XML 55 R14.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.6
Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies
Purchase Commitments
The Company currently has arrangements with contract manufacturers and suppliers for the manufacture of its products. The arrangements allow them to procure long lead-time component inventory based upon a rolling production forecast provided by the Company. The Company is obligated to the purchase of long lead-time component inventory that its contract manufacturer procures in accordance with the forecast, unless the Company gives notice of order cancellation outside of applicable component lead-times. As of March 31, 2013, the Company had non-cancelable commitments to purchase approximately $30.3 million of such inventory.
Legal Proceedings
The Company may from time to time be party to litigation arising in the course of its business, including, without limitation, allegations relating to commercial transactions, business relationships or intellectual property rights. Such claims, even if not meritorious, could result in the expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources. Litigation in general, and intellectual property and securities litigation in particular, can be expensive and disruptive to normal business operations. Moreover, the results of legal proceedings are difficult to predict.
In accordance with applicable accounting guidance, the Company records accruals for certain of its outstanding legal proceedings, investigations or claims when it is probable that a liability will be incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company evaluates, at least on a quarterly basis, developments in legal proceedings, investigations or claims that could affect the amount of any accrual, as well as any developments that would result in a loss contingency to become both probable and reasonably estimable. When a loss contingency is not both probable and reasonably estimable, the Company does not record a loss accrual.  However, if the loss (or an additional loss in excess of any prior accrual) is at least a reasonable possibility and material, then the Company would disclose an estimate of the possible loss or range of loss, if such estimate can be made, or disclose that an estimate cannot be made. The assessment whether a loss is probable or a reasonable possibility, and whether the loss or a range of loss is estimable, involves a series of complex judgments about future events. Even if a loss is reasonably possible, the Company may not be able to estimate a range of possible loss, particularly where (i) the damages sought are substantial or indeterminate, (ii) the proceedings are in the early stages, or (iii) the matters involve novel or unsettled legal theories or a large number of parties. In such cases, there is considerable uncertainty regarding the ultimate resolution of such matters, including the amount of any possible loss, fine or penalty.  Accordingly, for current proceedings, the Company is currently unable to estimate any reasonably possible loss or range of possible loss.  However, an adverse resolution of one or more of such matters could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations in a particular quarter or fiscal year.
Intellectual Property Litigation
Enterasys Networks
On June 21, 2005, Enterasys Networks ("Enterasys") filed suit against Extreme and Foundry Networks, Inc. (“Foundry”) in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Civil Action No. 05-11298 DPW. The complaint alleged willful infringement of U.S. Patent Nos. 5,251,205; 5,390,173; 6,128,665; 6,147,995; 6,539,022; and 6,560,236, and sought: a) a judgment that the Company willfully infringes each of the patents; (b) a permanent injunction from infringement, inducement of infringement and contributory infringement of each of the six patents; (c) damages and a “reasonable royalty” to be determined at trial; (d) treble damages; (e) attorneys' fees, costs and interest; and (f) equitable relief at the Court's discretion. Petitions for reexamination were filed challenging five of the patents at issue to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and a stay of the case was entered. Following the reexamination proceedings, Enterasys withdrew its allegations of infringement as to two of the patents, U.S. Patent Nos. 6,539,022 and 6,560,236. The stay was lifted on May 21, 2010, and the Court held claim construction hearings in December 2010. Fact discovery was ongoing. No trial date was set.
On April 20, 2007, the Company filed suit against Enterasys in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Civil Action No. 07-C-0229-C. The complaint alleged willful infringement of U.S. Patents Nos. 6,104,700, 6,678,248, and 6,859,438, and sought injunctive relief against Enterasys' continuing sale of infringing goods and monetary damages. Enterasys responded to the complaint on May 30, 2007, and also filed counterclaims alleging infringement of three U.S. patents owned by Enterasys. On April 9, 2008, the Court dismissed Enterasys' counterclaims on one of its patents with prejudice. On May 5, 2008, the Court granted the Company's motion for summary judgment, finding that it does not infringe Enterasys' two remaining patents and dismissing all of Enterasys' remaining counterclaims with prejudice. On May 30, 2008, a jury found that Enterasys infringed all three of the Company's patents and awarded the Company damages in the amount of $0.2 million. The Court also ruled in the Company's favor on Enterasys' challenge to the validity of the Company's patents. On October 29, 2008, the Court denied Enterasys' post-trial motion for judgment as a matter of law, and granted Extreme Network's motion for a permanent injunction against Enterasys. The injunction order permanently enjoins Enterasys from manufacturing, using, offering to sell, selling in the U.S. and importing into the U.S. the Enterasys products accused of infringing Extreme Network's three patents. On March 16, 2009, the Court also denied Enterasys' motion for a new trial, but granted Enterasys' motion for a stay of the injunction pending appeal. On April 17, 2009, Enterasys filed its notice of appeal and on May 1, 2009, the Company filed its cross appeal. On September 30, 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the jury verdict of infringement by Enterasys of the Company's patents and the Districts Court's summary judgment of non-infringement by the Company of Enterasys' '727 patent. The Federal Circuit reversed the judgment of non-infringement by the Company of Enterasys '181 patent, holding that the District Court Judge applied an incorrect claim construction and reversed the District Court's denial of the Company's request for attorneys' fees as premature. 
On November 4, 2011, a jury returned a verdict of non-infringement by the Company of the '181 patent and found the patent to be valid. Both parties filed post-trial motions, including motions for a new trial, for judgment as a matter of law and for attorneys' fees, all of which the Court denied on July 11, 2012. Enterasys did not file a notice of appeal by the August 10, 2012 deadline.  Consequently, the judgment of non-infringement in favor of the Company in the second trial is final. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, Enterasys paid the Company $0.6 million related to the judgment.  During the quarter ended December 31, 2012, the Company received payments from Enterasys totaling approximately $0.4 million for the Court's award for damages, supplemental damages, pre and post judgment interests, costs from the first trial and second trial, plus the amount Enterasys agreed to release for damages held in escrow that accrued during the stay of the injunction post-trial and on appeal.
During the third quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company and Enterasys engaged in settlement discussions. On March 29, 2013, the parties entered into a confidential settlement agreement (“Agreement”). The Agreement required a dismissal with prejudice of the Wisconsin and Massachusetts litigation, as well as cross covenants not to sue and survival of settlement rights for any acquiring party of the parties. Joint motions to dismiss were granted on April 13, 2013, and April 15, 2013 respectively. All matters between the parties have now been resolved.
Chrimar Systems
On October 31, 2011, Chrimar Systems, Inc. dba CMS Technologies, and Chrimar Holding Company filed suit against the Company, Cisco Systems, Inc., and Cisco Consumer Products LLC. Cisco-Linksys LLC, Hewlett-Packard Company, 3Com Corporation and Avaya, Inc. in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Civil Action No. 11-1050 (the "Delaware action").  The complaint alleges infringement of U.S. Patent No. 7,457,250.   The Delaware action has been stayed pursuant to 28 USC Section 1659(a) pending final determination of the International Trade Commission action described below, based on the fact that the allegations in both cases relate to the same patent. 
During the fourth quarter of the fiscal 2012, the Company engaged in settlement discussions with Chrimar Systems Inc.  As part of the negotiations the Company determined that it is reasonably possible that a range of loss could be between $0.3 million and $1.4 million which is dependent on a number of factors including whether mutually acceptable settlement terms can be reached. As of March 31, 2013 and through the date of the filing of this Form 10-Q, this matter was still pending. However, during the quarter ended June 30, 2012 the Company recorded a charge of $0.3 million based on its best estimate of the probable loss. In addition, during the quarter ending March 31, 2013, venue for the Delaware action was transferred to the United States District Court for the District of Northern California.
Reefedge Networks
On September 17, 2012, Reefedge Networks, LLC filed suit against the Company in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, Civil Action No. 12-1148. The complaint alleges wrongful use, making, selling, and/or offering to sell products that infringe U.S. Patent Nos. 6,633.761; 6,975,864; and 7,197,308 and seeks unspecified monetary damages and a permanent injunction for products originating from a single supplier to which the Company has submitted an indemnification request. Given the preliminary nature of the claims, it is premature to assess the likelihood of a particular outcome. An answer was filed on December 10, 2012. The Company believes it will be fully indemnified for any potential losses related to the suit, as all products are third party designed and manufactured, and the suit is the subject of a third party indemnity and defense agreement.
Indemnification Obligations
Subject to certain limitations, the Company may be obligated to indemnify its current and former directors, officers and employees. These obligations arise under the terms of its certificate of incorporation, its bylaws, applicable contracts, and Delaware and California law. The obligation to indemnify, where applicable, generally means that the Company is required to pay or reimburse, and in certain circumstances the Company has paid or reimbursed, the individuals' reasonable legal expenses and possibly damages and other liabilities incurred in connection with these matters. It is not possible to estimate the maximum potential amount under these indemnification agreements due to the limited history of these claims. The cost to defend the Company and the named individuals could have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows in the future. Recovery of such costs under its directors and officers insurance coverage is uncertain. As of March 31, 2013, the Company had no outstanding indemnification claims