Blackberry (BB) risk factors, FY2026 10-K

Blackberry's FY2026 10-K, filed Apr 09, 2026, lists 31 risk factors in 4 groups. Against the prior year's 33: 2 new, 4 dropped, 10 substantially reworded.

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Risk factors listed
314 groups
New this year
2vs 33 last year
Dropped
4since the prior 10-K
Substantially reworded
10of those kept
Section length
9k wordsItem 1A

What the changes say

  • QNX software partnerships and reliance on third-party intellectual property licenses take center stage in new operational risk disclosures.

What changed since the prior 10-K

New

  • NewRisks Related to the Company’s Business

    The Company’s success depends in part on its relationships with resellers and channel partners

    The QNX embedded software business relies heavily on silicon providers and hardware platform vendors who might switch to competitors.

  • NewRisks Related to Intellectual Property and Technology Licensing

    or services, or discontinue their sale in the event re-engineering cannot be accomplished on a timely basis, any of which could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business and operating results

    Using third-party licensed intellectual property in products risks delays, costly internal development, or security vulnerabilities if licenses terminate.

Dropped

  • DroppedRisks Related to the Company’s Business

    margins. If the Company is unable to compete successfully, there could be a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition

  • DroppedRisks Related to the Company’s Business

    The Company’s ability to maintain and expand its market reach depends in part on establishing, developing and maintaining relationships with third party resellers and channel partners, especially in its Secure Communications business

  • DroppedRisks Related to the Company’s Business

    The Company uses artificial intelligence solutions, which may expose it to operational challenges, legal liability, reputational harm and regulatory concerns

    Governmental and enterprise product approvals and certifications.

  • DroppedRisks Related to Intellectual Property and Technology Licensing

    the Company in the future. The Company may be subject to these types of claims either directly or indirectly through indemnities that it provides to certain of its customers, partners and suppliers against these claims

Reworded

  • 77% rewrittenRisks Related to the Company’s Business

    The Company may not be able to enhance, develop, introduce or monetize its products and services in a timely manner with competitive pricing, features and performance

    Added a warning that rapid advances in generative AI and automated coding tools reduce software development time and cost.

  • 69% rewrittenRisks Related to Intellectual Property and Technology Licensing

    The Company could be found to have infringed on the intellectual property rights of others

    Added indirect third-party infringement claims through customer, partner, and supplier indemnities.

  • 60% rewrittenRisks Related to the Company’s Business

    Adverse macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions, including trade policies and national security concerns, have had and may in the future have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition

    Added disruptions in government operations to macroeconomic and geopolitical risk factors.

    Was: Adverse macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions, including trade policies, have had and may continue to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition

  • 52% rewrittenRisks Related to Regulation

    Government regulations applicable to the Company’s products and services, including products containing encryption capabilities, could negatively impact the Company’s business

    Expanded on potential research and development costs required to comply with encryption technology regulations.

  • 46% rewrittenRisks Related to the Company’s Business

    The Company faces intense competition

    Added that competitors possess greater name recognition, larger customer bases, and significantly greater financial and technical resources.

  • 46% rewrittenRisks Related to the Company’s Business

    The Company may not be successful in fostering an ecosystem of third-party application developers

    Shifted focus from general secure communications software to the QNX platform and availability of experienced developers.

  • 41% rewrittenRisks Related to the Company’s Business

    The Company’s sales cycles can be long and unpredictable and its sales efforts require considerable time and expense

    Clarified that QNX revenue recognition depends on the time to the start of production of new designs by automotive and GEM OEMs.

  • 36% rewrittenRisks Related to Assets, Indebtedness and Taxation

    The Company faces asset risk, including the potential for charges related to certain investments, long-lived assets and goodwill

    Removed reference to the $40 million deferred cash payment from Arctic Wolf and added standard U.S. GAAP long-lived asset impairment reviews.

  • 33% rewrittenRisks Related to Intellectual Property and Technology Licensing

    The Company is subject to risks related to the use of open source software may not be able to obtain rights to use third-party software

  • 27% rewrittenRisks Related to the Company’s Business

    Significant changes in government customer demand or procurement requirements could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business and results of operations

All 31 risk factors

Headings as the filing states them, in filing order.

Risks Related to the Company’s Business

  1. 01The Company may not be able to maintain or expand its customer base for its software and services offerings to grow revenue or achieve sustained profitability
  2. 02The Company faces intense competition46% rewritten
  3. 03The Company may not be able to enhance, develop, introduce or monetize its products and services in a timely manner with competitive pricing, features and performance77% rewritten
  4. 04Significant changes in government customer demand or procurement requirements could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business and results of operations27% rewritten
  5. 05The Company’s sales cycles can be long and unpredictable and its sales efforts require considerable time and expense41% rewritten
  6. 06Adverse macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions, including trade policies and national security concerns, have had and may in the future have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition60% rewritten
  7. 07A failure or perceived failure of the security features or functionality of the Company’s solutions could materially adversely affect the Company’s reputation, financial condition and results of o perations
  8. 08Litigation against the Company may result in adverse outcomes
  9. 09The Company’s success depends on its continuing ability to attract new personnel, retain existing key personnel and manage its staffing effectively
  10. 10Network disruptions or other business interruptions could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and harm its reputation
  11. 11The Company may not be successful in fostering an ecosystem of third-party application developers46% rewritten
  12. 12The Company’s success depends in part on its relationships with resellers and channel partnersNew
  13. 13The Company’s products and services are dependent upon interoperability with rapidly changing systems provided by third parties

Risks Related to Intellectual Property and Technology Licensing

  1. 14Failure to protect the Company’s intellectual property could harm its ability to compete effectively and the Company may not earn the revenues it expects from intellectual property rights
  2. 15The Company is subject to risks related to the use of open source software may not be able to obtain rights to use third-party software33% rewritten
  3. 16or services, or discontinue their sale in the event re-engineering cannot be accomplished on a timely basis, any of which could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business and operating resultsNew
  4. 17The Company could be found to have infringed on the intellectual property rights of others69% rewritten
  5. 18In addition, any such claim may require the Company to enter into costly royalty agreements or obtain a license for the intellectual property rights of third parties. Such licenses may not be available or they may not be available on commercially reasonable terms

Risks Related to Assets, Indebtedness and Taxation

  1. 19The Company has incurred indebtedness, which could adversely affect its operating flexibility and financial condition
  2. 20The Company faces asset risk, including the potential for charges related to certain investments, long-lived assets and goodwill36% rewritten
  3. 21Tax provision changes, the adoption of new tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities could materially impact the Company’s financial condition

Risks Related to Regulation

  1. 22The use and management of user data and personal information could give rise to liabilities as a result of legal, customer and other third-party requirements
  2. 23User data and personal information is increasingly subject to new and amended legislation and regulations in numerous jurisdictions around the world that are intended to protect the privacy and security of personal information, as well as the collection, storage, transmission, use and disclosure of such information
  3. 24Government regulations applicable to the Company’s products and services, including products containing encryption capabilities, could negatively impact the Company’s business52% rewritten
  4. 25Environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) expectations and standards expose the Company to risks that could adversely affect the Company’s reputation and performance
  5. 26Failure of the Company’s suppliers, subcontractors, channel partners and representatives to use acceptable ethical business practices or to comply with applicable laws could negatively impact the Company’s business
  6. 27Acquisitions, divestitures, investments and other business initiatives may negatively affect the Company’s results of operations
  7. 28The Company’s business is subject to risks inherent in foreign operations, including fluctuations in foreign currencies
  8. 29Environmental events may negatively affect the Company
  9. 30The Company expects its quarterly revenue and operating results to fluctuate
  10. 31The market price of the Company’s common shares is volatile

Other Blackberry 10-Ks

  • FY2025 10-K risk factors
    33 risks

    The company relies heavily on software and services growth, third-party platform interoperability, and government customer demand.

    Filed Apr 02, 2025

About this page

The headings are the filing's own. The one-line readings and the overview are automated and can be wrong: read Item 1A of the 10-K for the exact wording.