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Commitments And Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 29, 2012
Commitments And Contingencies

NOTE Q – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Leases — The Company is a party to leases arising in the normal course of business that expire on or before 2019. Total obligations under these leases are approximately $6.3 million for 2012.

Purchase Commitments — The Company enters into purchase commitments for products and services in the ordinary course of business. These purchases generally cover production requirements for 60 to 90 days. As of September 29, 2012, the Company does not have any long-term commitments for purchases.

Patent Matters — On July 11, 2008, Metris USA, Inc. and its affiliates, Metris N.V., Metris IPR N.V. and 3-D Scanners Ltd., filed a complaint against the Company for patent infringement in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (the “Massachusetts Court”) concerning U.S. Patent Nos. 6,611,617 and 7,313,264 (hereinafter, the “patents-in-suit”). Following an acquisition by Nikon Corporation in late 2009, Metris USA, Inc. subsequently changed its name to Nikon Metrology, Inc., Metris N.V. changed its name to Nikon Metrology NV, and Metris IPR N.V. was dissolved and merged into Nikon Metrology NV. We refer to each of Nikon Metrology, Inc., Nikon Metrology NV, and 3-D Scanners Ltd. as “Plaintiffs” or “Nikon”.

The Company responded to the complaint with counterclaims alleging that the patents-in-suit, which are generally directed to laser scanning devices, are invalid, non-infringed, and unenforceable due to fraud during prosecution of the patents in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. On August 31, 2009, the Massachusetts Court granted the Company’s motion to add counterclaims and defenses for violation of federal and state antitrust and unfair competition laws based on the alleged knowing assertion of invalid and fraudulent patents. The Company also filed an amended counterclaim to add the Plaintiff’s parent company, Nikon Corporation, as a counterclaim defendant.

On July 14, 2010, the Company filed a motion for summary judgment of non-infringement of both patents-in-suit. On August 31, 2010, Nikon filed a motion for summary judgment against the Company’s counterclaims for antitrust violations and unfair trade practices.

On September 19, 2011, the Massachusetts Court ruled that the Company did not infringe U.S. Patent No. 6,611,617. The Massachusetts Court also granted Nikon’s motion for summary judgment on the Company’s counterclaims for anti-trust violations and unfair trade practices. The Massachusetts Court denied the Company’s motion for summary judgment of non-infringement of U.S. Patent No. 7,313,264. The effect of the ruling was to reduce or eliminate the Company’s exposure with respect to claims associated with U.S. Patent No. 6,611,617, while the patent dispute with respect to U.S. Patent No. 7,313,264 continued.

On August 10, 2012, following a two-week jury trial on the remaining claims related to U.S. Patent No. 7,313,264, the jury determined the asserted patent claims were invalid, and on August 13, 2012, the Massachusetts Court entered judgment for the Company.

Post-trial motions were filed with the Massachusetts Court on September 21, 2012. The Company filed three motions, including a request for attorneys’ fees, a renewed request for judgment as a matter of law and a renewed request for judgment that U.S. Patent No. 6,611,617 is unenforceable. Nikon filed a renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law, or alternatively for a new trial, requesting that the Massachusetts Court reverse the jury’s verdict and uphold the validity of U.S. Patent No. 7,313,264. Briefing on these motions is scheduled to be completed by November 16, 2012.

While it is not possible to predict the outcome of this lawsuit, we believe an adverse determination of the patent infringement claims could have a material impact on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

Other than the litigation mentioned above, the Company is not involved in any legal proceedings other than routine litigation arising in the normal course of business, none of which the Company believes will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.