Commitments and Contingencies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Proceedings

In addition to commitments and obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, from time to time the Company may be subject to a variety of claims and legal proceedings, including claims from customers and vendors, pending and potential legal actions for damages, governmental investigations and other matters. For example, we have received, and may in the future continue to receive letters, claims or complaints from others alleging false advertising, patent infringement, violation of employment practices and trademark infringement. We have also instituted, and may in the future institute, additional legal proceedings to enforce our rights and seek remedies, such as monetary damages, injunctive relief and declaratory relief. We cannot predict the results of any such disputes, and despite the potential outcomes, the existence thereof may have an adverse material impact on us because of diversion of management time and attention as well as the financial costs related to resolving such disputes.

The Company and its affiliates are parties to the legal claims and proceedings described below. The Company is vigorously defending itself against those claims and in those proceedings. Significant developments in those matters are described below. If the Company is unsuccessful in defending, or if it determines to settle, any of these matters, it may be required to pay substantial sums, be subject to injunction and/or be forced to change how it operates its business, which could have a material adverse impact on its financial position or results of operations.

Unless otherwise stated, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate the loss or a range of possible loss for the matters described below. Often, it is not reasonably possible for the Company to determine that a loss is probable for a claim, or to reasonably estimate the amount of loss or a range of loss, because of the limited information available and the potential effects of future events and decisions by third parties, such as courts and regulators, that will determine the ultimate resolution of the claim. Many of the matters described are at preliminary stages, raise novel theories of liability or seek an indeterminate amount of damages. It is not uncommon for claims to be resolved over a number of years. The Company reviews loss contingencies at least quarterly to determine whether the loss probability has changed and whether it can make a reasonable estimate of the possible loss or range of loss. When the Company determines that a loss from a claim is probable and reasonably estimable, it records a liability in the amount of its estimate for the ultimate loss. The Company also provides disclosure when it is reasonably possible that a loss may be incurred or when it is reasonably possible that the amount of a loss will exceed its recorded liability.

Patent Disputes

In November 2017, the Company filed separate lawsuits against Foundation Medicine, Inc. (“Foundation Medicine”) and Personal Genome Diagnostics, Inc. (“Personal Genome Diagnostics”) in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The Company has alleged that each of the two companies has infringed four of the Company’s digital sequencing technology patents. The two companies have each asserted counterclaims of

patent invalidity, unenforceability under the doctrine of inequitable conduct, and non-infringement. Personal Genome Diagnostics has also alleged antitrust violations related to the enforcement of the Company’s patent rights. In each lawsuit, the parties are seeking damages, injunctive relief and attorneys’ fees.

In March 2018, Personal Genome Diagnostics filed two petitions for post-grant review with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”) at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, challenging the patentability of two of the patents asserted by the Company. The two post-grant review petitions were dismissed with prejudice in July 2018. Subsequently, Foundation Medicine filed six petitions for inter partes review with the PTAB, challenging the patentability of all four of the patents asserted by the Company. The PTAB denied institution of inter partes review for four of the six petitions filed by Foundation Medicine and instituted inter partes review for the remaining two petitions. The Company plans to vigorously defend its patent rights during such PTAB actions. At this time, the Company cannot reasonably ascertain the likelihood that any of the remaining challenged patents will be found to be invalid or unenforceable.