The value of our software and services is dependent on our ability to secure and maintain appropriate patent and other intellectual property rights protection. We intend to continue to pursue additional patent protection for our new software and technology. Although we own multiple patents covering our technology that have already been issued, we may not be able to obtain additional patents that we apply for, or that any of these patents, once issued, will give us commercially significant protection for our technology, or will be found valid if challenged. Moreover, we have not obtained patent protection for our technology in all foreign countries in which our products might be sold. In any event, the patent laws and enforcement regimes of other countries may differ from those of the United States as to the patentability of our personal display and related technologies and the degree of protection afforded.
Any patent or trademark owned by us may be challenged and invalidated or circumvented. Patents may not be issued from any of our pending or future patent applications. Any claims and issued patents or pending patent applications may not be broad or strong enough and may not be issued in all countries where our products can be sold or our technologies may not be licensed to provide meaningful protection against any commercial damage to us. Further, others may develop technologies that are similar or superior to our technologies, duplicate our technologies or design around the patents owned by us. Effective intellectual property protection may be unavailable or limited in certain foreign countries. Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy or otherwise use aspects of our processes and devices that we regard as proprietary. Policing unauthorized use of our proprietary information and technology is difficult and our efforts to do so may not prevent misappropriation of our technologies. In the event that our intellectual property protection is insufficient to protect our intellectual property rights, we could face increased competition in the market for our products and technologies, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may become engaged in litigation to protect or enforce our patent and other intellectual property rights or in International Trade Commission proceedings to abate the importation of goods that would compete unfairly with our products. In addition, we may have to participate in interference or reexamination proceedings before the USPTO, or in opposition, nullification or other proceedings before foreign patent offices, with respect to our patents or patent applications. All of these actions would place our patents and other intellectual property rights at risk and may result in substantial costs to us as well as a diversion of management attention. Moreover, if successful, these actions could result in the loss of patent or other intellectual property rights protection for the key technologies on which our business strategy depends.
In addition, we rely in part on unpatented proprietary technology, and others may independently develop the same or similar technology or otherwise obtain access to our unpatented technology. To protect our trade secrets, know-how and other proprietary information, we require employees, consultants, financial advisors and strategic partners to enter into confidentiality agreements. These agreements may not provide meaningful protection for our trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary information in the event of any unauthorized use, misappropriation or disclosure of those trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary information. In particular, we may not be able to fully or adequately protect our proprietary information as we conduct discussions with potential strategic partners. If we are unable to protect the proprietary nature of our technology, it will harm our business.
Despite our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights, intellectual property laws afford us only limited protection. A third party could copy or otherwise obtain information from us without authorization. Accordingly, we may not be able to prevent misappropriation of our intellectual property or to deter others from developing similar products or services. Further, monitoring the unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult. Litigation may be necessary to enforce our intellectual property rights or to determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others. Litigation of this type could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources, may result in counterclaims or other claims against us and could significantly harm our results of operations. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect our proprietary rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States.
As is commonplace in technology companies, we employ individuals who were previously employed at other technology companies. To the extent our employees are involved in research areas that are similar to those areas in which they were involved at their former employers, we may be subject to claims that such employees or we have, inadvertently or otherwise, used or disclosed the alleged trade secrets or other proprietary information of the former employers. Litigation may be necessary to defend against such claims. Litigation of this type could result in substantial costs to us and divert our resources.
We also depend on trade secret protection through confidentiality and license agreements with our employees, entities, licensees, licensors and others. We may not have agreements containing adequate protective provisions in every case, and the contractual provisions that are in place may not provide us with adequate protection in all circumstances. The unauthorized reproduction or other misappropriation of our intellectual property could diminish the value of our brand, competitive advantages or goodwill and result in decreased sales.