Commitments and Contingencies

6 Months Ended

Jul. 02, 2011

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Matters

On July 23, 2009, the Company filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona against Avago Technologies Limited, Avago Technologies U.S., and Avago Technologies Wireless IP (collectively, “Avago”). The Company’s complaint seeks a declaration that four Avago patents are invalid and that none of TriQuint products infringe upon them. The Company’s complaint also alleges that three Avago products infringe upon certain of TriQuint’s U.S. patents.

Avago filed an answer and counterclaims on September 17, 2009. Avago’s answer and counterclaims denies the Company’s patent infringement allegations, and alleges that certain of the Company’s products infringe upon ten of Avago’s U.S. patents and seeks unspecified damages and injunctive relief. In response to Avago’s answer and counterclaims, the Company filed an answer and counterclaims on October 16, 2009. The Company’s answer and counterclaims denies Avago’s patent infringement allegations, and alleges that Avago engaged in anticompetitive conduct in violation of U.S. antitrust laws, through its acquisition of the bulk acoustic wave (“BAW”) business of Infineon Technologies, Inc. (“Infineon”) and a series of acquisitions of BAW-related patents from Infineon and other companies, and through other anticompetitive conduct in the market. On March 5, 2010, Avago filed an amended answer and counterclaims asserting violation of the California Uniform Trade Secret Act and, per the court’s order, the Company simultaneously filed an amended complaint, answer and counter-claim. Avago’s trade secret allegations relate to Infineon information included in Avago’s acquisition of Infineon’s BAW division and TriQuint’s employment of two former Infineon employees. On April 5, 2010, the Company filed an answer to Avago’s amended answer and counterclaims, in which the Company denied Avago’s allegations regarding violation of the California Uniform Trade Secret Act. Following further motion practice, on August 4, 2010 TriQuint filed its First Amended complaint and on August 26, 2010 Avago filed its answer and counterclaims expanding its patent and trade secret claims to include copyright infringement. On September 16, 2010, TriQuint submitted its answer, in which the Company denied Avago’s allegations. On December 14, 2010, the Court held a claim construction hearing and on January 12, 2011, the Court issued its claim construction ruling. Fact discovery has closed in the case, but expert discovery is ongoing. The Court has not set a trial date for the case. At this time, the Company does not believe it is possible to estimate the outcome of the litigation.