eBay 2008 Annual Report Download - page 20

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Communications
Skype’s VoIP communication and other services are delivered through a peer-to-peer network architecture, in
which users joining the network provide a significant portion of the technology resources (for example, computer
bandwidth and hardware) that enable Skype’s products. To access Skype’s products, users download Skype
software over the Internet. Skype utilizes a combination of proprietary technologies and products as well as
technologies and products provided by third parties to design, develop and support its products. For more
information regarding Skype’s technology risks, see the information in “Item 1A: Risk Factors” under the caption
“Skype depends on key technology that is licensed from third parties.”
Intellectual Property
We regard the protection of our intellectual property as critical to our success. We have entered into
confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with our employees and contractors, and nondisclosure
agreements with parties with whom we conduct business in order to limit access to and disclosure of our proprietary
information.
We aggressively protect our intellectual property rights by relying on federal, state and common law rights, as
well as a variety of administrative procedures. We actively pursue the registration of our trademarks, copyrights,
patents and domain names in the U.S. and international jurisdictions. The expansion of our business has required us
to protect our trademarks, patents and domain names in an increasing number of jurisdictions, a process that is
expensive, may require litigation, and may not be successful in every location. We have registered our core brands
as trademarks and domain names in the U.S. and a large number of other jurisdictions and have in place an active
program to continue to secure trademarks and domain names that correspond to our brands in markets of interest. If
we are unable to secure our trademarks or domain names, we could be adversely affected in any jurisdiction in
which our trademarks or domain names are not registered.
Third parties have from time to time claimed, and others may claim in the future, that we have infringed their
intellectual property rights. We currently are involved in several such legal proceedings. Please see the information
in “Item 3: Legal Proceedings” and in “Item 1A: Risk Factors” under the captions “We are subject to patent
litigation” and “We may be unable to protect or enforce our own intellectual property rights adequately.”
Segments and Geographic Information
For an analysis of financial information about our segments as well as our geographic areas, see “Note 4 —
Segments” to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Available Information
Our Internet address is www.ebay.com. Our investor relations website is located at http://investor.ebay.com. We
make available free of charge on our investor relations website under the heading “SEC Filings” our Annual Reports
on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports as
soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are electronically filed with (or furnished to) the SEC.
Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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