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Our patents, copyrights, and trademarks offer us only limited protection. Our competitors may attempt to copy aspects of our products despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, or may design around the proprietary features of our products. Policing unauthorized use of our proprietary rights is difficult, and we are unable to determine the extent to which such use occurs. Our difficulties are compounded in certain foreign countries where the laws do not offer as much protection for proprietary rights as the laws of the United States. From time to time, third parties inquire and claim that we have infringed upon their intellectual property rights and we make similar inquiries and claims to third parties. No material liabilities have resulted from these third party claims to date.
The information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K contains references to trademarks, service marks and registered marks of ION and our subsidiaries, as indicated. Except where stated otherwise or unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “VectorSeis,” “VectorSeis System Four,” “System Four,” “FireFly,” “DigiSHOT,” “XVib,” “DigiCOURSE,” “GATOR,” “SPECTRA,” “Orca,” “Scorpion,” “SPRINT,” and “REFLEX” refer to our VECTORSEIS®, VECTORSEIS SYSTEM FOUR®, SYSTEM FOUR®, FIREFLY®, DIGISHOT®, XVIB®, DIGICOURSE®, GATOR®, SPECTRA®, ORCA®, SCORPION®, SPRINT®, and REFLEX® are registered marks, and the terms “AZIM,” “True Digital,” “DigiRANGE II,” “SM-24,” “AHV-IV,” “Vib Pro,” “Shot Pro,” “DigiFIN,” “Vib Net,” “Autobahn,” and “SWAT” refer to our AZIMTM, True DigitalTM, DigiRANGE IITM, SM-24TM, AHV-IVTM, Vib ProTM, Shot ProTM, DigiFINTM, Vib NetTM, AutobahnTM, and SWATTM are trademarks and service marks.
Regulatory Matters
Our operations are subject to laws, regulations, government policies, and product certification requirements worldwide. Changes in such laws, regulations, policies or requirements could affect the demand for our products or result in the need to modify products, which may involve substantial costs or delays in sales and could have an adverse effect on our future operating results. Our export activities are also subject to extensive and evolving trade regulations. Certain countries are subject to trade restrictions, embargoes, and sanctions imposed by the U.S. government. These restrictions and sanctions prohibit or limit us from participating in certain business activities in those countries.
Our operations are subject to numerous local, state, and federal laws and regulations in the United States and in foreign jurisdictions concerning the containment and disposal of hazardous materials, the remediation of contaminated properties, and the protection of the environment. We do not currently foresee the need for significant expenditures to ensure our continued compliance with current environmental protection laws. Regulations in this area are subject to change, and there can be no assurance that future laws or regulations will not have a material adverse effect on us. Our customers’ operations are also significantly impacted by laws and regulations concerning the protection of the environment and endangered species. For instance, many of our marine contractors have been affected by regulations protecting marine mammals in the Gulf of Mexico. To the extent that our customers’ operations are disrupted by future laws and regulations, our business and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.
Employees
As of December 31, 2007, we had 1,201 regular, full-time employees, 853 of which were located in the U.S. From time to time and on an as-needed basis, we supplement our regular workforce with individuals that we hire temporarily or as independent contractors in order to meet certain internal manufacturing or other business needs. Our U.S. employees are not represented by any collective bargaining agreement, and we have never experienced a labor-related work stoppage. We believe that our employee relations are satisfactory.
Financial Information by Segment and Geographic Area
For a discussion of financial information by business segment and geographic area, see Note 13 ofNotes to Consolidated Financial Statements.