NetLogic Microsystems (NETL)

RMI’s Intellectual Property and Proprietary Rights

RMI relies on a combination of intellectual property rights, including patents, trade secrets, copyrights and trademarks and contractual protections.

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RMI has 63 issued patents and 63 pending patent applications in the United States, and two issued and 15 pending foreign patent applications. The 63 issued patents in the United States expire in the years beginning in 2017 through 2029. The two issued foreign patents expire in 2022 and 2024. RMI’s issued patents and pending patent applications relate to multi-core and multi-threaded microprocessor design techniques, integrated SoC components, architectures and design techniques and other processing solutions concepts, as well as certain hardware and software technology patents not directly related to its principal product lines. RMI focuses its patent efforts in the United States, and, when justified by cost and strategic importance, it files corresponding foreign patent applications in strategic jurisdictions such as China, India, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Europe.

In addition to its own intellectual property, RMI also relies on third-party technologies for the development of its products. RMI licenses certain technology from MIPS Technologies, Inc., pursuant to a license agreement entered into in July 2003 wherein RMI was granted a non-exclusive, worldwide license to MIPS Technologies’ micro-processor core technology to develop, implement and use in its products. The term of the agreement will expire in July 2017. The agreement permits RMI to continue selling in perpetuity products developed during the term of the agreement containing the licensed technology.