Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

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Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2012
Commitments and Contingencies  
Commitments and Contingencies

5.                       Commitments and Contingencies

 

Legal Proceedings

 

Pandora has been in the past, and continues to be, a party to privacy and patent infringement litigation which has consumed, and may continue to consume, financial and managerial resources. The Company is also from time to time subject to various other legal proceedings and claims arising in the ordinary course of its business. Management believes that the liabilities associated with these cases, while possible, are not probable, and therefore the Company has not recorded any accrual for these as of January 31, 2012 and October 31, 2012. Further, any possible range of loss cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. The Company does not believe the ultimate resolution of any pending legal matters is likely to have a material adverse effect on its business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In June 2011, a putative class action lawsuit was filed against Pandora in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California alleging that it unlawfully accessed and transmitted personally identifiable information of the plaintiffs in connection with their use of the Company’s Android mobile application. In addition to civil liability, the amended complaint includes allegations of violations of statutes under which criminal penalties could be imposed if the Company were found liable. Pandora’s motion to dismiss the first amended complaint was filed on March 23, 2012. No hearing date is currently set.

 

In September 2011, a putative class action lawsuit was filed against Pandora in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California alleging that it violated Michigan’s video rental privacy law and consumer protection statute by allowing Pandora listeners’ listening history to be visible to the public. Pandora’s motion to dismiss the complaint was granted with leave to amend on September 28, 2013.  Plaintiff consented to entry of judgment and has publicly threatened to appeal the judgment.  Judgment was entered on November 14, 2012 and any notice of appeal is due on December 14, 2012.

 

In April 2011, Augme Technologies, Inc. filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware against Pandora alleging patent infringement. The complaint alleges that Pandora infringes an Augme patent and seeks injunctive relief and monetary damages. The parties are currently waiting for the Court to issue a claim construction order.

 

On September 10, 2012, B.E. Technology, LLC filed suit against Pandora in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee alleging that Pandora infringes a B.E. Technology patent and seeking injunctive relief and monetary damages.  Pandora’s responsive pleading is due December 31, 2012.

 

The Company currently believes that it has substantial and meritorious defenses to the claims in the lawsuits discussed above and intends to vigorously defend its position.

 

The outcome of any litigation is inherently uncertain. Based on the Company’s current knowledge it believes that the final outcome of the matters discussed above will not likely, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on its business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows; however, in light of the uncertainties involved in such matters, there can be no assurance that the outcome of each case or the costs of litigation, regardless of outcome, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business.

 

Guarantees and Contingencies

 

The Company is party to certain contractual agreements under which it has agreed to provide indemnifications of varying scope and duration for claims by third parties relating to its intellectual property. Such indemnification provisions are accounted for in accordance with guarantor’s accounting and disclosure requirements for guarantees, including indirect guarantees of indebtedness of others. To date, the Company has not incurred, does not anticipate incurring and therefore has not accrued for, any costs related to such indemnification provisions.