Earthlink 2004 Annual Report Download - page 14

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utility and local and long distance telephone companies.
Competition in the market for Internet access service is likely to continue increasing, and competition impacts the pricing of our services,
sales and marketing costs to acquire new subscribers and the number of customers that discontinue using our services, or churn.
Proprietary Rights
We rely on a combination of copyright, trademark, patent and trade secret laws and contractual restrictions to establish and protect
technology and proprietary rights and information. We require employees and consultants and, when possible, suppliers and distributors to sign
confidentiality agreements. From time to time, third parties have alleged that certain of our trademarks and technologies infringe on their
intellectual property rights. To date, none of these claims has had an adverse effect on our ability to market and sell our services.
Employees
As of December 31, 2004, we employed 2,067 permanent and temporary employees, including 509 sales and marketing personnel, 1,255
operations and customer support personnel and 303 administrative personnel. None of our employees are represented by a labor union, and we
have no collective bargaining agreement.
Available Information
EarthLink files annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements, and other documents with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The public may read and copy any materials that we file
with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the
operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at (202) 942-8090. Also, the SEC maintains an Internet web site that contains
reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including EarthLink, that file electronically with the SEC.
The public can obtain any documents that we file with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
We also make available free of charge on or through our Internet web site ( http://www.earthlink.net ) our Annual Report on Form 10-K,
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and, if applicable, amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to
Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as well as Section 16 reports filed on Forms 3, 4 and 5, as soon as
reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.
We also provide a copy of our Annual Report via mail, at no cost, upon receipt of a written request to the following address:
Investor Relations
EarthLink, Inc.
1375 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30309
Risk Factors
The following risk factors and other information included in this Form 10-K should be carefully considered. The risks and uncertainties
described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem
immaterial also may adversely impact our business operations. If any of the following risks occur, our business, financial condition, operating
results and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
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