Virgin Media 2010 Annual Report Download - page 26

We communicate our progress through digital entertainment. Our new Sustainability website shows how our
sustainability story is evolving, as it happens, through HD video, news stories and social media. For further
information visit www.virginmedia.com/sustainability.
Progress of our sustainability strategy is monitored by our Corporate Responsibility Committee which
convenes quarterly and which is chaired by our chief executive officer and comprised of members of our senior
management.
Research and Development
Our research and development activities involve the analysis of technological developments affecting our
cable television, telephone and telecommunications business, the evaluation of existing services and sales and
marketing techniques and the development of new services and techniques.
Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights and Licenses
We do not have any material patents or copyrights nor do we believe that patents play a material role in our
business. We own or have the right to use registered trademarks, which in some cases are, and in others may be,
of material importance to our business, including the exclusive right to use the “Virgin” name and logo under
licenses from Virgin Enterprises Limited in connection with our corporate activities and the activities of our
consumer and business operations. These licenses, which expire in April 2036, are exclusive to us within the
U.K. and Ireland, and are subject to renewal on terms to be agreed. They entitle us to use the “Virgin” name for
the television, broadband internet, fixed line telephone and mobile phone services we provide to our consumer
and business customers, and in connection with the sale of certain communications equipment, such as set-top
boxes and cable modems.
Our license agreements provide for an annual royalty of 0.25% of certain consumer, business and content
revenues, subject to a minimum annual royalty of £8.5 million in relation to our consumer operations, and
£1.5 million in relation to our business operations.
As part of the agreement, we have the right to adopt, and have adopted, a Company name for our parent,
Virgin Media Inc., over which, together with the name “Virgin Media”, we retain worldwide exclusivity. For our
business division, we are licensed to use the name “Virgin Media Business” for the provision of business
communications services. We also have the right to use the “Virgin Media Entertainment” name for our premium
TV distribution operations in Luxembourg.
Employees
At December 31, 2010, we had approximately 12,400 employees, of whom approximately 11,300 were full
time and approximately 1,100 were part-time employees. We also had approximately 1,000 temporary
employees. Approximately 15% of our employees are covered by agreements with the Communication Workers
Union, or CWU, and the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union, or BECTU. These
agreements are terminable by either the relevant union or us with three months’ written notice. Except for these
arrangements, no other employees are covered by collective bargaining or recognition agreements. We believe
we have good relationships with our employees, CWU and BECTU.
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