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Legal Matters
12 Months Ended
Dec. 27, 2014
Text Block [Abstract]  
Legal Matters
Legal Matters
Cambrian Science Patent Infringement Litigation
On July 12, 2011, the Company was notified by Level 3 that Cambrian Science Corporation ("Cambrian") filed suit against Level 3 and six other defendants, including Cox Communications, Inc., XO Communications, LLC, Global Crossing Limited, 360Networks (USA), Inc., Integra Telecom, Inc. and IXC, Inc. dba Telekenex (collectively, the "Defendants") in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California alleging infringement of patent no. 6,775,312 (the "'312 Patent") and requesting damages for such alleged infringement (the "Cambrian Claim"). The nature of the Cambrian Claim involves allegations of infringement of the '312 Patent resulting from the Defendants’ use of certain products and systems in the Defendants’ networks, including the Infinera DTN platform. On August 24, 2011, Cambrian amended the complaint to name the Company as a defendant. The Company assumed the defense of the Cambrian Claim and filed an answer to Cambrian’s complaint on September 21, 2011, in which the Company denied infringement of the '312 Patent and raised other defenses. Cambrian filed a second amended complaint on October 6, 2011, which included many of the same allegations as in the original complaint. The Company filed its answer to the second amended complaint on October 21, 2011, in which the Company maintained the same denials and defenses as in the Company’s initial answer. On December 23, 2011, the Company filed a motion requesting that the court stay the case with respect to each of the above-noted customer Defendants. Cambrian filed its opposition to the Company’s motion on December 30, 2011. The Company’s request was denied in the court’s decision on March 7, 2012. The Company presented evidence on the appropriate meanings of relevant key words used in the patent claims during a claim construction hearing on November 20, 2012.

On June 17, 2013, the court issued an order regarding claim construction, in which the court agreed with almost all of the Company’s proposed claim constructions. On October 17, 2013, the parties met for a court-mandated mediation. On April 24, 2014, the Company filed two motions for summary judgment relating to non-infringement and Cambrian’s claim to an earlier date of invention. The court held a hearing on the summary judgment motions on June 9, 2014. On July 2, 2014, the court granted the Company's motion for summary judgment on non-infringement and entered a final judgment of non-infringement of the '312 Patent. On August 1, 2014, Cambrian filed a notice of appeal regarding the ruling of non-infringement to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and Cambrian's appeal brief was filed on November 6, 2014. The Company filed its responsive brief on January 5, 2015, and on February 5, 2015, Cambrian filed their reply brief. The Company is seeking to recover certain costs and attorney's fees from Cambrian.

As of December 27, 2014, the Company concluded that the likelihood of a loss with respect to this suit was remote and the amount of any loss would be insignificant. The Company does not believe the outcome of this matter will have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. Factors that the Company considered in the determination of the likelihood of a loss and the estimate of that loss in respect to this matter included the merits of the case, the district court granting the Company's motion for summary judgment for non-infringement, the entry of final judgment of non-infringement and the current stage of the litigation. However, the outcome of such legal matters is inherently unpredictable and subject to uncertainty.
Loss Contingencies
The Company is subject to the possibility of various losses arising in the ordinary course of business. These may relate to disputes, litigation and other legal actions. In the preparation of its quarterly and annual financial statements, the Company considers the likelihood of loss or the incurrence of a liability, including whether it is probable, reasonably possible or remote that a liability has been incurred, as well as the Company’s ability to reasonably estimate the amount of loss, in determining loss contingencies. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, an estimated loss contingency is accrued when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company regularly evaluates current information to determine whether any accruals should be adjusted and whether new accruals are required. As of December 27, 2014, the Company has not accrued or recorded any such material liabilities.