Yahoo 2015 Annual Report Download - page 30

• difficulties in developing, staffing, and simultaneously managing a large number of varying
foreign operations as a result of distance, language, and cultural differences;
• stringent local labor laws and regulations;
• longer payment cycles;
• credit risk and higher levels of payment fraud;
• profit repatriation restrictions and foreign currency exchange restrictions;
• political or social unrest, economic instability, repression, or human rights issues;
• geopolitical events, including natural disasters, acts of war and terrorism;
• import or export regulations;
• compliance with U.S. laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and local laws prohibiting
bribery and corrupt payments to government officials;
• antitrust and competition regulations;
• potentially adverse tax developments;
• seasonal volatility in business activity and local economic conditions;
• economic uncertainties relating to volatility in emerging markets and global economic
uncertainty;
• laws, regulations, licensing requirements, and business practices that favor local competitors or
prohibit foreign ownership or investments;
• different, uncertain or more stringent user protection, content, data protection, privacy,
intellectual property and other laws; and
• risks related to other government regulation (including the potential for actions restricting access
to our products), required compliance with local laws or lack of legal precedent.
We are subject to numerous and sometimes conflicting U.S. and foreign laws and regulations which
increase our cost of doing business. Violations of these complex laws and regulations that apply to
our international operations could result in damage awards, fines, criminal actions, sanctions, or
penalties against us, our officers or our employees, prohibitions on the conduct of our business and
our ability to offer products and services, and damage to our reputation. Although we have
implemented policies and procedures designed to promote compliance with these laws, there can be
no assurance that our employees, contractors, or agents will not violate our policies. These risks
inherent in our international operations and expansion increase our costs of doing business
internationally and could result in harm to our business, operating results, and financial condition.
We may be subject to legal liability associated with providing online services or content.
We host and provide a wide variety of services and technology products that enable and encourage
individuals and businesses to exchange information; upload or otherwise generate photos, videos,
text, and other content; advertise products and services; conduct business; and engage in various
online activities both domestically and internationally. The law relating to the liability of providers of
online services and products for activities of their users is currently unsettled both within the U.S. and
internationally. As a publisher and producer of original content, we may be subject to claims such as
copyright, libel, defamation or improper use of publicity rights, as well as other infringement claims
such as plagiarism. Claims have been threatened and brought against us for defamation, negligence,
breaches of contract, plagiarism, copyright and trademark infringement, unfair competition, unlawful
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