Due to strict U.S. laws regarding the handling and export of restricted information, Mentor Graphics has established equally strict policies that govern how our Customer Applications Engineers deal with customer design data during the course of troubleshooting technical issues. A summary of our policy with regard to non-exportable and confidential design data follows.

Non-Exportable or ITAR-Restricted Design Data

It is the customer's responsibility to inform Mentor Graphics if design data is non-exportable or under International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) restrictions. Under such circumstances our Customer Applications Engineers are directed to seek immediate assistance from their Customer Support Manager and the CSD ITAR Manager in exploring other troubleshooting means with the customer, or applying Mentor Graphics documented and approved ITAR Process. If such alternatives are not feasible, the Customer Support Manager and CSD ITAR Manager may decide not to accept the design data.

Confidential Design Data

In the case of information that customers may deem "confidential", data-handling practices are governed by specific Non-Disclosure Agreements established between the customer and Mentor Graphics. In general, these agreements limit data access to those who "need to know", and involve secure data transmission practices that are mutually agreed upon. Such data are also deleted following the successful resolution of the issue.

Customer data that is not "non-exportable / ITAR-restricted", or "confidential" may reside anywhere on the worldwide Mentor Graphics network and may be accessed by any of our Customer Applications Engineers best suited to resolving the technical issue. Since Mentor Graphics is an international corporation with a diverse staff, for exportable, non-confidential data, we cannot ensure that only citizens of the United States within the United States (or any specific country) will have access to customer data.