Form S-I Table of Contetth Our Trademark% and Other Intellectual Proper', We believe that our intellectual property has substantial value and has contributed significantly to the success of our business. Our primary trademarks include "Blue Buffalo," "LifeSource Bits," "Life Protection Formula," "BLUE Basics," "BLUE Freedom," "BLUE Wilderness," the BLUE shield logo and the Blue Buffalo figure logo, all of which are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The Blue shield design logo is also registered or has a trademark registration pending in Canada, Mexico, Japan, Europe. Russia, China. Australia and approximately 26 other countries or registries. We also have numerous other trademark registrations and pending applications for product names and tag lines that are essential to our branding. Our trademarks are valuable assets that reinforce the distinctiveness of our brand and our consumers' favorable perception of our products. The current registrations of these trademarks in the United States and foreign countries arc effective for varying periods of time and may be renewed periodically, provided that we, as the registered owner, or our licensees where applicable, comply with all applicable renewal requirements including. where nen-Issry, the continued use of the trademarks in connection with similar goods. In addition to trademark protection, we own numerous URL designations. including www.bluebuffalo.com and www.bluesbuddies.com. We also rely on and carefully protect unpatented proprietary expertise, recipes and formulations, continuing innovation and other trade secrets to develop and maintain our competitive position. CON eminent Regulation Blue Buffalo, along with its contract manufacturers, distributors and ingredients and packaging suppliers. is subject to extensive regulation in the United States by federal, state and local government authorities including the FDA, the United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Customs and