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Commitments and Contingencies | 12 Months Ended
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Aug. 31, 2012
Commitments and Contingencies |
Commitments and Contingencies |
8. Commitments and Contingencies Operating Lease Agreements—The Company has several operating leases with unrelated parties, primarily for land, plant and office spaces in Taiwan, which were noncancellable and which expire at various dates between January 2013 and December 2020. As of August 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company maintained outstanding deposits for these leases in the amount of $168 thousand and $214 thousand, respectively, which were recorded as other long-term assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Lease expense related to these noncancellable operating leases was $802 thousand, $750 thousand and $530 thousand during the years ended August 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. The aggregate future noncancellable minimum rental payments for the Company's operating leases as of August 31, 2012 consist of the following (in thousands):
Years Ending August 31, |  | Operating Leases |
--- | --- | --- | ---
2013 |  | $ | 845 |
2014 |  |  | 837 |
2015 |  |  | 912 |
2016 |  |  | 861 |
2017 |  |  | 264 |
Thereafter |  |  | 239 |
Total |  | $ | 3,958 |
Purchase Obligations—The Company had purchase commitments for property, plant and equipment in the amount of $3.7 million and $10.9 million as of August 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Litigation—The Company is directly or indirectly involved from time to time in various claims or legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company records a liability when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount is reasonably estimable. There is significant judgment required in assessing both the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome and whether the amount of loss, if any, can be reasonably estimated. The Company was involved in an intellectual property dispute with Cree, Inc. ("Cree"), a competitor and a major manufacturer of LED products, which commenced in October 2010. The Company and Cree executed a settlement agreement that was effective as of June 21, 2012 with respect to the amended complaint filed by Cree against the Company in the United States District Court of Delaware alleging that the Company had infringed certain of Cree's patents in the United States, and the Company's amended complaint against Cree alleging that Cree had infringed certain of the Company's patents. The settlement agreement provides for the dismissal of both complaints without prejudice. The Company also agreed to the entry of a permanent injunction that was effective October 1, 2012 that will preclude the Company from (and/or from assisting others in) making, using, importing, selling and/or offering to sell in the United States certain accused products and/or any device that includes such an accused product after that date and to payment of a settlement fee for past damages. All accused products sold before the date of settlement are released under this agreement and the Company's customers and distributors are specifically released as well. The Company recognized an accrued liability for this matter in the amount of $1.5 million during the three months ended May 31, 2012. The settlement payment was made in July 2012. Third parties have from time to time claimed, and others may claim in the future, that the Company has infringed their past, current or future intellectual property rights. These claims, whether meritorious or not, could be time-consuming, result in costly litigation, require expensive changes in the Company's methods of doing business or could require the Company to enter into costly royalty or licensing agreements, if available. As a result, these claims could harm the Company's business, operating results, cash flows and financial position.

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- Definition Disclosure for commitments and contingencies including operating lease agreement and litigation. + References No definition available. + Details
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