Option Grant and Exercise Terms
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From time to time, we are subject to litigation or claims that could negatively affect our business operations and financial position. As we have grown,
we have seen a rise in the number of litigation matters against us. These matters have included copyright and other claims related to our content, patent
infringement claims, tax litigation, employment related litigation, as well as consumer and securities class actions, each of which are typically expensive to
defend. Litigation disputes could cause us to incur unforeseen expenses, result in content unavailability, service disruptions, and otherwise occupy a significant
amount of our management's time and attention, any of which could negatively affect our business operations and financial position. We also from time to time
receive inquiries and subpoenas and other types of information requests from government authorities and we may become subject to related claims and other
actions related to our business activities. While the ultimate outcome of investigations, inquiries, information requests and related legal proceedings is difficult
to predict, such matters can be expensive, time-consuming and distracting, and adverse resolutions or settlements of those matters may result in, among other
things, modification of our business practices, reputational harm or costs and significant payments, any of which could negatively affect our business
operations and financial position.
Risks Related to Intellectual Property
If studios, content providers or other rights holders refuse to license streaming content or other rights upon terms acceptable to us, our business could be
adversely affected.
Our ability to provide our members with content they can watch depends on obtaining various rights from third parties upon terms acceptable to us,
including distribution rights, to such content and certain related elements thereof, such as the public performance of music contained within the content we
distribute. The license periods and the terms and conditions of such rights vary. As content providers develop their own streaming services, they may be
unwilling to provide us with access to certain content, including popular series or movies. If the studios, content providers and other rights holders are not or
are no longer willing or able to license us content upon terms acceptable to us, our ability to stream content to our members may be adversely affected and/or
our costs could increase. Certain licenses for content provide for the studios or other content providers to withdraw content from our service relatively quickly.
Because of these provisions and other actions we may take, content available through our service can be withdrawn on short notice. As competition increases,
we see the cost of certain programming increase. As we seek to differentiate our service, we are often focused on securing certain exclusive rights when
obtaining content, including original content. We are also focused on programming an overall mix of content that delights our members in a cost efficient
manner. Within this context, we are selective about the titles we add and renew to our service. If we do not maintain a compelling mix of content, our
membership acquisition and retention may be adversely affected.
Music and certain authors' performances contained within content we distribute may require us to obtain licenses for such distribution. In this regard, we
engage in negotiations with collection management organizations ("CMOs") and similar entities that hold certain rights to music and/or other interests in
intellectual property (e.g. remuneration rights) in connection with streaming content into various territories. If we are unable to reach mutually acceptable terms
with these organizations, we could become involved in litigation and/or could be enjoined from distributing certain content, which could adversely impact our
business. Additionally, pending and ongoing litigation and negotiations between certain CMOs and other third parties in various territories could adversely
impact our negotiations with CMOs, or result in music publishers represented by certain CMOS unilaterally withdrawing rights, and thereby adversely impact
our ability to reach licensing agreements reasonably acceptable to us. Failure to reach such licensing agreements could expose us to potential liability for
copyright infringement or otherwise increase our costs. Additionally, as the market for the digital distribution of content grows, a broader role for CMOs in the
remuneration of authors, performers and other beneficiaries of neighboring rights could expose us to greater distribution expenses.
If our trademarks and other proprietary rights are not adequately protected to prevent use or appropriation by third parties, the value of our brand and other
intangible assets may be diminished, and our business may be adversely affected.
We rely and expect to continue to rely on a combination of confidentiality and license agreements with our employees, consultants and third parties with
whom we have relationships, as well as trademark, copyright, patent and trade secret protection laws, to protect our proprietary rights. We may also seek to
enforce our proprietary rights through court proceedings or other legal actions. We have filed and we expect to file from time to time for trademark and patent
applications. Nevertheless, these applications may not be approved, third parties may challenge any copyrights, patents or trademarks issued to or held by us,
third parties may knowingly or unknowingly infringe our intellectual property rights, and we may not be able to prevent infringement or misappropriation
without substantial expense to us. If the protection of our intellectual property rights is inadequate to prevent use or misappropriation by third parties, the value
of our brand, content, and other intangible assets may be diminished, competitors may be able to more effectively mimic our service and methods of
operations, the
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