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Dolby Laboratories

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FY2023 Annual Report · Dolby Laboratories
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2023 ANNUAL REPORT

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K

È ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

‘ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Fiscal Year Ended September 29, 2023
OR

For the Transition Period From

To
Commission File Number: 001-32431

DOLBY LABORATORIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

90-0199783
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1275 Market Street
San Francisco California
(Address of principal executive offices)

94103-1410
(Zip Code)

(415) 558-0200
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class
Class A common stock, $0.001 par value

Name of each exchange on which registered
The New York Stock Exchange

Trading Symbol(s)
DLB
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Title of each class
Class B common stock, $0.001 par value

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes È No ‘
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ‘ No È
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes È No ‘

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405

of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such
files). Yes È No ‘

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or

an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth
company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer È
Non-accelerated filer ‘

Accelerated filer ‘
Smaller reporting company ‘
Emerging growth company ‘

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any

new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ‘

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal

control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that
prepared or issued its audit report. È

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in

the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ‘

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation

received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ‘

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ‘ No È
The aggregate market value of the voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of March 31, 2023 was $4.1 billion. This

calculation excludes the shares of Class A and Class B common stock held by executive officers, directors and stockholders whose ownership exceeds 5%
of the combined shares of Class A and Class B common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2023. This calculation does not reflect a determination that
such persons are affiliates for any other purposes.

On October 27, 2023, the registrant had 59,190,225 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 36,085,779 shares of Class B

common stock, par value $0.001 per share, outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A in connection with the

registrant’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed subsequent to the date hereof, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report. Such
Definitive Proxy Statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the conclusion of the registrant’s fiscal
year ended September 29, 2023. Except with respect to information specifically incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K, the Definitive Proxy
Statement is not deemed to be filed as part of this Form 10-K.

DOLBY LABORATORIES, INC.
FORM 10-K
For the Fiscal Year Ended September 29, 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

Item 1 — Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 1A — Risk Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 1B — Unresolved Staff Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 2 — Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 3 — Legal Proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 4 — Mine Safety Disclosures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PART II

Item 5 — Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases

of Equity Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 6 — [Reserved] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 7 — Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations . . .
Item 7A — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 8 — Consolidated Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 9 — Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure . . .
Item 9A — Controls and Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 9B — Other Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 9C — Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PART III

Item 10 — Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 11 — Executive Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 12 — Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder
Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 13 — Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 14 — Principal Accounting Fees and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PART IV

4
13
31
31
32
32

33
36
37
52
54
102
102
103
103

104
104

104
104
104

Item 15 — Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 16 — Form 10-K Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Signatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

105
109
109

1

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

The following table summarizes certain terms and abbreviations that may be used within the text of this

report:

Abbreviation
AAC
AFS
AOCI
API
APIC
ASC
ASU
ATSC
AVC
AVR
CE
CODM
COSO
DD
DD+
DMA
DTV
DVB
DVD
EPS
ESPP
FASB
FCPA
G&A
HD
HDR
HDTV
HE-AAC
HEVC
IC
IBR
IP
LP
NOL
OECD
OEM
OTT
PC
PCS
PP&E
PSO
PSU
R&D
ROU
RSU
S&M
SEC
SERP
STB
TSR
UHD
U.S. GAAP

Term
Advanced Audio Coding
Available-For-Sale (Securities)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Application Programming Interface
Additional Paid In-Capital
Accounting Standards Codification
Accounting Standards Update
Advanced Television Systems Committee
Advanced Video Coding
Audio/Video Receiver
Consumer Electronics
Chief Operating Decision Maker
Committee Of Sponsoring Organizations (Of The Treadway Commission)
Dolby Digital®
Dolby Digital Plus™
Digital Media Adapter
Digital Television
Digital Video Broadcasting
Digital Versatile Disc
Earnings Per Share
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Financial Accounting Standards Board
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
General and Administrative
High Definition
High-Dynamic Range
High Definition Television
High Efficiency Advanced Audio Coding
High Efficiency Video Coding
Integrated Circuit
Incremental Borrowing Rate
Intellectual Property
Limited Partner/Partnership
Net Operating Loss
Organization For Economic Co-Operation & Development
Original Equipment Manufacturer
Over-The-Top
Personal Computer
Post-Contract Support
Property, Plant, and Equipment
Performance-Based Stock Option
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit
Research and Development
Right-Of-Use
Restricted Stock Unit
Sales and Marketing
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
Set-Top Box
Total Stockholder Return
Ultra High Definition
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles In The United States

2

Forward Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements reflecting our current expectations
that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to statements regarding: operating results
and underlying measures; demand and acceptance for our technologies and products; the effect of the
coronavirus pandemic (“COVID-19”) on our business; market growth opportunities and trends; the development
and launch of new products, features, and platforms; our ability to maintain key partnership relationships; our
plans, strategies and expected opportunities; future competition; our stock repurchase plan; and our dividend
policy. Use of words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,”
“predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “intend,” “could,” “can,” “would,” “target,” “goal,” “outlook,”
“project,” “contemplate,” “future,” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that
concern our expectations, strategy, plans, or intentions indicates a forward-looking statement. Such forward-
looking statements are based on management’s reasonable and current assumptions and expectations, but such
statements inherently involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those
discussed in these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to the risks
set forth in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and key challenges set forth in Part II, Item 7, “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Although we believe that the
expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results,
levels of activity, performance, or achievements. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or
expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our
forward-looking statements.

In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the

relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this Annual
Report on Form 10-K, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such
information may be limited or incomplete. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned
not to unduly rely upon these statements. We disclaim any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements
after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K to conform our prior statements to actual results.

3

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

OVERVIEW

Dolby Laboratories creates audio and imaging technologies that transform entertainment for content
playback in movies, TV, music, gaming and user-generated content. Founded in 1965, our strengths stem from
expertise in analog and digital signal processing and digital compression technologies that have transformed the
ability of artists to convey entertainment experiences to their audiences through recorded media. Such
technologies led to the development of our noise-reduction systems for analog tape recordings, and have since
evolved into multiple offerings that enable more immersive sound for cinema, DTV transmissions and devices,
mobile devices, OTT video and music services, home entertainment devices, and automobiles.

Today, we derive the majority of our revenue from licensing our audio technologies. We also derive revenue

from licensing our consumer imaging technologies, as well as audio and imaging technologies for premium
cinema offerings in collaboration with exhibitors. In addition to our licensing business, we provide products and
services for a variety of applications in the cinema and broadcast markets, and offer solutions to companies
building real-time digital experiences that increase audience engagement.

OUR STRATEGY

Key elements of our strategy include:

Advancing the Science of Sight and Sound. We apply our understanding of the human senses, audio, and
imaging engineering to develop technologies aimed at improving how people experience and interact with their
entertainment content.

Providing Creative Solutions. We promote the use of our solutions as creative tools, and provide our
products, services, and technologies to filmmakers, musical artists, sound mixers, and other content creators and
providers. Our tools help showcase the quality and impact of their efforts and intent, which in turn may generate
market demand.

Delivering Superior Experiences. Our technologies and solutions optimize playback so that users may

enjoy richer, clearer, and more immersive sound and sight experiences.

Expanding the Reach of our Technologies. We look for new and innovative ways to expand the reach of
our technologies to new content, media, devices and audiences. For example, we are expanding our addressable
market to enhance a broader range of content, by offering solutions to companies building real-time digital
experiences that increase audience engagement. Our solution provides the capability to stream high quality
audiovisual content in ultra-low latency which reduces the delay between the action and the viewer. Everyone
experiencing the action at the same time enables ways to interact with the content.

REVENUE GENERATION

The following table presents a summary of the composition of our revenue for all periods presented. Refer

to Note 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” and Note 3 “Revenue Recognition” for further detail.

Revenue

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

Licensing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Products and services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

92%
8%
100%

93%
7%
100%

95%
5%
100%

4

We generate revenue from licensing arrangements with approximately 500 electronics product OEM and

software developer licensees.

Licensing

We license our technologies to a range of customers who incorporate them into their products for enhanced

audio and imaging functionality for content playback in movies, TV, music, and gaming. Our key technologies
are summarized in the table below. As it relates to AAC, HE-AAC, Extended HE-AAC, AVC, and HEVC, we
jointly participate in patent licensing programs with other patent owners.

Technology
AAC, HE-AAC and
Extended HE-AAC

Advanced digital audio codec solutions with high bandwidth efficiency used for a wide range of media
applications.

Description

AVC

A digital video codec with high bandwidth efficiency used in a wide range of media devices.

Dolby AC-4

Dolby Atmos

DD

DD+

A next-generation digital audio coding technology that increases transmission efficiency while delivering new
audio experiences, including Dolby Atmos, to a wide range of playback devices.

An object-oriented audio technology for cinema and a wide range of media devices that allows sound to be
precisely placed and moved anywhere in the listening environment including the overhead dimension. Dolby
Atmos provides an immersive experience that can be provided via multiple Dolby audio coding technologies.

A digital audio coding technology that provides multichannel sound to a variety of media applications.

An advanced digital audio coding technology that offers more efficient audio transmission for a wide range of
media applications and devices.

Dolby TrueHD

A digital audio coding technology providing lossless encoding for premium quality media applications.

Dolby Vision

HEVC

An imaging technology combining high dynamic range and dynamic metadata to deliver ultra vivid colors,
sharper contrasts, and richer details for cinema and a wide range of media devices.

A digital video codec with high bandwidth efficiency to support ultra-high definition experiences for a wide
range of media devices.

The following table presents the composition of revenue from our licensing business for all periods

presented:

Market

Broadcast . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mobile . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

Main Components of Each Category

38%
20%
14%
10%
18%

37%
21%
16%
13%
13%

39%
22%
15%
12%
12%

Televisions and STBs
Smartphones and Tablets
DMAs, Blu-ray Disc devices, AVRs, Soundbars, and DVDs
Windows and macOS operating systems and devices
Dolby Cinema, Gaming consoles, Automotive, and Patent pool
administrative services

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

100%

100%

100%

We have various licensing models: a two-tier model, an integrated licensing model, a patent licensing

model, recoveries, and collaboration arrangements.

Two-Tier Licensing Model. Most of our consumer entertainment licensing business consists of a two-tier
licensing model whereby our decoding technologies, included in reference software and firmware code, are first
provided under license to semiconductor manufacturers whom we refer to as “implementation licensees.”
Implementation licensees incorporate our technologies in ICs which they sell to OEMs of consumer
entertainment products, whom we refer to as “system licensees.” System licensees separately obtain licenses
from us that allow them to make and sell end-user products using ICs that incorporate our technologies.

5

Implementation licensees incorporate our technologies into their chipsets that, once approved by Dolby, are

available for purchase from implementation licensees by OEMs for use in end-user products. Implementation
licensees only pay us a nominal initial fee on contract execution as consideration for the ongoing services that we
provide to assist in their implementation process. Revenue from these initial fees is recognized ratably over the
contractual term as a component of licensing revenue.

System licensees provide us with prototypes of products, or self-test results of products that incorporate our

technologies. Upon our confirmation that our technologies are optimally and consistently incorporated, the
system licensee may buy ICs under a license for the same Dolby technology from our network of implementation
licensees, and may further sell approved products to retailers, distributors, and consumers. For the use of our
technologies, our system licensees pay an initial licensing fee as well as royalties, which represent the majority of
the revenue recognized from these arrangements. The amount of royalties we collect on a particular product
depends on several factors including the nature of the implementation, the mix of Dolby technologies used, and
the volume of products using our technologies that are shipped by the system licensee.

Integrated Licensing Model. We also license our technologies to software operating system vendors and

to certain other OEMs that act as combined implementation and system licensees. These licensees incorporate
our technologies in their software used on PCs, in mobile applications, or in ICs they manufacture and
incorporate into their products. As with the two-tier licensing model, the combined implementation and system
licensee pays us an initial licensing fee in addition to royalties as determined by the mix of Dolby technologies
used, the nature of the implementations, and the volume of products using our technologies that are shipped, and
is subject to the same quality control evaluation process.

Patent Licensing Model. We license our patents directly to manufacturers that use our IP in their
products. We also license our patents through patent pools which are arrangements between multiple patent
owners to jointly offer and license pooled patents to licensees who use our IP in their products. By aggregating
and offering pooled patents, these arrangements deliver efficiencies that reduce transactional costs for both IP
owners and licensees. Patent pools enable product manufacturers to efficiently and transparently secure patent
licenses for collaboratively developed technologies. We offer our patents related to AAC, HE-AAC, Extended
HE-AAC, AVC, HEVC, VVC and other standardized technologies through a combination of patent pools and
licensing directly to OEMs. Finally, Via LA (as defined below) generates fees for administering patent pools on
behalf of third party patent owners. See Note 15 “Business Combinations” to our consolidated financial
statements for a description of the recent business combination involving Via LA.

Recoveries. Licensing revenue recognized in any given period may include revenue from licensees and/or
settlements with third parties where the use of our technology occurred in previous periods. Within the Results of
Operations section of Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations,” revenue attributable to previous periods’ usage including settlements are collectively referred to
as “recoveries.” Such recoveries have become a recurring element of our business and are particularly subject to
fluctuation and unpredictability.

Collaboration Arrangements

Dolby Cinema: We partner with exhibitors to deliver a premium cinema offering with Dolby Vision and
Dolby Atmos at new and pre-existing venues. We receive revenue at Dolby Cinema sites through a share of box
office receipts, which is recognized as licensing revenue.

Products

We design and manufacture audio and imaging hardware and software products for the cinema, television,

broadcast, and entertainment industries. Distributed in approximately 90 countries, these products are used in
content creation, distribution, and playback to enhance image and sound quality, and improve transmission and
playback. Additionally, some of our Dolby Cinema arrangements are classified as sales-type leases, and as a
result are included in products sales.

6

Key products from which we generate products revenue are summarized in the table below:

Product

Cinema Imaging Products

Cinema

Cinema Audio Products

Other

Other Products

Services

Description
Digital Cinema Servers used to load, store, decrypt, decode, watermark,
and playback digital film files for presentation on digital cinema
projectors and software used to encrypt, encode, and package digital
media files for distribution

Cinema Processors, amplifiers, and loudspeakers used to decode, render,
and optimally play back digital cinema soundtracks, including those
using Dolby Atmos

3-D glasses and kits, broadcast hardware and software used to encode,
transmit, and decode multiple channels of high-quality audio for DTV
and HDTV distribution, monitors, and accessibility solutions for hearing
and visually impaired consumers

We offer solutions to companies building real-time digital experiences that increase audience engagement.
Over time, we expect to significantly expand the amount and types of content that can be enhanced through our
technologies and capabilities.

In addition, we offer various services to support theatrical and television production for cinema exhibition,

broadcast, and home entertainment, including equipment training and maintenance, mixing room alignment,
equalization, as well as audio, color, and light image calibration. We also provide PCS for products sold and
equipment installed at Dolby Cinema theaters operated by exhibitor partners and support the implementation of
our technologies into products manufactured by our licensees.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

We have a substantial base of IP assets, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets

developed based on our technical expertise.

As of September 29, 2023, we had approximately 19,300 issued patents and approximately 1,900 pending
patent applications in more than 100 jurisdictions throughout the world. Our currently issued patents expire at
various times through September 2045.

Some of our patents relating to DD technologies have expired, and others will expire over the next several

years. While in the past we derived a significant portion of our licensing revenue from our DD technologies, this
is no longer the case as revenue attributed to DD technologies has declined and is expected to continue to
decline. The primary products where DD is widely used include automotive, TVs, and soundbars. We have
transitioned a number of our DD licensees to DD+ technologies, an extension of our DD technologies, whose
patents generally expire later than the DD patents.

We pursue a general practice of filing patent applications for our technologies in the United States (“U.S.”)
and foreign countries where our customers manufacture, distribute, or sell licensed products. We actively pursue
new applications to expand our patent portfolio to address new technological innovations, and we also make
strategic acquisitions of technology and patents from time to time. We have multiple patents covering aspects
and improvements for many of our technologies.

We have approximately 1,600 trademark registrations throughout the world for a variety of wordmarks,
logos, and slogans. Our trademarks cover our various products, technologies, improvements, and features, as well
as the services that we provide. These trademarks are an integral part of our technology licensing program, and
licensees typically elect to place our trademarks on their products to inform consumers that their products
incorporate our technology and meet our quality specifications.

7

We protect our IP rights both domestically and internationally. From time to time, OEMs have failed to
report or have underreported shipments of their products that incorporate our technologies. We have also had
problems with implementation licensees selling ICs with our technologies to third parties that are not system
licensees. We anticipate that such problems will continue to occur. Accordingly, we have taken steps in the past
to enforce our IP rights and expect to continue doing so in the future.

Moreover, in certain countries, we have relatively few or no issued patents. For example, in some African

and Central and South American countries, we have only limited patent protection for our technologies.
Consequently, we may realize less revenue from those regions in the future. Maintaining or growing our
licensing revenue in developing countries will depend in part on whether we obtain patent rights in those
countries, which is uncertain. Further, because of the limitations of the legal systems in many countries, the
effectiveness of patents obtained or that may in the future be obtained is uncertain.

INDUSTRY STANDARDS

Several Dolby technologies have been adopted as, or are included in, the explicit or de facto industry

standard for broadcast, discrete media, and online delivery in various markets worldwide.

Explicit industry standards are adopted through a standardization process whereby government entities,

industry standards-setting bodies, trade associations, and others evaluate and then prescribe the use of a
technology. For example, as global broadcast standards for digital, HD, and UHD television have developed,
Dolby audio technologies have been adopted or mandated in various regions of the world, highlights of which are
as follows:

• DD+ and HE-AAC are mandated for use in terrestrial broadcast across many countries including France,
Italy, the United Kingdom (“U.K.”), Sweden, Germany, Poland, Turkey, and Russia. In addition, DD+
and HE-AAC are included in the digital terrestrial television specifications of emerging digital TV
markets in Africa, Brazil, South-East Asia, and India while operators in China have selected DD and DD+
as optional technologies for transmissions using the country’s digital terrestrial television specification.

• DD is mandated for HD broadcast in multiple regions including North America and South Korea, and

for DVD players on a global basis.

• AC-4 is Dolby’s audio coding technology that has been adopted for implementation for next generation
broadcast services in certain regions by worldwide standards organizations including the DVB and
ATSC. In Europe, AC-4 has been mandated in next generation broadcast specifications for Denmark,
Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland and Sweden, and is also included in the specification
for the new UHD terrestrial TV platform issued by regulator ARCOM in France. In North America,
AC-4 is mandated for TVs for the NextGen TV over-the-air broadcast platform, based on ATSC3.0.
The adoption of AC-4 continues to grow, and AC-4 is already widely supported in UHDTVs available
worldwide from major manufacturers.

•

In mobile devices, HE-AAC v2 (3GPP eAAC+) is specified for various applications in the 3rd
Generation Partnership Project suite of standards.

• Extended HE-AAC is included in Digital Radio Mondiale radio broadcasting standards.

In addition, Dolby technologies have become, or are included in, de facto industry standards in many

consumer entertainment products. De facto industry standards are adopted by industry participants when
technologies are introduced to the marketplace and become widely used, and include the following examples:

•

Prior to the adoption of HD terrestrial broadcast standards mandating Dolby technologies, many
European HD broadcasters began broadcasting in DD or DD+, leading OEMs to include these
technologies in their televisions and STBs for the European market.

• HE-AAC is a de facto audio standard in entertainment services. It is included in popular operating

systems and widely used by major broadcasting, streaming, and radio services.

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• DD+ is the de facto technology used by a wide range of pay-TV operators and streaming services

worldwide and is included in popular operating systems such as iOS and Windows. It is also widely
used by major OTT services such as Apple TV+, Disney+, Netflix, and Amazon, and is included in the
specifications of these services.

• Extended HE-AAC is a de facto industry standard in streaming applications. It is included in popular

operating systems and used in major OTT services.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

We conduct R&D activities at numerous locations in the U.S. and internationally. Dolby’s history of
producing innovative technology has created many forms of IP. This IP generates licensing revenue that enables
us to fund and pursue further innovation.

The majority of our R&D resources are focused on developing leading audio and imaging technologies for
consumer entertainment. Each of these technologies can support many offerings, and we anticipate bringing new
innovations to market in the future.

PRODUCT MANUFACTURING

Our product quality is enabled through the use of well-established, and in some cases, highly automated,

assembly processes along with rigorous testing of our products. We rely primarily upon contract manufacturers
for the majority of our production capacity. We purchase components and fabricated parts from multiple
suppliers; however, we rely on sole source suppliers for certain components used to manufacture our products.
We source components and fabricated parts both domestically and internationally.

SALES AND MARKETING

Our marketing efforts focus on demonstrating how our solutions improve entertainment experiences. We
sell our solutions primarily using an internal sales organization to various customers in the markets where we
operate. We also license our technologies and IP indirectly through patent pools, where owners of IP covering
technology standards aggregate their patents and offer the pooled patents to implementers through patent pool
licensing administrators who are responsible for the sales and marketing of the pooled patents. We promote our
solutions and our brand through industry events such as trade-shows, film festivals, movie premieres, product
launches, as well as through our website, public relations, direct marketing, co-marketing programs, and social
media. In addition, we hold the naming rights to the Dolby Theatre, home to the Academy Awards® in
Hollywood, California, where we showcase our technology and host high-profile events. We also hold the
naming rights to Dolby Live at the Park MGM in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dolby Live is a fully integrated
performance venue offering live concerts in Dolby Atmos. We maintain more than 20 sales offices in key regions
around the globe.

CUSTOMERS

We license our technologies to a broad set of customers that operate in a wide range of industries, and we
sell our professional products either directly to the end user or, more commonly, through dealers and distributors.
Users of our professional products and services include film studios, content creators, post-production facilities,
cinema operators, broadcasters, and video game designers.

COMPETITION

The entertainment industry are highly competitive, and we face aggressive competition in all areas of our

business. Some of our current and future competitors may have significantly greater financial, technical,
marketing, and other resources than we do, or may have more experience or advantages in the markets in which
they compete. In addition, some of our current or potential competitors may be able to offer integrated systems in

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certain markets for entertainment technologies, including audio and imaging, which could make competing
technologies that we develop or acquire obsolete. By offering an integrated system solution, these potential
competitors may also be able to offer competing technologies at lower prices than we can, which could adversely
affect our operating results.

Many products that include our audio and imaging technologies also include technologies developed by our

competitors. We believe that the principal competitive factors in our markets include some or all of the
following:

• Degree of access and inclusion in industry standards;

• Technological performance, flexibility, and range of application;

• Brand recognition and reputation;

• Timeliness and relevance of new product introductions;

• Quality and reliability of products and services;

• Relationships with producers, directors, and distributors in the film and television industry, with
television broadcast industry leaders, with OTT industry leaders, and with the management of
semiconductor and CE OEMs;

• Availability of compatible high quality audio and video content; and

•

Price.

Certain foreign governments, particularly in China, have advanced arguments under their competition laws
that exert downward pressure on royalties for IP, which can impact the licensing fees that we are able to collect.
The regulatory enforcement activities in such jurisdictions can be unpredictable, in some cases because these
jurisdictions have only recently implemented competition laws.

Our technologies, products, and services span the audio and imaging sectors of several distinct and diverse
industries, including the broadcast, mobile, consumer entertainment, PC, gaming, automotive, cinema, and other
industries. The lack of a clear definition of the markets in which our products, services, and technologies are sold
or licensed, the nature of our technologies, their potential use for various commercial applications, and the
diverse nature of and lack of detailed reporting by our competitors, make it impracticable to quantify our
position.

HUMAN CAPITAL

At Dolby, we strive to act as a good partner to our customers, employees, shareholders, and communities.

We are committed to fostering a workplace environment in which every employee can contribute their fullest
potential and make a positive impact through their roles.

Details of this work are available in our Sustainability Report, and we encourage you to read it on our
website and learn more. Nothing in our Sustainability Report shall be deemed incorporated by reference into this
Annual Report on Form 10-K.

As of September 29, 2023, we had 2,246 employees worldwide, of whom 1,060 employees were based

outside of the U.S. None of our employees are subject to a collective bargaining agreement.

Employee Well-being

Our workforce strategies prioritize employee well-being and take an integrated approach to mental,
physical, and financial well-being for our employees. We have expanded our well-being programs to include
therapy and access to wellness coaching, mindfulness training and live community sessions.

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We continue to implement business strategies that support the health and safety of our employees and
enable business continuity. We have implemented a flex work program that enables employee connection and
effective work delivery globally. In a company-wide survey in May 2023, Motivation & Commitment scores
indicate that we remain highly connected to our work and each other.

Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (“DIB”)

To spark positive change, bolster employee resiliency, and strengthen our community, DIB is embedded

across company programs. Our approach comprises investing in the next generation of talent, cultivating a
culture of inclusion, and belonging and advancing and retaining our employees.

To invest in the talent of the future, we provide financial contributions, employee engagement, and support

of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics education and partnerships at K-12 schools and
universities.

We have programs and practices in place to support creating an environment where individual experiences
and perspectives are welcome and where everyone can belong and thrive. This includes equipping our leaders,
colleagues, and peers with tools to have open and authentic conversations. We look at diversity, inclusion and
belonging comprehensively through hiring, retention, progression, and employee experiences.

We empower everyone at Dolby to be co-creators of change by offering employees opportunities to learn

and grow through educational sessions, hands-on workshops, and employee-led Employee Network (“EN”)
events. Our EN community encompasses 14 networks, convening around many different dimensions of diversity
including gender, race/ethnicity and more, to build community and drive awareness of issues impacting
employees identifying with these dimensions of diversity and their allies.

We hold ourselves accountable for our progress and publish our global gender diversity and U.S. race and

ethnic diversity workforce data annually. We encourage you to review our Sustainability Report for more
detailed information.

Compensation and Benefits

We offer competitive compensation (including salary, incentive bonus, and equity) and benefits packages in
each of our locations around the globe. In addition to comprehensive health benefits and the ESPP, depending on
the location, employees may also enjoy free or subsidized fitness programs, commuter benefits, wellness credits,
tuition reimbursement opportunities, and personal development courses, among other benefits.

Social Impact

Through our social impact programs, employees from our offices around the world organize to volunteer as
individuals, as part of a work team or through our diversity, inclusion, and belonging employee networks. From
mentoring youth, to supporting adults re-entering the workforce, to aiding people experiencing hardships, our
employees are making our communities stronger. We partner with organizations in our local communities around
the world, including the Arts, Media and Entertainment Institute, Bay Area Video Coalition, Girls Make Beats,
Girls Who Code, IGNITE Worldwide, Inneract Project, University of Sydney’s Women in Engineering Program,
and Fundacja Rodziny Maciejko in Poland to organize employee volunteer opportunities. Our efforts are
intended to share Dolby’s experiences, ideas and approaches from our unique position at the intersection of
science, technology and art.

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Management Succession Planning

Our Board of Directors works with the Nominating and Governance Committee on succession planning for
our Chief Executive Officer, including a process for identifying potential successors. Our Board of Directors has
adopted an emergency succession plan in the event of the death, disability, incapacity or unanticipated departure
or leave of our Chief Executive Officer. The organization regularly conducts talent reviews for other
management roles and key positions for succession management and talent planning purposes.

Board Oversight of Human Capital Management

Through our Compensation Committee, our Board of Directors provides oversight of human capital matters.

Our Nominating and Governance Committee works with the Board of Directors on management succession as
described above. The Board and Board committees are supported in these efforts by our management team,
People, Legal and Compliance.

CORPORATE AND AVAILABLE INFORMATION

We were founded in London, England in 1965 and incorporated in the State of New York in 1967. We
reincorporated in California in 1976 and reincorporated in Delaware in September 2004. Our principal corporate
offices are located at 1275 Market Street, San Francisco, California 94103. Our telephone number is
(415) 558-0200.

Our website is www.dolby.com. We make available on our website, free of charge, our Annual Report on

Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those
reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.
Our SEC reports can be accessed through the Investor Relations section of our website at
www.investor.dolby.com. The information found on our website is not part of this or any other report we file
with or furnish to the SEC. The SEC also maintains a website that contains our SEC filings at www.sec.gov.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

The following risk factors and other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K should be
carefully considered. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks
and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem less significant may also affect our
business operations or financial results. If any of the following risks actually occur, our stock price, business,
operating results and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

REVENUE GENERATION

Markets We Target

Our licensing business depends on the incorporation of our technologies into products and the sales of such
products, which are, in large part, not within our control. Our licensing businesses depend on OEMs and other
licensees to incorporate our technologies into their products. Our license agreements generally do not have
minimum purchase commitments, are typically non-exclusive, and frequently do not mandate incorporation or
use of our technologies. Our revenue will decline if our licensees choose not to incorporate our technologies into
their products or if they sell fewer products incorporating our technologies.

Changing trends in content distribution and consumption may negatively impact our business. Changing

trends in the way that content is distributed and consumed may impact our existing business and future
opportunities for growth. One such trend is the shift by consumers in certain markets away from subscription-
based cable and satellite television providers toward streaming services, commonly referred to as “cord-cutting.”
While cable and satellite television often require a STB, today consumers can also access streaming media
through smart TVs or DMA devices. As consumers trend toward canceling subscriptions to these traditional
cable and satellite providers and turn to streaming media, we expect demand for STBs in certain regions to
continue to decline. If we are unable to derive additional revenue from the smart TV and DMA markets to make
up for decreases in our STB-related revenue, our financial results may be negatively impacted. Other changes to
the way content is distributed and consumed may impact our licensing and other businesses in a similar fashion,
and we may not be able to anticipate and respond effectively to such future changes.

The mobile device market is concentrated and susceptible to competition and rapid change, which may

negatively affect our penetration and pricing in that market. Successful penetration of the mobile device
market is important to our future growth. The mobile device market, particularly smartphones and tablets, is
characterized by rapidly changing market conditions, frequent product introductions and intense competition
based on features and price. Our technologies usually are not mandated as an industry standard for mobile
devices. We must continually convince mobile device OEMs and end users of mobile devices of the value of our
technologies. With shorter product lifecycles, it is easier for mobile device OEMs to add or remove our
technologies from mobile devices than it is for TV OEMs and other hardware OEMs. In addition, because the
mobile industry is concentrated, we rely on a small number of partnerships with key participants in the mobile
market. If we are unable to maintain these key relationships, we may experience a decline in mobile devices
incorporating our technologies.

In order to increase the value of our technologies in the mobile market and increase OEM and software

vendor demand for our decoding technologies, we have worked with online and mobile media content service
providers to encode their content with our technologies. However, the online and mobile media content services
markets are also characterized by intense competition, evolving industry standards and business and distribution
models, disruptive software and hardware technology developments, frequent product and service introductions
and short life cycles, and price sensitivity on the part of consumers, all of which may result in downward
pressure on pricing or the removal of our technologies by these providers and may result in decreased revenue
from our mobile market. Further, macroeconomic conditions due to inflation, geopolitical instability, global
health risks, and other factors may adversely impact consumer demand for mobile devices. Such conditions may
continue to adversely impact the ability of our partners to manufacture such devices, supply chain and

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distribution, the timing of the adoption of our technologies into products by partners and licensees, and the
timing of launches for new products.

Our revenue from the PC market is reliant on key partnerships and is vulnerable to macroeconomic

risks. Our revenue from the PC market depends on several factors, including underlying PC unit shipments, the
extent to which our technologies are included on computers, including through operating systems and various
subsystems, and the terms of any royalties or other payments we receive. Further, we rely on a small number of
partnerships with key participants in the PC market. If we are unable to maintain these key relationships, we may
experience a decline in PCs incorporating our technologies. Further, demand for PCs has recently been declining
and it remains uncertain when, if, and to what extent PC demand will return to historic levels. Such conditions
may also continue to adversely impact PC manufacturing, supply chain and distribution, the timing of the
adoption of our technologies into products by partners and licensees, and the timing of launches for new
products.

The success of Dolby Cinema and cinema product sales are subject to a number of factors beyond our

control, such as the production of films in Dolby formats and broader cinema industry conditions. Revenue
from Dolby Cinema and cinema product sales is subject to our ability to develop and implement new
technologies, the pace of construction or upgrade of screens, the financial stability of exhibitors, the advent of
new or competing technologies, and the willingness of movie studios to produce films in our Dolby Atmos and
Dolby Vision formats. Although we have invested a substantial amount of time and resources developing Dolby
Cinema, and expect to continue to invest and build partnerships in connection with the launch of Dolby Cinema
locations, we may not continue to recognize a meaningful amount of revenue from these efforts in the near
future. Additionally, we collaborate with multiple exhibitors in foreign markets, including Asia, Europe, and the
Middle East, and we may face a number of risks in expanding Dolby Cinema in these and other new international
markets. The revenue we receive from Dolby Cinema exhibitors is based on a portion of box-office receipts from
the installed theaters, and the timing of such theater installations is dependent upon a number of factors beyond
our control. In addition, the success of our Dolby Cinema offering will be tied to the pipeline and success of
motion pictures available at Dolby Cinema locations generally. The success of Dolby Cinema and cinema
products depends in large part on our ability to differentiate our offering, deploy new sites and installations in
accordance with plans, provide a compelling experience, and attract and retain a viewing audience. A decrease in
our ability to develop and introduce new cinema products and services successfully could affect licensing of our
consumer technologies, because the strength of our brand and our ability to use professional product
developments to introduce new consumer technologies would be negatively impacted. To the extent that we do
not make progress in these areas or are faced with pricing pressures or competing technologies, our revenue may
be adversely impacted.

Our revenue and associated demand for Dolby Cinema and cinema products are affected by cinema industry
and macroeconomic conditions, which are subject to risks including consumer trends and box office performance
generally, delays in cinematic releases, the seasonality of film releases and associated moviegoing attendance,
and other events or conditions in the cinema industry. Cinema attendance and revenues have been reduced in the
wake of COVID-19 and it remains uncertain when, if, and to what extent cinema attendance will return to
pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, the recently concluded strikes by the Writers Guild of America and the Screen
Actors Guild—American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (“SAG-AFTRA”) effectively halted the
production, release and promotion of certain films for an extended period. The resulting impacts of those
stoppages may lead to decreased box office receipts in the near term, which would directly impact the revenue
generated by Dolby Cinema theaters and could potentially impact exhibitors’ willingness and ability to invest in
Dolby cinema products. Also, a portion of our opportunity lies in the China market, which is subject to unique
economic and geopolitical risks. Furthermore, future growth of our cinema products offerings also depends upon
new theater construction and entering into an equipment replacement cycle whereby previously purchased
cinema products are upgraded or replaced. To the extent that such cinema industry and macroeconomic
challenges constrain the growth of our Dolby Cinema and cinema products offerings, our revenue may be
adversely impacted.

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Customers and Distributors

The loss of a key licensee or customer may materially impact our revenue. A small number of our
licensees or other customers may represent a significant percentage of our licensing, products, or services
revenue. Although we generally have agreements with these licensees and other customers, these agreements
typically do not require any minimum purchases or minimum royalty fees and do not prohibit licensees from
using competing technologies or customers from purchasing products and services from competitors. Customer
demand for our technologies and products can shift quickly as many of our markets are rapidly evolving. In
consumer electronic device markets, our technologies are not mandated and are subject to significant
competition, so there is a risk that a large consumer electronic device licensee may reduce or eliminate its use of
our technologies.

Our licensing business depends, in part, on semiconductor manufacturers and the availability of

semiconductor components. Our licensing revenue from OEM system licensees depends in large part upon the
availability of ICs that implement our technologies. IC manufacturers incorporate our technologies into these
ICs, which are then incorporated in consumer entertainment products. We do not manufacture these ICs, but
rather depend on IC manufacturers to develop, produce, and then sell them to system licensees in accordance
with their agreements. We do not control the IC manufacturers’ decisions on whether or not to incorporate our
technologies into their ICs, and we do not control their product development or commercialization efforts.
Further, demand levels may result in shortages of semiconductor components and other key materials that may
adversely impact the ability of our implementation and system licensees and other customers to meet product
demand in a timely fashion.

Consumer spending weakness may impact our licensees and licensing revenues generally. Weakness in
general economic conditions due to inflation, heightened interest rates, lower consumer confidence, a potential
recession, pandemic or other worsening economic conditions, may suppress consumer demand in our markets
and consumers going to the movies. Many of the products in which our technologies are incorporated are
discretionary goods, such as PCs, TVs, STBs, Blu-ray Disc players, video game consoles, AVRs, mobile devices,
in-car entertainment systems, and home-theater systems, which makes revenue generated by such technologies
vulnerable to weakness in consumer spending. Weakness in consumer spending may also lead to licensees and
other customers becoming delinquent on their obligations to us or being unable to pay, resulting in a higher level
of write-offs. Weakness in consumer spending may also increase underreporting and non-reporting of royalty-
bearing revenue by our licensees as well as increase the unauthorized use of our technologies.

Our reliance on distributors may impact sales of certain products and present compliance risks. We rely
significantly on a global network of independent, regional distributors to market and distribute our cinema and
broadcast products. Our distributor arrangements are non-exclusive and our distributors are not obligated to buy
our products and can represent competing products. Thus, they may be unwilling or unable to dedicate the
resources necessary to promote our portfolio of products. Our distributors could retain product channel inventory
levels that exceed future anticipated sales, which could affect our future sales to those distributors. In addition,
failure of our distributors to adhere to our policies designed to promote compliance with global anticorruption
laws, export controls, and local laws, could subject us to criminal or civil penalties and stockholder litigation.

Marketing and Branding

If we fail to promote and maintain the Dolby brand, our business will suffer. Maintaining and
strengthening the Dolby brand is critical to maintaining and expanding our licensing, products, and services
business, as well as our ability to offer technologies for new markets, including Dolby Cinema, Dolby Vision and
other imaging offerings for the consumer market, Dolby.io, and others. Our continued success depends on our
reputation for providing high quality technologies, products, and services across a wide range of entertainment
markets, including the consumer electronics, PC, broadcast, and gaming markets. If we fail to promote and
maintain the Dolby brand successfully in licensing, products or services, our business will suffer. Furthermore,
we believe that the strength of our brand may affect the likelihood that our technologies are adopted as industry

15

standards in various markets and for various applications. Our ability to maintain and strengthen our brand will
depend heavily on our ability to develop innovative technologies for the entertainment industry, to enter into new
markets successfully, and to provide high quality products and services in these new markets. In addition, our
practices and public disclosures related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters could impact our
brand and reputation. If our ESG practices do not meet evolving investor or other stakeholder expectations and
societal and regulatory standards, or if we are unable to make progress on or achieve our goals and objectives in
this area, then our reputation, our ability to attract or retain employees, and our attractiveness as an investment or
business partner could be negatively impacted, which could adversely affect our operating results.

Industry Standards

Certain parts of our business are dependent on the inclusion of our technologies in industry standards, the
adoption and development of which are not fully within our control. Standards-setting organizations establish
technology standards for use in a wide range of products and solutions. The entertainment industry in particular
has historically depended upon industry standards to ensure compatibility and interoperability across delivery
platforms and a wide variety of consumer entertainment products. We make significant efforts to design our
products and technologies to address capability, quality, and cost considerations so that they either meet or, more
importantly, are adopted as industry standards across the broad range of entertainment industry markets in which
we participate, as well as the markets in which we plan to compete in the future. We are also active in standards
development where many contributing members work together to come up with next-generation technology
standards in media, entertainment, and communications technologies. Nonetheless, it can be difficult to have our
technologies and products adopted as industry standards. To do so, we must convince a broad spectrum of
standards-setting organizations throughout the world, as well as our major customers and licensees who are
members of such organizations, to adopt them as such. Multiple companies, including ones that typically
compete against one another, are involved in the development of new technology standards for use in consumer
products. Furthermore, some standards-setting organizations choose to adopt a set of optional standards or a
combination of mandatory and optional standards; in such cases, our technologies may be adopted only as an
optional standard and not a mandatory standard. Standards may also change in ways that are unfavorable to
Dolby.

The market for broadcast technologies in particular has traditionally been heavily based on industry
standards, in some cases mandated by governments choosing from among alternative standards, and we expect
this to continue to be the case in the future. The continued advancement of OTT media delivery and consumption
is altering the landscape for broadcast standards and impacting the importance of the inclusion of our technology
in certain broadcast standards, and we cannot predict if and to what extent this may impact our revenue.

Participants may choose alternative technologies within standards. Even when a standards-setting
organization incorporates our technologies in an industry standard for a particular market or geographic region,
our technologies may not be the sole technologies adopted for that market. Furthermore, different standards may
be adopted within a single market or region, and across different markets and regions. Our operating results
depend upon participants in that market choosing to adopt our technologies instead of competitive technologies
that also may be acceptable under such standard. For example, the continued growth of our revenue from the
broadcast market will depend upon both the continued global adoption of DTV generally, including in emerging
markets, and the choice to use our technologies where it is one of several accepted industry standards.

Being part of a standard may limit our licensing practices. When a standards-setting organization

mandates our technologies, we generally must agree to license such technologies on a fair, reasonable, and
non-discriminatory basis, which could limit our control over the use of these technologies. In these situations, we
must often limit the royalty rates we charge for these technologies, and we may be unable to limit to whom we
license such technologies or to restrict many terms of the license. We have in the past, and may in the future, be
subject to claims that our licensing of industry standard technologies may not conform to the requirements of the
standards-setting organization. Allegations such as these could be asserted in private actions seeking monetary

16

damages and injunctive relief, or in regulatory actions. Claimants in such cases could seek to restrict or change
our licensing practices or our ability to license our technologies. Additionally, where our technologies are
incorporated into a standard, our licensing practices may become subject to additional regulatory requirements.
For example, the European Union (EU) legislature is considering regulation that would impose a number of
requirements on standard essential patent (SEP) licensing practices in the EU. Such regulation could, if it comes
into effect, impose additional costs and disclosure requirements on our SEP licensing business and potentially
reduce associated revenue.

Royalty Reporting

Reporting practices and uncertainty may result in fluctuations in our royalty revenue from period to

period. Our operating results fluctuate based on the risks set forth in this section, as well as, among other
factors, on:

• Royalty reports including positive or negative corrective adjustments;

• Retroactive royalties that cover extended periods of time; and

• Timing of revenue recognition under licensing agreements and other contractual arrangements,

including recognition of unusually large amounts of revenue in any given quarter.

Our results of operations could be impacted to the extent that actual revenue differs significantly from
estimated revenue, or that we are required to accelerate recognition of revenue under certain arrangements,
potentially causing the amount of revenue we recognize to vary materially from quarter to quarter. While our
reporting practices do not change the cash flows or total revenue we receive from our contracts with customers, it
could result in changes to the timing of our reported revenue and income, which in turn could cause volatility in
the price of our Class A common stock.

Royalty reporting by our licensees may be inaccurate or understated. We generate licensing revenue
primarily from OEMs who license our technologies and incorporate those technologies into their products. Our
license agreements generally obligate our licensees to pay us a specified royalty for every product they ship that
incorporates our technologies, and we rely on our licensees to report their shipments accurately. However, it is
inherently difficult to independently determine whether our licensees are reporting shipments accurately,
particularly with respect to software incorporating our technologies because unauthorized copies of such
software can be made relatively easily. A third party may disagree with our interpretation of the terms of a
license agreement or, as a result of an audit, a third party could challenge the accuracy of our calculation. We are
regularly involved in discussions with third party technology licensees regarding license terms. Most of our
license agreements permit us to audit our licensees’ records, and we routinely exercise these rights, typically by
using an independent third party auditor. Such audits are generally expensive, time-consuming, and potentially
detrimental to our ongoing business relationships with our licensees. In the past, licensees have understated or
failed to report the number of products incorporating our technologies that they shipped, and we have not been
able to collect and recognize revenue to which we were entitled. We expect that we will continue to experience
understatement and non-reporting of royalties by our licensees. We have been able to obtain certain recovery
payments from licensees (either in the form of back payments or settlements), and such recoveries have become a
recurring element of our business; however, we are unable to predict with certainty the revenue that we may
recover in the future or our ability to continue to obtain such recoveries at all.

Estimation of sales-based royalties may differ from actual results, which may cause volatility in royalty
revenue from period to period. We recognize a material portion of our licensing revenue based on our estimate
of shipments to which we expect our licensees to submit royalty statements. Upon receipt of actual reporting of
sales-based royalties that we estimated previously, we record a favorable or unfavorable adjustment based on the
difference, if any, between estimated and actual sales. This may cause volatility in our quarterly figures because
of the estimation process and the corresponding true-up adjustments, which we disclose.

17

The amount of royalties we owe others may be disputed.

In some cases, the products we sell and the

technologies we license include IP that we have licensed from third parties. Our agreements with these third
parties generally require us to pay them royalties for that use, and to give the third parties the right to audit our
calculation of those royalties. A third party may disagree with our interpretation of the terms of a license
agreement or, as a result of an audit, a third party could challenge the accuracy of our calculation. A successful
challenge by a third party could result in the termination of a license agreement or an increase in the amount of
royalties we have to pay to the third party.

TECHNOLOGY TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS

Developing new and enhanced technologies is inherently difficult and our revenue growth may be impacted

if we are unsuccessful in our efforts. Our revenue growth will depend upon our success in new and existing
markets for our technologies, such as digital broadcast, mobile devices, online and mobile media distribution,
cinema, consumer imaging and communications. The markets for our technologies and products are influenced
by:

• Rapid technological change;

• New and improved technology and frequent product introductions;

• Changing consumer and licensee demands;

• Evolving industry standards; and

• Technology and product obsolescence.

Our future success depends on our ability to enhance our technologies and products and to develop new

technologies and products that address market needs in a timely manner, including the development of
technologies and products that incorporate rapidly developing machine learning and other artificial intelligence
technologies (“AI/ML”). Technology development is a complex, uncertain process requiring high levels of
innovation, highly-skilled engineering and development personnel, and the accurate anticipation of technological
and market trends. We may not be able to identify, develop, acquire, market, or support new or enhanced
technologies or products on a timely basis, if at all. If we are unable to develop technologies and related
intellectual property that are accepted into technology standards, or are unable to do so at the same rate as other
technology developers, our royalty share within patent pools that we participate in may decline.

Our efforts to expand into new markets may not be successful. Our future growth will depend, in part,
upon our continued expansion into areas beyond our audio licensing business. As we enter into new markets, we
will face new sources of competition, new business models, and new customer relationships. In order to be
successful in these markets, we will need to cultivate new industry relationships and strengthen existing
relationships to bring our products, services, and technologies to market. Our limited experience in new markets
could limit our ability to successfully execute on our growth strategy.

The success of our existing products and newer initiatives is dependent on the use of Dolby formats in, and

commercial success of, products and content. The success of many of our newer initiatives, such as Dolby
Atmos, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Cinema, is dependent upon the availability and success of (i) products that
incorporate Dolby formats and (ii) content produced in Dolby formats. However, there is no guarantee that
device makers will continue to incorporate Dolby formats into their products, that content creators will continue
to release content in Dolby formats, or that either those products or that content will be commercially successful.

For instance, to broaden adoption of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, we will need to continue to expand the

array of products and consumer devices that incorporate Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision, expand the pipeline of
Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision content available from content creators, and encourage consumer adoption in the
face of competing products and technologies. Similarly, the success of Dolby Cinema is dependent on our ability

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to partner with movie theater exhibitors to launch new Dolby Cinema sites and to deploy new sites in accordance
with plans, and on the continued release and box-office success of new films in the Dolby Vision and Dolby
Atmos formats released through Dolby Cinemas.

Further, the commercial success of products incorporating Dolby formats, content released in Dolby
formats, and Dolby Cinemas generally, depends upon a number of factors outside of our control, including, but
not limited to, consumer preferences, critical reception, timing of release, marketing efforts of third-parties, and
general market conditions. Moreover, release and distribution of such products and content can be subject to
delays in production or changes in release schedule, which can negatively impact the quantity, timing and quality
of such products and content released in Dolby formats and available at Dolby Cinema theaters.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Our business is dependent on protecting our intellectual property rights. Our business is dependent upon
protecting our patents, trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights, and other IP rights, the loss or expiration of which
may significantly impact our results of operations and financial condition. Effective IP rights protection,
however, may not be available under the laws of every country in which our products and services and those of
our licensees are distributed. The efforts we have taken to protect our proprietary rights may not be sufficient or
effective. We also seek to maintain select IP as trade secrets, and third parties or our employees could
intentionally or accidentally compromise the IP that we maintain as trade secrets. In addition, protecting our IP
rights is costly and time consuming. We have taken steps in the past to enforce our IP rights and expect to do so
in the future. However, it may not be practicable or cost effective for us to enforce our IP rights fully, particularly
in some countries or where the initiation of a claim might harm our business relationships.

We generally seek patent protection for our innovations. However, our patent program faces a number of

challenges, including:

•

•

•

Possibility that innovations may not be protectable;

Failure to protect innovations that later turn out to be important;

Insufficient patent protection to prevent third parties from designing around our patent claims;

• Our pending patent applications may not be approved; and

•

Possibility that an issued patent may later be found to be invalid or unenforceable.

Our revenue could decline if we are unable to maintain patent coverage for our technologies. Many of the

technologies that we license to our system licensees are covered by patents, and the licensing revenue that we
receive from those licenses depends in large part upon the life of such patents. In general, our agreements with
our licensees require them to pay us a full royalty with respect to a particular technology only until there are no
patents or, in some cases, no patent applications covering that technology in countries where applicable products
are made and sold. As of September 29, 2023, we had approximately 19,300 issued patents in addition to
approximately 1,900 pending patent applications in more than 100 jurisdictions throughout the world. Our
currently issued patents expire at various times through September 2045. If we are unable to refresh our
technology with new patented inventions or expand our patent portfolio, our revenue could decline. In addition to
patents covering technology we license directly, if patents we license through patent pool arrangements expire or
are otherwise deemed not to be valuable by the licensees of such patent pools, they may not renew their licenses,
which could impact our revenue.

We seek to mitigate this risk in a variety of ways. We regularly look for opportunities to expand our patent
portfolio through organic development and acquisitions. We develop technologies to replace licensing revenue
from technologies covered by expiring patents with licensing revenue supported by patents with a longer
remaining life. And we develop and license our intellectual property in a manner designed to promote the
continued use and licensing of our technology. The continued success of these risk mitigation strategies is not

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guaranteed, including the risk that such technologies will not achieve widespread adoption or be licensed at a rate
sufficient to replace licensing revenue from technologies covered by expiring patents.

In the case of our patent coverage related to DD, some of our relevant patents have expired, but others
continue to apply. DD is our solution that includes technology necessary to implement AC-3 as it has been
updated over time. We have continued to innovate and develop IP to support the standard and its implementation.
Our customers use our DD implementation for quality, reliability, and performance, even in locations where we
have not had applicable patent coverage. While in the past, we derived a significant portion of our licensing
revenue from our DD technologies, this is no longer the case as revenue attributed to DD technologies has
declined and is expected to continue to decline.

Many of our partners have adopted newer generations of our offerings such as DD+, and the range of
products incorporating DD solutions is now limited to DVD players (but not Blu-ray players) and some TVs,
STBs and soundbars. To continue to be successful in our audio licensing business, we must keep transitioning
our DD licensees to our newer technologies, including our DD+ and Dolby AC-4 technologies.

Unauthorized use of our intellectual property has occurred and will likely continue to occur. We have

often experienced, and expect to continue to experience, problems with non-licensee OEMs and software
vendors, particularly in China and certain emerging economies, incorporating our technologies and trademarks
into their products without our authorization and without paying us any licensing fees. Manufacturers of ICs
containing our technologies occasionally sell these ICs to third parties who are not our system licensees. These
sales, and the failure of such manufacturers to report the sales, facilitate the unauthorized use of our IP. As
emerging economies transition from analog to digital content, such as the transition from analog to digital
broadcast, we expect to experience an increase in problems with this form of piracy.

Our business may be negatively impacted by intellectual property litigation. Companies in the technology

and entertainment industries frequently engage in litigation based on allegations of infringement or other
violations of IP rights. We have faced such claims in the past, and we expect to face similar claims in the future.
Any IP claims, with or without merit, could be time-consuming, expensive to litigate or settle, and could divert
management resources and attention. In the past, we have settled claims relating to infringement allegations and
agreed to make payments in connection with such settlements. An adverse determination in any IP claim could
require that we pay damages or stop using technologies found to be in violation of a third party’s rights and could
prevent us from offering our products and services to others. In order to avoid these restrictions, we may have to
seek a license for the technology, which may not be available on reasonable terms or at all. Licensors could also
require us to pay significant royalties. As a result, we may be required to develop alternative non-infringing
technologies, which could require significant effort and expense. If we cannot license or develop technologies for
any aspects of our business found to be infringing, we may be forced to limit our product and service offerings
and may be unable to compete effectively.

In some instances, we have contractually agreed to provide indemnifications to licensees relating to our

IP. Additionally, at times we have chosen to defend our licensees from third party IP infringement claims even
where such defense was not contractually required, and we may choose to take on such defense in the future.

Our business may be negatively impacted by disputes involving the licensing of our IP. At times, we are

engaged in disputes regarding the licensing of our IP rights, including matters related to our royalty rates,
whether products are royalty-bearing, and other terms of our licensing arrangements. These types of disputes can
be asserted by our customers or prospective customers or by other third parties as part of negotiations with us or
in private actions seeking monetary damages or injunctive relief, or in regulatory actions. In the past, licensees
have threatened to initiate litigation against us based on potential antitrust claims or regarding our licensing
royalty rate practices. Damages and requests for injunctive relief asserted in claims like these could be
significant, and could be disruptive to our business.

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Maintaining and enforcing our IP rights in the U.S. and abroad presents challenges to our business. Our

licensing business depends in part on the uniform and consistent treatment of patent rights in the U.S. and
abroad. Changes to the patent and intellectual property laws and regulations in the U.S. and abroad, including the
regulation regarding SEP licensing in the EU referenced above, may limit our ability to obtain, license, and
enforce our rights. Additionally, court and administrative rulings may interpret existing patent laws and
regulations in ways that hurt our ability to obtain, license, and enforce our patents. We face challenges protecting
our IP in foreign jurisdictions, including:

• Our ability to enforce our contractual and IP rights, especially in countries that do not recognize and
enforce IP rights to the same extent as the U.S., Japan, Korea, and European countries do, which
increases the risk of unauthorized use of our technologies; and

• Because of limitations in the legal systems in many countries, our ability to obtain and enforce patents
in many countries is uncertain, and we must strengthen and develop relationships with entertainment
industry participants worldwide to increase our ability to enforce our IP and contractual rights without
relying solely on the legal systems in the countries in which we operate.

OPERATIONS

Reliance on key suppliers presents certain risks to our business, many of which are beyond our

control. Our reliance on suppliers for some of the key materials and components we use in manufacturing our
products involves risks, including limited control over the price, timely delivery, and quality of such components,
as well as delays caused by military conflicts, including those between Russia and Ukraine and between Israel
and Hamas, and other potential interruptions to the supply chain. Due to the relatively small volume of
components we purchase for use in manufacturing, we purchase such components primarily through distributors.
As such, we have relatively limited influence over the suppliers of such components to, for example, ensure
continuity of supply. Although we have identified alternate suppliers for most of our key materials and
components, any required changes in our suppliers could cause delays in our operations and increase our
production costs. In addition, our suppliers may not be able to meet our production demands as to volume,
quality, or timeliness.

Moreover, we rely on sole source suppliers for some of the components that we use to manufacture our
products, including specific charged coupled devices, light emitting diodes, and digital signal processors. These
sole source suppliers may become unable or unwilling to deliver these components to us at an acceptable cost or
at all, which could force us to redesign those specific products. Our inability to obtain timely delivery of key
components of acceptable quality, any significant increases in the prices of components, or the redesign of our
products could result in production delays, increased costs, and reductions in shipments of our products.

Ensuring the quality of our products and the products in which our technology is incorporated is inherently

difficult, and product quality failures can be costly. Our products, and products that incorporate our
technologies, are complex and sometimes contain software or hardware errors that are not detected during
testing, particularly when first introduced or when new versions are released. In addition, we have limited control
over manufacturing performed by contract manufacturers, which could result in quality problems. Furthermore,
our products and technologies are sometimes combined with or incorporated into products from other vendors,
sometimes making it difficult to identify the source of a problem or, in certain instances, making the quality of
our implementation dependent in part upon the quality of such other vendors’ products. Any negative publicity or
impact relating to these product problems could affect the perception of our brand and market acceptance of our
products or technologies. These errors could result in a loss of or delay in market acceptance of our products or
cause delays in delivering them and meeting customer demands, any of which could reduce our revenue and raise
significant customer relations issues. In addition, if our products or technologies contain errors, we could be
required to replace or reengineer them or rely upon parties who have incorporated our technologies into their
products to implement updates to address such issues, which could cause delays or increase our costs. Moreover,
if any such errors cause unintended consequences, we could incur substantial costs in defending and settling

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product liability claims. Although we generally attempt to contractually limit our liability, if these contract
provisions are not enforced, or are unenforceable for any reason, or if liabilities arise that are not effectively
limited, we could incur substantial costs in defending and settling product liability claims.

Production processes for our products are subject to interruption, delay, and other risks. Production
difficulties or inefficiencies can interrupt production, resulting in our inability to deliver products on time or in a
cost effective manner, which could harm our competitive position. While we have one production facility, we
increasingly use contract manufacturers for a significant portion of our production capacity. Our reliance on
contract manufacturers for the manufacture of our products involves risks, including limited control over timely
delivery and quality of such products. If production of our products is interrupted, we may not be able to
manufacture products on a timely basis. A shortage of manufacturing capacity for our products could negatively
impact our operating results and damage our customer relationships. We may be unable to quickly adapt our
manufacturing capacity to rapidly changing market conditions and a contract manufacturer may encounter
similar difficulties. Likewise, we may be unable to quickly respond to fluctuations in customer demand or
contract manufacturer interruptions. At times we underutilize our manufacturing facilities as a result of reduced
demand for some of our products. Supply chain disruptions and extended lead times for semiconductor and
electrical components may limit the availability of products and result in difficulty meeting demand.

We face threats to our information security systems, cyber attacks, and other cybersecurity risks, which

could result in the misappropriation of sensitive information, disruption of our business, reputational damage,
legal exposure, and financial losses. We rely on information technology systems in the conduct of our
business, including systems designed and managed by third parties. Many of these systems contain sensitive and
confidential information, including our trade secrets and proprietary business information, and personal data, as
well as content and information owned by or pertaining to our customers, suppliers and business partners. The
secure maintenance of this information is critical to our operations and business strategy. Increasingly,
companies are subject to a wide variety of attacks on their networks and systems on an ongoing basis. Our
information technology and infrastructure may be vulnerable to attacks by malicious actors including, but not
limited to, nation-states and cyber criminals, malware, software bugs or other technical malfunctions,
ransomware attacks, or other disruptions. This sensitive, confidential or proprietary information may be
misappropriated by third-party service providers or others who may inappropriately access or exfiltrate that
information from a third-party service provider’s system.

The number and sophistication of malicious cyber attacks and disruptions that companies have experienced
has increased over the past few years, including computer viruses, malware, ransomware, cyber extortion, social
engineering, denial of service, supply chain attacks, and other similar attacks and disruptions. These risks could
be elevated in connection with military conflicts around the world. Measures we have undertaken to protect our
information technology systems may be unsuccessful in deterring or repelling malicious actors. Since techniques
used by malicious actors (many of whom are highly sophisticated and well-funded) to access or sabotage
networks and computer systems change frequently and often are not recognized until after they are used, we may
be unable to anticipate or immediately detect these techniques. This could delay our detection and response, or
impede the effectiveness of our response, our operations and ability to limit our exposure to third-party claims
and other potential liability. Attacks on our systems have occurred in the past and may occur, and be successful,
in the future. Such risks are also faced by our third-party service providers and others, which forms another
vector for malicious attacks on our systems.

We also may suffer data security breaches and the unauthorized access to, misuse or acquisition of, personal

data or other sensitive and confidential information as the result of intentional or inadvertent breaches or other
compromises, including by our employees or service providers. Any data security breach or other incident,
whether external or internal in origin, could compromise our networks and systems, create system disruptions or
slowdowns and exploit security vulnerabilities of our products. Any such breach or other incident can result in
the information stored on our networks and systems, or our vendors’ networks and systems, being improperly
accessed or acquired, publicly disclosed, lost, or stolen, which could subject us to liability to our customers,

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suppliers, business partners and others, as well as regulatory investigations, fines or penalties, and such incidents
and the public disclosure of such incidents may cause brand and reputational damage. We make efforts to detect
and investigate such attempts and incidents and to prevent their recurrence where practicable through changes to
our internal processes and tools, but in some cases preventive and remedial action might not be successful.
Disruptions to our information technology systems, due to outages, security breaches or other causes, could also
have severe consequences to our business, including financial loss and reputational damage.

We must comply with a variety of data privacy regulations. Compliance with such regulations can be costly
and failure to comply may affect our operations, financial performance, and business. A variety of provincial,
state, national, and international laws and regulations apply to the collection, use, retention, protection,
disclosure, transfer and other processing of personal data. These laws and regulations are evolving, including
with respect to the development and use of AI/ML technologies, and may result in ever-increasing obligations
and regulatory and public scrutiny and escalating levels of enforcement and sanctions. For example, the
California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), which took effect on January 1, 2023 (with certain provisions of the
CPRA having retroactive effect to January 1, 2022), as well as obligations from new privacy laws in Virginia,
Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Iowa, Indiana, Texas, Montana, Oregon, Delaware, Florida, and Tennessee that
have taken or will take effect between 2023 and 2026, may require us to further modify certain of our
information practices and could subject us to additional compliance costs and expenses. Our actual or perceived
failure to adequately comply with applicable laws and regulations relating to privacy and data protection
(including regimes such as the CPRA and continuing developments in the European Union, U.K., and U.S. data
privacy frameworks that are rapidly evolving) could result in regulatory fines, investigations and enforcement
actions, penalties and other liabilities, claims for damages by affected individuals, and damage to our reputation,
any of which could have a material adverse effect on our operations, financial performance, and business. Our
commercial and cybersecurity insurance policies may be insufficient to insure us against these risks, and future
escalations in premiums and deductibles under these policies may render them uneconomical.

COMPETITION

The markets for our technologies are highly competitive. The markets for our technologies are highly
competitive, and we face competitive threats and pricing pressure in our markets. Consumers may perceive the
quality of the visual and audio experiences produced by some of our competitors’ technologies to be equivalent
or superior to the sight and sound experiences produced by our technologies. Some of our current or future
competitors may have significantly greater financial, technical, marketing, and other resources than we do, or
may have more experience or advantages in the markets in which they compete. These competitors may also be
able to offer integrated systems in markets for entertainment technologies on a royalty-free basis or at a lower
price than our technologies, including audio, imaging, and other technologies, which could make competing
technologies that we develop less attractive. These competitors may also be able to develop and market new
technologies that render our existing or future products less competitive. For example, disruptive technologies
such as AI/ML may significantly alter the market for our products in unpredictable ways and reduce customer
demand.

Many of the markets for our products and for products in which our technologies are incorporated are price
sensitive. The markets for the consumer entertainment products in which our technologies are incorporated are
intensely competitive and price sensitive. We expect to face increased royalty pricing pressure for our
technologies as we seek to drive the adoption of our technologies into online content and portable devices, such
as tablets and smartphones. Such pricing pressures may be exacerbated by elevated rates of inflation, which may
cause device manufacturers to take additional steps to limit costs. Retail prices for consumer entertainment
products that include our audio technologies, such as home theater systems, have decreased significantly, and we
expect prices to decrease for the foreseeable future. In response, OEMs have sought to reduce their product costs,
which can result in additional downward pressure on the licensing fees we charge. Further, Dolby.io faces pricing
pressure from other platforms offering similar solutions that may be able to offer competing services at lower
prices.

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We face competitive risks in situations where our customers are also current or potential competitors. We

face competitive risks in situations where our customers are also current or potential competitors. For example,
Samsung is a significant customer, but some of its technologies are competitive with some of our consumer,
broadcast, and cinema technologies. Our customers may choose to use competing technologies they have
developed or in which they have an interest rather than use our technologies. The existence of important
customer relationships may influence which strategic opportunities we pursue, as we may forgo some
opportunities in the interests of preserving a critical customer relationship.

We face competition from other audio formats, imaging solutions, and integrated system offerings. We
believe that the success we have had licensing our audio and imaging technologies is due, in part, to the high
quality of the solutions that our technologies provide and to the strength of our brand. However, both free and
proprietary sound and imaging technologies are becoming increasingly prevalent, and we expect competitors to
continue to enter these fields with other offerings. Furthermore, to the extent that customers perceive our
competitors’ products as providing the same or similar advantages as our technologies at a lower or comparable
price, there is a risk that these customers may treat sound and video encoding technologies as commodities,
resulting in loss of status of our technologies, decline in their use, and significant pricing pressure. For example,
we face competition with respect to our HDR imaging technology, Dolby Vision, and there can be no assurance
that additional consumers will adopt Dolby Vision in the near future, or at all, or that we will maintain our
existing customers.

In addition, some of our current or potential competitors may be able to offer integrated systems in certain

markets for entertainment technologies, including audio and imaging, which could make competing technologies
that we develop or acquire obsolete. By offering an integrated system solution, these potential competitors may
also be able to offer competing technologies at lower prices than we can, which could adversely affect our
operating results.

STRATEGIC ACTIVITIES

The success of our business depends on strong industry relationships. To be successful, we must maintain

and grow our relationships with a broad range of industry participants, including:

• Content creators, such as film directors, studios, mobile and online content producers, and music

producers;

• Content distributors, such as studios, film exhibitors, broadcasters, operators, streaming providers, and

OTT video service providers and video game publishers;

• Companies building real-time digital experiences that increase audience engagement; and

• Device manufacturers.

Industry relationships have historically played an important role in the markets that we serve, particularly in

the entertainment market. For example, sales of our products and services are particularly dependent upon our
relationships with major film studios and broadcasters, and licensing of our technologies is particularly
dependent upon our relationships with system licensees and IC manufacturers. Industry relationships also play an
important role in other markets we serve; for instance, our relationships with companies building real-time digital
experiences support the adoption of Dolby.io solutions. If we fail to maintain and strengthen our industry
relationships, industry participants may be less likely to purchase and use our technologies, products, and
services, or create content incorporating our technologies.

Our M&A activity is subject to certain risks, including risks associated with integrating acquired
businesses. We evaluate a wide array of possible strategic transactions, including acquisitions. We consider
these types of transactions in connection with, among other things, our efforts to strengthen our audio and cinema
businesses and expand beyond audio technologies. Although we cannot predict whether or not we will complete

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any such acquisitions or other transactions in the future, any of these transactions could be significant in relation
to our market capitalization, financial condition, or results of operations. The process of integrating an acquired
company, business, or technology may create unforeseen difficulties and expenditures. Foreign acquisitions
involve unique risks in addition to those mentioned above, including those related to integration of operations
across different geographies, cultures, and languages; currency risks; and risks associated with the economic,
political, and regulatory environment in specific countries. Future acquisitions could result in potentially dilutive
issuances of our equity securities, the incurrence of debt, contingent liabilities, amortization expenses, and write-
offs of goodwill. Future acquisitions may also require us to obtain additional equity or debt financing, which may
not be available on favorable terms or at all, particularly during times of market volatility, rising interest rates,
and general economic instability. Also, the anticipated benefits of our acquisitions may not materialize.

We face various risks in integrating acquired businesses, including:

• Diversion of management time and focus from operating our business to acquisition integration

challenges;

• Cultural and logistical challenges associated with integrating employees from acquired businesses into

our organization;

• Retaining employees, suppliers and customers from businesses we acquire;

• The need to implement or improve internal controls, procedures, and policies appropriate for a public

company at businesses that prior to the acquisition may have lacked effective controls, procedures, and
policies;

•

Possible write-offs or impairment charges resulting from acquisitions;

• Unanticipated or unknown liabilities relating to acquired businesses; and

• The need to integrate acquired businesses’ accounting, management information, manufacturing,

human resources, and other administrative systems to permit effective management.

LEGAL AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

Conducting business internationally presents a number of risks to our business, including trade restrictions

and changing, unpredictable, and/or inconsistent laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate. We are
dependent on international sales for a substantial amount of our total revenue. Approximately 64%, 63% and
67% of our revenue was derived outside of the U.S. in fiscal year 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. We are
subject to a number of risks related to conducting business internationally, including:

• U.S. and foreign government trade restrictions or sanctions, including those which may impose

restrictions on the importation or exportation of products, equipment, materials, software, technologies,
services, on technology transfers, or on the receipt or collection of payments and distribution of
royalties, and any political or economic responses or counter-responses to such restrictions or
sanctions, including any such restrictions, sanctions, responses, or counter-responses related to global
military conflicts or changes in US export controls related to China and other countries;

• Changes in trade relationships, including new tariffs, trade protection measures, import or export
licensing requirements, trade embargoes and other trade barriers imposed by the U.S. or by other
countries;

• Compliance with applicable international laws and regulations, including antitrust and other

competition laws and laws and regulations that relate to environmental, social, and governance matters,
that may change unexpectedly, differ, or conflict with laws in other countries where we conduct
business, or are otherwise not harmonized with one another;

•

Foreign government taxes, regulations, and permit requirements, including foreign taxes that we may
not be able to offset against taxes imposed upon us in the U.S., and other laws limiting our ability to
repatriate funds to the U.S.;

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•

Potential adverse changes in the political, social, and/or economic stability of or conflicts within the
regions in which we operate (including Europe, Russia, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Latin
America and other emerging markets) or in diplomatic relations between governments;

• Difficulty in establishing, staffing, and managing foreign operations, including but not limited to

restrictions on the ability to obtain or retain licenses required for operation, relationships with local
labor unions and works councils, investment restrictions and/or requirements, and restrictions on
foreign ownership of subsidiaries;

• Adverse fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates, including risks related to

any interest rate swap or other hedging activities we undertake;

•

Poor recognition and enforcement of IP rights;

• Difficulties in enforcing contractual rights;

• Multi-jurisdictional data protection and privacy laws, including, for example, the European Union’s

General Data Protection Regulation and restrictions on transferring personal data outside of a
jurisdiction and potential legislation such as the Artificial Intelligence Act under consideration in the
EU potentially impacting our development of products incorporating AI/ML or the use of AI/ML tools
in our business; and

• The global macroeconomic environment and potential slowing of key markets we serve.

Any or all of these factors may impact our ability to operate in foreign countries and our ability to develop, the
demand for, and profitability of, our technologies and products, as well as our customers’ products that
incorporate our technologies.

Certain foreign governments, particularly in China, have advanced arguments under their competition laws
that exert downward pressure on royalties for IP. The regulatory enforcement activities in such jurisdictions can
be unpredictable, in some cases because these jurisdictions have only recently implemented competition laws.
From time to time, we are the subject of requests for information, market conduct examinations, inquiries or
investigations by industry groups and/or regulatory agencies in these jurisdictions. For instance, the Korean Fair
Trade Commission requested information relating to our business practices in South Korea on various occasions,
and initially made findings regarding the audit of a single customer. In July 2023, that determination was
overturned by the Korean Civil court and thus the matter was fully resolved in Dolby’s favor. In the event that we
are involved in significant disputes or are the subject of a formal action by a regulatory agency, our results could
be negatively impacted and we could be exposed to costly and time-consuming legal proceedings.

In many foreign countries, particularly in those with developing economies, it is common to engage in
business practices that are prohibited by U.S. regulations applicable to us such as the FCPA and U.S. export
controls. Although we implement policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with the FCPA and
U.S. export controls, there can be no assurance that all of our employees, distributors, dealers, and agents will not
take actions in violation of our policies or these regulations.

Environmental laws and regulations may pose additional costs on and otherwise impact our products and

operations. Our products and operations may be regulated under federal, state, local, and international laws
governing the environment, including those governing the discharge of pollutants into the air and water, the
management, disposal, and labeling of hazardous substances and wastes, the achievement of certain energy
performance criteria, and the cleanup of contaminated sites. In addition, future environmental laws and
regulations have the potential to affect our operations, increase our costs, decrease our revenue, or change the
way we design or manufacture our products. We face increasing complexity in our product design as we adjust to
requirements relating to the materials composition of our products. In some products, the use or avoidance of
particular components that contain regulated hazardous substances may be more difficult or costly, and
additional redesign efforts could result in production delays. We could incur costs, fines, and civil or criminal

26

sanctions, third party property damage or personal injury claims, or could be required to incur substantial
investigation or remediation costs, if we were to violate or become liable under environmental laws.

We are subject to regulations relating to “conflict minerals” and compliance with, or failure to comply
with, such regulations may be costly. SEC rules require the disclosure of the use of tantalum, tin, tungsten, and
gold (commonly referred to as “conflict minerals”) that are sourced from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
and surrounding countries. Certain of those minerals are used in the manufacturing process of electrical
components that our products utilize. The potential inclusion of conflict minerals in the materials used in our
products could affect the sourcing, availability and pricing of such materials as well as the companies we use to
manufacture our products. In circumstances where sources of conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of
the Congo or surrounding countries are not validated as conflict free, we may take actions to change materials,
designs or manufacturers to reduce the possibility that our contracts to manufacture products that contain conflict
minerals finance or benefit local armed groups in the region. As there may be only a limited number of suppliers
that can certify that they are offering “conflict free” conflict minerals, we cannot be sure that our component
suppliers will be able to obtain necessary conflict minerals from such suppliers in sufficient quantities or at
competitive prices. These actions could also add engineering and other costs in connection with the
manufacturing of our products. If conflict minerals used in our products are determined to finance armed conflict,
even if we are not aware of such status, disclosure of such status could affect public and investor perception of
Dolby and our products.

We may not be able to sufficiently verify the origins for the minerals used in our components. Our

reputation may suffer if we determine that our components contain conflict minerals that are not determined to be
conflict free or if we are unable to sufficiently verify the origins for all conflict minerals used in our components.
In addition, some customers may require that all of our products are certified to be conflict free and if we cannot
satisfy these customers, they may choose a competitor’s products.

We are subject to complex and changing tax laws which may impact our financial results. We are a U.S.

multi-national company that is subject to tax in multiple U.S. and foreign jurisdictions. We must use judgment to
determine our worldwide tax provision. We earn a significant amount of our income outside the U.S. and receive
tax benefits from a portion of these foreign sales. Realizability of these benefits are contingent upon existing
current tax laws and regulations in the U.S. and countries where we operate. The following could materially
affect our effective tax rate:

• Changes in geographic mix of earnings, where earnings are lower than anticipated in countries with

lower tax rates and higher than anticipated in countries with higher tax rates;

• Changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities;

• Changes in transfer pricing arrangements;

• Outcomes of tax audits;

• Changes in accounting principles;

• Changes in tax laws and regulations in the countries in which we operate, including an increase in tax

rates, or an adverse change in the treatment of an item of income or expense; or

• Our ability to effectively implement changes to our corporate structure in response to changes in

applicable tax laws and regulations in the countries in which we operate.

Changes in U.S. tax law, including the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”) and the Inflation Reduction Act,
may affect our business. These provisions, their interpretations, and proposed changes to law introduced by the
current administration could further impact our corporate trading structure and adversely affect our tax rate and
cash flow in future years.

27

In addition, the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (“OECD”), an international
association of many countries including the U.S., has made changes to many long-standing transfer pricing and
cross-border taxation rules that affect our operations. The OECD has introduced a framework to implement a
15% global minimum corporate tax, referred to as Pillar 2 or the minimum tax directive. The minimum tax
directive has been adopted by the EU for implementation by its Member States into national legislation by the
end of 2023 and may be adopted by other jurisdictions, including the U.S. Further, the OECD, European
Commission, EU Member States and other individual countries have made and could make additional competing
jurisdictional claims over the taxes owed on earnings of multinational companies in their respective countries or
regions. To the extent these actions take place in the countries that we operate, it is possible that these law
changes and efforts may increase uncertainty and have an adverse impact on our effective tax rates or operations.

We are subject to the periodic examination of our income tax returns by tax authorities. We regularly assess
the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of our provision
for income taxes and to consider potential responsive actions, but an adverse decision by tax authorities
exceeding our reserves could significantly impact our financial results.

STOCK-RELATED ISSUES

The Dolby family has control over stockholder decisions as a result of the control of a majority of the voting
power of our outstanding common stock by them and their affiliates. At September 29, 2023, the Dolby family
and their affiliates owned 388,372 shares of our Class A common stock and 36,012,733 shares of our Class B
common stock. As of September 29, 2023, the Dolby family and their affiliates had voting power of 99.8% of our
outstanding Class B common stock, which combined with their shares of our Class A common stock, represented
85.7% of the combined voting power of our outstanding Class A and Class B common stock. Under our
certificate of incorporation, holders of Class B common stock are entitled to ten votes per share while holders of
Class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share. Generally, shares of Class B common stock
automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock upon transfer of such Class B common stock, other
than transfers to certain specified persons and entities, including the spouse and descendants of Ray Dolby and
the spouses and domestic partners of such descendants.

As a result of this dual class structure, the Dolby family and their affiliates will, for the foreseeable future,

have significant influence over our management and affairs, and will be able to control virtually all matters
requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors and significant corporate transactions such as
mergers or other sales of our company or assets, even if they come to own considerably less than 50% of the total
number of outstanding shares of our Class A and Class B common stock. Absent a transfer of Class B common
stock that would trigger an automatic conversion as described above, there is no threshold or time deadline at
which the shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock.

Moreover, the Dolby family and their affiliates may take actions in their own interests that our other

stockholders do not view as beneficial.

Sales of substantial amounts of our Class A common stock in the public markets could reduce the price of

our Class A common stock.
intention to sell, substantial amounts of our Class A common stock in the public market, including shares of
Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of shares of Class B common stock, the trading price of our
Class A common stock could decline.

If our large shareholders, officers, directors or employees sell, or indicate an

There are risks associated with our stock repurchase program. Our stock repurchase program may reduce

the public float of shares available for trading on a daily basis. Such purchases may be limited, suspended, or
terminated at any time without prior notice. There can be no assurance that we will buy additional shares of our
Class A common stock under our stock repurchase program or that any future repurchases will have a positive
impact on our stock price or EPS. Important factors that could cause us to discontinue or decrease our share

28

repurchases include, among others, unfavorable market conditions, the market price of our Class A common
stock, the nature of other investment or strategic opportunities presented to us, the rate of dilution of our equity
compensation programs, our ability to make appropriate, timely, and beneficial decisions as to when, how, and
whether to purchase shares under the stock repurchase program, the tax consequences of any repurchases
(including the potential impact of the 1% excise tax on certain stock repurchases), and the availability of funds
necessary to continue purchasing stock. If we curtail our repurchase program, our stock price may be negatively
affected.

There are risks associated with our dividend program. We cannot provide assurance that we will continue

to increase dividend payments and/or pay dividends. We are not obligated to pay dividends on our Class A and
Class B common stock. In October 2014, we announced a quarterly cash dividend program for our stockholders
that was initiated by our Board of Directors. Although we anticipate paying regular quarterly dividends for the
foreseeable future, dividend declarations and the establishment of future record and payment dates are subject to
the Board of Directors’ continuing determination that the dividend policy is in the best interests of our
stockholders. The dividend policy may be changed or canceled at the discretion of the Board of Directors at any
time. If we do not pay dividends, the market price of our Class A common stock must appreciate for investors to
realize a gain on their investment. This appreciation may not occur and our Class A common stock may in fact
depreciate in value.

GENERAL RISK FACTORS

Macroeconomic conditions, including elevated inflation, rising interest rates, supply chain constraints, and

the lasting effects of COVID-19 have impacted and may continue to impact the markets we serve and our
business and results of operations. Our revenue and operations and the markets we serve have been, and may
continue to be, impacted by macroeconomic conditions, including but not limited to, elevated inflation, rising
interest rates, COVID-19-related economic impacts, supply chain constraints, increased shipping costs,
international conflicts, reduced discretionary consumer spending, and reduced new product investment by our
customers caused by higher interest rates and lower demand. The current macroeconomic environment has
negatively impacted, and may continue to negatively impact, many of our licensees and that directly impacts, and
may continue to impact, our financial results. The impacts of the current macroeconomic environment on our
partners have resulted in, and may continue to cause, the disruption of consumer products’ supply chains,
shortages of certain semiconductor components, and delays in shipments, product development, and product
launches. The macroeconomic conditions also impart substantial uncertainty into our operating environment,
which presents additional challenges for our business. These factors and the related uncertainty may cause delays
or a decrease in the adoption or implementation of our technologies into new products by partners and licensees.
These conditions may impact consumer demand for devices and services and our partners’ ability to manufacture
devices. Further, we may be negatively impacted by delays in transaction cycles and our recoveries efforts due to
the noted macroeconomic conditions and related uncertainty. The future implications of these macroeconomic
conditions on our business, the markets we serve, results of operations and overall financial position remain
uncertain.

COVID-19, including the spread of variants of SARS-CoV-2, continues to impact several of our partners
and it is unclear how demand for consumer products that include our technologies may change in response to,
and following, the pandemic. The degree to which COVID-19 impacts our results will depend on future
developments, which cannot be predicted with any certainty, including, but not limited to, the duration and extent
of the pandemic, additional actions taken by governments, businesses and consumers in response to the
pandemic, additional subsequent outbreaks and variant strains, and to what extent economic and operating
conditions can return to pre-pandemic conditions. Even after COVID-19 has subsided, if ever, we may continue
to experience an adverse impact to our business as a result of its global economic impact, including any
persistent economic impacts and any recession that may occur.

29

Our results may be impacted by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. We earn revenue, pay
expenses, own assets and incur liabilities in foreign countries using several currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
As a result, we face exposure to adverse movements in currency exchange rates as the financial results of our
international operations are translated from local currency into U.S. dollars upon consolidation. The majority of
our revenue generated from international markets is denominated in U.S. dollars, while the operating expenses of
our foreign subsidiaries are predominantly denominated in local currencies. Therefore, our operating expenses
will increase when the U.S. dollar weakens against the local currency and decrease when the U.S. dollar
strengthens against the local currency. Additionally, foreign exchange rate fluctuations on transactions
denominated in currencies other than the functional currency result in gains or losses that are reflected in our
consolidated statements of operations. Further, our hedging programs may not be effective to offset any, or more
than a portion, of the adverse impact of currency exchange rate movements. Additional risks related to
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates are described in the Foreign Currency Exchange Risk section of
Part II, Item 7A “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”

Business interruptions by natural disasters and other events beyond our control could adversely impact our
business. Although we maintain crisis management plans, our business operations are subject to interruption by
natural disasters and catastrophic events beyond our control, including, but not limited to, earthquakes,
hurricanes, typhoons, tropical storms, floods, tsunamis, fires, droughts, tornadoes, public health issues and
pandemics, severe changes in climate, war, terrorism, and geopolitical unrest and uncertainties. Further,
outbreaks of pandemic diseases, or the fear of such events, could provoke (and in the case of COVID-19 has
provoked) responses, including government-imposed travel restrictions and limits on access to entertainment
venues. These responses could negatively affect consumer demand and our business, particularly in international
markets. War, including the military conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas, as
well as any related political or economic responses and counter-responses or otherwise by various global actors
or the general effect on the global economy and supply chain, could also affect our business. For example, we
have R&D facilities and a large number of employees in Eastern Europe, and any business interruptions or other
spillover effects from the Russia-Ukraine conflict could adversely impact our business.

Additionally, several of our offices, including our corporate headquarters in San Francisco, are located in

seismically active regions. Because we do not carry earthquake insurance for earthquake–related losses and
significant recovery time could be required to resume operations, our financial condition and operating results
could be materially adversely affected in the event of a major earthquake or catastrophic event.

We face intense competition for employees.

In order to be successful, we must attract, develop, and retain

employees, including employees to work on our growth initiatives where our current employees may lack
experience with the business models and markets we are pursuing. Competition for experienced employees in our
markets can be intense. In order to attract and retain employees, we must provide competitive compensation
packages, including cash and equity compensation. Our equity awards include stock options, RSUs and
performance-based RSUs. The future value of these awards is uncertain and depends on our stock price
performance over time. In order for our compensation packages to be viewed as competitive, prospective
employees must perceive our equity awards to be a valuable benefit.

30

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

None.

Headquarters

Our principal corporate office and worldwide headquarters, which we own, is at 1275 Market Street, San

Francisco, California.

Other Properties

We also own a commercial office building located in Sunnyvale, California, and lease additional R&D,

sales, product testing, and administrative facilities from third parties in California, New York, Indiana,
Pennsylvania, Missouri, Colorado, and internationally, including in Asia, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, and
South America. We believe that our current facilities are adequate to meet our needs for the near future, and that
suitable additional or alternative space will be available on commercially reasonable terms to accommodate our
foreseeable future operations.

Dolby Wootton Bassett, LLC, of which Dagmar Dolby as Trustee of the Dagmar Dolby Trust under the
Dolby Family Trust Instrument dated May 7, 1999 (the “Dagmar Dolby Trust”) is the sole member, and the
Dagmar Dolby Trust, own a majority financial interest in real estate entities that own and from whom we may
lease certain facilities located in Burbank, California and in Wootton Bassett, England. We own the remaining
financial interests in these real estate entities. Specifically, we hold a 49.0% minority ownership interest in Dolby
Properties Burbank, LLC, which owns a 22,000 square feet facility in Burbank that we are leasing until 2025. We
also hold a 10.0% minority ownership interest in Dolby Properties, LP, which owns a 17,500 square foot facility
in Wootton Bassett. We are no longer leasing the Wootton Bassett facility.

100 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, California

Since 1980, we have leased a corporate office located at 100 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, California

from the various Dolby family trusts. The lease for this office expires on October 31, 2024, and provides
approximately 70,000 square feet of space. The Dolby family trusts retain the right, which they have exercised, to
sublease approximately 1,617 square feet of office space in the premises at a rental rate equal to the then current
base rent per square foot paid by us plus $14 per square foot per year (reflecting estimated costs payable by us
for the operation and maintenance of the premises, subject to an annual increase of 1.5% per year during each
year of the sublease term).

We ceased occupancy of the leased space at 100 Potrero Avenue, and do not intend to re-occupy this
location. We remain responsible for operating expenses, taxes, and the condition, operation, repair, maintenance,
security, and management of the premises. We have also agreed to indemnify and hold the Dolby family trusts,
as landlord, harmless from and against certain liabilities, damages, claims, costs, penalties, and expenses arising
from our conduct related to the premises. We also have a sublease with a subtenant for the remaining lease term
at 100 Potrero Avenue, pursuant to which the subtenant is required to reimburse us with respect to the foregoing
expenses and taxes with respect to the subleased premises and to indemnify and hold us harmless with respect to
the subleased premises in the same manner described above.

31

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are involved in various legal proceedings that occasionally arise in the normal course of business
activities, including claims of alleged infringement of IP rights, commercial, employment, and other matters. In
our opinion, resolution of these proceedings is not expected to have a material adverse impact on our operating
results or financial condition. Given the unpredictable nature of legal proceedings, it is possible that an
unfavorable resolution of one or more such proceedings could materially affect our future operating results or
financial condition in a particular period; however, based on the information known by us as of the date of this
filing and the rules and regulations applicable to the preparation of our consolidated financial statements, any
such amounts are either immaterial, or it is not probable that a potential loss has been incurred or the amount of
loss cannot be reasonably estimated.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

32

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER
MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market Information

Our Class A common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol
“DLB.” Our Class B common stock is neither listed nor publicly traded. As of October 27, 2023, there were
93 holders of record of our Class A common stock and 34 holders of record of our Class B common stock. The
number of Class A beneficial stockholders is substantially greater than the number of holders of record since a
large portion of our common stock is held through brokerage firms.

Dividend Policy

In October 2014, we announced a quarterly cash dividend program for our stockholders that was initiated by

our Board of Directors. Since the program was initiated, a quarterly dividend has been declared and paid to all
eligible stockholders of Class A and Class B common stock. Most recently, on November 16, 2023, we
announced a dividend in the amount of $0.30 per share, payable on December 5, 2023, to stockholders of record
as of the close of business on November 28, 2023.

Dividend declarations and the establishment of future record and payment dates are subject to the Board of

Directors’ continuing determination that the dividend policy is in the best interests of our stockholders. The
dividend policy may be changed or canceled at the discretion of the Board of Directors at any time. For
additional information related to our quarterly dividend, see Note 9 “Stockholders’ Equity and Stock-Based
Compensation” to our consolidated financial statements and Shareholder Return in Part II, Item 7
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Sales of Unregistered Securities

None.

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

In November 2009, we announced a stock repurchase program (“program”), providing for the repurchase of

our Class A common stock. Stock repurchases under the program may be made through open market
transactions, negotiated purchases, or otherwise, at times and in amounts that we consider appropriate. The
timing of repurchases and the number of shares repurchased depend upon a variety of factors, including price,
regulatory requirements, the rate of dilution from our equity compensation plans, and other market conditions.
The program does not have a specified expiration date, and can be limited, suspended, or terminated at our
discretion at any time without prior notice. Shares repurchased under the program will be returned to the status of
authorized but unissued shares of Class A common stock.

33

The following table summarizes the initial amount of authorized repurchases as well as additional

repurchases approved by our Board of Directors as of September 29, 2023 (in thousands):

Date of Authorization

Authorization Amount

Fiscal 2010: November 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2010: July 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2011: July 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2012: February 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2015: October 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2017: January 2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2018: July 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2019: July 2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2021: July 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2022: February 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2022: August 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 250,000
300,000
250,000
100,000
200,000
200,000
350,000
350,000
350,000
250,000
350,000

$2,950,000

The following table provides information regarding our share repurchases made under this program during

the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023:

Repurchase Activity

Total Shares
Purchased

Average Price
Paid Per Share (1)

Total Shares Purchased
As Part Of Publicly
Announced Programs

Remaining
Authorized Share
Repurchases (2)

July 1, 2023 - July 28, 2023 . . . . . . . . . . .
July 29, 2023 - August 25, 2023 . . . . . . .
August 26, 2023 - September 29, 2023 . .

285,499
—
—

$87.57
$ —
$ —

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

285,499

285,499
—
—

285,499

$211.6 million
$211.6 million
$211.6 million

(1) Average price paid per share excludes commission costs.
(2) Amounts represent the approximate dollar value of the maximum remaining number of shares that may yet be purchased under the stock

repurchase program as of the end of the applicable period and excludes commission costs.

Stock Price Performance Graph

The following graph compares the total cumulative return of our Class A common stock with the total
cumulative return for the New York Stock Exchange Composite Index (“NYSE Composite”), the Russell 3000
Index (“Russell 3000”), and the S&P MidCap 400 Index (“S&P 400”) for the five fiscal years ended
September 29, 2023. We have elected to replace the Russell 3000 with the S&P 400 because we believe the
components of the S&P 400 represent more similar market capitalizations to our own and the S&P 400 will
provide a more meaningful comparison of our stock performance going forward. For this transitional year, both
the Russell 3000 and the S&P 400 are reflected in the following graph, but we do not expect to include the
Russell 3000 in future years. The figures represented below assume an investment of $100 in our Class A
common stock at the closing price of $69.97 on September 28, 2018, and in the NYSE Composite, Russell 3000,
and S&P 400 on the same date and the reinvestment of dividends into shares of common stock. The comparisons
in the table are required by the SEC and are not intended to forecast or be indicative of possible future
performance of our Class A common stock. This graph shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that

34

Section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any of our filings under the Securities Act
or the Exchange Act.

Comparison of 5 Year Cumulative Total Return
Assumes Initial Investment of $100 

n
r
u
t
e
R

l
a
t
o
T

e
v
i
t
a
l

u
m
u
C

$250

$225

$200

$175

$150

$125

$100

$75

$50

$25

$0

September 28,
2018

September 27,
2019

September 25,
2020

September 24,
2021

September 30,
2022

September 29,
2023

Fiscal Year-End

Dolby Laboratories, Inc.

NYSE Composite

Russell 3000 Index

S&P 400

35

 
 
ITEM 6. [RESERVED]

36

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties.
Actual results may differ materially from those referred to herein due to a number of factors, including but not
limited to key challenges listed below and risks described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in
this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We disclaim any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after
the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K to conform our prior statements to actual results.

Investors and others should note that we disseminate information to the public about our company, our
products, services and other matters through various channels, including our website (www.dolby.com), our
investor relations website (http://investor.dolby.com), SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls, and
webcasts, in order to achieve broad, non-exclusionary distribution of information to the public. We encourage
investors and others to review the information we make public through these channels, as such information could
be deemed to be material information.

MACROECONOMIC CONDITIONS

The current macroeconomic environment has negatively impacted many of our licensees and that directly
impacts our financial results. Our revenue has been impacted by macroeconomic conditions, including but not
limited to, elevated inflation, rising interest rates, restrictions and economic impacts related to COVID-19, supply
chain constraints, increased shipping costs, international conflicts, reduced discretionary consumer spending, and
reduced new product investment by our customers caused by higher interest rates and lower demand. The
macroeconomic conditions also impart substantial uncertainty into our operating environment, which presents
additional challenges for our business. These factors and the related uncertainty may cause delays or a decrease
in the adoption or implementation of our technologies into new products by partners and licensees. These
conditions may impact consumer demand for devices and services and our partners’ ability to manufacture
devices. Further, we may be negatively impacted by delays in transaction cycles and our recoveries efforts due to
the noted macroeconomic conditions and related uncertainty. The future implications of these macroeconomic
conditions on our business, results of operations and overall financial position remain uncertain. We continue to
monitor the evolving macroeconomic environment and the impact on our business. Further discussion of the
potential impacts of these macroeconomic effects on our business can be found in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors.”

EXPANDING OUR LEADERSHIP IN AUDIO AND IMAGING EXPERIENCES

We are focused on expanding our leadership in audio and imaging solutions for premium entertainment
content by increasing the number of Dolby experiences that people can enjoy, which will drive revenue growth
across the markets we serve. We can increase our value proposition and create opportunities by broadening
Dolby technologies into new types of content, such as music, gaming, live sports, and user-generated content. We
are increasingly making our audio and imaging technologies available for content beyond premium entertainment
through Dolby.io, creating new revenue generating opportunities. We also seek to expand the reach of our
technology by incorporating it into industry standards and offering licenses to our patents covering that
technology, along with our partners, through patent pools. The following is a discussion of the key markets that
we address and the various Dolby technologies and solutions that serve these markets.

LICENSING

The majority of our licensing revenue is derived from the licensing of audio and imaging technologies for

entertainment playback. Our branded technologies are primarily comprised of DD+, Dolby Atmos, and AC-4 for
audio, and Dolby Vision for imaging. Our audio technologies offered jointly through patent pools are
incorporated into the AAC, HE-AAC, xHE-AAC, MPEG H and Opus standards for audio, and the AVC, HEVC,
VVC and AV1 standards for imaging. Licensing revenue is primarily driven by the adoption of our technologies

37

on devices, the number of devices shipped by licensees, and by the expansion of the number of licensees
adopting our technologies. DD+, AC-4, and our AAC and HE-AAC audio patents (collectively, our
“foundational audio technologies”) have broad penetration across a diverse set of devices and end markets. Our
revenue from these technologies is primarily driven by device shipments from licensees, and as such, is impacted
by consumer spending. In the future, we expect revenue from our foundational audio technologies to generally
reflect market trends in device shipments. The remaining portion of our licensing revenue is derived from
offerings such as Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, our imaging patents, and Dolby Cinema. Dolby Vision and Dolby
Atmos have not been in the market as long as our foundational audio technologies, thus revenue growth is
primarily driven by increased adoption and the addition of new licensees. Revenue from technologies licensed
through our patent licensing model is driven primarily by our royalty share within patent pools, licensee
penetration, device shipments, and the introduction of new standardized technologies and patent programs.
Factors such as global supply constraints or device lifecycles may also impact licensing revenue generally.
Further, in certain countries, we face difficulties enforcing our contractual and IP rights, including instances in
which our licensees fail to accurately report the shipment of products using our technologies.

The availability of content in Dolby formats is an important part of creating the ecosystems that drive
adoption of our technologies within a wide range of devices. Our audio and imaging technologies have a strong
presence within movie and episodic content through adoption across content creators and streaming services. The
availability of content on these platforms has driven strong adoption in devices such as TVs, STBs, and speaker
devices. Our audio and imaging technologies are also widely available through many forms of distribution,
including broadcast TV, streaming, and optical disc playback.

Major streaming partners and services such as Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, Amazon, Max, and

Paramount+ continue to enhance content in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. For example, in fiscal 2023, Max
launched its top tier service with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. These streaming services launch local content
in Dolby formats internationally. As we see an increase in new local content, we increase our value proposition
for adoption of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos across devices in all market segments.

We work with industry leaders to enhance these forms of content through the use of our technologies,
creating additional value for the adoption of Dolby within devices such as mobile phones and tablets, PCs,
gaming consoles, and automobiles. We have enhanced a broad range of content, such as music, gaming, live
sports, and user-generated content. In the current fiscal year:

•

•

•

In music, the Belgian music festival Tomorrowland streamed its festival in Dolby Atmos, and released
replay footage of the event on Apple Music in Dolby Atmos. Apple Music launched Apple Music
Classical, a new classical music app with Dolby Atmos supported on thousands of recordings, and
Amazon Music, which supports Dolby Atmos, began streaming to a wider set of devices, including
more wireless speakers, soundbars, and DMAs. WYNK Music, a free music streaming service in India,
has made Dolby Atmos Music available to India’s Airtel’s subscribers.

In gaming, the popular mobile game PUBG Mobile was made available to play in Dolby Atmos
globally.

In sports, the 2022 FIFA World Cup was broadcast internationally by 12 global operators and three
free-to-air terrestrial broadcasters in Dolby Vision and/or Dolby Atmos. The 2023 Indian Premier
League cricket matches were available in Dolby Atmos through Disney Star and JioCinema. The 2023
French Open available for the very first time in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos via the streaming
provider Molotov TV, and the 2023 Wimbledon Championships were broadcast in Dolby Atmos on
Sky Germany. The 68th UEFA Champions League games were available in Dolby Atmos. The US
Open Tennis Tournament was broadcast in the UK on Sky TV in Dolby Atmos. Comcast broadcast the
Superbowl LVII in Dolby Vision, and is broadcasting ESPN’s college football game of the week in
Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Sky Germany began broadcasting the second Bundesliga in Dolby
Atmos. Additionally, Max streamed its Major League Baseball games in Dolby Atmos.

38

•

In user-generated content, Vivo launched its flagship mobile phone X90 Pro+ with Dolby Vision
Capture and playback, further enabling the creation of user-generated content. Weibo, one of China’s
largest social media platforms, began supporting Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Audiobooks on
Audible now support Dolby Atmos. Moj, India’s largest short video platform, now supports Dolby
Vision, and Viddsee, a short film video platform in Singapore, now supports Dolby Vision and Dolby
Atmos.

The following are highlights from our fiscal 2023 and key challenges related to audio and imaging licensing,

by market. Further discussion of the potential impacts of these key challenges on our business can be found in
Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors.”

Broadcast

Highlights: We have an established global presence with respect to our DD+ and HE-AAC audio

technologies in broadcast services and devices. We have expanded our offerings in the broadcast market through
technologies such as Dolby Atmos and AC-4, Dolby Vision, as well as AVC and HEVC imaging technologies
which we license through patent pools. We work with many TV OEMs and strategic partners to enable and
promote Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos experiences within their TV lineups. Many such partners continue to
expand their support of the combined Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos experience. For example, at CES in
January 2023, LG announced its TV lineup that supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and Hisense
announced several new UHD TVs and Laser TVs that support Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Additionally in
fiscal 2023, TCL announced new QLED and Mini-LED TVs with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and that it is
expanding the number of products in its lineup that support Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos in India. We also
recently announced that our new feature Dolby Atmos FlexConnect will be supported by TCL’s 2024 TV lineup.
Acer launched TVs with DD+, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos in India. Polytron, the largest TV OEM in
Indonesia, launched TVs that support Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Hoichoi, an Indian OTT, adopted Dolby
Atmos and Dolby Vision.

Key Challenges: Our pursuit of new licensees and further adoption of our technologies by existing

licensees may be impacted by a number of factors. We must continue to present compelling reasons for
consumers to demand our audio and imaging technologies, including ensuring that there is a breadth of available
content in our formats and such content is being widely distributed. To the extent that OEMs do not incorporate
our technologies in current and future products or our technology is not included in future broadcast industry
standards, our revenue could be negatively impacted. Changing trends in the way that video content is distributed
and consumed may impact our business and future growth in the broadcast market, such as the trend away from
subscription-based cable and satellite television providers toward streaming services. Additionally, we face
geopolitical challenges including changes in diplomatic and trade relationships, trade protection measures, and
import or export licensing requirements.

Mobile

Highlights: We continue to focus on adoption of our technologies across major mobile ecosystems,

including Apple and Android. HE-AAC and HEVC are widely adopted audio and video technologies across
mobile devices, and we offer these technologies through our patent licensing programs. We also continue to
focus on expanding adoption of our DD+, AC-4, Dolby Atmos, and Dolby Vision technologies in the mobile
market. The breadth of mobile devices supporting Dolby technologies continues to increase globally. In fiscal
2023, OPPO launched the OnePlus 11, its first phone that supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. In addition,
OPPO launched its first flagship phone with Dolby Vision Capture, and OnePlus launched its first phone with
Dolby Vision playback and Dolby Atmos. Xiaomi, which now has multiple Dolby Vision Capture phone models
in China, began shipping Dolby Vision Capture phone models in India, Southeast Asia, Europe and the Middle
East during the year. Also in fiscal 2023, Vivo began shipping Dolby Vision Capture phones in China. Motorola
became our latest partner to announce and start shipping its first Dolby Vision playback phone globally. Honor, a
Chinese smart phone manufacturer, recently launched smart phones that support Dolby Vision playback.

39

Key Challenges: Growth in this market is dependent on several factors. Due to short product life cycles,

mobile device OEMs can readily add or remove certain of our technologies from their devices. Our success
depends on our ability to address the rapid pace of change in mobile devices, and we must continuously
collaborate with mobile device OEMs to incorporate our technologies. The mobile market is heavily
concentrated, so we rely on a small number of partnerships with key participants in this market. If we are unable
to maintain these key relationships, we may experience a decline in mobile devices incorporating our
technologies. To the extent that OEMs do not incorporate our technologies in current and future products or our
technology is not included in future mobile industry standards, our revenue could be impacted. We must also
continue to support the development and distribution of Dolby-enabled content via various ecosystems.
Additionally, we face geopolitical challenges including changes in diplomatic and trade relationships, trade
protection measures, and import or export licensing requirements.

Consumer Electronics

Highlights: We have an established presence in the home entertainment market across devices such as

AVRs, soundbars, wireless and smart speakers, DMAs, and Blu-Ray players, through the inclusion of our DD+
technology, and increasingly through the inclusion of Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. AAC and HE-AAC
technologies also have broad adoption through our patent licensing programs. We continue to focus on
expanding the availability of Dolby technologies to new devices. At CES in January 2023, LG and Samsung each
announced 2023 soundbar lineups that support Dolby Atmos. Also in fiscal 2023, Sonos launched their premium
smart speaker, the Sonos Era 300, with Dolby Atmos. Zebronics announced a new soundbar that supports Dolby
Atmos to be sold in India. Jabra launched headphone products that support Dolby Atmos. XGIMI announced the
4K long throw home projector with Dolby Vision.

Key Challenges: We must continue to present compelling reasons for consumers to demand our
technologies wherever they enjoy entertainment content, while promoting creation and broad availability of
content in our formats. To the extent that OEMs do not incorporate our technologies in current and future
products, our revenue could be impacted. Additionally, we face geopolitical challenges including changes in
diplomatic and trade relationships, trade protection measures, and import or export licensing requirements.

Personal Computers

Highlights: DD+ continues to enhance audio playback in both Mac and Windows operating systems,
including native support in their respective Safari and Microsoft Edge browsers. Dolby’s presence in these
browsers enables us to reach more users through various types of content, including streaming video
entertainment. A number of PCs from partners such as Apple, Lenovo, Dell, Samsung, and ASUS also support
Dolby Vision and/or Dolby Atmos, with continued expansion of applications through music, streaming, and
gaming. In fiscal 2023, Tencent’s streaming music platform QQ Music launched Dolby Atmos support in Mac
operating systems. Also in fiscal 2023, Microsoft launched its latest tablets that support Dolby Vision and Dolby
Atmos.

Key Challenges: Demand for PCs has recently been declining and it remains uncertain when, if, and to
what extent PC demand will return to historic levels. We must continuously collaborate and maintain our key
partnerships with PC manufacturers to incorporate our technologies, and we must continue to support the
development and distribution of Dolby content via various ecosystems. Additionally, we face geopolitical
challenges including changes in diplomatic and trade relationships, trade protection measures, and import or
export licensing requirements.

Other Markets

Highlights: DD+ is incorporated in the Xbox and PlayStation gaming consoles that support gaming
content and streaming for movie and television content. The Xbox Series X and Series S gaming consoles

40

support Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for streaming and gaming content. Additionally, our technologies
continue to be incorporated into the latest headphones by various OEMs. In fiscal 2023, Sony Interactive
Entertainment announced that PlayStation 5 is unlocking support for compatible Dolby Atmos-enabled living
room devices with the latest PS5 system software beta, available to beta participants in select markets. Sony
Interactive Entertainment also announced support for Dolby Atmos on the PS5.

We also generate revenue from the automotive industry through disc playback devices as well as other

elements of the entertainment system, and through the adoption of Dolby Atmos Music. In fiscal 2023,
Mercedes- Benz adopted Dolby Atmos and Dolby Atmos Music in several of its car models, and continues to add
our technologies to more models and ship more models globally. Also in fiscal 2023, Chinese electric car
manufacturer Li Auto and NetEase Cloud Music announced a collaboration to deliver Dolby Atmos Music in Li
Auto cars. Additionally, Guangzhou Automobile Group, a large Chinese auto manufacturer, announced the
launch of a new sport sedan that features Dolby Atmos, and NIO and Lotus launched cars that support Dolby
Atmos beyond the domestic Chinese market into Europe as well. Yangwang announced its first car, the
Yangwang U8 model, supporting Dolby Atmos, our fifth automotive OEM this year.

Key Challenges: Consumer demand for devices in the gaming industry is impacted by anticipation of
console refresh cycles, which could result in fluctuations in our revenue. In addition, the gaming console market
has competition from mobile devices and gaming PCs, which have faster refresh cycles and appeal to a broader
consumer base. Automotive revenue has been negatively impacted by a decline in the portion of cars that have
optical disc playback. Shortages of certain semiconductor components could result in lower implementation of
our technologies in vehicles by automotive manufacturers. Our revenue growth will be impacted if OEMs do not
incorporate our technologies in their latest products, which can be more prominent in industries with longer
development cycles such as the automotive industry. Additionally, we face geopolitical challenges including
changes in diplomatic and trade relationships, trade protection measures, and import or export licensing
requirements.

Included within Other Markets is also licensing revenue from audio and imaging technologies used to create

Dolby experiences through Dolby Cinema.

Dolby Cinema

Highlights: We continue to expand our global presence for Dolby Cinema, with sites located in the U.S.

and internationally. The breadth of motion pictures for Dolby Cinema continues to grow with over 500 theatrical
titles in both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos having been announced or released from all of the major studios as
of the end of fiscal 2023.

Key Challenges: Although the premium large format market for the cinema industry has been growing,
Dolby Cinema competes with other existing offerings. Our success depends on our partners and their success,
and our ability to differentiate our offering, deploy new sites, and attract and retain a global viewing audience. In
addition, the success of our Dolby Cinema offering is tied to global box office performance generally.
COVID-19 has had a significant effect on theatrical exhibition, which could impact the financial viability of our
key partners. The response to COVID-19 has had a negative impact on our cinema-related revenue and consumer
demand, although consumer demand for the cinema has been improving. It is uncertain whether consumer
demand for the cinema will return to previous levels. Additionally, the recently concluded strikes by the Writers
Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA effectively halted the production, release and promotion of certain films for
an extended period. The resulting impacts of those stoppages may result in near-term decreases in box office
receipts and our cinema-related revenue.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

A majority of our products and services revenue is derived from the sale of audio and imaging products for
the cinema, television, broadcast, communication, and entertainment industries. Revenue from Dolby.io is also
included in products and services.

41

Cinema Products and Services

Highlights: To help enable the playback of content in Dolby formats, we offer a range of servers, which

include the IMS3000 (an integrated imaging and audio server with Dolby Atmos), and audio processors, such as
the CP950, to cinema exhibitors globally. Dolby Atmos has been adopted broadly across studios, content
creators, post-production facilities, and exhibitors. As of the end of fiscal 2023, there are over 7,500 Dolby
Atmos screens installed or committed and over 2,800 Dolby Atmos theatrical titles have been announced or
released.

We also offer a variety of other cinema products, such as the Dolby Multichannel Amplifier and our high-

power flexible line of speakers. These products allow us to offer exhibitors a more complete Dolby Atmos
solution that is often more cost effective than other commercially available options.

Key Challenges: Demand for our cinema products is dependent upon our partners and their success in the

market, industry and economic cycles, box office performance, and our ability to develop and introduce new
technologies, further our relationships with content creators, and promote new cinematic audio and imaging
experiences. A significant portion of our growth opportunity lies in international markets, which are subject to
geopolitical risks. Additionally, weakness in general economic conditions due to inflation, recession, pandemic
or other worsening economic conditions could have a negative impact on our cinema-related revenue due to
reduced consumer discretionary spending. We may also be faced with pricing pressures or competing
technologies, which would affect our revenue. We have also experienced supply chain shortages and increased
shipping costs that have created challenges to maintain the sufficient supply of cinema products to meet the
demand in the market. In addition, supply chain constraints may impact our ability to provide cinema products
and services to our customers. COVID-19 has also negatively impacted the financial health of our cinema
customers and partners. In addition, the recently concluded strikes by the Writers Guild of America and
SAG-AFTRA effectively halted the production, release and promotion of certain films for an extended period.
The resulting impacts of those stoppages may lead to decreased box office receipts in the near term, which could
potentially impact exhibitors’ willingness and ability to invest in our cinema products.

Dolby.io

Highlights: We are focused on bringing Dolby’s decades of sight and sound technology to a broader range

of media content and digital experiences. We are expanding our addressable market to enhance a broader range
of content, by offering solutions to companies building real-time digital experiences that increase audience
engagement. Our solution provides the capability to stream high quality audiovisual content in ultra-low latency
which reduces the delay between the action and the viewer.

Content being delivered with almost no delay enables our customers to create real-time interaction in their

apps and services. This lifelike interaction is essential to the experiences companies, particularly in sports and
entertainment, are creating.

Over time, we believe this way of delivering and engaging with content will be used more broadly.

Key Challenges: Dolby.io is an early-stage business, and it is uncertain when or if it will be a material
revenue driver. Our success in this market will depend on adoption from companies building real-time digital
experiences that increase audience engagement, the volume of usage of the services and our ability to monetize
our services. In addition, the development and maintenance needed to provide a reliable and scalable platform
may require us to develop new skills internally for our current employees or hire external specialized talent.
Although the market for real-time experiences has been growing, Dolby.io competes with other offerings.

42

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

Our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP,

pursuant to SEC rules and regulations. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to establish
accounting policies and make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities, revenue and expenses. The SEC considers an accounting policy and estimate to be critical if it is both
important to a company’s financial condition or results of operations and requires significant judgment by
management in its application. On a regular basis, we evaluate our assumptions, judgments, and estimates, and
historically, actual results have not differed significantly from them. If actual results or events differ materially
from our judgments and estimates, our reported financial condition and results of operation for future periods
could be materially affected. We have reviewed the selection and development of the critical accounting policies
and estimates discussed below with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.

Revenue Recognition

We derive our revenue primarily from the licensing of our technologies and patents. In determining how

revenue should be recognized, a five-step process is used, which requires judgment and estimates within the
revenue recognition process. Generally, revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of promised products,
services or IP rights to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that we expect to receive in
exchange for those products, services or licensing of the IP rights. The primary judgments include estimating
sales-based revenue in advance of receiving statements from our licensees, estimating variable consideration,
identifying the performance obligations in the contract, and determining whether the performance obligations are
distinct, and allocating consideration accordingly.

Most of our licensing arrangements are structured as sales-based whereby we are paid a unit-based royalty.

The unit-based sales data that triggers the royalty obligation is generally reported to us in the quarter after
triggering the royalty obligation. We apply the royalty exception to these arrangements, which requires that we
recognize sales-based royalties at the later of when the sales occur based on our estimates or the completion of
our performance obligations. Our estimates of royalty-based revenue take into consideration the macroeconomic
effect of global events, such as inflation, elevated interest rates, economic impacts related to COVID-19, or other
economic conditions, which may impact supply chain activities as well as demand for shipments. These
estimates also involve the use of historical data and judgment for several key attributes including industry
estimates of expected shipments, the percentage of markets using our technologies, and average sale prices.
Generally, our estimates represent the current period’s shipments for which we expect our licensees to submit
royalty statements in the following quarter. Upon receipt of royalty statements from the licensees with the actual
reporting of sales-based royalties that we previously estimated, we record a favorable or unfavorable adjustment
based on the difference, if any, between estimated and actual sales.

We also enter into fixed and guaranteed licensing fees arrangements, which require the licensee to pay a

fixed, non-refundable fee. In these cases, control is transferred and the transaction price - the amount we expect
to be entitled to in exchange for the license right - is recognized upon the later of contract execution or the
effective date. Transaction price is determined at contract execution and, to the extent variable consideration
applies, is updated each subsequent reporting period until the completion of the contract. We evaluate whether
other distinct performance obligations exist, such as PCS, and determine the stand-alone selling price. We do so
by considering actual stand-alone sales in addition to market conditions such as competitor pricing strategies,
customer specific information and industry technology lifecycles, internal conditions such as cost and pricing
practices, or applying the residual approach method when the selling price of the good, most commonly a license,
is highly variable or uncertain. In addition, we evaluate whether a significant financing component exists when
we recognize revenue in advance of customer payments that occur over time and extend beyond one year. In
general, if the payment arrangements extend beyond the first year of the contract, we treat a portion of the
payments as a financing component. The discount rate used for each arrangement reflects the rate that would be
used in a separate financing transaction between us and the licensee at contract inception and takes into account

43

the credit characteristics of the licensee and market interest rates as of the date of the agreement. If we assess the
financing component to be significant to the contract, the amount of fixed fee revenue recognized at the
beginning of the license term will be reduced by the calculated financing component. The portion related to the
financing component is recorded as interest income, and is not material to our consolidated financial statements.

For additional information, see Note 3 “Revenue Recognition” to our consolidated financial statements in

Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

IMPACT OF NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOT YET ADOPTED

For information on recent accounting standards that have not been adopted yet and the impact of these
standards on our consolidated financial statements, refer to Note 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”
to our consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

For each line item included on our consolidated statements of operations described and analyzed below, the

significant factors identified as the leading drivers contributing to the overall fluctuation are presented in
descending order of their impact on the overall change (from an absolute value perspective). This discussion and
analysis highlights comparisons of material changes in the consolidated financial statements for the years ended
September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022. For the discussion and analysis highlighting comparisons of
material changes in the consolidated financial statements for the years ended September 30, 2022 and
September 24, 2021, refer to Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2022,
which is incorporated herein by reference. Note that adjustments related to sales-based royalties that were
misreported by licensees as well as unlicensed settlement activity, are collectively referred to as “recoveries.”
Amounts displayed, except percentages, are in thousands.

Revenue and Gross Margin

Licensing

Licensing revenue consists of fees earned from licensing our technologies to customers who incorporate
them into their products and services to enable and enhance audio and imaging capabilities. The technologies that
we license are either internally developed, acquired, or licensed from third parties. We also generate
administrative fees for managing patent pools on behalf of third party patent owners through our subsidiary, Via
LA. A significant portion of our licensing revenue pertains to customer-shipment royalties that we recognize
based on estimates of our licensees’ shipments. To the extent that shipment data reported by licensees differs
from estimates we made and recorded, we recognize an adjustment to revenue for such difference in the period
we receive the reported shipment data.

Our cost of licensing consists mainly of amortization of certain purchased intangible assets and intangible

assets acquired in business combinations, depreciation, third party royalty obligations, and patent pool fees.

Licensing

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

Revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Percentage of total revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cost of licensing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1,197,930
92%
64,890

Gross margin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gross margin percentage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,133,040
95%

$1,164,533
93%
61,597

1,102,936
95%

$

%

$33,397

3%

3,293 5%

30,104

3%

Fiscal Year Ended

Change

44

Licensing Revenue By Market

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29, 2023

September 30, 2022

Broadcast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mobile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 451,719
243,897
170,197
124,362
207,755

38% $ 433,992
20% 238,735
14% 186,285
10% 151,079
18% 154,442

37%
21%
16%
13%
13%

Total licensing revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1,197,930

100%$1,164,533

100%

Factor

Other

PC

Broadcast

CE

Mobile

Licensing Revenue

Gross Margin

Higher revenue from imaging patent pool
administrative fees, higher revenue due to gaming
console shipments, higher automotive revenue driven
by higher adoption of Dolby Atmos

Lower revenue driven by lower shipments and lower
recoveries, primarily from foundational audio
technologies, partially offset by higher revenue from
our imaging patent programs

Higher revenue from our imaging patent programs,
partially offset by lower unit shipments primarily in
STBs, impacting revenue from foundational audio
technologies

Lower revenue from unit shipments in DMAs, and
lower revenue due to timing of minimum volume
commitments, primarily impacting revenue from
foundational audio technologies, partially offset by
higher revenue from our imaging patent programs

Higher revenue from new licensees in our audio patent
programs and increased adoption of Dolby Vision,
partially offset by lower revenue from minimum volume
commitments

No significant fluctuations

Products and Services

Products revenue is generated from the sale of audio and imaging hardware and software products for the

cinema, television, broadcast and entertainment industries. Also included in products revenue are amounts
relating to certain Dolby Cinema arrangements that are considered sales-type leases that involve fixed or
minimum fees. Cost of products includes materials, labor, manufacturing overhead, amortization of certain
intangible assets, and certain third party royalty obligations.

Services revenue consists of fees charged to support theatrical and television production for cinema
exhibition, broadcast, and home entertainment, including equipment training and maintenance, mixing room
alignment, equalization, as well as audio, color, and light image calibration. Services revenue also includes PCS
for products sold and equipment installed at Dolby Cinema theaters operated by exhibitor partners and support
for the implementation of our technologies into products manufactured by our licensees. Also included in

45

services revenue are amounts generated through Dolby.io. Cost of services consists of personnel and personnel-
related costs for providing our professional services, software maintenance and support, external contractors, and
other direct expenses incurred on behalf of customers.

Products and Services

Revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Percentage of total revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cost of products and services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Gross margin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gross margin percentage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Factor

Products

Products and Services Revenue
Increased demand for cinema equipment as the
exhibitor market continues to recover

Fiscal Year Ended

Change

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

$

%

$101,814

$89,260

$12,554

14%

8%

7%

87,676

14,138

14%

79,763

9,497
11%

Gross Margin

7,913

10%

4,641

49%

Higher cinema product sales partially offset by excess
and obsolescence reserve

Services

No significant fluctuations

No significant fluctuations

Operating Expenses

Research and Development

R&D expenses consist primarily of employee compensation and benefits expenses, stock-based
compensation, external contractor costs, depreciation and amortization, facilities costs, costs for outside
materials, and information technology expenses.

Research and development

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Percentage of total revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$271,523

$261,174

$10,349

4%

21%

21%

Fiscal Year Ended

Change

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

$

%

Category

Compensation & Benefits

Travel

Sales and Marketing

Higher costs of $6.8 million primarily due to higher variable compensation

Key Drivers

Higher costs of $2.5 million due to increased company travel as a result of fewer COVID-19
travel restrictions, and increased in-person presence at certain events

S&M expenses consist primarily of employee compensation and benefits expenses, stock-based

compensation, marketing and promotional expenses for events such as trade shows and conferences, marketing
campaigns, travel-related expenses, contractor fees, facilities costs, depreciation and amortization, information
technology expenses, and legal costs associated with the protection of our IP.

Sales and marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Percentage of total revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$354,364

$358,716

$(4,352)

(1)%

27%

29%

Fiscal Year Ended

Change

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

$

%

46

Category

Legal, Professional, and

Contractors

Marketing Programs

Travel

Lower costs of $10.6 million primarily due to timing of patent program-related expenses

Key Drivers

Higher costs of $8.3 million primarily due to increased marketing activities

Higher costs of $5.2 million due to increased travel as a result of fewer COVID-19 travel
restrictions, and increased in-person presence at certain events

Compensation & Benefits

Lower payroll salaries expense of $4.7 million primarily due to lower headcount

General and Administrative

G&A expenses consist primarily of employee compensation and benefits, stock-based compensation,
depreciation and amortization, facilities and information technology costs, as well as professional fees and other
costs associated with external contractors.

Fiscal Year Ended

Change

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

$

%

General and administrative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Percentage of total revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$258,477

$275,315

$(16,838)

(6)%

20%

22%

On August 7, 2019, Intertrust Technologies (“Intertrust”) filed complaints against each of our customers

AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc., Cinemark Holdings, Inc., and Regal Entertainment Group in the U.S.
District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, alleging that the use of systems including certain cinema
products, which were supplied under commercial agreements that we acquired as a part of an acquisition in 2014,
infringed various Intertrust patents, and seeking damages based on the revenues of the defendants. We recorded
$34.4 million in fiscal 2022 within G&A expenses, reflecting a settlement payment and an immaterial accrual.
We believe that these amounts fully resolve all claims relating to Intertrust’s patent assertions.

Category

Other Miscellaneous Expenses

Lower costs of $34.4 million related to the resolution of the legal matter discussed above, in
the prior year

Key Drivers

Credit Loss Expense

Lower credit loss expense of $6.3 million primarily due to higher collections

Higher costs of $5.3 million primarily due to higher variable compensation, higher payroll
salaries expense of $4.3 million due to increased headcount due to the MPEG LA (as defined
below) acquisition

Higher costs of $2.2 million primarily due to transaction costs resulting from the MPEG LA
acquisition

Compensation & Benefits

Legal, Professional, and

Contractors

Restructuring Charges

Restructuring charges recorded as operating expenses in our consolidated statements of operations represent

costs associated with separate restructuring plans implemented in various fiscal periods. The extent of our costs
arising as a result of these actions, including fluctuations in related balances between fiscal periods, is based on
the nature of activities under the various plans.

Restructuring charges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Percentage of total revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$47,061

4%

$10,623
1%

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

$

%

$36,438

343%

Fiscal Year Ended

Change

47

In June 2023, we implemented a focused restructuring plan, primarily consisting of workforce reductions
and facility consolidations to improve execution in alignment with our strategy and to reduce our cost structure
through improved utilization of our global infrastructure. As a result of these actions, we recorded restructuring
charges of $10.9 million in severance and other related benefits offered to approximately 130 impacted
employees and $6.9 million related to facility consolidation in New York, NY.

In September 2023, we initiated a focused restructuring plan with the purpose of focusing our resources on

our highest strategic priorities. We recorded expense of $13.4 million in severance and other related benefits
offered to approximately 160 impacted employees. The remaining components of this plan are expected to be
completed in November 2023, resulting in an additional charge of approximately $5.0 million in severance and
other termination benefits. In conjunction with focusing our resources on our top strategic priorities, we recorded
an impairment loss of $16.9 million related primarily to internally developed software for projects we are no
longer pursuing.

For additional information on our Restructuring programs, see Note 13 “Restructuring” to our consolidated

financial statements.

Other Income/Expense

Other income/expense primarily consists of interest income earned on cash and investments and the net
gains or losses from foreign currency transactions, derivative instruments, our proportionate share of net income
or losses from our equity method investment, and gains and losses on the sales of marketable securities from our
investment portfolio.

Other income/(expense)

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

Interest income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other income, net

$28,086
6,214

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$34,300

$6,174
2,500

$8,674

$

%

$21,912
3,714

355%
149%

$25,626

295%

Fiscal Year Ended

Change

Category

Interest Income

Other Income

Income Taxes

Higher yields on current year investment balances due to increased interest rates

Key Drivers

Higher income primarily due to higher yields on our SERP balances in the current year, and
higher foreign currency transaction gains

Our effective tax rate is based on our fiscal year results and is affected by several factors. These include the

current statutory rates in our domestic and foreign jurisdictions, the relative income earned in our foreign
jurisdictions, and nonrecurring items such as changes to our unrecognized tax benefits that may occur in but are
not necessarily consistent between periods. For additional information related to effective tax rates, see Note 12
“Income Taxes” to our consolidated financial statements.

Provision for income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Effective tax rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$(48,409)

$(31,381)

19%

15%

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

48

Factor

Stock-based Compensation

Research and Development

Lower benefit related to the settlement of stock-based awards.

Impact On Effective Tax Rate

Lower benefit from R&D tax credits.

LIQUIDITY, CAPITAL RESOURCES, AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

Our principal sources of liquidity are cash, cash equivalents, and investments, as well as cash flows from
operations. We believe that these sources will be sufficient to satisfy our currently anticipated cash requirements
through at least the next twelve months.

As of September 29, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of $745.4 million, which consisted of cash and
highly liquid money market funds. In addition, we had short and long-term investments of $237.0 million, which
primarily consisted of government bonds, corporate bonds, municipal debt securities, certificates of deposit,
commercial paper, and U.S. agency securities.

The following table presents selected financial information as of September 29, 2023 and September 30,

2022 (in thousands):

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Short-term investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Long-term investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accounts receivable, net
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Working capital

$ 745,364
139,148
97,812
262,245
372,324
1,065,578

$ 620,127
189,213
102,514
243,593
244,408
1,033,376

Capital Expenditures and Uses of Capital

Our capital expenditures consist of purchases of land, building, building fixtures, laboratory equipment,
office equipment, computer hardware and software, leasehold improvements, and production and test equipment.
Additionally, included in capital expenditures are amounts associated with Dolby Cinema locations. We continue
to invest in S&M and R&D to promote the overall growth of our business and technological innovation.

We retain sufficient cash holdings to support our operations and we also purchase investment-grade

securities diversified among security types, industries, and issuers. We have used cash generated from our
operations to fund a variety of activities related to our business in addition to our ongoing operations, including
business expansion and growth, acquisitions, and repurchases of our Class A common stock. We have
historically generated significant cash from operations. However, these cash flows and the value of our
investment portfolio could be affected by various risks and uncertainties, as described in Part I, Item 1A “Risk
Factors.”

Shareholder Return

We have returned cash to stockholders through both repurchases of Class A common stock under our
repurchase program initiated in fiscal 2010 and our quarterly dividend program initiated in fiscal 2015. Refer to
Note 9 “Stockholders’ Equity and Stock-Based Compensation” to our consolidated financial statements for a
summary of dividend payments made under the program during fiscal 2023 and additional information regarding
our stock repurchase program.

Stock Repurchase Program. Our stock repurchase program was approved in fiscal 2010, and since then we

have completed approximately $2.7 billion of stock repurchases under the program.

49

The Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS and Science Act were signed into law in August 2022. The Inflation

Reduction Act introduced a one percent non-deductible excise tax on certain public company stock buybacks
made after December 31, 2022. We do not currently expect the excise tax to have a material impact on our results
of operations or financial position, and its ongoing impact will be dependent on the extent of our future net stock
repurchase activities.

Quarterly Dividend Program. During fiscal 2015, we initiated a recurring quarterly cash dividend
program for our stockholders. For fiscal 2023, quarterly dividends of $0.27 per share were paid on our Class A
and Class B common stock to eligible stockholders of record.

Cash Flows Analysis

For the following comparative analysis performed for each of the sections of the consolidated statements of
cash flows, the significant factors identified as the leading drivers contributing to the fluctuation are presented in
descending order of their impact relative to the overall change (in thousands).

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$367,081

$318,576

Net cash provided by operating activities increased $48.5 million in fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022,

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

primarily due to the following:

Factor

Operating assets and liabilities

Investing Activities

Impact On Cash Flows

Higher inflows due to lower accounts receivable and higher operating lease liabilities,
partially offset by lower accounts payable and accrued liabilities and lower income taxes

Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$54,206

$(295,935)

Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities was $350.1 million higher in fiscal 2023 compared to

fiscal 2022, primarily due to the following:

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

Factor

Purchase of Investments

Proceeds from Investments

Business Combinations

Financing Activities

Lower outflows for the purchase of marketable investment securities

Impact On Cash Flows

Higher inflows from the sale and maturity of marketable investment securities

Inflows due to restricted cash balances acquired in connection with the MPEG LA acquisition

Net cash used in financing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$(236,812)

$(610,558)

50

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

Net cash used in financing activities was $373.7 million lower in fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022,

primarily due to the following:

Factor

Share Repurchases

Lower outflows due to lower common stock repurchases

Impact On Cash Flows

Common Stock Issuance

Lower inflows from employee stock option exercises

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

The following table presents a summary of our contractual obligations and commitments as of September 29,

2023 (in thousands):

Naming rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Purchase obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Donation commitments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Payments Due By Fiscal Period

2 - 3
Years

4 - 5
Years

More Than
5 Years

$26,598
4,667
232
$31,497

$17,176
—
172
$17,348

$35,674
—
332
$36,006

1 Year

$12,794
29,934
1,718
$44,446

Total

$ 92,242
34,601
2,454
$129,297

Naming Rights. We are party to agreements for naming rights of certain facilities, most significantly for

naming rights and related benefits with respect to the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, the location of the
Academy Awards®. The term of the agreement is 20 years, over which we will make payments on a semi-annual
basis until fiscal 2032. We also hold the naming rights to Dolby Live at the Park MGM in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Dolby Live is a fully integrated performance venue offering live concerts in Dolby Atmos. For additional details
regarding our naming rights commitments, see Note 14 “Commitments and Contingencies” to our consolidated
financial statements.

Operating Leases. Operating lease payments represent our commitments for future minimum rent made
under non-cancelable leases for office space, including those payable to our principal stockholder and portions
attributable to the noncontrolling interests in our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. For additional
details regarding our leases, see Note 7 “Leases” to our consolidated financial statements.

Purchase Obligations.

Purchase obligations primarily consist of our non-cancelable commitments made

under agreements to purchase goods and services related to Dolby Cinema and for purposes that include
information technology and telecommunications, marketing and professional services, and manufacturing and
other R&D activities.

Donation Commitments. Our donation commitments relate to non-cancelable obligations that consist of

maintenance services and installation of imaging and audio products in exchange for various marketing,
branding, and publicity benefits. For additional details regarding our donation commitments, see Note 14
“Commitments and Contingencies” to our consolidated financial statements.

Unrecognized Tax Benefits. As of September 29, 2023, we had an accrued liability for unrecognized tax

benefits without interest, penalties, and related deferred tax assets, totaling $76.3 million. We are unable to
estimate when any cash settlement with a taxing authority might occur and, therefore, have not reflected these
anticipated future outflows in the table above.

51

Indemnification Clauses

We are party to certain contractual agreements under which we have agreed to provide indemnification of
varying scope and duration to the other party relating to our licensed IP. Since the terms and conditions of the
indemnification clauses do not explicitly specify our obligations, we are unable to reasonably estimate the
maximum potential exposure for which we could be liable. In addition, we have entered into indemnification
agreements with our officers, directors, and certain employees, and our certificate of incorporation and bylaws
contain similar indemnification obligations. For additional details regarding indemnification clauses within our
contractual agreements, see Note 14 “Commitments and Contingencies” to our consolidated financial statements.

In fiscal 2023, there have been no material changes in either our off-balance sheet financing arrangements

or contractual obligations outside the ordinary course of business, and we did not enter into any off-balance sheet
arrangements that are expected to have a material effect on Dolby’s liquidity or the availability of capital
resources.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Sensitivity

As of September 29, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of $745.4 million, which consisted of cash and

highly liquid money market funds. In addition, we had both short and long-term investments of $237.0 million,
which consisted of corporate bonds, government bonds, municipal debt securities, U.S. agency securities,
commercial paper, and certificates of deposit. Our investment policy is focused on the preservation of capital and
support for our liquidity requirements. Under the policy, we invest in highly rated securities with a minimum
credit rating of A- while limiting the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer other than the U.S. government.
As of September 29, 2023, the weighted-average credit quality of our investment portfolio was AA-, with a
weighted-average maturity of approximately eleven months. We do not invest in financial instruments for trading
or speculative purposes, nor do we use leveraged financial instruments. We utilize external investment managers
who adhere to the guidelines of our investment policy.

The investments within our fixed-income portfolio are subject to fluctuations in interest rates, which could

affect our financial position, and to a lesser extent, results of operations. Based on our investment portfolio
balance as of September 29, 2023, hypothetical changes in interest rates of 1% and 0.5% would have an impact
on the carrying value of our portfolio of approximately $1.8 million and $0.9 million, respectively.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

We maintain business operations in foreign countries, most significantly in Australia, China, Germany,
Ireland, Poland, and the U.K. Additionally, a portion of our business is conducted outside of the U.S. through
subsidiaries with functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar, most notably:

• Australian Dollar

• British Pound

• Chinese Yuan

• Euro

•

Polish Zloty

As a result, we face exposure to adverse movements in currency exchange rates as the financial results of
our international operations are translated from local currency into U.S. dollars upon consolidation. The majority
of our revenue generated from international markets is denominated in U.S. dollars, while the operating expenses

52

of our foreign subsidiaries are predominantly denominated in local currencies. Therefore, our operating expenses
will increase when the U.S. dollar weakens against the local currency and decrease when the U.S. dollar
strengthens against the local currency. Additionally, foreign exchange rate fluctuations on transactions
denominated in currencies other than the functional currency result in gains or losses that are reflected in our
consolidated statements of operations. Our foreign operations are subject to the same risks present when
conducting business internationally, including, but not limited to, changes in economic conditions and
geopolitical climate, differing tax structures, foreign exchange rate volatility and other regulations and
restrictions.

We also enter into forward currency contracts exclusively designated as cash flow hedges, which have a
maturity of thirteen months or less, to reduce the impact of currency volatility on U.S. dollar operating expenses.
The gains and losses from the effective portions of cash flow hedges are recorded at fair value as a component of
AOCI, until the hedged item is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the same period in which the hedged
transaction affects earnings, with the corresponding hedged item. Amounts reclassified are recorded to the same
line item in the consolidated statements of operations as the impact of the hedge transaction, concurrently with
the hedged costs.

The pre-tax gain attributed to the effective portion of cash flow hedges recognized in AOCI was

$4.9 million in fiscal 2023. The pre-tax loss attributed to the effective portion of cash flow hedges recognized in
AOCI was $2.6 million in fiscal 2022.

The pre-tax effective portion of the losses reclassified to the consolidated statements of operations was
$0.7 million in fiscal 2023, and the pre-tax effective portion of the loss reclassified to the consolidated statements
of operations was $2.1 million in fiscal 2022.

We also enter into foreign currency forward contracts to hedge against assets and liabilities for which we

have foreign currency exchange rate exposure and selected anticipated expenses. The contracts hedging
receivables and payables are carried at fair value with changes in the fair value recorded to other income/
(expense), net, in our consolidated statements of operations. The contracts hedging foreign currency denominated
operating expenses are carried at fair value with changes in the fair value recorded to other comprehensive
income until the hedged expenses are reported in our consolidated statements of operations.

As of September 29, 2023, the outstanding derivative instruments had maturities of equal to or less than

12 months. As of September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022, the total notional amounts of outstanding
contracts were $134.8 million and $130.8 million, respectively.

For additional information related to our foreign currency forward contracts, see Note 2 “Summary of

Significant Accounting Policies” to our consolidated financial statements.

A sensitivity analysis was performed on all of our foreign currency forward contracts as of September 29,
2023. This sensitivity analysis was based on a modeling technique that measures the hypothetical market value
resulting from a 10% shift in the value of exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar. For these forward contracts,
duration modeling was used where hypothetical changes were made to the spot rates of the currency. A 10%
increase in the value of the U.S. dollar would lead to a decrease in the fair value of our financial instruments by
$7.0 million. Conversely, a 10% decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar would result in an increase in the fair
value of these financial instruments by $7.0 million.

53

ITEM 8. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DOLBY LABORATORIES, INC.

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 185) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Consolidated Balance Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Consolidated Statements of Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

55

58

59

60

61

62

63

54

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
Dolby Laboratories, Inc.:

Opinions on the Consolidated Financial Statements and Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Dolby Laboratories, Inc. and subsidiaries

(the Company) as of September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022, the related consolidated statements of
operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year
period ended September 29, 2023, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). We
also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 29, 2023, based on
criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects,

the financial position of the Company as of September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022, and the results of its
operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended September 29, 2023, in
conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in
all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 29, 2023 based on criteria
established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

The Company acquired MPEG LA, L.L.C. during fiscal 2023. Management excluded from its assessment of

the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 29, 2023, MPEG
LA, L.L.C.’s internal control over financial reporting which represented 12% of total assets and less than 1.5% of
total revenue included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended
September 29, 2023. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of the Company also excluded an
evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of MPEG LA, L.L.C..

Basis for Opinions

The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining

effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control
over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial
Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and an
opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public
accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and
are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws
and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we
plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements
are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over
financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of
material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing
procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding
the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting
included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material

55

weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on
the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the
circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting
includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail,
accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable
assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made
only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable
assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the
company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect
misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that
controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the
policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the
consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee
and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and
(2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of a critical audit
matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we
are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit
matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Assessment of revenue estimate related to sales-based licensing arrangements

As discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, revenue is derived principally from the
licensing of technologies and patents to various types of licensees. The Company recognized total licensing
revenue of $1.2 billion for the year ended September 29, 2023. The Company estimates and records sales-based
licensing revenue from its licensees’ shipments in the same period in which those shipments occur. After
receiving the royalty statements from the licensees, which is generally in the quarter after those shipments have
occurred, the Company will record an adjustment based on the difference between the estimated and actual sales-
based licensing revenue.

We identified the assessment of the revenue estimates related to the Company’s sales-based licensing
arrangements as a critical audit matter. Auditor judgement was required to evaluate the Company’s estimation of
sales-based licensing revenue, which included the use of historical data, industry estimates of expected
shipments, market penetration, and average sales prices.

The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated

the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls over the Company’s sales-based
licensing revenue estimation process. This included controls related to the review of (1) historical data, (2) third-
party industry expectations for shipments of units, (3) the estimated percentage of market penetration, and
(4) estimated average sales prices. We tested the Company’s process to develop the sales-based licensing revenue

56

estimate. Specifically, we evaluated the sources of the historical data and assumptions that the Company used by
considering their relevance and reliability. We performed sensitivity analyses over certain assumptions to assess
the impact on the sales-based licensing revenue estimate of reasonably possible changes to the assumptions. In
addition, we compared the Company’s historical sales-based licensing revenue estimates to actual sales-based
licensing royalties received from licensees during the year, to assess the Company’s ability to accurately
estimate.

/s/ KPMG LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2002.

San Francisco, California
November 16, 2023

57

DOLBY LABORATORIES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

ASSETS
Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Restricted cash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Short-term investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $9,683 and $11,834 . . . . . . . .
Contract assets, net of allowance for credit losses of $138 and $125 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inventories, net
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Prepaid expenses and other current assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total current assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Long-term investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Property, plant, and equipment, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operating lease right-of-use assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Intangible assets, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Goodwill
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deferred taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other non-current assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 745,364
72,602
139,148
262,245
182,130
35,623
50,692

1,487,804
97,812
481,581
40,199
167,427
408,409
201,860
94,674

$ 620,127
8,244
189,213
243,593
176,093
23,549
50,075

1,310,894
102,514
513,481
46,530
112,265
365,147
183,568
55,149

Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$2,979,766

$2,689,548

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:

Accounts payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accrued liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income taxes payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Contract liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operating lease liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$

Total current liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-current contract liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-current operating lease liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other non-current liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Stockholders’ equity:

Class A, $0.001 par value, one vote per share, 500,000,000 shares authorized:

59,673,633 shares issued and outstanding as of September 29, 2023 and 59,798,862 as
of September 30, 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Class B, $0.001 par value, ten votes per share, 500,000,000 shares authorized:

36,085,779 shares issued and outstanding as of September 29, 2023 and 36,085,779 as
of September 30, 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Retained earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accumulated other comprehensive loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total stockholders’ equity – Dolby Laboratories, Inc.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Noncontrolling interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

20,925
351,399
4,769
31,505
13,628

422,226
39,997
37,020
108,339

607,582

$

14,171
230,237
1,265
18,588
13,257

277,518
23,203
37,685
100,122

438,528

53

53

41
2,391,990
(36,984)

2,355,100
17,084

41
2,297,730
(51,641)

2,246,183
4,837

Total stockholders’ equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2,372,184

2,251,020

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$2,979,766

$2,689,548

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

58

DOLBY LABORATORIES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

Revenue:

Licensing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Products and services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1,197,930
101,814

$1,164,533
89,260

$1,214,147
67,109

Total revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,299,744

1,253,793

1,281,256

Cost of revenue:

Cost of licensing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cost of products and services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

64,890
87,676

61,597
79,763

55,421
74,604

Total cost of revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

152,566

141,360

130,025

Gross margin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,147,178

1,112,433

1,151,231

Operating expenses:

Research and development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sales and marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
General and administrative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gain on sale of assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Restructuring charges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total operating expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Operating income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Other income/(expense):

Interest income/(expense), net
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other income, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total other income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Provision for income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net income including noncontrolling interest

Less: net (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. .

271,523
354,364
258,477
—
47,061

931,425

215,753

28,086
6,214

34,300

250,053
(48,409)

201,644
(988)

261,174
358,716
275,315
—
10,623

905,828

206,605

6,174
2,500

8,674

215,279
(31,381)

183,898
189

253,640
332,671
224,161
(13,871)
10,240

806,841

344,390

3,014
7,108

10,122

354,512
(36,689)

317,823
(7,596)

Net income attributable to Dolby Laboratories, Inc.

. . . . . . . . . . .

$ 200,656

$ 184,087

$ 310,227

Net income per share:

Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Diluted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$
$

2.10
2.05

$
$

1.84
1.81

$
$

3.07
2.97

Weighted-average shares outstanding:

Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Diluted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

95,771
97,733

99,990
101,983

101,190
104,622

Related party rent expense:

Included in operating expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Included in net income attributable to noncontrolling interest . . .

Cash dividend declared per common share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cash dividend paid per common share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$
$

$
$

— $
$
292

1.11
1.08

$
$

— $
$
284

1.02
1.00

$
$

(392)
381

0.91
0.88

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

59

DOLBY LABORATORIES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands)

Net income including noncontrolling interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other comprehensive income:

Currency translation adjustments gains/(losses), net of tax benefit/

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

$201,644

$183,898

$317,823

(expense) of $73, ($245), and ($501) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7,574

(31,586)

5,510

Unrealized gains/(losses) on investments, net of tax benefit of $54, $50,

and $108 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3,128

(6,206)

(598)

Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges, net of tax benefit/

(expense) of $85, $324, and ($419) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4,286

14,988

Total comprehensive income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

216,632

Less: comprehensive (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling

(4,361)

(42,153)

141,745

(4,091)

821

318,644

interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(1,319)

731

(7,853)

Comprehensive income attributable to Dolby Laboratories, Inc.

. . . . . . . .

$215,313

$142,476

$310,791

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

60

DOLBY LABORATORIES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in thousands)

Dolby Laboratories, Inc.

Class A

Class B

Shares Amount Shares Amount

APIC

Retained
Earnings

AOCI

Total
Stockholders’
Equity

Noncontrolling
Interest

Total

Balance as of September 25, 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64,168 $ 58 36,129 $ 41 $

Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — —
Other comprehensive income, net of tax . . . . . . . . . . . . — —
Distributions to noncontrolling interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . — —
Stock-based compensation expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — —
Repurchase of common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cash dividends declared and paid on common stock . . — —
Common stock issued under employee stock plans . . .
4
Tax withholdings on vesting of restricted stock . . . . . .
Common stock transfers—Class B to Class A . . . . . . .

3,714
(354) —
42 —

(2,584)

310,227

— —
— —
— —
— —

— $2,443,138 $(10,594) $2,432,643
310,227
—
564
—
—
—
99,698
99,698
(245,864)
(3) — — (189,577)
(89,172)
122,088
(32,205)
—

—
564
—
—
(56,284) —
(89,172) —
—
—
—

— —
— —
— —
(42) —

—
122,084
(32,205)
—

—
—
—

—
—
—

Balance as of September 24, 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64,986

59 36,087

41

Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — —
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — —
Distributions to noncontrolling interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . — —
Stock-based compensation expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — —
Capitalized stock-based compensation expense . . . . . . — —
Repurchase of common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
— —
Cash dividends declared and paid on common stock . . — —
2
Common stock issued under employee stock plans . . .
— —
(1) — —
Tax withholdings on vesting of restricted stock . . . . . .
Common stock transfers—Class B to Class A . . . . . . .
(1) —
1 —
— —
Deconsolidation of subsidiary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — —

— —
— —
— —
— —
— —

2,224
(409)

(7,003)

114,925
746
(7) — — (137,100)

Balance as of September 30, 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59,799

53 36,086

41

Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — —
Other comprehensive income, net of tax . . . . . . . . . . . . — —
Distributions to noncontrolling interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . — —
Stock-based compensation expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — —
Capitalized stock-based compensation expense . . . . . . — —
Repurchase of common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cash dividends declared and paid on common stock . . — —
Common stock issued under employee stock plans . . .
2
Tax withholdings on vesting of restricted stock . . . . . .
Equity issued in connection with business

2,189
(422) —

(1,892)

— —
— —
— —
— —
— —

— —
— —
— —

118,486
1,160
(2) — — (146,285)

184,087

— 2,607,909 (10,030) 2,597,979
184,087
—
(41,611)
—
—
—

—

— (41,611)
—
—
—

—
—
—
(393,379) —
— (100,067) —
—
—
—
—
—
—
(820) —

57,846
(36,417)
—
—

114,925
746
(530,486)
(100,067)
57,848
(36,418)
—
(820)

200,656

— 2,297,730 (51,641) 2,246,183
200,656
—
14,657
—
—
—

—
— 14,657
—
—
—

—
—
—
(2,989) —
— (103,407) —
—
—
—
—

118,486
1,160
(149,276)
(103,407)
47,781
(31,144)

47,779
(31,144)

$ 5,762
7,596
257
(7,362)
—
—
—
—
—
—

$2,438,405
317,823
821
(7,362)
99,698
(245,864)
(89,172)
122,088
(32,205)
—

6,253
(189)
(542)
(1,435)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
750

4,837
988
331
(266)
—
—
—
—
—
—

2,604,232
183,898
(42,153)
(1,435)
114,925
746
(530,486)
(100,067)
57,848
(36,418)
—
(70)

2,251,020
201,644
14,988
(266)
118,486
1,160
(149,276)
(103,407)
47,781
(31,144)

combination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — —

— —

10,004

—

—

10,004

11,194

21,198

Balance as of September 29, 2023 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59,674 $ 53 36,086 $ 41 $

— $2,391,990 $(36,984) $2,355,100

$17,084

$2,372,184

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

61

DOLBY LABORATORIES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)

Operating activities:

Net income including noncontrolling interest
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

activities:
Depreciation and amortization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Stock-based compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Amortization of premium on investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Provision for/(benefit from) credit losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deferred income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Impairment loss on internally developed software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gain on sale of assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other non-cash items affecting net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Contract assets, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inventories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operating lease right-of-use assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Prepaid expenses and other assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income taxes, net
Contract liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operating lease liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other non-current liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net cash provided by operating activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Investing activities:

Purchases of marketable securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Proceeds from sale of assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Business combinations, net of cash and restricted cash acquired . . . . . . . . . . .
Purchases of intangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Purchases of other investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Financing activities:

Proceeds from issuance of common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Repurchase of common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Payment of cash dividend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Distribution to noncontrolling interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Shares repurchased for tax withholdings on vesting of restricted stock . . . . . .
Payment of deferred consideration for prior business combinations . . . . . . . . .
Net cash used in financing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

$ 201,644

$ 183,898

$ 317,823

82,558
118,486
12,956
(860)
(793)
(18,337)
16,225
—
(2,800)

47,779
347
(13,226)
(8,817)
3,868
(52,315)
(8,722)
(8,379)
(5,818)
3,285
367,081

(172,955)
54,964
176,833
(30,339)
—
25,703
—
—
54,206

47,781
(149,276)
(103,407)
(266)
(31,144)
(500)
(236,812)

88,461
114,925
15,148
1,440
5,460
(29,465)
—
—
(5,037)

(14,314)
6,300
(11,759)
266
8,760
(33,542)
8,446
(413)
(15,399)
(4,599)
318,576

(311,313)
9,459
108,546
(47,928)
—
(38,171)
(11,528)
(5,000)
(295,935)

57,848
(530,486)
(100,067)
(1,435)
(36,418)
—

(610,558)

95,860
99,698
16,897
1,373
(2,889)
(37,048)
—
(13,871)
(5,452)

(49,034)
(21,154)
17,154
(5,199)
17,165
44,230
(2,975)
2,361
(11,369)
(15,817)
447,753

(67,101)
10,892
53,893
(54,454)
16,365
(4,500)
—
—
(44,905)

122,088
(245,864)
(89,172)
(7,362)
(32,205)
—

(252,515)

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and

restricted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net increase/(decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash . . . . . . . . .
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Supplemental disclosure:
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds received . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Change in property, plant, and equipment purchased, unpaid at period-end . . . . .
Equity issued in connection with business combination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Purchase consideration payable for business combinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Purchase consideration payable for intangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5,120
189,595
628,371
$ 817,966

$ 61,481

$

3,882
21,198
—
—

(16,744)
(604,661)
1,233,032
$ 628,371

2,720
153,053
1,079,979
$1,233,032

$

$

40,340

(1,481)
—
—
—

$

$

70,737

2,772
—
500
30

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

62

DOLBY LABORATORIES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Basis of Presentation

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Dolby Laboratories, Inc. and our wholly-
owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. In addition, we have consolidated the financial results of jointly owned
affiliated companies in which our principal stockholder or other entities have a noncontrolling interest. We report
these noncontrolling interests as a separate line in our consolidated statements of operations as net income
attributable to noncontrolling interest and in our consolidated balance sheets as a noncontrolling interest. We
eliminate all intercompany accounts and transactions upon consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of our financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make
certain estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and disclosed in our consolidated financial
statements and accompanying notes.

Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include estimated shipments by our licensees

for which we are owed a sales-based royalty. These estimates involve the use of historical data and judgment for
several key attributes including industry estimates of expected shipments, the percentage of markets using our
technologies, and average sale prices. Our estimates of royalty-based revenue also take into consideration the
macroeconomic effect of global events that may impact our licensees’ supply chain activities as well as demand
for shipments.

Additional significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include ESPs for performance
obligations within revenue arrangements; allowance for credit losses for accounts receivable; carrying values of
inventories and certain PP&E, goodwill and intangible assets; fair values of investments; accrued liabilities
including unrecognized tax benefits, deferred income tax assets and liabilities, and contingent liabilities; and
stock-based compensation. Actual results could differ from our estimates.

Fiscal Year

Our fiscal year is a 52 or 53 week period ending on the last Friday in September. The fiscal years presented
herein include the 52 week period ended September 29, 2023 (fiscal 2023) and September 24, 2021 (fiscal 2021),
and the 53 week period ended September 30, 2022 (fiscal 2022). Our fiscal year ending September 27, 2024
(fiscal 2024) will consist of 52 weeks.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Concentration of Credit Risk

Our financial instruments that are exposed to concentrations of credit risk principally consist of cash, cash

equivalents, restricted cash, investments, accounts receivable, and contract assets. We maintain cash, cash
equivalents, and investments with multiple financial institutions that have high credit standing, and that we
believe are financially sound and have minimal credit risk exposure, although at times our balances may exceed
the applicable insurance coverage limits. We monitor and manage the overall counterparty credit risk exposure of
our cash balances to individual financial institutions on an ongoing basis. Our investment portfolio consists of
investment-grade securities diversified amongst security types, industries, and issuers. All of our securities are
held in custody by large national financial institutions. Our investment policy limits the amount of credit
exposure to a maximum of 5% of our total portfolio to any one issuer, except for the U.S. Treasury, and we

63

believe no significant concentration risk exists with respect to these investments. We also mitigate counterparty
risk through entering into derivative contracts with high-credit-quality financial institutions. Actual or potential
defaults of one or more financial institutions could impact our results of operations or financial position, and
make it challenging to find alternative qualified counterparties.

The majority of our licensing revenue is generated from customers outside of the U.S. We manage the credit

risk posed by non-U.S. customers by performing regular evaluations of the creditworthiness of our licensing
customers and recognize revenue in accordance with US GAAP.

In fiscal 2023 and 2021, we did not have any individual customers that accounted for 10% of our total

revenue. For fiscal 2022, we had one individual customer whose revenue exceeded 10% of our total revenue.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider all short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less from the
date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents primarily consist of funds held in general
checking accounts, money market accounts, and U.S. agency securities.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash on our consolidated balance sheets consists of royalties payable to third-party licensors
through certain Via LA-administered patent pools. Restricted cash also consists of cash contributed by Dolby and
third-party licensors to Via LA, our subsidiary, that may only be used for licensor enforcement actions or
licensee compliance activities related to certain Via LA-administered patent pools, as well as to disperse costs
associated with any audit of Via LA for the Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) patent pool.

Investments

All of our investments are classified as AFS, with the exception of our mutual fund investments held in our

SERP, which are classified as trading securities, and our equity securities. Investments that have an original
maturity of 91 days or more at the date of purchase and a current maturity of less than one year are classified as
short-term investments, while investments with a current maturity of more than one year are classified as long-
term investments. Our AFS securities and trading securities are recorded at fair value in our consolidated balance
sheets. Unrealized gains and losses on our AFS securities are reported as a component of AOCI, while realized
gains and losses and credit losses are reported as a component of net income. Upon sale, gains and losses are
reclassified from AOCI into earnings, and are determined based on specific identification of securities sold.

We evaluate our investment portfolio for impairment by comparing the fair value with the cost basis for

each of our investment securities. If the fair value of our AFS securities is less than amortized cost, such
securities are considered impaired. If we have the intent to sell the debt security, or if it is more likely than not
that we will be required to sell the debt security before recovery of its amortized cost, the difference between the
amortized cost (net of allowance, if any) and the fair value of the securities is reported as an impairment loss in
net income. Impaired AFS securities that we intend to hold are evaluated to determine whether we need to
recognize an allowance for credit losses, limited to the difference between the fair value and amortized cost of
the security.

Equity Securities

Equity securities for which we possess the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over
operating and financing decisions are accounted for under the equity method. In applying the equity method, we
record the investment at cost and subsequently increase or decrease the carrying amount of the investment by our
proportionate share of the investee’s net earnings or losses. We record dividends or other equity distributions as

64

reductions in the carrying value of the investment. Our share of the equity method investee’s net income or loss
is included in other income/(expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations, and was $5.1 million,
$5.0 million, and $4.7 million in fiscal 2023, fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021, respectively. Our equity method
investment is included within long-term investments in our consolidated balance sheets.

We also hold an investment in an equity security of a privately-held company without a readily

determinable fair value. We elected to account for this investment using the measurement alternative, which is
cost, less any impairment, adjusted for changes in fair value resulting from observable transactions for identical
or similar investments of the same issuer. We perform a qualitative assessment at each reporting date to
determine whether there are triggering events for impairment. This equity security is included within long-term
investments in our consolidated balance sheets.

Allowance for Credit Losses

We maintain a provision for estimated credit losses on receivables resulting from our customers’ inability to

make required payments. In determining the provision, we pool receivables with similar risk characteristics to
evaluate the collectability of our receivables. Risk characteristics considered in creating these risk pools include
assessing historical or expected loss patterns, credit ratings, current macroeconomic conditions that could impact
collectability of cash flows, and structure of customer agreements. In cases where circumstances have changed
such that specific customers no longer share similar risk characteristics, customers are excluded from their
current pool and their risk profiles are evaluated separately. We recognize allowances for credit losses based on
our actual historical loss information, the current business environment, and reasonable and supportable
forecasts. Actual future losses from uncollectible accounts may differ from our estimates.

Inventories

Inventories are accounted for using the first-in, first-out method, and are valued at the lower of cost and net

realizable value. We evaluate our ending inventories for estimated excess quantities and obsolescence. Our
evaluation includes the analysis of future sales demand by product within specific time horizons. Inventories in
excess of projected future demand are written down to their net realizable value. In addition, we assess the
impact of changing technology on our inventory balances and write-off inventories that are considered obsolete.
Write-downs and write-offs of inventory are recorded as a cost of products in our consolidated statements of
operations. We classify inventory that we do not expect to sell within twelve months as other non-current assets
in our consolidated balance sheets.

Property, Plant, and Equipment

PP&E is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation expense is recognized on a straight-line

basis according to estimated useful lives assigned to each of our different categories of PP&E as summarized
within the following table:

PP&E Category

Useful Life

Computer equipment and software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Machinery and equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Furniture and fixtures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Leasehold improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Equipment provided under operating leases . . . . . . . . . .
Buildings and building improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 to 5 years
3 to 8 years
5 to 8 years
Lesser of useful life or related lease term
15 years
20 to 40 years

We may encounter scenarios where assets we acquire may deviate from the established standard useful life

provided above. Such occurrences are evaluated on a case by case basis, and are assigned a useful life
commensurate with the facts and circumstances associated with the specific PP&E being acquired. We capitalize

65

certain costs incurred during the construction phase of a project or asset into construction-in-progress until the
construction process is complete. Once the related asset is placed into service, we transfer its carrying value into
the appropriate fixed asset category and begin depreciating the value over its useful life.

Equipment Provided Under Operating Leases.

In arrangements that we assess as operating leases, we

recognize our equipment installed at third-party sites as PP&E and depreciate the asset on a straight-line basis.

Internal Use Software. We capitalize qualifying internal-use software development costs, consisting

primarily of external and internal labor, including stock based compensation, incurred during the application
development stage. Costs incurred during the preliminary project and post-implementation stages are charged to
expense. Capitalized costs are included in PP&E, net of accumulated amortization in our consolidated balance
sheets. Our capitalized internal use software costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over estimated useful
lives of three years, unless another systematic and rational basis is more representative of the software’s useful
life.

Goodwill, Intangible Assets, and Long-Lived Assets

We perform an assessment of goodwill for potential impairment annually during our third fiscal quarter or

more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value
of the reporting unit below its carrying amount. For our annual goodwill test as of the fiscal quarter ended
June 30, 2023, a qualitative assessment was performed and we concluded that it was more likely than not that its
fair value was in excess of its carrying amount. Accordingly, no quantitative assessment was performed and no
impairment was recorded. We did not incur any goodwill impairment losses in any of the periods presented.

Intangible assets are stated at their original cost less accumulated amortization, and those with definite lives
are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Our intangible assets principally consist of acquired technology,
patents, trademarks, customer relationships and contracts, the majority of which are amortized on a straight-line
basis over their useful lives using a range from three to eighteen years.

We review long-lived assets, including intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or a change in
circumstances indicate an asset or asset group’s carrying value may not be recoverable. Recoverability of an
asset or asset group is measured by comparing its carrying amount to the total future undiscounted cash flows
that it is expected to generate. If it is determined that an asset or asset group is not recoverable, an impairment
loss is recorded in the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds its estimated fair value.

Revenue Recognition

We enter into revenue arrangements with our customers to license technologies, trademarks and patents for

sound and imaging solutions, and to sell products and services. We recognize revenue when we satisfy a
performance obligation by transferring control over the use of a license, product, or service to a customer.

For additional financial information and a summary of our accounting policy, refer to Note 3. “Revenue

Recognition” to our consolidated financial statements.

Cost of Revenue

Cost of licensing. Cost of licensing primarily consists of amortization expenses associated with purchased

intangible assets and intangible assets acquired in business combinations. Cost of licensing also includes IP
royalty obligations to third parties, depreciation of our Dolby Cinema equipment provided under operating leases
in collaborative arrangements, and direct fees incurred.

Cost of products and services. Cost of products primarily consists of the cost of materials related to
products sold, applied labor, and manufacturing overhead. Our cost of products also includes third party royalty

66

obligations paid to license IP that we include in our products. Cost of services primarily consists of the personnel
and personnel- related costs of employees performing our professional services, and those of outside consultants,
and reimbursable expenses incurred on behalf of customers.

Stock-Based Compensation

We measure expenses associated with all employee stock-based compensation awards using a fair-value

method and record such expense in our consolidated financial statements on a straight-line basis over the
requisite service period.

Advertising and Promotional Costs

Advertising and promotional costs are charged primarily to S&M expense as incurred. Our advertising and

promotional costs were as follows (in thousands):

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

Advertising and promotional costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$59,821

$51,422

$52,253

Foreign Currency Activities

Foreign Currency Translation. We maintain business operations in foreign countries. We translate the

assets and liabilities of our international subsidiaries, the majority of which are denominated in non-U.S. dollar
functional currencies, into U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect at the end of each period. Revenue and
expenses of these subsidiaries are translated using the average rates for the period. Gains and losses from these
translations are included in AOCI within stockholders’ equity.

Foreign Currency Transactions. Certain of our foreign subsidiaries transact in currencies other than their
functional currency. Therefore, we re-measure non-functional currency assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries
using exchange rates at the end of each period. As a result, we recognize foreign currency transaction and
re-measurement gains and losses, which are recorded within other income, net in our consolidated statements of
operations. These losses were as follows (in thousands):

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

Foreign currency transaction gains/(losses) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$536

$(1,283)

$(749)

Non-designated Hedges.

In an effort to reduce the risk that our earnings will be adversely affected by
foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, we enter into foreign currency forward contracts exclusively to
hedge against assets and liabilities for which we have foreign currency exchange rate exposure. These derivative
instruments are carried at fair value with changes in the fair value recorded to other income/(expense), net, in our
consolidated statements of operations. While not designated as hedging instruments, these foreign currency
forward contracts are used to reduce the exchange rate risk associated primarily with intercompany receivables
and payables. These contracts do not subject us to material balance sheet risk due to exchange rate movements as
gains and losses on these derivatives are intended to offset gains and losses on the related receivables and
payables for which we have foreign currency exchange rate exposure. As of September 29, 2023 and
September 30, 2022, the outstanding derivative instruments had maturities of equal to or less than 31 days,
respectively, and the total notional amounts of outstanding contracts were $61.7 million and $56.6 million,
respectively. The fair values of these contracts are included within prepaid expenses and other current assets and
within accrued liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets.

67

Cash Flow Hedges. We also enter into forward currency contracts exclusively designated as cash flow
hedges, which have a maturity of thirteen months or less, to reduce the impact of currency volatility on U.S.
dollar operating expenses. As of September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022, the outstanding derivative
instruments had maturities of equal to or less than 12 months, and the total notional amounts of outstanding
contracts were $73.1 million and $74.1 million, respectively. The gains and losses from the effective portions of
cash flow hedges are recorded at fair value as a component of AOCI, until the hedged item is subsequently
reclassified into earnings in the same period in which the hedged transaction affects earnings, with the
corresponding hedged item. Amounts reclassified are recorded to the same line item in the consolidated
statements of operations as the impact of the hedge transaction, concurrently with the hedged costs.

The pre-tax gain attributed to the effective portion of cash flow hedges recognized in AOCI was

$4.9 million in fiscal 2023. The pre-tax loss attributed to the effective portion of cash flow hedges recognized in
AOCI was $2.6 million in fiscal 2022. The pre-tax effective portion of the losses reclassified to the consolidated
statements of operations was $0.7 million and $2.1 million in fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022, respectively.

Income Taxes

We use the asset and liability method, under which deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined

based upon the difference between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and
liabilities, and NOL carryforwards are measured using the enacted tax rate expected to apply to taxable income in
the years in which the differences are expected to be reversed. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets,
we consider whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be
realized. The realization of deferred tax assets is additionally dependent upon the generation of future taxable
income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. We consider the scheduled
reversal of deferred tax liabilities and projected future taxable income in making this assessment, and we record a
valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets when it is more-likely-than-not that some portion or all of
the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

We record an unrecognized tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that

the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities. We include interest and penalties
related to gross unrecognized tax benefits within our provision for income taxes. To the extent accrued interest
and penalties do not ultimately become payable, amounts accrued are reversed in the period that such
determination is made and are reflected as a reduction of the overall income tax provision.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

We continually assess any ASUs or other new accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB to determine
their applicability and impact on us. Where it is determined that a new accounting pronouncement will result in a
change to our financial reporting, we take the appropriate steps to ensure that such changes are properly reflected
in our consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.

Adopted Standards

Business Combinations.

In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, Business Combinations

(Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers, which
requires contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination to be recognized and measured
by an acquirer in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This standard is effective
for Dolby beginning September 30, 2023 on a prospective basis, but early adoption is permitted. We early
adopted this ASU in conjunction with the acquisition of MPEG LA by Via Corp (as defined below), and with that
adoption, we recognized $38.1 million in deferred revenue. Refer to Note 15 “Business Combinations” for a
description of the recent business combination involving Via LA. There were no other business combinations
entered into during fiscal 2023.

68

3. Revenue Recognition

We enter into revenue arrangements with our customers to license technologies, trademarks and patents for

sound and imaging solutions, and to sell products and services. We recognize revenue when we satisfy a
performance obligation by transferring control over the use of a license, product, or service to a customer.

A. Identification of the Contract or Contracts with Customers

We generally determine that a contract with a customer exists upon the execution of an agreement and after

consideration of collectability, which could include an evaluation of the customer’s payment history, the
existence of a standby letter-of-credit between the customer’s financial institution and our financial institution,
public financial information, and other factors. At contract inception, we also evaluate whether two or more
non-standard agreements with a customer should be combined and accounted for as a single contract.

B. Identification of Performance Obligations in a Contract

We generate revenue principally from the following sources, which represent performance obligations in

our contracts with customers:

•

Licensing. We license our technologies, including patents, to a range of customers who incorporate
them into their products for enhanced audio and imaging functionality across broadcast, mobile, CE,
PC, gaming, and other markets.

• Product Sales. We design and provide audio and imaging products for the cinema, television,

broadcast, and entertainment industries.

•

Services. We provide various services to support theatrical and television production for cinema
exhibition, broadcast, and home entertainment, including equipment training, mixing room alignment,
equalization, as well as audio, color and light image calibration. We also offer solutions to companies
building real-time digital experiences that increase audience engagement. Our solution provides the
capability to stream high quality audiovisual content in ultra-low latency which reduces the delay
between the action and the viewer.

• PCS. We provide PCS for products sold and for equipment leased, and we support the

implementation of our licensing technologies in our licensees’ products.

• Equipment Leases. We collaborate with established cinema exhibitors to offer Dolby Cinema, a
branded premium cinema offering for movie audiences by leasing equipment and licensing our IP.

•

Licensing Administration Fees. We generate administrative fees for managing patent pools on behalf
of third party patent owners through our subsidiary, Via LA. See Note 15 “Business Combinations” for
a description of the recent business combination involving Via LA.

Some of our revenue arrangements include multiple performance obligations, such as hardware, software,
support and maintenance, and extended warranty services. We evaluate whether promised products and services
are distinct performance obligations.

The majority of our arrangements with multiple performance obligations pertain to our digital cinema server

and processor sales that include the following distinct performance obligations to which we allocate portions of
the transaction price based on their stand-alone selling price:

• Digital cinema server hardware and embedded software, which is dependent on and interrelated with
the hardware. Accordingly, the hardware and embedded software represent a single performance
obligation.

• The right to support and maintenance, which is included with the purchase of the digital cinema server

hardware, is a distinct performance obligation.

69

• The right to receive commissioning services is a distinct performance obligation within the sale of the
Dolby Atmos Cinema Processor. These services consist of the review of venue designs specifying
proposed speaker placement as well as calibration services performed for installed speakers to ensure
optimal playback.

C. Determination of Transaction Price for Performance Obligations in a Contract

After identifying the distinct performance obligations, we determine the transaction price in accordance with

the terms of the underlying executed contract which may include variable consideration such as discounts,
rebates, refunds, rights of returns, and incentives. We assess and update, if necessary, the amount of variable
consideration to which we are entitled for each reporting period. At the end of each reporting period, we estimate
and accrue a liability for returns and adjustments as a reduction to revenue based on several factors, including
past returns history.

With the exception of our sales-based royalties, we evaluate whether a significant financing component
exists when we recognize revenue in advance of customer payments that occur over time. For example, some of
our licensing arrangements include payment terms greater than one year from when we transfer control of our IP
to a licensee and the receipt of the final payment for that IP. If a significant financing component exists, we
classify a portion of the transaction price as interest income, instead of recognizing all of the transaction price as
revenue. We do not adjust the transaction price for the effects of financing if, at contract inception, the period
between the transfer of control to a customer and final payment is expected to be one year or less.

D. Allocation of Transaction Price to Distinct Performance Obligations in a Contract

For our sales-based royalties where the license is the predominant item to which the royalties relate, we

present all revenue as licensing.

For revenue arrangements that include multiple performance obligations, we determine the stand-alone
selling price for each distinct performance obligation based on the actual selling prices made to customers. If the
performance obligation is not sold separately, we estimate the stand-alone selling price. We do so by considering
market conditions such as competitor pricing strategies, customer specific information and industry technology
lifecycles, internal conditions such as cost and pricing practices, or applying the residual approach method when
the selling price of the good, most commonly a license, is highly variable or uncertain.

Once the transaction price, including any variable consideration, has been determined, we allocate the
transaction price to the performance obligations identified in the contract and recognize revenue as or when
control is transferred for each distinct performance obligation.

E. Revenue Recognition as Control is Transferred to a Customer

We generate our licensing revenue by licensing our technologies and patents to various types of licensees,
such as chip manufacturers (“implementation licensees”), consumer product manufacturers, software vendors,
and communications service providers. Our revenue recognition policies for each of these arrangements are
summarized below.

Initial fees from implementation licensees.

Implementation licensees incorporate our technologies into
their chipsets that, once approved by Dolby, are available for purchase by OEMs for use in end-user products.
Implementation licensees only pay us a nominal initial fee on contract execution as consideration for the ongoing
services that we provide to assist in their implementation process. Revenue from these initial fees is recognized
ratably over the contractual term as a component of licensing revenue.

Sales-based licensing fees.

In our royalty bearing licensing agreements with OEMs, control is transferred

upon the later of contract execution or the contract’s effective date. We apply the royalty exception, which

70

requires that we recognize sales-based royalties when the sales occur based on our estimates. These estimates
involve the use of historical data and judgment for several key attributes including industry estimates of expected
shipments, the percentage of markets using our technologies, and average sale prices. Generally, our estimates
represent the current period’s shipments to which we expect our licensees to submit royalty statements within the
following two quarters. Upon receipt of royalty statements from the licensees with the actual reporting of sales-
based royalties that we estimated previously, we record a favorable or unfavorable adjustment based on the
difference, if any, between estimated and actual sales. In the first quarter of fiscal 2023, we recorded a favorable
adjustment of approximately $10 million, which was primarily related to shipments that occurred in our fourth
quarter of fiscal 2022 (July through September) and largely based on actual royalty statements received from
licensees. In the second quarter of fiscal 2023, we recorded a favorable adjustment of $1 million, and in the third
and fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, we recorded a favorable adjustment of $1 million and $5 million, respectively,
each primarily related to shipments that occurred in the prior two quarters, and largely based on actual royalty
statements received from licensees.

Fixed and guaranteed licensing fees.

In certain cases, our arrangements require the licensee to pay fixed,

non-refundable fees. In these cases, control is transferred and fees are recognized upon the later of contract
execution or the effective date. Additionally and separate from initial fees from implementation licensees, our
sales- and usage-based licensing agreements include a nominal fee, which is also recognized at a point in time in
which control of the IP has been transferred. Revenue from these arrangements is included as a component of
licensing revenue.

Recoveries. Through compliance efforts, we identify misreported licensed activity related to non-current

periods. We may record a favorable or unfavorable revenue adjustment in connection with the findings from
these compliance efforts generally upon resolution with the licensee through agreement of the findings, or upon
receipt of the licensee’s correction statement. Revenue from these arrangements is included as a component of
licensing revenue.

We undertake activities aimed at identifying potential unauthorized uses of our technologies, which, when
successful, result in the recognition of revenue. Recoveries stem from third parties who agree to remit payments
to us based on past use of our technology. In these scenarios, a legally binding contract did not exist at the time
of use of our technology, and therefore, we recognize revenue recoveries upon execution of the agreement as that
is the point in time at which a contract exists and control is transferred. This revenue is classified as licensing
revenue.

In general, we classify legal costs associated with activities aimed at identifying potential unauthorized uses
of our technologies, auditing existing licensees, and on occasion, pursuing litigation as S&M in our consolidated
statements of operations.

We recognize licensing revenue gross of withholding taxes, which our licensees remit directly to their local

tax authorities, and for which we receive a partial foreign tax credit in our income tax provision.

In addition to our licensing arrangements, we also enter into arrangements to deliver products and services.

Product Sales. Revenue from the sale of products is recognized when the customer obtains control of the

promised good or service, which is generally upon shipment. Payments are generally made within 90 days of
sale.

Services. We provide various services, such as engineering services related to movie soundtrack print
mastering, equipment training and maintenance, mixing room alignment, equalization, and image calibration,
which we bill on a fixed fee and time and materials basis. Most of these services are of a short duration and are
recognized as control of the performance obligations are transferred which is when the related services are
performed.

71

Cloud Services. We provide access to audio and video APIs through our developer platform as well as

cloud encoding services, generally, on either a consumption or subscription basis. Revenue related to cloud
services provided on a consumption basis is recognized when the customer utilizes the services, based on the
quantity of services consumed. Revenue related to cloud services provided on a subscription basis is recognized
ratably over the contract term as the customer receives and consumes the benefits of the cloud services.

Collaborative Arrangements. We collaborate with established cinema exhibitors to offer Dolby Cinema, a

branded premium cinema offering for movie audiences. Under such collaborations, Dolby and the exhibitor are
both active participants, and share the risks and rewards associated with the business. Accordingly, these
collaborations are governed by revenue sharing arrangements under which Dolby receives revenue based on box
office receipts, reported to Dolby by exhibitor partners on a monthly or quarterly basis, our proprietary designs
and trademarks as well as for the use of our equipment at the exhibitor’s venue. The use of our product solution
meets the definition of a lease, and for the related portion of Dolby’s share of revenue, we apply ASC 842,
Leases, and recognize revenue based on monthly box office reports from exhibitors. Our revenue share is
recognized as licensing revenue in our consolidated statements of operations.

In addition, we also enter into hybrid agreements where a portion of our revenue share involves guaranteed
payments, which in some cases result in classifying the arrangement as a sales-type lease. In such arrangements,
we consider control to transfer at the point in time to which we have installed and tested the equipment, at which
point we record such guaranteed payments as product revenue.

Licensing Administration Fee. We generate administrative fees for managing patent pools on behalf of
third party patent owners through our subsidiary, Via LA. As an agent to licensors in the patent pool, Via LA
receives a share of the sales-based royalty that the patent pool licensors earn from licensees. As such, we apply
the sales-based royalty exception as the service provided is directly related to the patent pool licensors’ provision
of IP, which results in recognition based on estimates of the licensee’s quarter shipments that use the pool’s
patents. In addition to sales-based royalties, Via LA also has contracts where the fees are fixed. The revenue
share Via LA receives from licensors on fixed fee contracts is recognized over the term in which we are
providing services associated with the fixed fee contract. We recognize our administrative fees net of the
consideration paid to the patent licensors in the pool as licensing revenue. See Note 15 “Business Combinations”
to our consolidated financial statements for a description of the recent business combination involving Via LA.

Deferred revenue, which is a component of contract liabilities, represents amounts that are ultimately
expected to be recognized as revenue, but for which we have yet to satisfy the performance obligation. On
September 29, 2023, we had $71.3 million of remaining performance obligations, 44% of which we expect to
recognize as revenue in fiscal 2024, 21% in fiscal 2025, and the balance of 35% in fiscal years beyond 2025.

F. Disaggregation of Revenue

The following table presents a summary of the composition of our revenue for all periods presented (in

thousands, except percentage amounts):

September 29, 2023

September 30, 2022

September 24, 2021

Fiscal Year Ended

Revenue
Licensing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Products and services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1,197,930
101,814

92% $1,164,533
89,260
8%

93% $1,214,147
67,109
7%

95%
5%

Total revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1,299,744

100% $1,253,793

100% $1,281,256

100%

72

The following table presents the composition of our licensing revenue for all periods presented (in

thousands, except percentage amounts):

September 29, 2023

September 30, 2022

September 24, 2021

Fiscal Year Ended

Market
Broadcast
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mobile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 451,719
243,897
170,197
124,362
207,755

38% $ 433,992
238,735
20%
186,285
14%
151,079
10%
154,442
18%

37% $ 475,648
261,232
21%
181,944
16%
141,919
13%
153,404
13%

39%
22%
15%
12%
12%

Total licensing revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1,197,930

100% $1,164,533

100% $1,214,147

100%

We license our technologies in approximately 70 countries, and our licensees distribute products that
incorporate our technologies throughout the world. We generate the majority of our revenue from outside the
U.S. Geographic data for our licensing revenue is based on the location of our licensees’ headquarters, products
revenue is based on the destination to which we ship our products, and services revenue is based on the location
where services are performed. The following table presents the composition of our revenue by geographic
location for all periods presented (in thousands, except percentage amounts):

September 29, 2023

September 30, 2022

September 24, 2021

Fiscal Year Ended

Geographic Location
United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
International

$ 466,030
833,714

36% $ 468,246
785,547
64%

37% $ 419,901
861,355
63%

33%
67%

Total revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1,299,744

100% $1,253,793

100% $1,281,256

100%

G. Contract Balances

Our contract assets represent rights to consideration from licensees for the use of our IP that we have
estimated in a given period in the absence of receiving actual royalty statements from licensees. These estimates
reflect our best judgment at that time, and are developed using a number of inputs, including historical data,
industry estimates of expected shipments, anticipated sales price and performance, and third party data
supporting the percentage of markets using our technologies. In the event that our estimates differ from actual
amounts reported, we record an adjustment in the quarter in which the royalty statement is received, which is
typically the quarter following our estimate. Actual amounts reported are typically paid within 60 days following
the end of the quarter of shipment. The main drivers for change in the contract assets account are variances in
quarterly estimates, and to a lesser degree, timing of receipt of actual royalty statements.

Our contract liabilities consist of advance payments and billings in advance of performance and deferred
revenue that is typically satisfied within one year. The non-current portion of contract liabilities is separately
disclosed in our consolidated balance sheets. We present the net contract asset or liability when we have both
contract assets and contract liabilities for a single contract. In fiscal 2023, we recognized $18.3 million from prior
period deferred revenue.

73

The following table presents a summary of the balances to which contract assets and liabilities related to

revenue are recorded for all periods presented (in thousands, except percentage amounts):

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accounts receivable, net
Contract assets, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Contract liabilities—current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Contract liabilities—non-current . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$262,245
182,130
31,505
39,997

$243,593
176,093
18,588
23,203

$18,652
6,037
12,917
16,794

8%
3%
69%
72%

September 29, 2023

September 30, 2022 Change ($) Change (%)

4. Composition of Certain Financial Statement Captions

The following tables present detailed information from our consolidated balance sheets as of September 29,

2023 and September 30, 2022 (in thousands).

Accounts Receivable and Contract Assets

Trade accounts receivable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accounts receivable from patent administration program licensees . . . . . . . . . .
Contract assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$137,820
134,108
182,268

Accounts receivable and contract assets, gross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Less: allowance for credit losses on accounts receivable and contract assets . . .

454,196
(9,821)

$162,531
92,896
176,218

431,645
(11,959)

Total accounts receivable and contract assets, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$444,375

$419,686

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

Accounts receivable as of September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022, respectively, includes unbilled
accounts receivable balances of $150.4 million and $106.9 million, related to amounts that are contractually
owed. The unbilled balance represents our unconditional right to consideration related to fixed fee contracts
which we are entitled to as a result of satisfying, or partially satisfying, performance obligations, as well as Via
LA’s unconditional right to consideration related to its patent administration programs.

Allowance for Credit Losses

For fiscal year ended:

Beginning
Balance

Charges/(Credits)
to S&M and G&A

Additions/
(Deductions)

Ending
Balance

September 24, 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
September 30, 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
September 29, 2023 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$15,908
8,952
14,405

$(2,889)
5,460
(793)

$(4,067)
(7)
(2,643)

$ 8,952
14,405
10,969

Allowance for credit losses includes the provision for estimated credit losses on our sales-type leases, which

was not material as of September 29, 2023 and as of September 30, 2022.

Inventories

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

Raw materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Work in process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Finished goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 6,203
3,972
25,448

Total inventories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$35,623

$10,026
4,955
8,568

$23,549

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Inventory with a consumption period
expected to exceed twelve months is recorded within other non-current assets in our consolidated balance sheets.

74

We have included $8.1 million and $2.8 million of inventory within non-current assets as of September 29, 2023
and September 30, 2022, respectively. Based on anticipated inventory consumption rates, and aside from existing
write-downs due to excess inventory, we do not believe that material risk of obsolescence exists prior to ultimate
sale.

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

Prepaid expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other current assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$24,435
26,257

Total prepaid expenses and other current assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$50,692

$26,851
23,224

$50,075

Accrued Liabilities

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

Amounts payable to patent administration program partners . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accrued compensation and benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accrued professional fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unpaid property, plant, and equipment additions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accrued customer refunds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accrued market development funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other accrued liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total accrued liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$150,509
118,728
18,632
18,002
3,878
5,010
36,640

$351,399

$ 63,106
84,111
13,057
15,428
3,674
7,206
43,655

$230,237

Other Non-Current Liabilities

Supplemental retirement plan obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-current tax liabilities (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total other non-current liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$

4,302
74,482
29,555

$108,339

$

4,127
83,758
12,237

$100,122

(1) Refer to Note 12 “Income Taxes” for additional information related to our tax liabilities.

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

5. Investments and Fair Value Measurements

We use cash holdings to purchase investment-grade securities diversified among security types, industries,

and issuers. All of our investments in debt securities are measured at fair value, and are recorded within cash
equivalents and both short-term and long-term investments in our consolidated balance sheets. With the
exception of our mutual fund investments held in our SERP and classified as trading securities and our other
long-term investments, all of our investments are classified as AFS securities. Derivative contracts are used to
hedge currency risk, and these are carried at fair value and classified as other assets and other liabilities.

75

Our investments in debt securities consist of corporate bonds, government bonds, municipal debt securities,
U.S. agency securities, commercial paper, and certificates of deposit. In addition, our cash and cash equivalents
also consist of highly-liquid money market funds and U.S. agency securities. Consistent with our investment
policy, none of our municipal debt investments are supported by letters of credit or standby purchase agreements.
Our cash and investment portfolio consisted of the following (in thousands):

Cash and cash equivalents:

Cash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cash equivalents:

September 29, 2023

Unrealized

Estimated Fair Value

Cost

Gains

Losses

Total

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

$602,288

$— $ — $602,288

$602,288

$ — $—

Commercial paper
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Money market funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Government Bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,514 —
139,831 —
1,731 —

Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

745,364 —

Short-term investments:

Certificate of deposit
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
U.S. agency securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Government bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Commercial paper
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Corporate bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Municipal debt securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

530 —

1
3

5,956
50,220
5,843 —
61,803 —
15,801 —

—
—
—

—

—

(7)
(384)
(3)
(431)
(184)

530
5,950
49,839
5,840
61,372
15,617

Short-term investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

140,153

Long-term investments:

Government bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Corporate bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Municipal debt securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other investments (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

33,227 —
39,057
16,137 —
11,244 —

Long-term investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

99,665

Total cash, cash equivalents, and

4

6

6

(1,009)

139,148

(1,046)
(589)
(224)
—

(1,859)

32,181
38,474
15,913
11,244

97,812

1,514
139,831
1,731

—
139,831
1,731

1,514 —
—
—

—
—

745,364

743,850

1,514 —

—
—
46,246
—
—
—

46,246

32,181
—
—
—

32,181

530 —
5,950 —
3,593 —
5,840 —
61,372 —
15,617 —

92,902 —

—

—
38,474 —
15,913 —
—

—

54,387 —

investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$985,182

$ 10

$(2,868) $982,324

$822,277

$148,803

$—

Investments held in supplemental retirement

plan:

Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Included in prepaid expenses and other
current assets and other non-current
assets

Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Included in accrued liabilities and
other non-current liabilities

Currency derivatives as hedge instruments:

Assets: Included in other current assets . . . .
Assets: included in other non-current

assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Liabilities: Included in other accrued

liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Liabilities: Included in other non-current

liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$

4,400

$— $ — $

4,400

$ 4,400

$ — $—

$

4,400

$— $ — $

4,400

$ 4,400

$ — $—

$ — $144

$ — $

144

$ — $

144

$—

—

—

—

2

—

2

—

—

(618)

(618)

(24)

(24)

—

—

—

2 —

(618) —

(24) —

(1) Other investments as of September 29, 2023 is primarily comprised of an equity method investment of $5.9 million and an equity

security without a readily determinable fair value, valued at $5.0 million.

76

Cash and cash equivalents:

Cash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cash equivalents:

September 30, 2022

Unrealized

Estimated Fair Value

Cost

Gains

Losses

Total

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

$474,813

$— $ — $474,813

$474,813

$ — $—

Money market funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
U.S. agency securities . . . . . . . . . . . . .

134,987 —
10,328 —

Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

620,128 —

Short-term investments:

Certificate of deposit
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
U.S. agency securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Government bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Commercial paper
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Corporate bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Municipal debt securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8

1

23,033
3,412 —
57,417 —
8,786
72,730 —
25,589 —

—

(1)

(1)

(47)
(21)
(705)
(15)
(734)
(241)

22,994
3,391
56,712
8,772
71,996
25,348

Short-term investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

190,967

9

(1,763)

189,213

Long-term investments:

U.S. agency securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Government bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Corporate bonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Municipal debt securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other investments (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

861 —
43,816 —
29,684
21,483 —
10,902 —

Long-term investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

106,746

Total cash, cash equivalents, and

(39)
(2,222)
(1,349)
(626)
—

822
41,594
28,339
20,857
10,902

(4,236)

102,514

4

4

134,987
10,327

134,987
—

—

—
10,327 —

620,127

609,800

10,327 —

—
—
52,833
—
—
—

52,833

—
38,055
—
—
—

38,055

22,994 —
3,391 —
3,879 —
8,772 —
71,996 —
25,348 —

136,380 —

822 —
3,539 —
28,339 —
20,857 —
—

—

53,557 —

investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$917,841

$ 13

$(6,000) $911,854

$700,688

$200,264

$—

Investments held in supplemental retirement

plan:

Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Included in prepaid expenses and other
current assets and other non-current
assets

Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Included in accrued liabilities and
other non-current liabilities

Currency derivatives as hedge instruments:

Liabilities: Included in other accrued

$

4,225

$— $ — $

4,225

$ 4,225

$ — $—

$

4,225

$— $ — $

4,225

$ 4,225

$ — $—

liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ — $— $(4,882) $ (4,882) $ — $ (4,882)

$—

Liabilities: Included in other non-current

liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

—

—

(420)

(420)

—

(420) —

(1) Other investments as of September 30, 2022 is comprised of an equity method investment of $5.9 million and an equity security without

a readily determinable fair value, valued at $5.0 million.

Fair Value Hierarchy. Fair value is the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to
transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability, in an orderly transaction
between market participants at the measurement date. We minimize the use of unobservable inputs and use
observable market data, if available, when determining fair value. We classify our inputs to measure fair value
using the following three-level hierarchy:

Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets at the measurement date for identical assets and liabilities. We base
the fair value of our Level 1 financial instruments, which are traded in active markets, using quoted market prices
for identical instruments.

77

Level 2: Prices may be based upon quoted prices in active markets or inputs not quoted on active markets

but are corroborated by market data. We obtain the fair value of our Level 2 financial instruments from a
professional pricing service, which may use quoted market prices for identical or comparable instruments, or
model driven valuations using observable market data or inputs corroborated by observable market data. To
validate the fair value determination provided by our primary pricing service, we perform quality controls over
values received which include comparing our pricing service provider’s assessment of the fair values of our
investment securities against the fair values of our investment securities obtained from another independent
source, reviewing the pricing movement in the context of overall market trends, and reviewing trading
information from our investment managers. In addition, we assess the inputs and methods used in determining
the fair value in order to determine the classification of securities in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of the
currency derivatives are calculated from market spot rates, forward rates, interest rates, and credit ratings at the
end of the period.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs are used when little or no market data is available and reflect management’s

estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

The following table describes the valuation techniques and inputs applicable to each class of security held

within our investment portfolio as of September 29, 2023:

Asset Type

Level 1

Primary Source

Update
Frequency

Fair Value Methodology

Secondary Source

Money Market Funds . . . . . . .
U.S. Government Bonds . . . .

Not Applicable
ICE (Intercontinental
Exchange)

Daily
Daily

Level 2

Certificates of Deposit . . . . . .

ICE (Intercontinental
Exchange)

Daily

Commercial Paper . . . . . . . . . U.S. Bank Pricing

Daily

Corporate Bonds . . . . . . . . . .

Unit
ICE (Intercontinental
Exchange)

Municipal Debt Securities . . .

U.S. Agency Securities . . . . .

ICE (Intercontinental
Exchange)

ICE (Intercontinental
Exchange)

Int’l Government Bonds . . . . .

ICE (Intercontinental
Exchange)
Extel Financial Ltd

78

Daily

Daily

Daily

Daily

$1 per share
Institutional Bond
Quotes—evaluations
based on various
market and industry
inputs

Institutional Bond
Quotes—evaluations
based on various
market and industry
inputs
Matrix Pricing

Institutional Bond
Quotes—evaluations
based on various
market and industry
inputs
Evaluations based on
various market and
industry inputs
Institutional Bond
Quotes—evaluations
based on various
market and industry
inputs
Evaluations based on
various market factors

Not Applicable
Bloomberg

Bloomberg

Not Applicable

Bloomberg

Bloomberg

Bloomberg

Bloomberg

Securities In Gross Unrealized Loss Position. We periodically evaluate our investments for impairment by

comparing the fair value with the cost basis for each of our investment securities. The unrealized losses on our
AFS securities were primarily the result of unfavorable changes in interest rates subsequent to the initial purchase
of these securities. The following table presents the gross unrealized losses and fair value for those AFS
securities that were in an unrealized loss position for less than twelve months and for greater than twelve months
as of September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022 (in thousands):

September 29, 2023

September 30, 2022

Less Than 12 Months Greater Than 12 Months Less Than 12 Months Greater Than 12 Months

Investment Type

Fair
Value

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

Certificate of deposit . . . . . . . . . $ —
U.S. agency securities . . . . . . . .
Government bonds . . . . . . . . . .
Commercial paper . . . . . . . . . . .
Corporate bonds . . . . . . . . . . . .
Municipal debt securities . . . . .

853
26,756
5,840
79,846
23,365

$ —

(7)
(247)
(3)
(461)
(203)

Fair
Value

$ —
—
40,235
—
14,634
8,166

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

$ —
—
(1,183)
—
(558)
(206)

Fair
Value

$ 10,352
13,144
89,741
5,770
81,044
40,119

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

$

(47)
(5)
(2,593)
(15)
(1,523)
(712)

Fair
Value

$ —
1,395
8,566
—
18,306
3,336

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

$ —

(55)
(332)
—
(561)
(156)

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $136,660

$(921)

$63,035

$(1,947)

$240,170

$(4,895)

$31,603

$(1,104)

Although we had certain securities that were in an unrealized loss position as of September 29, 2023 and

September 30, 2022, we expect to recover the full carrying value of these securities.

Investment Maturities. The following table summarizes the amortized cost and estimated fair value of the

AFS securities within our investment portfolio based on stated maturities as of September 29, 2023 and
September 30, 2022, which are recorded within cash equivalents and both short and long-term investments in our
consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):

Range of maturity

Due within 1 year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Due in 1 to 2 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Due in 2 to 5 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

September 29, 2023

September 30, 2022

Amortized
Cost

$283,229
67,679
20,743

Fair Value

$282,225
66,075
20,493

Amortized
Cost

$336,291
53,721
42,122

Fair Value

$334,537
51,332
40,280

Total

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$371,651

$368,793

$432,134

$426,149

6. Property, Plant, and Equipment

PP&E are recorded at cost, with depreciation expense included in cost of licensing, cost of products and
services, R&D, S&M, and G&A expenses in our consolidated statements of operations. Depreciation expense
was $54.0 million, $59.5 million, and $66.4 million in fiscal 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.

79

As of September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022, PP&E consisted of the following (in thousands):

Property, Plant, and Equipment

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Buildings and building improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Leasehold improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Machinery and equipment
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Computer equipment and software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Furniture and fixtures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Equipment provided under operating leases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Construction-in-progress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$

41,902
287,799
79,988
152,675
233,224
32,629
211,910
18,327

$

41,774
287,544
86,793
136,995
232,108
33,797
229,177
23,037

Property, plant, and equipment, gross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Less: accumulated depreciation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,058,454
(576,873)

1,071,225
(557,744)

Property, plant, and equipment, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 481,581

$ 513,481

7. Leases

As Lessee

As a lessee, we enter into contracts to access and utilize office space, including those payable to our

principal stockholder and portions attributable to the noncontrolling interests in our consolidated subsidiaries. We
determine if a contract contains a lease based on whether we have the right to obtain substantially all of the
economic benefits from the use of an identified asset and whether we have the right to direct the use of an
identified asset in exchange for consideration, which relates to an asset which we do not own. ROU assets
represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to
make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets are recognized as the lease liability, adjusted for lease
incentives received. Lease liabilities are recognized at the present value of the future lease payments at the lease
commencement date. The interest rate used to determine the present value of the future lease payments is our
IBR, because the interest rate implicit in our leases is not readily determinable. The IBR is a hypothetical rate
based on our understanding of what our credit rating would be and resulting interest we would pay to borrow an
amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment over the lease term on a collateralized
basis. Lease payments may be fixed or variable, however, only fixed payments are included in our lease liability
calculation. Variable lease payments are recognized in operating expenses in the period in which the obligation
for those payments is incurred.

The lease term of operating leases vary from less than a year to 10 years. We have leases that include one or

more options to extend the lease term for up to 5 years as well as options to terminate the lease within one year.
Our lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will
exercise such options.

The components of lease expense were as follows (in thousands):

Lease cost
Operating lease cost
Variable lease cost

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$14,860
1,424

Total lease cost

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$16,284

$17,260
1,560

$18,820

$19,261
755

$20,016

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

80

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows (in thousands):

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

Other information
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating

lease liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$16,589

$16,957

$19,173

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease

obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

16,259

1,737

5,225

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:

Operating Leases
Weighted-average remaining lease term . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Weighted-average discount rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5.3 years

5.5 years

4.6%

3.2%

The following table presents the maturity analysis of lease liabilities (in thousands):

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 29, 2023
Operating Leases

Fiscal 2024 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2025 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2026 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2027 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2028 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thereafter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total undiscounted lease payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Less: imputed interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total lease liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$17,547
12,700
7,413
5,912
5,669
11,020

60,261
(9,613)

$50,648

As Lessor

As a lessor, we lease our Dolby Cinema product solution to exhibitors. The terms of these leases are
typically 10 years. Lease components consist of fixed payments and/or variable lease payments based on
contracted percentages of revenue. Generally, leases do not grant any right to the lessee to purchase the
underlying asset at the end of the lease term. Dolby Cinema lease arrangements have options to extend the lease
term at expiration by increments ranging from 1 to 5 years.

Assets provided under an operating lease are carried at cost within property, plant, and equipment, net on
the consolidated balance sheets, and depreciated over the useful life of the asset using the straight-line method.
Fixed operating lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term to revenue. Variable
lease payments received under our Dolby Cinema operating leases are computed as shares of lessees’ box office
revenue and recognized to revenue in the period that box office sales occur. Lease incentive payments we make
to lessees are amortized as a reduction in revenue over the lease term. The components of lease income were as
follows (in thousands):

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

Operating Lease Income
Variable operating lease income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fixed operating lease income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$33,921
$ 3,253

$31,514
$ 2,953

$9,511
$4,203

81

If a lease is classified as a sales-type lease, the carrying amount of the asset is derecognized from property,

plant, and equipment, net, and a net investment in the lease is recorded. The net investment in the lease is
measured at commencement date as the sum of the lease receivable and the estimated residual value of the
equipment. The unguaranteed residual value of the equipment is determined as the estimated carrying value of
the asset at the end of the lease term had the asset been depreciated on a straight-line basis. The unguaranteed
residual value of sales-type leases was $1.0 million and $1.1 million as of September 29, 2023 and September 30,
2022, respectively. Selling profit or loss arising from a sales-type lease is recorded at lease commencement and
presented on a gross basis. We recognized $2.3 million to revenue and $0.4 million to cost of revenue associated
with sales-type leases in fiscal 2023. Over the term of the lease, we recognize interest income on the net
investment in the lease, and variable lease payments, which are not included in the net investment in the lease.
The variable lease payments are not material.

The following table presents the maturity analysis of fixed lease payments due to Dolby (in thousands):

September 29, 2023

Operating
Leases

Sales-Type
Leases

Fiscal 2024 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2025 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2026 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total undiscounted cash flows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Less: Carrying value of lease receivables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Difference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1,090
1,109
932

$3,131

$ 795
795
395

1,985
(563)

$1,422

8. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill

The following table outlines changes to the carrying amount of goodwill (in thousands):

Balance as of September 24, 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Acquired goodwill (1)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Translation adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Measurement period adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Balance as of September 30, 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Acquired goodwill (1)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Translation adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Measurement period adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Goodwill

$340,694
31,695
(7,185)
(57)

$365,147
36,344
2,683
4,235

Balance as of September 29, 2023 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$408,409

(1) Refer to Note 15 “Business Combinations” for additional information related to our acquired goodwill, including the correction of an

immaterial error impacting goodwill and amounts payable to patent administrative program partners.

82

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets are stated at their original cost less accumulated amortization, and principally consist of
acquired patents, technology, customer relationships and contracts, and trademarks. Intangible assets subject to
amortization consisted of the following (in thousands):

Intangible Assets, Net

September 29, 2023

September 30, 2022

Cost

Accumulated
Amortization

Net

Cost

Accumulated
Amortization

Net

Acquired patents and technology . . . . . . . . . . $350,406 $(270,750) $ 79,656 $355,622 $(253,080) $102,542
9,570
Customer relationships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other intangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
153
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $521,981 $(354,554) $167,427 $444,737 $(332,472) $112,265

(61,049)
(22,755)

(56,572)
(22,820)

148,794
22,781

66,142
22,973

87,745
26

During fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022, we acquired $86.0 million and $8.7 million of identifiable intangible
assets in connection with the acquisition of MPEG LA and Millicast, Inc. (“Millicast”), respectively. Refer to
Note 15 “Business Combinations” for additional information. During fiscal 2022, we purchased various patents
for purchase consideration of $11.5 million, and upon acquisition, these intangible assets had a weighted-average
useful life of 16 years. These intangible assets facilitate our R&D efforts, technologies, and potential product
offerings.

Amortization expense for our intangible assets is included in cost of licensing, cost of products and services,

R&D, S&M, and G&A expenses in our consolidated statements of operations. Amortization expense was
$28.6 million, $29.0 million, and $29.5 million in fiscal 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. As of September 29,
2023, expected amortization expense of our intangible assets in future fiscal periods was as follows (in
thousands):

Fiscal Year

2024 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2025 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2026 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2027 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2028 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thereafter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Amortization
Expense

$ 30,130
15,812
15,293
14,773
14,614
76,805
$167,427

9. Stockholders’ Equity and Stock-Based Compensation

We provide stock-based awards as a form of compensation for employees, officers, and directors. We issue

stock-based awards in the form of stock options and RSUs under our equity incentive plans, as well as shares
under our ESPP.

Common Stock—Class A and Class B

Our Board of Directors has authorized two classes of common stock, Class A and Class B. As of
September 29, 2023, we had authorized 500,000,000 Class A shares and 500,000,000 Class B shares. As of
September 29, 2023, we had 59,673,633 shares of Class A common stock and 36,085,779 shares of Class B
common stock issued and outstanding. Holders of our Class A and Class B common stock have identical rights,
except that holders of our Class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share and holders of our Class B
common stock are entitled to ten votes per share. Shares of Class B common stock can be converted to shares of
Class A common stock at any time at the option of the stockholder and automatically convert upon sale or
transfer, except for certain transfers specified in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

83

Stock Incentive Plans

Our 2020 Stock Plan originally was adopted by our Board of Directors and shareholders in 2005 (when the
2020 Stock Plan was called the 2005 Stock Plan). Our stockholders last approved amendments to the 2020 Stock
Plan at our 2023 annual meeting of stockholders. Our 2020 Stock Plan, as amended and restated, provides for the
ability to grant incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, RSUs, stock appreciation
rights, deferred stock units, performance units, performance bonus awards, and performance shares. A total of
64.0 million shares of our Class A common stock have been authorized for issuance under the 2020 Stock Plan
since inception of the plan. Any shares subject to an award with a per share price less than the fair market value
of our Class A common stock on the date of grant and any shares subject to an outstanding RSU award will be
counted against the authorized share reserve as 1.6 shares for every one share subject to the award, and if
returned to the 2020 Stock Plan, such shares will be counted as 1.6 shares for every one share returned.

Stock Options. Stock options are granted at fair market value on the date of grant. Options generally vest
over four years, with 25% of the options becoming exercisable on the one-year anniversary of the date of grant
and the balance of the shares vesting in equal monthly installments over the following 36 months. These options
expire on the earlier of ten years after the date of grant or three months after termination of service. All options
granted vest over the requisite service period and upon the exercise of stock options, we issue new shares of
Class A common stock under the 2020 Stock Plan. Our 2020 Stock Plan also allows us to grant stock awards
which vest based on the satisfaction of specific performance criteria.

Performance-Based Stock Options. From fiscal 2016 through fiscal 2019, we granted PSOs to certain

officers with shares of our Class A common stock underlying such options. The contractual term for the PSOs
was seven years, with vesting contingent upon market-based performance conditions, representing the
achievement of specified Dolby annualized TSR targets at the end of a three-year measurement period following
the date of grant. Anywhere from 0% to 125% of the shares subject to a PSO vested based on achievement of the
performance conditions at the end of the three-year performance period.

In valuing the PSOs, which will be recognized as compensation cost, we used a Monte Carlo valuation
model. Aside from the use of an expected term for the PSOs commensurate with their shorter contractual term,
the nature of the valuation inputs used in the Monte Carlo valuation model were consistent with those used to
value our non-performance based options granted under the 2020 Stock Plan. Compensation cost is being
amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.

The following table summarizes information about PSOs granted to our officers that have vested during the

periods presented:

Grant Date

Aggregate Shares
Granted at
Target Award

Aggregate Shares
Exercisable at
Vest Date (1)

Percentage Vested
of Target Award

Vested Date

December 15, 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

241,100

158,700

75%

December 2021

(1) Aggregate shares exercisable at vest date does not include any shares that were cancelled before the vest date after they were granted.

As of September 29, 2023, an aggregate of 249,228 shares of PSOs were exercisable and outstanding.

84

The following table summarizes information about stock options, including PSOs, issued under our 2020

Stock Plan:

Options outstanding as of September 30, 2022 . . . . . .
Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Forfeitures and cancellations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Shares

(in thousands)
4,059
326
(657)
(8)

Options outstanding as of September 29, 2023 . . . .
Options vested and expected to vest as of

September 29, 2023 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Options exercisable as of September 29, 2023 . . . . .

3,720

3,587
2,938

Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price

Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual Life

Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value (1)

(in years)

(in thousands)

$62.59
71.07
47.26
53.19

66.13

65.97
62.95

5.25

5.19
4.49

$55,930

55,579
52,361

(1) Aggregate intrinsic value is based on the closing stock price of our Class A common stock on September 29, 2023 of $79.26 and

excludes the impact of options that were not in-the-money.

Restricted Stock Units.

In fiscal 2008, we began granting RSUs to certain directors, officers and

employees. RSU awards granted to employees and officers generally vest over four years, with cliff-vesting.
Awards granted to ongoing non-employee directors generally vest over approximately one year. Awards granted
to new non-employee directors from fiscal 2014 onward vest on the earlier of the first anniversary of the award’s
date of grant, or the day immediately preceding the date of the next annual meeting of stockholders that occurs
after the award’s date of grant. At each vesting date, the holder of the award is issued shares of our Class A
common stock. Compensation expense from these awards is equal to the adjusted fair market value of our
Class A common stock on the date of grant, discounted to account for dividend payments forgone during the
vesting period, and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Certain grants may
have other vesting conditions or other award terms as approved by the Compensation Committee of our Board of
Directors. Our 2020 Stock Plan also allows us to grant RSUs that vest based on the satisfaction of specific
performance criteria.

Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units.

In fiscal 2020, we began granting PSUs to certain officers

with shares of our Class A common stock underlying such awards. The terms of the PSU Agreement adopted in
the first quarter fiscal 2020 provide for the grant of PSUs to certain officers contingent on Dolby’s achievement
of annualized TSR targets measured against a comparator index over a three-year performance period following
the date of grant. Anywhere from 0% to 200% of eligible restricted stock units may vest based on achievement of
the performance conditions at the end of the three-year performance period. The value of the PSUs, which is
recognized as compensation cost, is calculated using a Monte Carlo valuation model. Compensation cost is being
amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Certain grants may have other vesting
conditions or other award terms as approved by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors.

The following table summarizes information on PSUs granted to our officers that have not vested as of

September 29, 2023:

December 15, 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
December 15, 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
December 15, 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

66,138
60,301
90,613

132,276
120,602
181,226

Aggregate Shares
Granted

Potential Shares at
Vest Date (at
200% of Target

85

On December 16, 2019, we granted PSUs vesting for an aggregate of 62,000 shares at the target award
amount, which vested at 81% of the target award amount. As of September 29, 2023, PSUs which would vest for
an aggregate of 204,709 shares at the target award amount (409,418 shares at 200% of the target award amount)
were outstanding.

The following table summarizes information about RSUs, including PSUs, issued under our 2020 Stock

Plan:

Non-vested as of September 30, 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vested . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Forfeitures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-vested as of September 29, 2023 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Shares

(in thousands)
3,502
1,718
(1,252)
(221)
3,747

Weighted-Average
Grant Date Fair Value

$83.09
69.74
78.74
79.62
$78.62

The fair value as of the respective vesting dates of RSUs were as follows (in thousands):

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

Restricted stock units—vest date fair value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$92,843

$106,919

$101,108

Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Our ESPP originally was adopted by our Board of Directors and
shareholders in 2005. Our stockholders last approved amendments to the ESPP at our 2023 annual meeting of
stockholders. The ESPP allows eligible employees to have up to 10 percent of their eligible compensation
withheld and used to purchase Class A common stock, subject to a maximum of $25,000 worth of stock
purchased in a calendar year or no more than 1,000 shares in an offering period, whichever is less. An offering
period consists of successive six-month purchase periods, with a look back feature to our stock price at the
commencement of a one-year offering period. The plan provides for a discount equal to 15 percent of the lower
of the closing price of our Class A common stock on the NYSE on the first day of the offering period and the last
day of the purchase period. The plan also includes an automatic reset feature that provides for an offering period
to be reset and recommenced to a new lower-priced offering if the offering price of a new offering period is less
than that of the immediately preceding offering period. A total of 5.5 million shares of our Class A common
stock have been authorized for issuance under the ESPP since inception of the plan.

Stock Option Valuation Assumptions

We use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the estimated fair value of employee stock

options at the date of the grant. The Black-Scholes model includes inputs that require us to make certain
estimates and assumptions regarding the expected term of the award, as well as the future risk-free interest rate,
and the volatility of our stock price over the expected term of the award.

Expected Term. The expected term of an award represents the estimated period of time that options

granted will remain outstanding, and is measured from the grant date to the date at which the option is either
exercised or canceled. Our determination of the expected term involves an evaluation of historical terms and
other factors such as the exercise and termination patterns of our employees who hold options to acquire our
Class A common stock, and is based on certain assumptions made regarding the future exercise and termination
behavior.

Risk-Free Interest Rate. The risk-free interest rate is based on the yield curve of U.S. Treasury instruments

in effect on the date of grant. In determining an estimate for the risk-free interest rate, we use average interest

86

rates based on these instruments’ constant maturities with a term that approximates and corresponds with the
expected term of our awards.

Expected Stock Price Volatility. The expected volatility represents the estimated volatility in the price of
our Class A common stock over a time period that approximates the expected term of the awards. The expected
volatility has historically been determined using a blended combination of historical and implied volatility, but is
currently being determined using historical volatility only. Historical volatility is representative of the historical
trends in our stock price for periods preceding the measurement date for a period that is commensurate with the
expected term. Implied volatility is based upon externally traded option contracts of our Class A common stock.

Dividend Yield. The dividend yield is based on our anticipated dividend payout over the expected term of
our option awards. Dividend declarations and the establishment of future record and payment dates are subject to
the Board of Directors’ continuing determination that the dividend policy is in the best interests of our
stockholders. The dividend policy may be changed or canceled at the discretion of the Board of Directors at any
time.

The weighted-average assumptions used in the determination of the fair value of our stock options were as

follows:

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

Expected term (in years) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Risk-free interest rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Expected stock price volatility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dividend yield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4.82
3.6%
29.4%
1.6%

4.78
1.5%
28.8%
1.1%

4.88
0.8%
27.9%
1.0%

The following table summarizes the weighted-average fair value (per share) of stock options granted and the

total intrinsic value of stock options exercised (in thousands):

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

Stock options granted—weighted-average grant date fair value . . . . . . .
Stock options exercised—intrinsic value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 19.15
22,736

$ 21.17
22,885

$
20.93
102,812

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

Stock-based compensation expense for equity awards granted to employees is determined by estimating
their fair value on the date of grant, and recognizing that value as an expense on a straight-line basis over the
requisite service period in which our employees earn the awards. Compensation expense related to these equity
awards is recognized net of estimated forfeitures, which reduce the expense recorded in the consolidated
statements of operations. The selection of applicable estimated forfeiture rates is based on an evaluation of trends
in our historical forfeiture data with consideration for other potential driving factors. If in subsequent periods
actual forfeitures significantly differ from our initial estimates, we will revise such estimates accordingly. The
estimated annual forfeiture rates used for awards granted were 8.62%, 8.63%, and 8.85% in fiscal 2023, 2022,
and 2021, respectively.

87

The following two tables separately present stock-based compensation expense both by award type and

classification in our consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):

Expense—By Award Type

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

Compensation expense

Stock options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Restricted stock units (1) (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Employee stock purchase plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$

8,486
105,915
4,085

$ 10,244
98,433
6,248

$ 13,724
80,705
5,269

Total stock-based compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Estimated benefit from income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

118,486
(17,844)

114,925
(17,581)

99,698
(15,790)

Total stock-based compensation, net of tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$100,642

$ 97,344

$ 83,908

(1) Stock-based compensation expense incurred by restricted stock units includes expense from PSUs.
(2) Excludes $1.2 million and $0.7 million of capitalized stock-based compensation related to internal use software in fiscal 2023 and fiscal

2022, respectively.

Expense—By Income Statement Line Item Classification

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

Compensation expense

Cost of products and services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Research and development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sales and marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
General and administrative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$

1,697
39,472
40,038
37,279

$

1,819
37,061
41,326
34,719

Total stock-based compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Estimated benefit from income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

118,486
(17,844)

114,925
(17,581)

$ 2,033
29,733
36,432
31,500

99,698
(15,790)

Total stock-based compensation, net of tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$100,642

$ 97,344

$ 83,908

The tax benefit that we recognize from shares issued under our ESPP is excluded from the tables above. The

tax benefit recognized was not material in fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022, and was $1.2 million in fiscal 2021.

Unrecognized Compensation Expense. As of September 29, 2023, total unrecognized compensation

expense associated with employee stock options expected to vest was approximately $11.4 million, which is
expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.4 years. As of September 29, 2023, total
unrecognized compensation expense associated with RSUs expected to vest was approximately $188.9 million,
which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.3 years.

88

Common Stock Repurchase Program

In November 2009, we announced a stock repurchase program, providing for the repurchase of our Class A

common stock. The following table summarizes the initial amount of authorized repurchases as well as additional
repurchases approved by our Board of Directors as of September 29, 2023 (in thousands):

Date of Authorization

Authorization Amount

Fiscal 2010: November 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2010: July 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2011: July 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2012: February 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2015: October 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2017: January 2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2018: July 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2019: July 2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2021: July 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2022: February 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal 2022: August 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 250,000
300,000
250,000
100,000
200,000
200,000
350,000
350,000
350,000
250,000
350,000

$2,950,000

Stock repurchases under the program may be made through open market transactions, negotiated purchases,
or otherwise, at times and in amounts that we consider appropriate. The timing of repurchases and the number of
shares repurchased depend upon a variety of factors, including price, regulatory requirements, the rate of dilution
from our equity compensation plans, and other market conditions. The program does not have a specified
expiration date, and can be limited, suspended, or terminated at our discretion at any time without prior notice.
Shares repurchased under the program will be returned to the status of authorized but unissued shares of Class A
common stock. As of September 29, 2023, the remaining authorization to purchase additional shares was
$211.6 million.

The following table provides information regarding share repurchase activity under the program during

fiscal 2023:

Quarterly Repurchase Activity

Shares
Repurchased

Q1 - Quarter ended December 30, 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Q2 - Quarter ended March 31, 2023 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Q3 - Quarter ended June 30, 2023 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Q4 - Quarter ended September 29, 2023 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

680,861
631,046
294,793
285,499

Cost (1)

(in thousands)
$ 49,412
49,864
25,000
25,000

Average Price
Paid Per Share (2)

$72.57
79.02
84.81
87.57

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1,892,199

$149,276

(1) Cost of share repurchases includes the price paid per share, and excludes commission costs.
(2) Average price paid per share excludes commission costs.

89

Dividend Program

The following table summarizes dividends declared under the program during fiscal 2023:

Fiscal Period

Announcement
Date

Record Date

Payment Date

February 14, 2023 February 22, 2023
Q1 - Quarter ended December 30, 2022 . . . . .
May 23, 2023
Q2 - Quarter ended March 31, 2023 . . . . . . . .
August 22, 2023
Q3 - Quarter ended June 30, 2023 . . . . . . . . . .
Q4 - Quarter ended September 29, 2023 . . . . . November 16, 2023 November 28, 2023 December 5, 2023

February 2, 2023
May 4, 2023
August 3, 2023

May 16, 2023
August 14, 2023

Cash
Dividend
Per
Common
Share

Dividend
Payment

$0.27
$0.27
$0.27
$0.30

$25.9 million
$25.8 million
$25.8 million
$28.7 million(1)

(1) The dividend payment amount for the dividend declared in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 is estimated based on the number of shares of

our Class A and Class B common stock that we estimate will be outstanding as of the Record Date.

10. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Other comprehensive income/loss consists of three components: unrealized gains or losses on our AFS

marketable investment securities, gains and losses on derivatives in cash flow hedge relationships not yet
recognized in earnings, and the gains and losses from the translation of assets and liabilities denominated in
non-U.S. dollar functional currencies. Until realized and reported as a component of net income, these
comprehensive income items accumulate and are included within accumulated other comprehensive loss, a
subsection within stockholders’ equity in our consolidated balance sheets. Unrealized gains and losses on our
investment securities are reclassified from AOCI into earnings when realized upon sale, and are determined
based on specific identification of securities sold. Unrealized gains and losses on our cash flow hedges are
reclassified from AOCI into earnings when the hedged operating expenses are recognized, which is also when the
gains and losses are realized.

The following table summarizes the changes in the accumulated balances during the period, and includes

information regarding the manner in which the reclassifications out of AOCI into earnings affect our
consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):

Beginning Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other comprehensive income before

reclassifications:

Unrealized gains/(losses) . . . . . .
Foreign currency translation

gains/(losses) (1)

. . . . . . . . . . .

Income tax effect—benefit/

(expense)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net of tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Amounts reclassified from AOCI into

earnings:

Realized gains/(losses) (2) . . . . . .
Income tax effect—benefit/

(expense) (3)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net of tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Net current-period other

comprehensive income/(loss) . . . . . . . .
Ending Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fiscal Year Ended
September 29, 2023

Fiscal Year Ended
September 30, 2022

Investment
Securities

Cash
Flow
Hedges

Currency
Translation
Adjustments Total

Investment
Securities

Cash
Flow
Hedges

Currency
Translation
Adjustments Total

$(5,986) $(4,483) $(41,172) $(51,641) $

220

$ (122) $(10,128) $(10,030)

3,313

4,869

—

8,182

(6,783)

(2,588)

—

(9,371)

—

—

—
3,313

—
4,869

(239)

(668)

54
(185)

85
(583)

7,170

73
7,243

—

—
—

7,170

—

—

(30,799)

(30,799)

73
15,425

52
(6,731)

(8)
(2,596)

(245)
(31,044)

(201)
(40,371)

(907)

139
(768)

527

(2,097)

(2)
525

332
(1,765)

—

—
—

(1,570)

330
(1,240)

3,128

(41,611)
$(2,858) $ (197) $(33,929) $(36,984) $(5,986) $(4,483) $(41,172) $(51,641)

(31,044)

(6,206)

(4,361)

14,657

4,286

7,243

(1) The foreign currency translation gains during fiscal 2023 were primarily due to the strengthening of other foreign currencies as compared
to the U.S. dollar. The foreign currency translation losses during fiscal 2022 were primarily due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar as
compared to other foreign currencies.

90

(2) Realized gains or losses, if any, from the sale of our AFS investment securities or from foreign currency translation adjustments are

included within other income/(expense), net in our consolidated statements of operations. Realized gains or losses on foreign currency
contracts designated as cash flow hedges are included in operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.
(3) The income tax benefit or expense is included within provision for income taxes in our consolidated statements of operations.

11. Earnings Per Share

Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income attributable to Dolby Laboratories, Inc. by the number of

weighted-average shares of Class A and Class B common stock outstanding during the period. Through
application of the treasury stock method, diluted EPS is computed in the same manner, except that the number of
weighted-average shares outstanding is increased by the number of potentially dilutive shares from employee
incentive plans during the period.

Basic and diluted EPS are computed independently for each fiscal quarter and year-to-date period, which

involves the use of different weighted-average share count figures relating to quarterly and annual periods. As a
result, and after factoring the effect of rounding to the nearest cent per share, the sum of all four quarter-to-date
EPS figures may not equal year-to-date EPS.

Potentially dilutive shares represent the hypothetical number of incremental shares issuable under the
assumed exercise of outstanding stock options (both vested and unvested) and vesting of outstanding RSUs. The
calculation of dilutive shares outstanding excludes securities that would have an antidilutive effect on EPS.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted EPS attributable to Dolby Laboratories,

Inc. (in thousands, except per share amounts):

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

Numerator:

Net income attributable to Dolby Laboratories, Inc.

. . . . . . . . . .

$200,656

$184,087

$310,227

Denominator:

Weighted-average shares outstanding—basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

95,771

99,990

101,190

Potential common shares from options to purchase

common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Potential common shares from restricted stock units . . . . . .
Potential common shares from employee stock purchase

763
1,139

plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

60

958
912

123

1,994
1,376

62

Weighted-average shares outstanding—diluted . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

97,733

101,983

104,622

Net income per share attributable to Dolby Laboratories, Inc.:

Basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Diluted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$
$

Antidilutive awards excluded from calculation:

Stock options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Restricted stock units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Employee stock purchase plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2.10
2.05

930
7
2

$
$

1.84
1.81

$
$

587
1,158
—

3.07
2.97

235
48
2

12. Income Taxes

Our income tax expense, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and unrecognized tax benefits reflect

management’s best assessment of estimated current and future liabilities. We are subject to income taxes in the
U.S. and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgments and estimates are required in determining the
consolidated income tax expense.

91

Income Tax Provision

The following two tables present the components of our income before provision for income taxes by

geographic region and the portion of our provision for income taxes classified as current and deferred (in
thousands):

United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 44,136
205,917

$ 33,318
181,961

$104,741
249,771

Total income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$250,053

$215,279

$354,512

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

Current:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Federal
State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deferred:

Federal
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Total deferred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ (1,053)
1,023
66,776

66,746

(16,949)
(356)
(1,032)

(18,337)

$ 2,008
553
58,285

60,846

(29,990)
8
517

(29,465)

$ 7,216
953
65,568

73,737

(36,035)
(63)
(950)

(37,048)

Provision for income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 48,409

$ 31,381

$ 36,689

Repatriation of Undistributed Foreign Earnings

As a result of the Tax Act, foreign accumulated earnings that were subject to the mandatory Transition Tax
as of December 31, 2017, can be repatriated to the U.S. without incurring further U.S. federal tax. The Tax Act
changed to a modified territorial tax system through the provision of a 100% dividend received deduction for the
foreign-source portions of dividends received from controlled foreign subsidiaries. As a result, we have
reevaluated our historical assertion and determined that we no longer consider a vast majority of these earnings
to be indefinitely reinvested. During fiscal 2023, we repatriated $150 million of foreign subsidiary earnings
which were exempt from foreign withholding tax. As of September 29, 2023, the total undistributed earnings of
our foreign subsidiaries were approximately $224 million. The unrecognized deferred tax liability on the portion
of the undistributed earnings considered indefinitely reinvested is not material.

Deferred Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of

assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes, using

92

enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. A summary of the tax
effects of the temporary differences were as follows (in thousands):

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

Deferred income tax assets:

Investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inventories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net operating loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accrued expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Stock-based compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Revenue recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Depreciation and amortization (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lease liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Research and development credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Foreign tax credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deemed repatriated earnings tax benefit
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$

5,864
5,003
292
16,945
17,833
4,563
130,818
13,911
40,633
15,684
10,724
5,075

$

1,339
6,851
2,507
11,536
17,295
4,275
105,114
10,589
40,149
21,244
10,724
5,657

Total gross deferred income tax assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Less: valuation allowance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

267,345
(50,687)

237,280
(41,087)

Total deferred income tax assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deferred income tax liabilities:

216,658

196,193

Right of use asset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Intangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(14,319)
(479)

(10,046)
(2,579)

Deferred income tax assets, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$201,860

$183,568

(1) Provisions enacted in the Tax Act related to the capitalization for tax purposes of research and development expenditures became

effective on October 1, 2022. These provisions require us to capitalize research and development expenditures and amortize them on our
U.S. tax return over five or fifteen years, depending on where research is conducted.

Net Operating Losses and Tax Credit Carryforwards

As of September 29, 2023, the NOL carryforwards for U.S. federal and California were $1.7 million and
$4.6 million, respectively, and will start to expire in fiscal 2034 and 2029, respectively. As of September 29,
2023, we had foreign tax credit and federal R&D tax credit carryforwards of $6.3 million and $18.3 million,
respectively, which will start to expire in fiscal 2029 and fiscal 2035, respectively. We had California R&D tax
credits of $44.3 million, which will carry forward indefinitely, and foreign R&D tax credits of $5.1 million,
which will start to expire in fiscal 2028.

Valuation Allowance

As of September 29, 2023, a $34.9 million valuation allowance was recorded against California deferred tax

assets, a $7.5 million valuation allowance was recorded against federal tax credit deferred tax assets, and a
$8.3 million valuation allowance was recorded against foreign deferred tax assets for which ultimate realization
of its future benefits is uncertain.

Effective Tax Rate

Each period, the combination of multiple different factors can impact our effective tax rate. These factors
include both recurring items such as tax rates and the relative amount of income earned in foreign jurisdictions,

93

as well as discrete items that may occur in, but are not necessarily consistent between periods. A reconciliation of
the federal statutory tax rate to our effective tax rate on income from continuing operations was as follows:

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

Federal statutory rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
State income taxes, net of federal effect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Stock-based compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Research and development tax credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Foreign-derived intangible income deduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
U.S. tax on foreign entities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Foreign rate differential
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Increase (decrease) unrecognized tax benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

21.0%
0.3
1.2
(2.7)
(2.3)
1.3
(1.9)
1.9
0.6

21.0%
0.2
(0.1)
(5.0)
(2.3)
1.8
(4.5)
2.8
0.7

21.0%
0.2
(5.1)
(2.6)
(2.2)
0.8
(3.4)
2.0
(0.4)

Effective tax rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19.4%

14.6%

10.3%

Our effective tax rate was 19.4% in fiscal 2023, compared with our federal statutory rate of 21.0%, and with

our effective tax rate in fiscal 2022 of 14.6%. The increase in our effective tax rate was primarily due to lower
tax benefits related to settlement of stock-based awards and reduced benefit from less research and development
tax credits.

Our effective tax rate was 14.6% in fiscal 2022, compared with our effective tax rate in fiscal 2021 of
10.3%. The increase in our effective tax rate was primarily due to a shift in the mix of earnings to jurisdictions
with higher tax rates and lower tax benefits related to settlement of stock-based awards partially offset by benefit
from additional research and development tax credits.

Uncertain Tax Positions

As of September 29, 2023, the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits was $76.3 million, of which

$47.2 million, if recognized, would reduce our effective tax rate. Our liability increased from fiscal 2022
primarily due to additional accruals in fiscal 2023. Our liability for unrecognized tax benefits is classified within
other non-current liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. Over the next twelve months, we estimate that
this amount could be reduced by $4.8 million as a result of the expiration of certain statutes of limitations.
Aggregate changes in the balance of gross unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, were as
follows (in thousands):

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

Beginning Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Gross increases—tax positions taken during prior years . . . . . . .
Gross decreases—tax positions taken during prior years . . . . . . .
Gross increases—tax positions taken during current year . . . . . .
Gross decreases—settlements with tax authorities during current
year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lapse of statute of limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$69,682
219
(1,143)
7,546

—
—

$66,106
822
(178)
7,784

—
(4,852)

$60,691
220
(247)
6,979

(875)
(662)

Ending Balance

$76,304

$69,682

$66,106

94

Classification of Interest and Penalties

We include interest and penalties related to gross unrecognized tax benefits within our provision for income

taxes. To the extent accrued interest and penalties do not ultimately become payable, amounts accrued are
reduced in the period that such determination is made and are reflected as a reduction of the overall income tax
provision. In fiscal year 2023, our current tax provision was increased by interest expense of $3.5 million, while
in fiscal year 2022, our current tax provision was increased by interest expense of $1.7 million. Accrued interest
and penalties are included within the related tax liability line item in our consolidated balance sheets. Our
accrued interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits as of September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022
were as follows (in thousands):

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

Accrued interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accrued penalties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$10,254
172

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$10,426

$6,748
119

$6,867

We continue to monitor the progress of ongoing income tax controversies and the impact, if any, of the
expected tolling of the statute of limitations in various taxing jurisdictions. We file income tax returns in the U.S.
federal, states, and foreign jurisdictions. Our major tax jurisdictions are the U.S. federal, California, New York,
and Ireland.

Our operations in certain jurisdictions remain subject to examination for fiscal 2015 to 2022, some of which

are currently under audit or review. The resolution of each of these audits is not expected to be material to our
consolidated financial statements. We believe that an adequate provision has been made for any adjustments that
may result from tax examinations. However, the outcome of tax audits cannot be predicted with certainty. If
resolution of any tax issues addressed in our current audits are inconsistent with management’s expectations, we
may be required to adjust our tax provision for income taxes in the period such resolution occurs.

The final U.S. foreign tax credit regulations, issued January 4, 2022, introduced significant changes to
foreign tax credit utilization. However, a one year relief delayed the effective date of the final U.S. foreign tax
credit regulations until our fiscal 2024. These provisions are expected to have a material adverse effect on our
fiscal 2024 and future tax provisions unless postponed or modified.

13. Restructuring

Restructuring charges recorded in our consolidated statements of operations represent costs associated with

separate individual restructuring plans implemented in various fiscal periods. Costs arising from these actions,
including fluctuations in related balances between fiscal periods, are based on the nature of activities under the
various plans.

Fiscal 2023 Restructuring Events.

In September 2023, we initiated a restructuring plan with the purpose of focusing our resources on our
highest strategic priorities. We recorded expense of $13.4 million in severance and other related benefits offered
to approximately 160 impacted employees. In conjunction with focusing our resources on our top strategic
priorities, we recorded an impairment loss of $16.9 million related primarily to internally developed software for
projects we are no longer pursuing. Cash payment of the severance and other termination benefits is expected to
be completed by the second half of fiscal 2024.

In June 2023, we implemented a focused restructuring plan, primarily consisting of workforce reductions
and facility consolidations to improve execution in alignment with our strategy and to reduce our cost structure

95

through improved utilization of our global infrastructure. As a result of these events, we recorded expense of
$10.9 million in severance and other related benefits offered to approximately 130 impacted employees, and we
recorded expense of $6.9 million related to a facility consolidation in New York, NY. Actions related to this plan
are expected to be completed by the second half of fiscal 2024. The table presented below summarizes the
changes in our restructuring accruals (in thousands):

Balance at September 24, 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Restructuring charges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cash payments and adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Balance at September 30, 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Restructuring charges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cash payments and adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-cash adjustment for leased facility exit costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Leased facility
exit costs and
other costs

$

4
1,749
(1,753)

$ —
23,118
(16,225)
(6,893)

Severance

$

163
8,874
(3,256)

$ 5,781
23,943
(9,372)
—

Total

$

167
10,623
(5,009)

$ 5,781
47,061
(25,597)
(6,893)

Balance at September 29, 2023 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$20,352

$ —

$ 20,352

The fiscal 2022 activities primarily related to our fiscal 2022 restructuring plan within our entertainment
organization to align resources with a revised business strategy and outlook, and to support our higher priority
focus areas.

Accruals for restructuring charges incurred for the restructuring plan described above are included within

accrued liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets, while restructuring charges are included within
restructuring charges in our consolidated statements of operations.

14. Commitments and Contingencies

In the ordinary course of business, we enter into contractual agreements with third parties that include
non-cancelable payment obligations, for which we are liable in future periods. These arrangements can include
terms binding us to minimum payments and/or penalties if we terminate the agreement for any reason other than
an event of default as described by the agreement. The following table presents a summary of our contractual
obligations and commitments as of September 29, 2023 (in thousands):

Naming rights . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Purchase obligations . . . . . . . .
Donation commitments . . . . .

Payments Due By Fiscal Period

Fiscal
2024

$12,794
29,934
1,718

Fiscal
2025

$13,126
3,816
116

Fiscal
2026

$13,472
851
116

Fiscal
2027

$8,534
—
86

Fiscal
2028

$8,642
—
86

Thereafter

Total

$35,674
—
332

$ 92,242
34,601
2,454

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$44,446

$17,058

$14,439

$8,620

$8,728

$36,006

$129,297

Naming Rights. We are party to agreements for naming rights of certain facilities, most significantly for

naming rights and related benefits with respect to the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, the location of the
Academy Awards®. The term of this agreement is 20 years, over which we will make payments on a semi-annual
basis until fiscal 2032. Our ongoing annual payment obligations are conditioned in part on the Academy Awards
being held and broadcast from the Dolby Theatre. Our payment obligations may be suspended or reduced in
certain circumstances, including the protracted closure of the Dolby Theatre. We also hold the naming rights to
Dolby Live at the Park MGM in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dolby Live is a fully integrated performance venue offering
live concerts in Dolby Atmos.

96

Purchase Obligations.

Purchase obligations primarily consist of our commitments made under

agreements to purchase goods and services related to Dolby Cinema and for purposes that include information
technology and telecommunications, marketing and professional services, and other R&D activities. Also
included in purchase obligations are non-cancelable commitments to contract manufacturers, including
potentially variable obligations related to inventory based on demand forecasts we provide to the contract
manufacturers.

Donation Commitments. Our donation commitments relate to non-cancelable obligations that consist of

maintenance services and installation of imaging and audio products in exchange for various marketing,
branding, and publicity benefits. These donation agreements either transfer title of our audio and imaging
products to the donee or offer use of the products free of charge for a specified period of time via a leasing
arrangement. The recipients of these donations participate in or promote the cinema and entertainment industry
and our commitments vary in length, lasting up to 15 years.

Indemnification Clauses. On a limited basis, our contractual agreements contain a clause under which we

agree to provide indemnification to the counterparty, most commonly to licensees in connection with licensing
arrangements that include our IP. We have also entered into indemnification agreements with our officers,
directors, and certain employees, and our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain similar indemnification
obligations. Additionally, and although not a contractual requirement, we have at times elected to defend our
licensees from third party IP infringement claims. Since the terms and conditions of our contractual
indemnification clauses do not explicitly specify our obligations, we are unable to reasonably estimate the
maximum potential exposure for which we could be liable.

15. Business Combinations

MPEG LA

On April 28, 2023, our wholly-owned subsidiary Via Licensing Corporation (“Via Corp”) acquired 100% of

MPEG LA, L.L.C. (“MPEG LA”), a privately held patent pool administrator that managed several collaborative
licensing programs in video imaging and other technologies. In connection with the transaction, Via Corp
changed its structure and name to Via Licensing Alliance LLC (“Via LA”) and became a majority owned
subsidiary of Dolby. The acquisition is expected to strengthen Via LA’s licensing capabilities, particularly in
video, diversify its revenues, and reinforce its ability to develop new patent licensing programs. The total
consideration for the acquisition was as follows (in thousands):

Amount

Cash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Noncontrolling interest in Via LA (24.8 million common equity units) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$135,739
24,815

Total amount paid to sellers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Less: amount deemed post-acquisition expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$160,554
(2,174)

Total consideration paid to sellers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Assumed settlement of pre-existing relationships due to Dolby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$158,380
61,313

Total consideration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Less: unrestricted cash acquired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$219,693
(80,633)

Total consideration, net of unrestricted cash acquired

$139,060

The noncontrolling interest in Via LA includes $3.6 million of cash held in escrow that will be fully
remitted to Dolby in exchange for Via LA common equity units after 18 months from the transaction close date.
The fair value of the noncontrolling interest was determined through the issuance of equity in lieu of cash. The
assumed settlement of pre-existing relationships was determined based on the contractual amounts of payables
and receivables between the parties as such amounts approximate fair value.

97

We have accounted for the taxable transaction under the acquisition method of accounting for business
combinations, and the results of operations of MPEG LA have been included in the Company’s consolidated
statements of operations from the date of acquisition and were not material. Additionally, we have estimated the
fair values of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired, and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date,
with any amounts paid in excess of the net assets recorded as goodwill. The fair values assigned to assets
acquired and liabilities assumed are based on management’s estimates and assumptions and may be subject to
change as additional information is received and certain tax returns are finalized, including potential changes to
income tax-related accounts. We expect to finalize the valuation within the one year measurement period. As this
acquisition was not significant to our reported operating results, pro forma results of operations are not provided.

The following table summarizes the preliminary acquisition date fair values allocated to the net assets

acquired (in thousands):

Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed

Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Restricted cash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other current assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Intangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Goodwill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other non-current assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Amounts payable to patent administrative program partners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other current liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-current liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Purchase Consideration

Purchase
Price
Allocation
(Preliminary)

$ 80,633
143,564
73,556
86,000
40,579
34,298
(179,616)
(21,709)
(37,612)

$ 219,693

In connection with the preparation of our consolidated financial statements, we identified an immaterial

error related to the preliminary acquisition date fair values allocated to net assets acquired, whereby we
overstated certain accounts payable to patent administrative program partners and, as a consequence,
correspondingly overstated goodwill as of the quarter ended June 30, 2023. We evaluated the error quantitatively
and qualitatively, and determined that the related impact was not material to our condensed consolidated
financial statements for the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Accordingly, we have revised the previously reported
financial information for such immaterial error in the above table. The correction of this error resulted in a
decrease to amounts payable to patent administrative program partners and a corresponding decrease to goodwill
of $20.3 million, with no impact to total purchase consideration.

Goodwill is representative of our expectation of the benefits and synergies from the integration of MPEG

LA operations and the assembled workforce of MPEG LA, which does not qualify for separate recognition as an
intangible asset. All of the goodwill recognized is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.

The following table summarizes the preliminary fair values allocated to the various intangible assets

acquired and the weighted-average useful lives over which they will be amortized using the straight-line method:

Intangible Assets Acquired
Licensor Relationships - AVC & Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Licensor Relationships - HEVC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Implementer Relationships - AVC & Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Implementer Relationships - HEVC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(in thousands)
$36,000
31,000
12,000
7,000

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$86,000

(in years)
13
10
13
10

12

Purchase Price
Allocation

Weighted-Average
Useful Life

98

The preliminary value of acquired intangibles was determined based on the present value of estimated future

cash flows using the following methodologies and inputs:

• Licensor Relationships - the multi-period excess earnings method using inputs such as projected

revenue attributable to licensors in the patent pools, revenue retention rate, maintenance sales and
marketing expenses, income tax rate, post-tax returns for contributory assets, and discount rate.

•

Implementer Relationships - the distributor method using inputs such as projected revenue attributable
to the existing implementers in the patent pools, distributor margin, income tax rate, and discount rate.

Acquisition-related costs of $3.8 million were incurred during fiscal 2023. These acquisition-related costs

were included in G&A expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.

Millicast

On January 31, 2022, we completed the acquisition of all outstanding interests of Millicast, a privately held
company. Following the acquisition, Millicast is expected to enable developers to take the interactive events they
build with Dolby.io, and stream them from the presenter to large audiences. We have included the financial
results of Millicast in our consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition, and these results were
not material. Additionally, the transaction costs associated with the acquisition were not material.

The total purchase consideration of the acquisition was $38.8 million. We allocated $8.7 million in purchase
consideration to identifiable intangible assets, which primarily consisted of developed technology, with estimated
useful lives of 1.5 years to 8 years. We also recorded $31.7 million of goodwill, which is representative of our
expectation of benefits and synergies from the integration of Millicast technology with our existing technology
and the assembled workforce of Millicast.

16. Operating Segments and Geographic Information

Operating Segments

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is

available, and which are evaluated regularly by the CODM, or decision-making group, in deciding how to
allocate resources and assess performance. Our CODM is our Chief Executive Officer. Reporting segments are
operating segments exceeding specified revenue, profit or loss, or asset thresholds for which separate disclosure
of information is necessary.

We operate as a single reportable segment. This reflects the fact that our CODM continues to evaluate our

financial information and resources, and continues to assess the performance of these resources, on a
consolidated basis. All required financial segment information is therefore included in our consolidated financial
statements.

Geographic Information

The methods to determine revenue by geographic region for each of the three categories included within

total revenue in our consolidated statements of operations are described within the table presented below.

Revenue Category

Basis For Determining Geographic Location

Licensing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Region in which our licensees’ headquarters are located
Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Destination to which our products are shipped
Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Location in which the relevant services are performed

99

The following tables present selected information regarding total revenue by geographic location (amounts

presented in thousands).

Revenue Composition—U.S. and International

Location

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
International

$ 466,030
833,714

$ 468,246
785,547

$ 419,901
861,355

Total revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$1,299,744

$1,253,793

$1,281,256

Revenue Concentration—Significant Individual Geographic Regions

Location

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
South Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

36%
14%
22%
9%
10%
9%

37%
13%
20%
8%
10%
12%

33%
14%
23%
11%
10%
9%

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

100%

100%

100%

Long-lived tangible assets, net of accumulated depreciation, by geographic region were as follows (in

thousands):

Location

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$390,552
91,029

Total long-lived tangible assets, net of accumulated depreciation . . . . . . . .

$481,581

$415,493
97,988

$513,481

17. Legal Matters

We are involved in various legal proceedings that occasionally arise in the normal course of business. These

can include claims of alleged infringement of IP rights, commercial, employment, and other matters. In our
opinion, resolution of these proceedings is not expected to have a material adverse impact on our operating
results or financial condition. On a quarterly basis, we evaluate based on the known facts and circumstances
whether a potential loss or range of losses is considered probable and reasonably estimable in accordance with
U.S. GAAP. We record a provision for a liability relating to these legal proceedings when a loss is both probable
and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Legal costs associated with these legal proceedings are
expensed as incurred.

Given the unpredictable nature of legal proceedings, it is possible that an unfavorable resolution of one or
more such proceedings could materially affect our future operating results or financial condition in a particular
period, including as a result of required changes to our licensing terms, monetary penalties, and other potential
consequences. However, based on the information known by us as of the date of this filing and the rules and
regulations applicable to the preparation of our consolidated financial statements, any such amounts are either
immaterial, or it is not probable that a potential loss has been incurred or the amount of loss cannot be reasonably
estimated.

100

18. Related Parties

We maintain contractual agreements relating to certain entities affiliated with the Dolby family, who is
considered a related party as our principal stockholder. These jointly-owned entities were established for the
purpose of acquiring and leasing commercial property in the U.S. and U.K. primarily for our operational use.
Although the entities affiliated with the Dolby family hold a majority economic interest in such jointly-owned
entities, they have a noncontrolling interest since they are the limited member or LP in each of these entities.
Therefore, we have consolidated the entities’ assets and liabilities and results of operations in our consolidated
financial statements. The share of earnings and net assets of the entities attributable to the limited member or LP,
as the case may be, is reflected as noncontrolling interest in our consolidated financial statements.

Our interests in these consolidated affiliated entities and the location of the properties leased to Dolby

Laboratories as of September 29, 2023 were as follows:

Entity Name

Minority Ownership Interest

Location Of Properties

Dolby Properties Burbank, LLC . . . . . . . .

49.0%

Burbank, California

We also own 10.0% minority ownership interest in Dolby Properties, LP, which owns a facility in Wootton

Bassett, England. During fiscal 2022, we ceased leasing the Wootton Bassett facility. The property leased to
Dolby Laboratories through Dolby Properties Brisbane, LLC, located in Brisbane, California, was sold during
fiscal 2021.

We also lease from our principal stockholder a commercial office building located at 100 Potrero Avenue in

San Francisco, California under a term that expires on October 31, 2024. Related party rent expense included in
operating expenses in our consolidated statements of operations were as follows (in thousands):

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

Related party rent expense included in operating expenses . . . . . . . . .

$—

$—

$(392)

Distributions. Distributions made by the jointly-owned real estate entities to our principal stockholder

were as follows (in thousands):

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

Distributions to principal stockholder

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$(266)

$(1,435)

$(7,362)

19. Retirement Plans

We maintain a tax-qualified Section 401(k) retirement plan for employees in the U.S. and similar plans in

foreign jurisdictions. Under the plan, employees are eligible to receive matching contributions and profit-sharing
contributions. We also maintain a SERP, a non-qualified, employer-funded defined contribution retirement plan
which was terminated in fiscal 2005.

Retirement plan expenses, which are included in cost of products and services, R&D, S&M, and G&A

expense in our consolidated statements of operations, were as follows (in thousands):

Retirement plan expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$24,925

$27,378

$26,379

Fiscal Year Ended

September 29,
2023

September 30,
2022

September 24,
2021

101

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES

None.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

We maintain “disclosure controls and procedures,” as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)
under the Exchange Act, as amended, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us
in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within
the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated
to our management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required
disclosure. In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that
disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not
absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures are met. Additionally, in
designing disclosure controls and procedures, our management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in
evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible disclosure controls and procedures. The design of any
disclosure controls and procedures also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future
events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential
future conditions.

Subject to the limitations noted above, our management, with the participation of our CEO and CFO, has
evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of
the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Based on that evaluation, the CEO and CFO have
concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to meet the objective for
which they were designed and operate at the reasonable assurance level.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial

reporting for the Company as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Internal control over
financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and
includes those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail,
accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S.
GAAP, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our
management and directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of
unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our financial
statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect
misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that
controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the
policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Our management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of

September 29, 2023 using the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by
the COSO. Based on this assessment and those criteria, management concluded that our internal control over
financial reporting was effective as of September 29, 2023. The Company acquired MPEG LA during fiscal
2023. Management excluded from its assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over

102

financial reporting as of September 29, 2023, MPEG LA’s internal control over financial reporting which
represented 12% of total assets and less than 1.5% of total revenue included in the consolidated financial
statements of the Company as of and for the year ended September 29, 2023.

Our internal control over financial reporting has been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered

public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which appears in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on
Form 10-K.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Other than the impact of the acquisition of MPEG LA, there were no changes in our internal control over

financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended September 29, 2023 that have materially affected, or are
reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Securities Trading Plans of Directors and Executive Officers

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

During the fiscal quarter ending September 29, 2023, the following officer, as defined in Rule 16a-1(f),

adopted a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” as defined in Regulation S-K Item 408, as follows:

On August 21, 2023, John Couling, our Senior Vice President, Entertainment, adopted a Rule 10b5-1
trading arrangement providing for the sale from time to time of an aggregate of up to 83,560 shares of our
Class A common stock. The trading arrangement is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense in Rule 10b5-1(c).
The duration of the trading arrangement is until December 16, 2024, or earlier if all transactions under the trading
arrangement are completed.

No other officers or directors, as defined in Rule 16a-1(f), adopted and/or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading

arrangement” or a “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” each as defined in Regulation S-K Item 408, during
the fiscal quarter ending September 29, 2023.

ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT
INSPECTIONS

Not applicable.

103

PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The information required by this item concerning our directors, compliance with Section 16 of the Exchange

Act, as amended, our code of business conduct and ethics, our Compensation Committee, Nominating and
Governance Committee and Audit Committee is incorporated by reference from the information set forth in the
sections under the headings “Election of Directors,” “Executive Officers,” “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports”
and “Corporate Governance Matters” in our Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC in connection
with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2024 (“2024 Proxy Statement”).

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required by this item concerning executive compensation is incorporated by reference from

the information in the 2024 Proxy Statement under the headings “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,”
“Report of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors,” “Executive Compensation Tables and
Related Matters,” “Compensation of Directors,” and “Corporate Governance Matters—Compensation Committee
Interlocks and Insider Participation.”

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The information required by this item concerning securities authorized for issuance under equity
compensation plans and security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is incorporated by
reference from the information in the 2024 Proxy Statement under the headings “Executive Compensation Tables
and Related Matters—Equity Compensation Plan Information” and “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
Owners and Management.”

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR
INDEPENDENCE

The information required by this item concerning transactions with related persons and director

independence is incorporated by reference from the information in the 2024 Proxy Statement under the headings
“Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Corporate Governance Matters.”

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference from the information in the 2024 Proxy

Statement under the heading “Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.”

104

PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

1.

2.

3.

Financial Statements: See “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements” in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual
Report on Form 10-K.

Financial Statement Schedules: Financial statement schedules have been omitted as the information required
is inapplicable or the information is presented in the consolidated financial statements and related notes.

Exhibits: The exhibits listed in the accompanying index to exhibits are filed or incorporated by reference as
part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

105

Exhibit
Number

2.1*

3.1

3.2

4.1

4.2

4.3

10.1*

10.2*

10.3*

10.4*

10.5*

10.6*

10.7*

10.8*

10.9*

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Description

Incorporated by Reference Herein

Form

Date

Asset Contribution Agreement dated
November 19, 2004, by and between the
Registrant, Dolby Laboratories Licensing
Corporation, Ray Dolby individually, Ray
Dolby as Trustee for the Ray Dolby Trust
under the Dolby Family Trust instrument
dated May 7, 1999, and Ray and Dagmar
Dolby Investments L.P.

Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation

Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (No. 333-120614),
Amendment No. 1

December 30, 2004

Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (No. 333-120614),
Amendment No. 2

January 19, 2005

Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q August 3, 2023

Form of Registrant’s Class A Common
Stock Certificate

Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (No. 333-120614),
Amendment No. 1

December 30, 2004

Form of Registrant’s Class B Common
Stock Certificate

Registration Statement on
Form 8-A

January 25, 2006

Description of Capital Stock

Annual Report on Form 10-K

November 25, 2019

Form of Indemnification Agreement entered
into between the Registrant and its
Directors & Officers

2020 Stock Plan, as amended and restated
on February 7, 2023 (“2020 Stock Plan”)

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”), as
amended and restated on February 7, 2023

Form of Global Stock Option Agreement
under the 2020 Stock Plan

Form of Executive Global Stock Option
Agreement under the 2020 Stock Plan

Form of Global Restricted Stock Unit
Agreement under the 2020 Stock Plan

Form of Executive Global Restricted Stock
Unit Agreement under the 2020 Stock Plan

Form of Subscription Agreement under the
ESPP—U.S. Employees

Form of Subscription Agreement under the
ESPP—Non-U.S. Employees

Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (No. 333-120614)

November 19, 2004

Current Report on Form 8-K

February 10, 2023

Current Report on Form 8-K

February 10, 2023

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q February 2, 2017

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q February 2, 2017

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q February 2, 2017

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q February 2, 2017

Annual Report on Form 10-K

November 19, 2009

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q August 8, 2012

10.10*

Form of Executive Performance-Based
Stock Option Agreement

Current Report on Form 8-K

December 11, 2015

106

Exhibit
Number

10.11*

10.12*

10.13*

10.14*

10.15*

10.16*

Description

Form of Executive Performance-Based
Restricted Stock Units

Employment Agreement dated February 24,
2009, by and between Dolby Laboratories,
Inc. & Kevin Yeaman

Amendment, dated as of December 19,
2012, to Employment Agreement dated as of
February 24, 2009, by and between Dolby
Laboratories, Inc. and Kevin Yeaman

Offer Letter by and between Andy
Sherman & Dolby Laboratories, Inc.

Lease for 100 Potrero Avenue, San
Francisco, California

First Amendment to Lease for 100 Potrero
Avenue, San Francisco, California

10.17* Waiver and Extension Relating to Potrero
Avenue Leases dated as of September 29,
2013, by and among Dolby Laboratories,
Inc. and the Dolby Family Trust & affiliated
Trusts

10.18*

Second Amendment to 100 Potrero Avenue,
San Francisco, California Lease Agreement
dated May 6, 2014 by and among Dolby
Laboratories, Inc. and the Dolby Family
Trust & affiliated Trusts

10.19*

Offer Letter dated June 26, 2018 by and
between Todd Pendleton and Dolby
Laboratories, Inc.

Incorporated by Reference Herein

Form

Date

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q January 29, 2020

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q April 30, 2009

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q February 6, 2013

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q May 10, 2011

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q February 8, 2006

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q May 4, 2006

Annual Report on Form 10-K

November 15,
2013

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q July 30, 2014

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q August 1, 2018

10.20*

French Sub-Plan to the 2020 Stock Plan

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q July 29, 2021

10.21*

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement—
France

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q July 29, 2021

10.22*

2023 Dolby Executive Bonus Plan

Current Report on Form 8-K

November 16,
2023

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q February 4, 2022

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q August 9, 2022

10.23*

10.24*

21.1+

23.1+

Offer Letter dated September 23, 2021 by
and between Robert Park and Dolby
Laboratories, Inc.

Offer Letter dated April 6, 2022 by and
between Shriram Revankar and Dolby
Laboratories, Inc.

List of significant subsidiaries of the
Registrant

Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm

107

Incorporated by Reference Herein

Form

Date

Exhibit
Number

24.1

31.1+

31.2+

32.1‡

Description

Power of Attorney (incorporated by
reference from the signature page of this
Annual Report on Form 10-K)

Certification of Chief Executive Officer
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a)/
15d-14(a) as adopted pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

Certification of Chief Financial Officer
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a)/
15d-14(a) as adopted pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

Certifications of Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18
U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

101.INS‡ XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH‡ XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL‡ XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF‡ XBRL Extension Definition

101.LAB‡ XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE‡ XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

+ Filed herewith.
* Denotes a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
‡ Furnished herewith.

108

ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY

None.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant

has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: November 16, 2023

DOLBY LABORATORIES, INC.

By:

/S/ ROBERT PARK
Robert Park
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below
constitutes and appoints Kevin J. Yeaman and Robert Park, and each of them, his or her attorney-in-fact, each
with the power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this Annual
Report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said
attorneys-in-fact, or his or her substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue of hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by

the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

SIGNATURE

TITLE

DATE

/S/ PETER GOTCHER

Chairman of the Board of Directors

November 16, 2023

Peter Gotcher

/S/ KEVIN J. YEAMAN

Kevin J. Yeaman

/S/ ROBERT PARK

Robert Park

/S/ RYAN NICHOLSON

Ryan Nicholson

President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)

Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

Vice President, Chief Accounting
Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)

November 16, 2023

November 16, 2023

November 16, 2023

/S/ MICHELINE CHAU

Director

November 16, 2023

Micheline Chau

/S/ DAVID DOLBY

David Dolby

Director

109

November 16, 2023

SIGNATURE

TITLE

DATE

/S/ TONY PROPHET

Director

November 16, 2023

Tony Prophet

/S/ EMILY ROLLINS

Director

November 16, 2023

Emily Rollins

/S/ SIMON SEGARS

Director

November 16, 2023

Simon Segars

/S/ ANJALI SUD

Anjali Sud

Director

November 16, 2023

/S/ AVADIS TEVANIAN, JR.

Director

November 16, 2023

Avadis Tevanian, Jr.

110

Dolby Laboratories  (NYSE: DLB) is based in  San Francisco, California 
with offices around the globe. From movies and TV shows, to apps, 
music, sports, and gaming,  Dolby transforms the science of sight and 
sound into spectacular experiences  for billions of people worldwide. 
We partner with artists, storytellers, developers, and businesses to 
revolutionize entertainment and communications  with  Dolby Atmos, 
Dolby Vision, Dolby Cinema, and Dolby.io. 

For more information, please visit: www.dolby.com.

Executive Officers and Directors

Investor Relations

Kevin Yeaman
President, Chief Executive Officer, 
and Director

Andy Sherman
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary

Robert Park
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

John Couling
Senior Vice President, Entertainment 

Todd Pendleton
Senior Vice President and
Chief Marketing Officer  

Shriram Revankar
Senior Vice President,
Advanced Technology Group  

Outside Directors

Peter Gotcher
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Micheline Chau
David Dolby
Tony Prophet
Emily Rollins
Simon Segars
Anj ali Sud
Avadis Tevanian, Jr.

Dolby Laboratories, Inc.
1275 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94103-1410
http://investor.dolby.com
investorrelations@dolby.com

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Computershare Trust Company, N.A. 
P.O. Box 43078
Providence, RI 02940-3078
800-587-3984
www.computershare.com/investor 

Legal Counsel

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati,
Professional Corporation
Palo Alto, CA

Public Accounting

KPMG LLP
San Francisco, CA

Class A Common Stock

Listed on the New York Stock Exchange 
under stock symbol DLB

A copy of Dolby’s Annual Report on Form 
10-K may be ordered, viewed, or 
downloaded at http://investor.dolby.com.

Dolby and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. © 20 2 Dolby Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved.

2

Investor Relations
Dolby Laboratories, Inc.
dolby.com

San Francisco, CA 94103-4813 USA
Investor Relations
T 415-558-0200 F 415-645-4000
Dolby Laboratories, Inc.
dolby.com

1275 Market Street
San Francisco, CA  94103-1410  USA
T  415-558-0200  F  415-645-4000