Symantec 2009 Annual Report Download - page 80

open source is submitted for approval prior to use in our products. In addition, many of the risks associated with
usage of open source cannot be eliminated, and could, if not properly addressed, negatively affect our business.
Our software products and website may be subject to intentional disruption that could adversely impact
our reputation and future sales.
Although we believe we have sufficient controls in place to prevent intentional disruptions, we expect to be an
ongoing target of attacks specifically designed to impede the performance of our products. Similarly, experienced
computer programmers may attempt to penetrate our network security or the security of our website and
misappropriate proprietary information or cause interruptions of our services. Because the techniques used by
such computer programmers to access or sabotage networks change frequently and may not be recognized until
launched against a target, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques. Our activities could be adversely
affected and our reputation, brand and future sales harmed if these intentionally disruptive efforts are successful.
Increased customer demands on our technical support services may adversely affect our relationships with
our customers and our financial results.
We offer technical support services with many of our products. We may be unable to respond quickly enough to
accommodate short-term increases in customer demand for support services. We also may be unable to modify the
format of our support services to compete with changes in support services provided by competitors or successfully
integrate support for our customers. Further customer demand for these services, without corresponding revenues,
could increase costs and adversely affect our operating results.
We have outsourced a substantial portion of our worldwide consumer support functions to third party service
providers. If these companies experience financial difficulties, do not maintain sufficiently skilled workers and
resources to satisfy our contracts, or otherwise fail to perform at a sufficient level under these contracts, the level of
support services to our customers may be significantly disrupted, which could materially harm our relationships
with these customers.
Accounting charges may cause fluctuations in our quarterly financial results.
Our financial results have been in the past, and may continue to be in the future, materially affected by non-
cash and other accounting charges, including:
• Amortization of intangible assets, including acquired product rights
• Impairment of goodwill
• Stock-based compensation expense
• Restructuring charges
• Impairment of long-lived assets
• Loss on sale of a business and similar write-downs of assets held for sale
For example, during fiscal 2009, we recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $7.4 billion, resulting
in a significant net loss for the year. Goodwill is evaluated annually for impairment in the fourth quarter of each
fiscal year or more frequently if events and circumstances warrant as we determined they did in the third quarter of
fiscal 2009, and our evaluation depends to a large degree on estimates and assumptions made by our management.
Our assessment of any impairment of goodwill is based on a comparison of the fair value of each of our reporting
units to the carrying value of that reporting unit. Our determination of fair value relies on management’s
assumptions of our future revenues, operating costs, and other relevant factors. If management’s estimates of
future operating results change, or if there are changes to other key assumptions such as the discount rate applied to
future operating results, the estimate of the fair value of our reporting units could change significantly, which could
result in a goodwill impairment charge. In addition, we evaluate our other long-lived assets, including intangible
assets whenever events or circumstances occur which indicate that the value of these assets might be impaired. If we
determine that impairment has occurred, we could incur an impairment charge against the value of these assets.
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