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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and contingencies

12. Commitments and contingencies

Purchase commitments

Some of our purchase commitments include payments for software licenses and contractual agreements with suppliers where there is a fixed, non-cancellable payment schedule or minimum payments due with a reduced delivery schedule.

Operating leases

We conduct certain operations in leased facilities and also lease a portion of our data processing and other equipment. In addition, certain long-term supply agreements to purchase industrial gases are accounted for as operating leases. Lease agreements frequently include purchase and renewal provisions and require us to pay taxes, insurance and maintenance costs. Rental and lease expense incurred was $81 million, $86 million and $98 million in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

As of December 31, 2017, we had committed to make the following minimum payments under our purchase commitments and non-cancellable operating leases:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase

 

 

Operating

 

 

 

Commitments

 

 

Leases

 

2018

 

$

 

391

 

 

$

 

68

 

2019

 

 

 

367

 

 

 

 

45

 

2020

 

 

 

234

 

 

 

 

49

 

2021

 

 

 

37

 

 

 

 

29

 

2022

 

 

 

30

 

 

 

 

24

 

Thereafter

 

 

 

35

 

 

 

 

56

 

Indemnification guarantees

We routinely sell products with an intellectual property indemnification included in the terms of sale. Historically, we have had only minimal, infrequent losses associated with these indemnities. Consequently, we cannot reasonably estimate any future liabilities that may result.

Warranty costs/product liabilities

We accrue for known product-related claims if a loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated. During the periods presented, there have been no material accruals or payments regarding product warranty or product liability. Historically, we have experienced a low rate of payments on product claims. Although we cannot predict the likelihood or amount of any future claims, we do not believe they will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Our stated warranties for semiconductor products obligate us to repair, replace or credit the purchase price of a covered product back to the buyer. Product claim consideration may exceed the price of our products.

General

We are subject to various legal and administrative proceedings. Although it is not possible to predict the outcome of these matters, we believe that the results of these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.