Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Note E - Commitments and Contingencies

 

[1] Legal fees:

 

Dovel & Luner, LLP provides legal services to the Company with respect to the Company’s pending patent litigation filed in September 2011 against sixteen (16) data networking equipment manufacturers in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler (See Note J[1]). The terms of the Company’s agreement with Dovel & Luner LLP essentially provides for legal fees on a full contingency basis ranging from 12.5% to 35% (with certain exceptions) of the net recovery (after deduction for expenses) depending on the stage of the preceding in which a result (settlement or judgment) is achieved. For the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company incurred legal fees and expenses of $344,000 with respect to the litigation.

 

 

Note E - Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

 

Dovel & Luner, LLP provided legal services to the Company with respect to the Company’s patent litigation settled in July 2010 against several major data networking equipment manufacturers. (See Note J[2]). The terms of the Company’s agreement with Dovel & Luner, LLP provided for legal fees of a maximum aggregate cash payment of $1.5 million plus a contingency fee of up to 24% (based on the settlement being achieved at the trial stage) including legal fees of local counsel in Texas. With respect to royalty payments payable quarterly by Cisco in accordance with the Company’s settlement and license agreement with Cisco (See Note J[2]),the Company has an obligation to pay Dovel & Luner 24% of such royalties received after expenses). During the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, total contingency fees incurred to Dovel & Luner, LLP (including local counsel) approximated $1,726,000 and $1,651,000, respectively.

 

With respect to the Company’s litigation against D-Link, which was settled in May 2007, the Company utilized the services of Blank Rome, LLP, on a full contingency basis. In accordance with the Company’s contingency fee agreement with Blank Rome LLP, once the Company recovers its expenses related to the litigation (which has not been achieved yet), the Company is obligated to pay legal fees to Blank Rome LLP equal to 25% of the royalty revenue received by the Company from its license agreement with D-Link.

 

[2] Services agreement:

 

On November 30, 2004, the Company entered into a master services agreement (the "Agreement") with ThinkFire Services USA, Ltd. ("ThinkFire") pursuant to which ThinkFire has been granted the exclusive worldwide rights (except for direct efforts by the Company and related companies) to negotiate license agreements for the Remote Power Patent with respect to certain potential licensees agreed to between the parties. Either the Company or ThinkFire can terminate the Agreement upon 60 days' notice for any reason or upon 30 days' notice in the event of a material breach. The Company agreed to pay ThinkFire a fee not to exceed 20% of the royalty payments received from license agreements consummated by ThinkFire on its behalf after the Company recovers its expenses. For the years ended December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, fees incurred to ThinkFire amounted to $97,000 and $85,000, respectively.

 

[3] Operating leases:

 

The Company leases its principal office space in New York City at a monthly base rent of approximately $3,500 which lease expires in November 2013.

 

 

Note E - Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

 

On June 16, 2011, the Company entered into a four-year lease agreement commencing July 18, 2011 to rent office space, consisting of approximately 2,400 square feet, for offices in New Canaan, Connecticut. In accordance with the lease, the Company pays a base rent of $6,400 per month for the first two years, $6,800 per month for the third year and $7,000 per month for the fourth year. The base rent is subject to annual adjustments to reflect increases in real estate taxes and operating expenses. The Company also entered into a one year sublease (which expired July 2012) at a base rent of $3,700 per month to sublet approximately 50% of the space to a third party.

 

Rental expense for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 aggregated $99,000 and $72,000, respectively, net of sublease income of $26,000 and $18,000.

 

[4] Savings and investment plan:

 

The Company has a Savings and Investment Plan which allows participants to make contributions by salary reduction pursuant to Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The Company also may make discretionary annual matching contributions in amounts determined by the Board of Directors, subject to statutory limits. The 401(k) Plan expense for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 was $33,000 and $32,500, respectively.