in conflicting ways from state to state, country to country, or region to region, and in a
manner that is not consistent with our current data protection practices, or that new regulations will be enacted.
Complying with these varying domestic and international requirements could cause us to incur additional costs
and change our business practices. Further, any failure by us to adequately protect our members’ privacy and data
could result in a loss of member confidence in our services and ultimately in a loss of members and customers,
which could adversely affect our business.
In addition, because our services are accessible worldwide, certain foreign jurisdictions have claimed and
others may claim that we are required to comply with their laws, including in jurisdictions where we have no
local entity, employees, or infrastructure.
Our Values and Company Culture
Our values and unique company culture serve as the foundation to our success. Our values are the principles
by which we manage our day-to-day business and facilitate decision-making. Our core values are:
•Our Members Come First. We encourage employees to know and understand our members and to
ensure that we foster the long-term vitality of the LinkedIn ecosystem.
•Relationships Matter. By fostering trust with colleagues and partners, we all succeed. We
fundamentally believe that doing what is right is more important than being right.
•Be Open, Honest and Constructive. We expect our employees to communicate with clarity and
provide feedback with consistency in a constructive way.
•Demand Excellence. Our employees are encouraged to lead by example, seek to solve big challenges,
set measureable and actionable goals, and continuously learn, iterate and improve.
•Take Intelligent Risks. Taking intelligent risks has been paramount in building the company to date.
No matter how large the company becomes we strive to never lose our startup mentality.
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