Item 3. Legal Proceedings

From time to time, we are involved in various disputes and legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. These include disputes and legal proceedings related to intellectual property, indemnification obligations, mergers and acquisitions, licensing, contracts, customers, products, distribution and other commercial arrangements and employee relations matters. At least quarterly, we review the status of each significant matter and assess its potential financial exposure. If the potential loss from any claim or legal proceeding is considered probable and the amount or the range of loss can be estimated, we accrue a liability for the estimated loss. Legal proceedings are subject to uncertainties, and the outcomes are difficult to predict. Because of such uncertainties, accruals are based on our judgments using the best information available at the time. As additional information becomes available, we reassess the potential liability related to pending claims and legal proceedings and may revise estimates.

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On April 27, 2022, Bell Semiconductor LLC (“Bell Semi“), a patent monetization entity, began filing a series of patent infringement lawsuits against certain technology companies alleging that certain semiconductor devices designed using certain design tools offered by EDA vendors, including Cadence, infringe upon one or more patents held by Bell Semi. Bell Semi seeks monetary damages, attorneys’ fees and costs, and a permanent injunction prohibiting the defendants from using allegedly infringing EDA design tools.

On April 29, 2022, Bell Semi also began filing a series of complaints with the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC“) alleging violations of Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 and seeking limited exclusion orders preventing the respondents from importing into the United States semiconductor devices designed using certain design tools offered by EDA vendors, including Cadence, and cease-and-desist orders prohibiting respondents from importing, selling, offering for sale, marketing, advertising, distributing, or transferring products (except for exportation) made using certain design tools offered by EDA vendors, including Cadence. The ITC instituted three investigations but Bell Semi subsequently terminated one of the investigations.

Cadence is not named as a respondent or defendant in any of the aforementioned actions; however, certain respondents and defendants are Cadence customers and have sought defense and indemnity from Cadence regarding Bell Semi’s allegations. Cadence has offered to defend some of its customers consistent with the terms of the applicable license agreements.

On November 18, 2022, Cadence and another EDA vendor jointly filed an action in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware for declaratory judgment of invalidity and non-infringement as to each of the six patents asserted by Bell Semi in the aforementioned actions. On November 28, 2022, Cadence and another EDA vendor also filed a motion for preliminary injunction in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware seeking to enjoin Bell Semi from proceeding with its litigation campaign.