COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
9 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2016 | |
| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
| COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Commitments to Purchase Inventory
We use contract manufacturers for our manufacturing operations. Under these arrangements, the contract manufacturer procures inventory to manufacture products based upon our forecast of customer demand. We have similar arrangements with certain other suppliers. We are responsible for the financial impact on the supplier or contract manufacturer of any reduction or product mix shift in the forecast relative to materials that the third party had already purchased under a prior forecast. Such a variance in forecasted demand could require a cash payment for inventory in excess of current customer demand or for costs of excess or obsolete inventory. As of December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2016, we issued non-cancelable commitments for $52.9 million and $42.2 million, respectively, to purchase inventory from our contract manufacturers and suppliers.
Legal Proceedings
Crossroads
On February 18, 2014, Crossroads Systems, Inc. (“Crossroads”) filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Quantum in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, alleging infringement of U.S. patents 6,425,035 and 7,934,041. An amended complaint filed on April 15, 2014 also alleged infringement of U.S. patent 7,051,147. Crossroads asserts that we have incorporated Crossroads' patented technology into our StorNext QX and Q-Series lines of disk array products and into our Scalar libraries. Crossroads seeks unspecified monetary damages and injunctive relief. Crossroads has already dismissed all claims of infringement with respect to the StorNext QX and Q-Series products. In July and September of 2014, we filed for inter partes review of all three asserted Crossroads patents before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and a review has been initiated for all claims. On June 16, 2015, the U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas stayed the Crossroads trial proceedings pending resolution of the inter partes review proceedings. On January 29, 2016, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board issued decisions on the inter partes reviews for U.S. patents 6,425,035 and 7,051,147, ordering all claims of both patents to be unpatentable. On March 17, 2016, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board issued a decision on the inter partes review for U.S. patent 7,934,041, ordering all claims to be unpatentable. On March 31, 2016, Crossroads filed Notices of Appeal in each of the inter partes review decisions. We believe the probability that this lawsuit will have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition is remote.
Realtime Data
On July 22, 2016, Realtime Data LLC d/b/a IXO(“Realtime Data”) filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Quantum in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, alleging infringement of U.S. patents 7,161,506, 7,378,992, 7,415,530, 8,643,513, 9,054,728 and 9,116,908. Realtime Data asserts that we have incorporated Realtime Data’s patented technology into our deduplication products and services. Realtime Data seeks unspecified monetary damages and other relief that the Court deems appropriate. We believe the probability that this lawsuit will have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition is remote.
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