Singapore. We have a network of 13 laboratories that provide genomic services, including seven in the United States, three in China, as well as laboratories in Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Patents and Proprietary Rights
We rely on patents, trade secret laws, confidentiality procedures, copyrights, trademarks and licensing agreements to protect our technology. Due to the rapid technological change that characterizes the life sciences, semiconductor, adjacent technology markets and related process equipment industries, we believe that the improvement of existing technology, reliance upon trade secrets, unpatented proprietary know-how and the development of new products may be as important as patent protection in establishing and maintaining a competitive advantage. Our policy is to require all employees to enter into proprietary information and nondisclosure agreements to protect trade secrets and know-how. We cannot guarantee that these efforts will meaningfully protect our trade secrets.
As of September 30, 2019, we owned 385 issued U.S. patents, with various corresponding patents issued in foreign jurisdictions. We also had 95 pending U.S. patent applications, with foreign counterparts of certain of these applications having been filed or which may be filed at the appropriate time. Our patents will expire at various dates through 2037.
Backlog
Backlog for the Brooks Semiconductor Solutions Group segment offerings totaled approximately $127 million as of September 30, 2019 as compared to approximately $124 million at September 30, 2018. Backlog for the Brooks Semiconductor Solutions Group segment includes all purchase orders for which our customers have scheduled delivery, regardless of the expected delivery date, and consists principally of orders for products and service agreements. Substantially all of this backlog consists of orders scheduled to be delivered within the next 12 months.
Backlog for the Brooks Life Sciences segment offerings totaled $303 million as of September 30, 2019 as compared to approximately $273 million at September 30, 2018. Backlog for the Brooks Life Sciences segment includes all purchase orders for which customers have scheduled delivery, regardless of the expected delivery date, and consists of orders for products and service agreements. In addition, it includes estimated revenue for future services related to our BioStorage business for which contracts have been secured. Final revenue realized will vary based on volumes, prices, duration, and other factors. Storage contracts vary in length of time, with some being short term and some indefinite. We include the estimated value for time periods in the contract up to a maximum of 5 years.
Environmental Matters
We are subject to federal, state, local environmental laws and regulations, and the environmental laws and regulations of the foreign national and local jurisdictions in which we have manufacturing facilities. We believe we are materially in compliance with all such laws and regulations.
Compliance with foreign, federal, state, and local laws and regulations has not had, and is not expected to have, an adverse effect on our capital expenditures, competitive position, financial condition or results of operations.
Employees
At September 30, 2019, we had 2,984 full time employees. In addition, we employ part time workers and contractors. We consider our relationships with our employees to be good.
Available Information
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. We also maintain a website at www.brooks.com, through which you can access our SEC filings.
The information found on our website is not part of this or any other report we file with or furnish to the SEC.