Autodesk 2011 Annual Report Download - page 73

ŠAutodesk Maya
Autodesk Maya software provides 3D modeling, animation, effects, rendering and compositing solutions
that enable film and video artists, game developers and design visualization professionals to digitally create
engaging, lifelike images, realistic animations and simulations, and extraordinary visual effects.
Creative Finishing
ŠAutodesk Flame, Autodesk Smoke, Autodesk Lustre and Autodesk Flare
Autodesk Flame software is an interactive real-time design, finishing, grading and visual effects solution for
supervised post-production. Autodesk Smoke software is a non-linear and non-compressed online editing, effects
and finishing software application and is used in commercials, music videos, corporate video, film as well as
broadcast design projects. Autodesk Lustre software is a high-performance color grading solution used by artists
for creative look development and final color and lighting effects for both film and television. Autodesk Flare
software is a software solution that offers the compositing capabilities of Flame contributing to faster project
completion.
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND INTRODUCTION
The technology industry is characterized by rapid technological change in computer hardware, operating
systems and software. In addition, our customers’ requirements and preferences rapidly evolve, as do their
expectations of the performance of our software. To keep pace with these changes, we maintain a vigorous
program of new product development to address demands in the marketplace for our products. We dedicate
considerable technical and financial resources to research and development to further enhance our existing
products and to create new products and technologies. Research and development expenditures were $496.2
million or 25% of fiscal 2011 net revenue, $457.5 million or 27% of fiscal 2010 net revenue and $576.1 million
or 25% of fiscal 2009 net revenue. Our software is primarily developed internally; however, we also use
independent firms and contractors to perform some of our product development activities. Additionally, we
acquire products or technology developed by others by purchasing or licensing products and technology from
third parties. We continually review these investments in an effort to ensure that we are generating sufficient
revenue or gaining a competitive advantage to justify their costs.
The majority of our research and product development is performed in the United States, China, Singapore
and Canada. However, we employ experienced software developers in many of our other locations. Translation
and localization of our products are performed in a number of local markets, principally Singapore and
Switzerland. We generally localize and translate our products into German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian,
Japanese, Korean and simplified and traditional Chinese.
We plan to continue to manage significant product development operations internationally over the next
several years. We believe that our ability to conduct research and development at various locations throughout
the world allows us to optimize product development, lower costs, and integrate local market knowledge into our
development activities. We continually assess the significant costs and challenges, including intellectual property
protection, against the benefits of our international development activities.
In addition, our business strategy has historically depended in part on our relationships with a network of
over 3,500 third-party developers who develop and sell their own products that further enhance the range of
integrated solutions available to our customers.
For further discussion regarding risks from our product development and introduction efforts, see Item 1A,
“Risk Factors.”
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