As
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 9, 2019
Registration
No. 333-208536
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
Post-Effective
Amendment No. 3
to
FORM
S-1
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
QUEST
PATENT RESEARCH CORPORATION
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
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6794
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11-2873662
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(State
or jurisdiction of
incorporation
or organization)
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(Primary
Standard Industrial
Classification
Code Number)
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(I.R.S.
Employer
Identification No.)
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411
Theodore Fremd Ave. Suite 206S
Rye,
NY 10580-1411
(888)
743-7577
(Address
and telephone number of principal executive offices)
COPIES
TO:
Asher
S. Levitsky P.C.
Ellenoff
Grossman & Schole LLP
1345
Avenue of the Americas, Suite 1100
New
York, New York 10105-0302
Telephone:
(212) 370-1300
Fax:
(646) 895-7238
E-mail:
alevitsky@egsllp.com
(Name,
address and telephone number of agent for service)
APPROXIMATE
DATE OF PROPOSED SALE TO PUBLIC:
As
soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective.
If
any securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the
following box: ☒
If
this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please
check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. ☐
If
this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list
the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If
this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list
the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller
reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller
reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large
accelerated filer
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☐
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Accelerated
filer
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☐
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Non-accelerated
filer
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☒
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Smaller
reporting company
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☒
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|
|
Emerging
growth company
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☐
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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. ☐
CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of each class of securities to be registered
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|
Amount to
be
Registered
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|
Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price Per
Security (1)
|
|
|
Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
Price (1)
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|
|
Amount of Registration
Fee
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|
Common Stock, par value $0.00003 per share
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100,000,000 shares
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$
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0.005
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|
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$
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500,000
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$
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50.35
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(1)
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Estimated
solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(a) promulgated under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended. The shares offered hereunder may be sold by the selling stockholders from time to time in the open market,
through privately negotiated transactions or a combination of these methods, at a fixed price of $0.005 per share until the
common stock is quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board or the OTCQX or OTCQB marketplaces of OTC Markets Group Inc., or is listed
on a securities exchange; and thereafter at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at negotiated prices.
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The
registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until
the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become
effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this registration statement shall become effective
on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a) may determine.
The
information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is
not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY
PROSPECTUS, SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JULY 9 2019
100,000,000
Shares
Quest
Product Research Corporation
OTCQB
trading symbol: QPRC
This
prospectus relates to the public offering of an aggregate of 100,000,000 shares of common stock which may be sold from time to
time by the selling stockholders named in this prospectus.
We
will not receive any proceeds from the sale by the selling stockholder of their shares of common stock. We will pay the cost of
the preparation of this prospectus, which is estimated at $25,000.
On
July 9, 2019, the last reported sales price for our common stock on the OTCQB market, as reported by OTC Markets, was $0.021
per share.
Investing
in shares of our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should purchase our common stock only if you can afford to lose
your entire investment. See “Risk Factors,” which begins on page 6.
Neither
the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or
determined whether this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The
selling stockholders have not engaged any underwriter in connection with the sale of their shares of common stock. The selling
stockholders may sell shares of common stock in the public market based on the market price at the time of sale or at negotiated
prices or in transactions that are not in the public market in the manner set forth under “Plan of Distribution.”
The
date of this Prospectus is _____________, 2019.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
You
may only rely on the information contained in this prospectus or that we have referred you to. We have not authorized anyone to
provide you with different information. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to
buy any securities other than the common stock offered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell
or a solicitation of an offer to buy any common stock in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. Neither
the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made in connection with this prospectus shall, under any circumstances, create any
implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this prospectus or that the information contained by
reference to this prospectus is correct as of any time after its date.
Until
_____________, 2019, all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering,
may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as
underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
PROSPECTUS
SUMMARY
This
summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all the information you should
consider before investing in the securities. However, you should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the “Risk
Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and
our consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.
Our
Business
We
are an intellectual property asset management company. Our principal operations include the development, acquisition, licensing
and enforcement of intellectual property rights that are either owned or controlled by us or one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries.
We currently own, control or manage eleven intellectual property portfolios, which principally consist of patent rights. Our eleven
intellectual property portfolios include the portfolios which we acquired from Intellectual Ventures Assets 16, LLC (“Intellectual
Ventures”) and seven of its affiliates. As part of our intellectual property asset management activities and in the ordinary
course of our business, it has been necessary for us or the intellectual property owner who we represent to initiate, and it is
likely to continue to be necessary to initiate, patent infringement lawsuits and engage in patent infringement litigation. We
anticipate that our primary source of revenue will come from the grant of licenses to use our intellectual property, primarily
licenses granted as part of the settlement of patent infringement lawsuits.
We
seek to generate revenue from two sources:
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Patent
licensing fees relating to our intellectual property portfolio, which includes fees from the licensing of our intellectual
property, primarily from litigation relating to enforcement of our intellectual property rights.
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Licensed
packaging sales, which relate to the sale of licensed products.
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In
previous periods, we also generated revenue from management fees, which we received for managing structured licensing programs,
including litigation, related to our intellectual property rights. We do not currently receive these fees and do not have any
agreements that provide for such payments.
Intellectual
property monetization includes the generation of revenue and proceeds from the licensing of patents, patented technologies and
other intellectual property rights. Patent litigation is often a necessary element of intellectual property monetization where
a patent owner, or a representative of the patent owner, seeks to protect its patent rights against the unlicensed manufacture,
sale, and use of the owner’s patent rights or products which incorporate the owner’s patent rights. In general, we
seek to monetize the bundle of rights granted by the patents through structured licensing and when necessary enforcement of those
rights through litigation, although to date all of our patent license revenues have resulted from litigation.
We
intend to seek to develop our business by acquiring intellectual property rights, either in the form of ownership of or an exclusive
license to the underlying intellectual property. Our goal is to enter into agreements with inventors of innovative technologies
for which there may be a significant market for products which use or incorporate the intellectual property. We seek to purchase
all of, or interests in, intellectual property in exchange for cash, securities of our company, the formation or a joint venture
or separate subsidiary in which the owner has an equity interest, and/or interests in the monetization of those assets. Our revenue
from this aspect of our business can be generated through licensing and, when necessary, which is typically the case, litigation.
We engage in due diligence and a principled risk underwriting process to evaluate the merits and potential value of any acquisition,
partnership or joint venture. We seek to structure the terms of our acquisitions in a manner that will achieve the highest risk-adjusted
returns possible, in the context of our financial condition. In connection with the acquisition of intellectual property portfolios,
we have granted the party providing the financing an interest in any recovery we have with respect to the intellectual property
purchased with the financing, and we expect that we will have to continue to grant such interests until and unless we have generated
sufficient cash from licensing our intellectual property to enable us to acquire additional intellectual property portfolios without
outside financing. However, we cannot assure you that we will ever generate sufficient revenues to enable us to purchase additional
intellectual property without third-party financing.
We
employ a due diligence process before completing the acquisition of an intellectual property interest. We begin with an investment
thesis supporting the potential transaction and then proceed to test the thesis through an examination of the critical drivers
of the value of the underlying intellectual property asset. Such an examination focuses on areas such as title and inventorship
issues, the quality of the drafting and prosecution of the intellectual property assets, legal risks inherent in licensing programs
generally, the applicability of the invention to the relevant marketplace and other issues such as the effects of venue and other
procedural issues. However, our financial position may affect our ability to conduct due diligence with respect to intellectual
property rights.
It
is generally necessary to commence litigation in order to obtain a recovery for past infringement of, or to license the use of,
our intellectual property rights, and substantially all of our revenue from intellectual property licensing has resulted from
litigation. Intellectual property litigation is very expensive, with no certainty of any recovery. To the extent possible we seek
to engage counsel on a contingent fee or partial contingent fee basis, which significantly reduces our litigation cost, but which
also reduces the value of the recovery to us. We do not have the resources to enable us to fund the cost of litigation. To the
extent that we cannot fund litigation ourselves, we may enter into an agreement with a third party, which may be the patent owner
or the former patent owner who transferred the patent rights to us, or an independent third party. In view of our limited cash
and our working capital deficiency, we are not able to institute any monetization program that may require litigation unless we
engage counsel on a fully contingent basis or we obtain funding from third party funding sources. In these cases, counsel may
be afforded a greater participation in the recovery and the third party that funds the litigation would be entitled to participate
in any recovery.
Purchase
of Intellectual Property from Intellectual Ventures Entities
On
October 22, 2015, pursuant to an agreement with an effective date of July 8, 2015, as amended, between us and Intellectual Ventures,
we purchased three groups of patents from Intellectual Ventures for a purchase price of $3,000,000, which was paid in three annual
installments of $1,000,000 from the proceeds of our loans from United Wireless. Contemporaneously with our acquisition of the
patents, we granted Intellectual Ventures a security interest in the patents transferred to us as security for the payment of
the balance of the purchase price. Intellectual Ventures released its security interest upon receipt of the third installment
payment in November 2017. The patent portfolios which we acquired from Intellectual Ventures are the anchor structure portfolio,
the power management/bus control portfolio and the diode on chip portfolio, which are described under “Business –
Our Intellectual Property Portfolios.”
On
July 28, 2017, CXT Systems, Inc. (“CXT”), a wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into an agreement with Intellectual Ventures
Assets 34 LLC and Intellectual Ventures Assets 37 LLC (“IV 34/37”) pursuant to which CTX paid IV 34/37 $25,000 and
IV34/37 transferred to CXT all right, title and interest in a portfolio of thirteen United States patents (the “CXT Portfolio”).
Under the agreement, CXT will distribute 50% of net proceeds, as defined, to IV 34/37, as long as we generate revenue from the
CXT Portfolio. The $25,000 payment to IV 34/37 was made from a loan from United Wireless and was paid directly by United Wireless
to IV 34/37. The agreement with IV 34/37, as amended on January 26, 2018, provides that if, on December 31, 2018, December 31,
2019 and December 31, 2020, cumulative distributions to IV 34/37 total less than $100,000, $375,000 and $975,000, respectively,
CXT shall pay the difference between such cumulative amounts and the amount paid to IV 34/37 within ten days after the applicable
date. The December 31, 2018 payment was made. The $25,000 advance is treated as an advance against distributions of net proceeds
payable to IV 34/37. The useful lives of the patents, at the date of acquisition, was 5-6 years. Neither we nor any affiliate
of CXT has guaranteed the minimum payments. CXT’s obligations under the agreement with IV 34/37 are secured by a security
interest in the proceeds (from litigation or otherwise) from the CXT Portfolio. The patent portfolio which we acquired from IV
34/37 is the CXT portfolio which is described under “Business – Our Intellectual Property Portfolios.”
On
January 26, 2018, CXT entered into an agreement with Intellectual Ventures Assets 62 LLC and Intellectual Ventures Assets 71 LLC
“(IV 62/71”) pursuant to which CXT advanced IV 62/71 $10,000 at closing and IV 62/71 assigned to CXT all right, title,
and interest in a portfolio of sixteen United States patents and three pending applications. Under the agreement, CXT will distribute
50% of net proceeds, as defined, to IV 62/71, as long as we generate net proceeds from this portfolio. The initial $10,000 advance
is treated as an advance toward our future distributions of net proceeds payable to IV 62/71. CXT’s obligations under the
agreement are secured by a security interest in the proceeds (from litigation or otherwise) from the CXT Portfolio. We agreed
to modify the monetization proceeds agreement between CXT and United Wireless to include the patents acquired from IV 62/71.
On
January 26, 2018, Photonic Imaging Solutions Inc. (“PIS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into an agreement with
Intellectual Ventures Assets 6 LLC (“IV 64”) pursuant to which PIS advanced $10,000 to IV 64 at closing and IV 64
assigned to PIS all right, title, and interest in a portfolio of eleven United States patents and sixteen foreign patents (the
“CMOS Portfolio”). Under the agreement, PIS will distribute to IV 64 70% of the first $1,500,000 of revenue, as defined
in the agreement, 30% of the next $1,500,000 of revenue and 50% of revenue over $3,000,000; with the $10,000 advance being treated
as an advance against the first distributions of net proceeds payable to IV 64. PIS’ obligations under the monetization
proceeds agreement are secured by a security interest in the proceeds (from litigation or otherwise) from the portfolio. The patent
portfolio which we acquired from IV 64 is the CMOS portfolio which is described under “Business – Our Intellectual
Property Portfolios.”
On
March 15, 2019, M-RED Inc. (“M-RED”), a wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into an agreement with Intellectual Ventures
Assets 113 LLC and Intellectual Ventures Assets 108 LLC (“IV 113/108”) pursuant to which M-RED paid IV 113/108 $75,000
and IV 113/108 transferred to M-RED all right, title and interest in a portfolio of sixty United States patents and eight foreign
patents (the “M-RED Portfolio”). Under the agreement, M-RED will distribute 50% of net proceeds, as defined, to IV
113/108, as long as we generate revenue from the M-RED Portfolio. The agreement with IV 113/108 provides that if, on September
30, 2020, September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2022, cumulative distributions to IV 113/108 total less than $450,000, $975,000
and $1,575,000, respectively, M-RED shall pay the difference between such cumulative amounts and the amount paid to IV 113/108
within ten days after the applicable date. The $75,000 advance is treated as an advance against the first distributions of net
proceeds payable to IV 113/108. The useful lives of the patents, at the date of acquisition, was approximately nine years. Neither
we nor any affiliate of M-RED has guaranteed the minimum payments. M-RED’s obligations under the agreement with IV 113/108
are secured by a security interest in the proceeds (from litigation or otherwise) from the M-RED Portfolio. The patent portfolio
which we acquired from IV 113/108 is the M-RED portfolio which is described under “Business – Our Intellectual Property
Portfolios.”
Our
Organization
We
were incorporated in Delaware on July 17, 1987 under the name Phase Out of America. On September 21, 1997, we changed our name
to Quest Products Corporation, and, on June 6, 2007, we changed our name to Quest Patent Research Corporation. We have been engaged
in the intellectual property monetization business since 2008. Our executive office is located at 411 Theodore Fremd Ave., Suite
206S, Rye, New York 10580-1411, telephone (888) 743-7577. Our website is www.qprc.com. Information contained on our website or
any other website does not constitute a part of this prospectus.
References
to “we,” “us,” “our” and word of like import refer to Quest Patent Research Corporation and
one or more of our subsidiaries unless the context specifically states or implies otherwise.
Issuance
of Securities to Selling Stockholders
The
100,000,000 shares of common stock offered by the selling stockholders pursuant to this prospectus represent the 50,000,000 shares
of common stock that we issued at the closing to United Wireless and the 50,000,000 shares of common stock that are issuable upon
exercise of the purchase option that we granted to United Wireless. The 50,000,000 shares of common stock that were issued to
United Wireless have been transferred to Andrew C. Fitton (35,000,000 shares) and Michael R. Carper (15,000,000 shares), and the
option to purchase 50,000,000 shares was transferred by United Wireless to Intelligent Partners, LLP, which is owned by Mr. Fitton
(70%) and Mr. Carper (30%). Pursuant to the terms of the purchase option, Intelligent Partners has the right to purchase 16,666,667
shares at an exercise price of $0.01 per share during the period from September 30, 2016 through September 30, 2020, an additional
16,666,667 shares at an exercise price of $0.03 per share during the period from September 30, 2017 through September 30, 2020,
and an additional 16,666,666 shares at an exercise price of $0.05 per share during the period from September 30, 2018 through
September 30, 2020. See “Business – Agreements with United Wireless.”
The
Offering
Common
Stock Offered:
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The
selling stockholders are offering 100,000,000 shares of common stock, of which 50,000,000 shares are owned by two of the selling
stockholders and 50,000,000 shares are issuable upon exercise of a purchase option held by Intelligent Partners, which is
owned by the two individual selling stockholders.
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Outstanding
Shares of Common Stock:
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383,038,334
shares*
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Use
of Proceeds:
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We
will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares by the selling stockholders.
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Determination
of Offering Price:
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The
shares will be sold by the selling stockholders The selling stockholders may sell shares of common stock in the public market
based on the market price at the time of sale or at negotiated prices or in transactions that are not in the public market
in the manner set forth under “Plan of Distribution.”
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*
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Not
including 50,000,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the purchase option held by Intelligent Partners.
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SUMMARY
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The
following information as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and for years in then ended have been derived from our audited financial
statements which appear elsewhere in this prospectus. The information at March 31, 2019 and for the three months ended March 31,
2018 and 2017 have been derived from our unaudited financial statements which appear elsewhere in this prospectus.
Statement
of Operations Information:
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Three Months Ended
March 31,
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Year Ended
December 31,
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2019
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2018
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2018
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2017
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Revenues
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$
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374,865
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$
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857,318
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$
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7,069,004
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$
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1,231,647
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Gain (loss from) operations
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(211,933
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)
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(243,717
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)
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29,362
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(545,718
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)
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Net loss attributable to common stockholders
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(539,809
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)
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(453,323
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)
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(2,111,860
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)
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|
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(1,168,063
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)
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Loss per share (basic and diluted)
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$
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(0.00
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)
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|
$
|
(0.00
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)
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$
|
(0.01
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)
|
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$
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(0.00
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)
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Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding
|
|
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383,038,334
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|
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383,038,334
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|
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383,038,334
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|
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322,819,156
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Balance
Sheet Information:
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March 31, 2019
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December 31, 2018
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Current assets
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$
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126,957
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$
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169,254
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Working capital deficiency
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(6,417,038
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)
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(5,664,650
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)
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Accumulated deficit
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(19,199,701
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)
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(18,659,892
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)
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Stockholders’ deficit
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|
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(5,078,929
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)
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|
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(4,538,861
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)
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RISK
FACTORS
An
investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below together
with all of the other information included in this prospectus before making an investment decision with regard to our securities.
The statements contained in this prospectus include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. The risks set
forth below are not the only risks facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties may exist that could also adversely affect our
business, prospects or operations. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results
of operations could be harmed. In that case, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or a significant
part of your investment.
Risks
Relating to our Financial Conditions and Operations
We
have a history of losses and are continuing to incur losses
. During the period from 2008, when we changed our business to
become an intellectual property management company, through March 31, 2019, we generated a cumulative loss of more than $19,200,000
on cumulative revenues of less than $13,000,000 and our losses are continuing. Our total assets were approximately $3,300,000
at March 31, 2019 and approximately $2,215,000 at December 31, 2018, of which approximately $2,046,000 represented the book value
of patents we acquired from Intellectual Ventures and its affiliates. We had a working capital deficiency of approximately $6,417,000
at March 31, 2019 and approximately $5,665,000 at December 31, 2018, and our continuing losses are generating an increase in our
negative working capital. We cannot give assurance that we can or will ever operate profitably.
Our
independent auditors have included a going concern qualification in their report on our financial statements for the year ended
December 31, 2018
. Because of our history of losses, deficiency in stockholders’ equity, working capital deficiency
and the uncertainty of generating revenues in the future, our independent auditors have included a going concern qualification
in their report on our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018.
We
require significant funding in order to develop our business
. Our business requires substantial funding to evaluate and acquire
intellectual property rights and to develop and implement programs to monetize our intellectual property rights, including the
prosecution of any litigation necessary to enable us to monetize our intellectual property rights. Our failure to develop and
implement these programs could both jeopardize our relationships under our existing agreements and could inhibit our ability to
generate new business, either through the acquisition of intellectual property rights or through exclusive management agreements.
We cannot be profitable unless we are able to obtain the funding necessary to develop our business, including litigation to monetize
our intellectual property. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain necessary funding or to develop our business.
Unless
we generate significant revenue from our intellectual properties, we may be unable to pay the notes we incurred in connection
with our recent intellectual property purchase
. Through March 31, 2019 we owed approximately $4,791,000 to Intelligent Partners
as holder of the notes representing loans and accrued interest, including capitalized interest. The notes are due September 30,
2020. Unless we generate revenue either from our existing intellectual property portfolio, including the patent rights we acquired
from the Intellectual Ventures Entities, or from any new intellectual property portfolios which we may acquire in the future,
we do not expect to have the funds necessary to pay principal and interest on the notes. If we are not able to make payment when
due, we may not be able to continue in business and it may be necessary for us to seek protection under the Bankruptcy Act. We
cannot assure you that we will be able to generate the revenue necessary to pay Intelligent Partners.
If
we breach certain obligations under our agreement with United Wireless, including our failure to pay the notes when due or have
sufficient authorized common stock for potential conversion of our notes due to Intelligent Partners, as transferee of United
Wireless, the notes may become convertible
. Under our agreement with United Wireless, in the event that certain events of
default, which are called Conversion Eligible Events of Default, occur, any outstanding notes become convertible into common stock
at a conversion price equal to 90% of the closing sale price of our common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the
date the Intelligent Partners, as transferee of United Wireless, gives notice of conversion. Conversion Eligible Events of Default
include, among other events,
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our
failure to pay principal on any note;
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our
failure to pay interest and other charges in excess of $100,000; and
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our
inability, for more than 135 consecutive days, to have reserved for issuance upon conversion of the notes the number of shares
of common stock that equals at least 130% of the aggregate maximum number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion
of the then outstanding notes.
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We
cannot assure you that we will be able to prevent a Conversion Eligible Event of Default.
Because
of our lack of funds, we may not be able to conduct adequate due diligence on any new intellectual property which we may seek
to acquire
. We currently have nominal current assets and are operating at a loss. In order to evaluate any intellectual property
rights which we may seek to acquire, we need to conduct due diligence on the intellectual property and underlying technology.
To the extent that we are unable to perform the necessary due diligence, we will not be able to value any asset which we acquire,
which may impair our ability to generate revenue from the intellectual property rights. If any conditions occur, such as defects
in the ownership of the intellectual property, infringement on intellectual property rights of others, the existence of better
technology which does not require our intellectual property, or other conditions that affect the value of the patents or marketability
of the underlying intellectual property rights, we may not be able to monetize the patents and we may be subject to liability
to a third party who has rights in the intellectual property.
Any
funding we obtain may result in significant dilution to our stockholders
. Because of our financial position, our continuing
losses and our negative working capital from operations, we do not expect that we will be able to obtain any debt financing for
our operations. Our stock price has frequently been trading at a price which is less than $0.01 per share for more than the past
two years. As a result, it will be very difficult for us to raise funds in the equity markets. However, in the event that we are
able to raise funds in the equity market, the sale of shares would result in significant dilution to the present stockholders,
and even a modest equity investment could result in the issuance of a very significant number of shares.
We
are dependent upon our chief executive officer
. We are dependent upon Jon Scahill, our chief executive officer and president
and sole full-time employee, for all aspects of our business including locating, evaluating and negotiating for intellectual property
rights from the owners, managing our intellectual property portfolios, engaging in licensing activities and monetizing the rights
through licensing and managing and monitoring any litigation with respect to our intellectual property as well as defending any
actions by potential licensees seeking a declaratory judgment that they do not infringe. The loss of Mr. Scahill would materially
impair our ability to conduct our business. Although we have an employment agreement with Mr. Scahill, the employment agreement
does not insure that Mr. Scahill will remain with us.
Risks
Relating to Monetizing our Intellectual Property Rights
We
may not be able to monetize our intellectual property portfolios
. Although our business plan is to generate revenue from our
intellectual property portfolios, we have not been successful in generating any significant revenue from our portfolios and we
have not generated any revenues from several of our intellectual property portfolios. We cannot assure you that we will be able
to generate any significant revenue from our existing portfolios or that we will be able to acquire new intellectual property
rights that will generate significant revenue.
If
we are not successful in monetizing our portfolios, we may not be able to continue in business
. Although we have ownership
of some of our intellectual property, we also license the rights pursuant to agreements with the owners of the intellectual property.
If we are not successful in generating revenue for those parties who have an interest in the results of our efforts, those parties
may seek to renegotiate the terms of our agreements with them, which could both impair our ability to generate revenue from our
intellectual property and make it more difficult for us to obtain rights to new intellectual property rights. If we continue to
be unable to generate revenue from our existing intellectual property portfolios and any new portfolios we may acquire, we may
be unable to continue in business.
If
we are not successful in patent litigation, the defendants may seek to have the court award attorneys’ fees to them against
us which could result in the bankruptcy of the plaintiff subsidiary and a default under our agreement with United Wireless
.
The United States patent laws provide that “the court in exceptional cases may award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing
party.” Although the patents are owned by our subsidiaries and any judgment would be awarded against the subsidiaries, the
subsidiaries have no assets other than the patent rights. Our funding sources for our patent litigation do not provide for the
funding source to pay any judgment against us. Thus, if any defendants obtain a judgment against one of our subsidiaries, they
may seek to enforce their judgment against the patents owned by the subsidiary or seek to put the subsidiary into bankruptcy and
acquire the patents in the bankruptcy proceeding. As a result, it is possible that an adverse verdict in a petition for legal
fees could result in the loss of the patents owned by the subsidiary and a default under our note held by Intelligent Partners
as transferee of United Wireless.
Our
inability to acquire intellectual property portfolios will impair our ability to generate revenue and develop our business
.
We do not have the personnel to develop patentable technology by ourselves. Thus, we need to depend on acquiring rights to intellectual
property and intellectual property portfolios from third parties. In acquiring intellectual property rights, there are delays
in (i) identifying the intellectual property which we may want to acquire, (ii) negotiating an agreement with the owner or holder
of the intellectual property rights, and (iii) generating revenue from those intellectual property rights which we acquire. During
these periods, we will continue to incur expenses with no assurance that we will generate revenue. We currently hold intellectual
property portfolios from which we have not generated any revenue to date, and we cannot assure you that we will generate revenue
from our existing intellectual property portfolios or any additional intellectual properties which we may acquire.
We
may be unable to enforce our intellectual property rights unless we obtain third party funding
. Because of the expense of
litigation and our lack of working capital, we may be unable to enforce our intellectual property rights unless we obtain the
agreement of a third party to provide funding in support of our litigation. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain
third party funding, and the failure to obtain such funding may impair our ability to monetize our intellectual property portfolio.
Because
we need to rely on third-party funding sources to provide us with funds to enforce our intellectual property rights we are dependent
upon the perception by potential funding sources of the value of our intellectual property
. Because we do not have funds to
pursue litigation to enforce our intellectual property rights, we are dependent upon the valuation which potential funding sources
give to our intellectual property. In determining whether to provide funding for intellectual property litigation, the funding
sources need to make an evaluation of the strength of our patents, the likelihood of success, the nature of the potential defendants
and a determination as to whether there is a sufficient potential recovery to justify a significant investment in intellectual
property litigation. Typically, such funding sources receive a percentage of the recovery after litigation expenses, and seek
to generate a sufficient return on investment to justify the investment. Unless that funding source believes that it will generate
a sufficient return on investment, it will not fund litigation. We cannot assure you that we will be able to negotiate funding
agreements with third party funding sources on terms reasonably acceptable to us, if at all. Because of our financial condition,
we may only be able to obtain funding on terms which are less favorable to us than we would otherwise be able to obtain.
Even
if we enter into funding agreements, there is no assurance that we will generate revenue from the funded litigation
. Although
the funding source makes its evaluation as to the likelihood of success, patent litigation is very uncertain, and we cannot assure
you that, just because we obtain litigation funding, we will be successful or that any recovery we may obtain will be significant.
In a number of actions we commenced, our claims for infringement were dismissed by the trial court.
Because
of the terms of a funding agreement and our agreement with United Wireless, we allocate to third parties a significant portion
of any recovery we may obtain
. Typically, an agreement with a litigation funding source provides that the funding party received
a negotiated percentage of the recovery after legal expenses. In addition, we have a monetization proceeds agreement with United
Wireless pursuant to which United Wireless has the right to receive 15% of the net monetization proceeds received from the patents
we acquired from Intellectual Ventures and our mobile data and financial data intellectual property portfolios, and 7.5% of the
net proceeds received from the CXT portfolio. As a result, the amount we recover from any successful litigation, after the costs
of the litigation, represents only a fraction of the net recovery.
Because
we granted United Wireless a security interest in almost all of our intellectual property and the proceeds from our intellectual
property, we may not be able to raise funds through a debt financing
. Pursuant to our agreements with United Wireless, we
granted United Wireless a security interest in the stock of our subsidiaries that hold the intellectual property acquired from
Intellectual Ventures and in the proceeds from the monetization of the intellectual property acquired from Intellectual Ventures
and our mobile data and financial data portfolios. The inability to grant a security interest in these assets to a new lender
would materially impair our ability to obtain debt financing for our operations, and may also impair our ability to obtain financing
to acquire additional intellectual property rights.
Because
of our financial condition and our failure to have generated revenues from our existing portfolios, we may not be able to obtain
intellectual property rights to the most advanced technologies
. In order to generate meaningful revenues from intellectual
property rights, we need to be able to identify, negotiate rights to and offer technologies for which there is a developing market.
Because of our financial condition and our lack of the generation of any significant revenue from our existing intellectual property
portfolios, we may be unable to negotiate rights to technology for which there which will be a strong developing market, or, if
we are able to negotiate agreements for such intellectual property, the terms of our purchase or license may not be favorable
to us. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that we will be able to acquire intellectual property rights to the technology for which
there is a strong market demand.
Potential
acquisitions may present risks, and we may be unable to achieve the financial or other goals intended at the time of any potential
acquisition
. Our ability to grow depends, in large part, on our ability to acquire interests in intellectual property, including
patented technologies, patent portfolios, or companies holding such patented technologies and patent portfolios. Accordingly,
we intend to engage in acquisitions to expand our intellectual property portfolios and we intend to continue to explore such acquisitions.
Such acquisitions are subject to numerous risks, including the following:
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our
failure to have sufficient funding to enable us to make the acquisition;
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our
failure to have sufficient personal to satisfy the seller that we have the personnel to monetize the assets we propose to
acquire;
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dilution
to our stockholders to the extent that we use equity in connection with any acquisition;
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our
inability to enter into a definitive agreement with respect to any potential acquisition, or if we are able to enter into
such agreement, our inability to consummate the potential acquisition;
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difficulty
integrating the operations, technology and personnel of the acquired entity;
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our
inability to achieve the anticipated financial and other benefits of the specific acquisition;
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difficulty
in maintaining controls, procedures and policies during the transition and monetization process;
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diversion
of our management’s attention from other business concerns, especially considering that we have only one full-time employee/officer;
and
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our
failure, in our due diligence process, to identify significant issues, including issues with respect to patented technologies
and intellectual property portfolios, and other legal and financial contingencies.
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If
we are unable to manage these risks effectively as part of any acquisition, our business could be adversely affected.
Our
acquisition of intellectual property rights may be time consuming, complex and costly, which could adversely affect our operating
results
. Acquisitions of patent or other intellectual property assets, which are and will be critical to the development of
our business, are often time consuming, complex and costly to consummate. We may utilize many different transaction structures
in our acquisitions and the terms of such acquisition agreements tend to be heavily negotiated. As a result, we expect to incur
significant operating expenses and may be required to raise capital during the negotiations even if the acquisition is ultimately
not consummated. Even if we are able to acquire particular intellectual property assets, there is no guarantee that we will generate
sufficient revenue related to those intellectual property assets to offset the acquisition costs. We may also identify intellectual
property assets that cost more than we are prepared to spend with our own capital resources. We may incur significant costs to
organize and negotiate a structured acquisition that does not ultimately result in an acquisition of any intellectual property
assets or, if consummated, proves to be unprofitable for us. These higher costs could adversely affect our operating results.
If
we acquire technologies that are in the early stages of market development, we may be unable to monetize the rights we acquire
.
We may acquire patents, technologies and other intellectual property rights that are in the early stages of adoption in the commercial,
industrial and consumer markets. Demand for some of these technologies will likely be untested and may be subject to fluctuation
based upon the rate at which companies may adopt our intellectual property in their products and services. As a result, there
can be no assurance as to whether technologies we acquire or develop will have value that we can monetize. It may also be necessary
for us to develop additional intellectual property and file new patent applications as the underlying commercial market evolves,
as a result of which we may incur substantial costs with no assurance that we will ever be able to monetize our intellectual property.
Our
intellectual property monetization cycle is lengthy and costly and may be unsuccessful
. We expect to incur significant marketing,
legal and sales expenses prior to entering into monetization events that generate revenue for us. We will also spend considerable
resources educating potential licensees on the benefits of entering into an agreement with us that may include a non-exclusive
license for future use of our intellectual property rights. Thus, we may incur significant losses in any particular period before
any associated revenue stream begins. If our efforts to convince potential licensees of the benefits of a settlement arrangement
are unsuccessful, we may need to continue with the litigation process or other enforcement action to protect our intellectual
property rights and to realize revenue from those rights. We may also need to litigate to enforce the terms of existing agreements,
protect our trade secrets, or determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others. Enforcement proceedings are
typically protracted and complex. The costs are typically substantial, and the outcomes are unpredictable. Enforcement actions
will divert our managerial, technical, legal and financial resources from business operations.
We
may not be successful in obtaining judgments in our favor
. We have commenced litigation seeking to monetize our intellectual
property portfolios and it may be necessary for us to commence ligation in the future. All litigation is uncertain, and a number
of the actions we commenced have been dismissed by the trial court. We cannot assure you that any litigation will be decided in
our favor or that, if damages are awarded or a license is negotiated, that we will generate any significant revenue from the litigation
or that any recovery may be allocated to counsel and third party funding source which may result in little if any revenue to us.
Our
financial condition may cause both intellectual property rights owners and potential licensees to believe that we do not have
the financial resources to commence and prosecute litigation for infringement
. Because of our financial condition, both intellectual
property rights owners and potential licensees may believe that we do not have the ability to commence and prosecute sustained
and expensive litigation to protect our intellection rights with the effect that (i) intellectual property rights owners may be
reluctant to grant us rights to their intellectual property and (ii) potential licensees may be less inclined to pay for license
rights from us or settle any litigation we may commence on terms which generate any meaningful monetization.
Any
patents which may be issued to us pursuant to patent applications which we filed or may file may fail to give us necessary protection
.
We cannot be certain that patents will be issued as a result of any pending or future patent applications, or that any of our
patents, once issued, will provide us with adequate protection from competing products. For example, issued patents may be circumvented
or challenged, declared invalid or unenforceable, or narrowed in scope. In addition, since publication of discoveries in scientific
or patent literature often lags behind actual discoveries, we cannot be certain that we will be the first to make additional new
inventions or to file patent applications covering those inventions. It is also possible that others may have or may obtain issued
patents that could prevent us from commercializing our products or require us to obtain licenses requiring the payment of significant
fees or royalties in order to enable us to conduct our business. As to those patents that we may acquire, our continued rights
will depend on meeting any obligations to the seller and we may be unable to do so. Our failure to obtain or maintain intellectual
property rights for our inventions would lead to the loss of our investments in such activities, which would have a material adverse
effect on us.
The
provisions of Federal Declaratory Judgment Act may affect our ability to monetize our intellectual property
. Under the Federal
Declaratory Judgment Act, it is possible for a party who we consider to be infringing upon our intellectual property to commence
an action against us seeking a declaratory judgment that such party is not infringing upon our intellectual property rights. In
such a case, the plaintiff could choose the court in which to bring the action and we would be the defendant in the action. Common
claims for declaratory judgment in patent cases are claims of non-infringement, patent invalidity and unenforceability. Although
the commencement of an action requires a claim or controversy, a court may find a letter from us to the alleged infringer seeking
a royalty for the use of our intellectual property rights to form the basis of a controversy. In such a case, the plaintiff, rather
than we, would choose the court in which to bring the action and the timing of the action. In addition, when we commence an action
as plaintiff, we may be able to enter into a contingent fee arrangement with counsel, it is possible that counsel may be less
willing to accept such an arrangement if we are the defendant. Further, we would not have the opportunity of choosing against
which party to bring the action. An adverse decision in a declaratory judgment action could significantly impair our ability to
monetize the intellectual property rights which are the subject of the litigation. We have been a defendant in one declaratory
judgment action, which resulted in a settlement. We cannot assure you that potential infringers will not be able to use the Declaratory
Judgment Act to reduce our ability to monetize the patents that are the subject of the action.
A
2014 Supreme Court decision could significantly impair business method and software patents
. In June 2014, the United States
Supreme Court, in
Alice v. CLS Bank
, struck down patents covering a computer-implemented scheme for mitigating “settlement
risk” by using a third party intermediary, holding the patent claims to be ineligible as being drawn to a patent-ineligible
abstract idea. The courts have been dealing for many years over what business methods are patentable. We cannot predict the extent
to which the decision in
Alice
as well as prior Supreme Court decisions dealing with patents, will be interpreted by courts.
To the extent that the Supreme Court decision in
Alice
gives businesses reason to believe that business model and software
patents are not enforceable, it may become more difficult for us to monetize patents which are held to be within the ambit of
the patents before the Supreme Court in
Alice
and for us to obtain counsel willing to represent us on a contingency basis.
As a result, the decision in
Alice
could materially impair our ability to obtain patent rights and monetize those which
we do obtain.
Legislation,
regulations or rules related to obtaining patents or enforcing patents could significantly increase our operating costs and decrease
our revenue
. We may apply for patents and may spend a significant amount of resources to enforce those patents. If legislation,
regulations or rules are implemented either by Congress, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or the courts that impact
the patent application process, the patent enforcement process or the rights of patent holders, these changes could negatively
affect our expenses and revenue. For example, new rules regarding the burden of proof in patent enforcement actions could significantly
both increase the cost of our enforcement actions and make it more difficult to sign licenses without litigation, changes in standards
or limitations on liability for patent infringement could negatively impact our revenue derived from such enforcement actions,
and any rules requiring that the losing party pay legal fees of the prevailing party could also significantly increase the cost
of our enforcement actions. United States patent laws were recently amended with the enactment of the Leahy-Smith America Invents
Act, or the America Invents Act, which took effect on March 16, 2013. The America Invents Act includes a number of significant
changes to U.S. patent law. In general, the legislation attempts to address issues surrounding the enforceability of patents and
the increase in patent litigation by, among other things, establishing new procedures for patent litigation. For example, the
America Invents Act changes the way that parties may be joined in patent infringement actions, increasing the likelihood that
such actions will need to be brought against individual parties allegedly infringing by their respective individual actions or
activities. The America Invents Act and its implementation increases the uncertainties and costs surrounding the enforcement of
our patented technologies, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. In addition, the
U.S. Department of Justice has conducted reviews of the patent system to evaluate the impact of patent assertion entities on industries
in which those patents relate. It is possible that the findings and recommendations of the Department of Justice could impact
the ability to effectively license and enforce standards-essential patents and could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding
the enforcement of any such patented technologies.
Proposed
legislation may affect our ability to conduct our business
. There are presently pending or proposed a number of laws which,
if enacted, may affect the ability of companies such as us to generate revenue from our intellectual property rights. Typically,
these proposed laws cover legal actions brought by companies which do not manufacture products or supply services but seek to
collect licensing fees based on their intellectual property rights and, if they are not able to enter into a license, to commence
litigation. Although a number of such bills have been proposed in Congress, we do not know which, if any, bills will be enacted
into law or what the provisions will be and, therefore, we cannot predict the effect, if any, that such laws, if passed by Congress
and signed by the president, would provide. However, we cannot assure you that legislation will not be enacted which would impair
our ability to operate by making it more difficult for us to commence litigation against a potential licensee or infringer. To
the extent that an alleged infringer believes that we will not prevail in litigation, it would be more difficult to negotiate
a license agreement without litigation.
The
unpredictability of our revenues may harm our financial condition
. Our revenues from licensing have typically been lump sum
payments entered into at the time of the license, which may be in connection with the settlement of litigation, and not from licenses
that pay an ongoing royalty. Due to the nature of the licensing business and uncertainties regarding the amount and timing of
the receipt of license and other fees from potential infringers, stemming primarily from uncertainties regarding the outcome of
enforcement actions, rates of adoption of our patented technologies, the growth rates of potential licensees and certain other
factors, our revenues, if any, may vary significantly from quarter to quarter, which could make our business difficult to manage,
adversely affect our business and operating results, cause our quarterly results to fall below market expectations and adversely
affect the market price of our common stock.
Our
success depends in part upon our ability to retain the qualified legal counsel to represent us in patent enforcement litigation
.
The success of our licensing business may depend upon our ability to retain the qualified legal counsel to prosecute patent infringement
litigation. As our patent enforcement actions increase, it will become more difficult to find the preferred choice for legal counsel
to handle all of our cases because many of these firms may have a conflict of interest that prevents their representation of us
or because they are not willing to represent us on a contingent or partial contingent fee basis.
Our
reliance on representations, warranties and opinions of third parties may expose us to certain material liabilities
. From
time to time, we rely upon the representations and warranties of third parties, including persons claiming ownership of intellectual
property rights, and opinions of purported experts. In certain instances, we may not have the opportunity to independently investigate
and verify the facts upon which such representations, warranties and opinions are made. By relying on these representation, warranties
and opinions, we may be exposed to liability in connection with the licensing and enforcement of intellectual property and intellectual
property rights which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.
In
connection with patent enforcement actions, counterclaims may be brought against us and a court may rule against us in counterclaims
which may expose us and our operating subsidiaries to material liabilities
. In connection with patent enforcement actions,
it is possible that a defendant may file counterclaims against us or a court may rule that we have violated statutory authority,
regulatory authority, federal rules, local court rules, or governing standards relating to the substantive or procedural aspects
of such enforcement actions. In such event, a court may issue monetary sanctions against us or our operating subsidiaries or award
attorney’s fees and/or expenses to the counterclaiming defendant, which could be material, and if we or our operating subsidiaries
are required to pay such monetary sanctions, attorneys’ fees and/or expenses, such payment could materially harm our operating
results, our financial position and our ability to continue in business.
Trial
judges and juries may find it difficult to understand complex patent enforcement litigation, and as a result, we may need to appeal
adverse decisions by lower courts in order to successfully enforce our patents
. It is difficult to predict the outcome of
patent enforcement litigation at the trial level. It is often difficult for juries and trial judges to understand complex, patented
technologies, and, as a result, there is a higher rate of successful appeals in patent enforcement litigation than more standard
business litigation. Regardless of whether we prevail in the trial court, appeals are expensive and time consuming, resulting
in increased costs and delayed revenue, and attorneys may be less likely to represent us in an appeal on a contingency basis especially
if we are seeking to appeal an adverse decision. Although we may diligently pursue enforcement litigation, we cannot predict the
decisions made by juries and trial courts.
More
patent applications are filed each year resulting in longer delays in getting patents issued by the United States Patent and Trademark
Office
. We hold a number of pending patents and may file or acquire rights to additional patent applications. We have identified
a trend of increasing patent applications each year, which we believe is resulting in longer delays in obtaining approval of pending
patent applications. The application delays could cause delays in recognizing revenue, if any, from these patents and could cause
us to miss opportunities to license patents before other competing technologies are developed or introduced into the market.
U.S.
Federal courts are becoming more crowded, and, as a result, patent enforcement litigation is taking longer
. Patent enforcement
actions are almost exclusively prosecuted in federal district courts. In May 2017, the United States Supreme Court, in
TC Heartland
v. Kraft Foods Groups Brands
, held that a corporate defendant may be sued either in its state of incorporation, or where it
has committed acts of infringement and has a regular and established place of business. To the extent that the Supreme Court decision
in
TC Heartland
concentrates patent litigation in districts within states popular for business incorporation, such as the
Federal District Court for the District of Delaware, such courts may become increasingly crowded. Federal trial courts that hear
patent enforcement actions also hear criminal and other civil cases. Criminal cases always take priority over patent enforcement
actions. As a result, it is difficult to predict the length of time it will take to complete any enforcement action. Moreover,
we believe there is a trend in increasing numbers of civil lawsuits and criminal proceedings, and, as a result, we believe that
the risk of delays in patent enforcement actions will have a significant effect on our business in the future unless this trend
changes.
Any
reductions in the funding of the United States Patent and Trademark Office could have an adverse impact on the cost of processing
pending patent applications and the value of those pending patent applications
. Our primary assets are our patent portfolios,
including pending patent applications before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The value of our patent portfolios
is dependent upon the issuance of patents in a timely manner, and any reductions in the funding of the United States Patent and
Trademark Office could negatively impact the value of our assets. Further, reductions in funding from Congress could result in
higher patent application filing and maintenance fees charged by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, causing an unexpected
increase in our expenses.
The
rapid development of technology may impair our ability to monetize intellectual property that we own
. In order for us to generate
revenue from our intellectual property, we need to offer intellectual property that is used in the manufacture or development
of products. Rapid technological developments have reduced the market for products using less advanced technology. To the extent
that technology develops in a manner in which our intellectual property is not a necessary element or to the extent that others
design around our intellectual property, our ability to license our intellectual property portfolios or successfully prosecute
litigation will be impaired. We cannot assure you that we will have rights to intellectual property for most advanced technology
or that there will be a market for products which require our technology.
The
intellectual property management business is highly competitive
. A large number of other companies seek to obtain rights to
new intellectual property and to market existing intellectual property. Most of these companies have significantly both greater
resources that we have and industry contacts which place them in a better position to generate new business. Further, our financial
position, our lack of executive personnel and our inability to generate revenue from our portfolio can be used against us by our
competitors. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in obtaining intellectual property rights to new developing technologies.
As
intellectual property enforcement litigation becomes more prevalent, it may become more difficult for us to voluntarily license
our intellectual property
.
We believe that the more prevalent intellectual property enforcement actions become, the
more difficult it will be for us to voluntarily license our intellectual property rights. As a result, we may need to increase
the number of our intellectual property enforcement actions to cause infringing companies to license the intellectual property
or pay damages for lost royalties.
Weak
global economic conditions may cause potential licensees to delay entering into licensing agreements, which could prolong our
litigation and adversely affect our financial condition and operating results
. Our business depends significantly on strong
economic conditions that would encourage potential licensees to enter into license agreements for our intellectual property rights.
The United States and world economies have recently experienced weak economic conditions. Uncertainty about global economic conditions
poses a risk as businesses may postpone spending in response to tighter credit, negative financial news and declines in income
or asset values. This response could have a material adverse effect on the willingness of parties infringing on our assets to
enter into settlements or other revenue generating agreements voluntarily.
If
we are unable to adequately protect our intellectual property, we may not be able to compete effectively
.
Our ability
to compete depends in part upon the strength of the intellectual property and intellectual property rights that we own or may
hereafter acquire in our technologies, brands and content and our ability to protect such intellectual property rights. We rely
on a combination of patent and intellectual property laws and agreements to establish and protect our patent, intellectual property
and other proprietary rights. The efforts we take to protect our patents, intellectual property and other proprietary rights may
not be sufficient or effective at stopping unauthorized use of our patents, intellectual property and other proprietary rights.
In addition, effective trademark, patent, copyright and trade secret protection may not be available or cost-effective in every
country in which we have rights. There may be instances where we are not able to protect or utilize our patent and other intellectual
property in a manner that maximizes competitive advantage. If we are unable to protect our patent assets and intellectual property
and other proprietary rights from unauthorized use, the value of those assets may be reduced, which could negatively impact our
business. Our inability to obtain appropriate protections for our intellectual property may also allow competitors to enter our
markets and produce or sell the same or similar products as those covered by our intellectual property rights. In addition, protecting
our intellectual property and intellectual property rights is expensive and diverts our critical and limited managerial resources.
If any of the foregoing were to occur, or if we are otherwise unable to protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights,
our business and financial results could be impaired. If it becomes necessary for us to commence legal proceedings to enforce
our intellectual property rights, the proceedings could be burdensome and expensive. In addition, our intellectual property rights
could be at risk if we are unsuccessful in, or cannot afford to pursue, those proceedings. We also rely on trade secrets and contract
law to protect some of our intellectual property rights. We will enter into confidentiality and invention agreements with our
employees and consultants. Nevertheless, these agreements may not be honored and they may not effectively protect our right to
our un-patented trade secrets and know-how. Moreover, others may independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information
and techniques or otherwise gain access to our trade secrets and know-how.
Risks
Concerning our Common Stock
Our
notes held by Intelligent Partners, as transferee of United Wireless, will become convertible at a conversion price equal to 90%
of the market price of the stock on the date the holder of the notes gives notice of conversion in the event of certain defaults
under the notes
. Although the notes that we issued held by Intelligent Partners, as transferee of United Wireless, are not
presently convertible, they become convertible upon certain events of default. If the notes become convertible, the holders of
the notes can convert the notes in part from time to time at 90% of the market price at the time of conversion. The ability, or
the potential ability, of the holder to convert the notes into common stock at a price which is less than the market price on
the date of conversion could result in significant downward pressure on the price of our common stock. If the notes become convertible,
the possible additional dilution resulting from the issuance of shares of common stock on conversion of the notes, together with
the below market conversion price, could result in continued downward pressure on our stock price until the notes are paid in
full. Further, even though we increased our authorized common stock to 10,000,000,000 shares in June 2017, the possibility that
the notes may become convertible in the future could also have a negative impact on the market price of our common stock.
If
the notes issued held by Intelligent Partners, as transferee of United Wireless, become convertible, we may not have sufficient
authorized common stock to enable us to fulfill our obligation to issue common stock on conversion of the notes
. Because there
is no fixed conversion price, it is possible that, even though we increased our authorized common stock to 10,000,000,000 shares
in June 2017, we cannot assure you that we will continue to have sufficient shares of authorized common stock to permit conversion.
Although we have an obligation to increase our authorized common stock further in the event that 10,000,000,000 authorized shares
are not sufficient, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain stockholder approval of such an increase. The failure
to be able to deliver common stock on conversion would be a further default under the notes and could result in our obligation
to pay damages to the note holders.
There
is a limited market for our common stock, which may make it difficult for you to sell your stock
. There is a limited trading
market for our common stock and there are frequently days on which there is no trading in our common stock. Our common stock has
traded for less than $0.01 for almost all trading days since prior to January 1, 2015 through the first quarter of 2019. Accordingly,
there can be no assurance as to the liquidity of any markets that may develop for our common stock, the ability of holders of
our common stock to sell our common stock, or the prices at which holders may be able to sell our common stock. Further, because
of the thin float, the reported bid and asked prices may have little relationship to the price you would pay if you wanted to
buy shares or the price you would receive if you wanted to sell shares.
Because
our common stock is a penny stock, you may have difficulty selling our common stock in the secondary trading market
. Our common
stock fits the definition of a penny stock and therefore is subject to the rules adopted by the SEC regulating broker-dealer practices
in connection with transactions in penny stocks. The SEC rules may have the effect of reducing trading activity in our common
stock making it more difficult for investors to purchase and sell their shares. The SEC’s rules require a broker or dealer
proposing to effect a transaction in a penny stock to deliver the customer a risk disclosure document that provides certain information
prescribed by the SEC, including, but not limited to, the nature and level of risks in the penny stock market. The broker or dealer
must also disclose the aggregate amount of any compensation received or receivable by him in connection with such transaction
prior to consummating the transaction. In addition, the SEC’s rules also require a broker or dealer to make a special written
determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written agreement
to the transaction before completion of the transaction. The existence of the SEC’s rules may result in a lower trading
volume of our common stock and lower trading prices. Further, some broker-dealers will not process transactions in penny stocks.
Our
lack of internal controls over financial reporting may affect the market for and price of our common stock
. Pursuant to Section
404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we are required to file a report by our management on our internal control over financial reporting.
Our disclosure controls and our internal controls over financial reporting are not effective. Since we became engaged in the intellectual
property management business in 2008, we have not had the financial resources or personnel to develop or implement systems that
would provide us with the necessary information on a timely basis so as to be able to implement financial controls. Our continued
poor financial condition together with the fact that we have one full time employee, who is both our chief executive officer and
chief financial officer, makes it difficult for us to implement a system of internal controls over financial reporting, and we
cannot assure you that we will be able to develop and implement the necessary controls. The absence of internal controls over
financial reporting may inhibit investors from purchasing our shares and may make it more difficult for us to raise debt or equity
financing. Implementing any appropriate changes to our internal controls may require specific compliance training of our directors
and employees, entail substantial costs in order to modify our existing accounting systems, take a significant period of time
to complete and divert management’s attention from other business concerns. These changes may not, however, be effective
in developing or maintaining internal control. If we are unable to conclude that we have effective internal controls over financial
reporting, investors may lose confidence in our operating results, the price of the common stock and warrants could decline and
we may be subject to litigation or regulatory enforcement actions.
Our
lack of a full-time chief financial officer could affect our ability to develop financial controls, which could affect the market
price for our common stock
. We do not have a full-time chief financial officer. At present, our chief executive officer, who
does not have an accounting background, is also acting as our chief financial officer. We do not anticipate that we will be able
to hire a qualified chief financial officer unless our financial condition improves significantly. The lack of an experienced
chief financial officer, together with our lack of internal controls, may impair our ability to raise money through a debt or
equity financing, the market for our common stock and our ability to enter into agreements with owners of intellectual property
rights.
Our
stock price may be volatile and your investment in our common stock could suffer a decline in value
. As of the date of this
prospectus, there has only been limited trading activity in our common stock. There can be no assurance that any significant market
will ever develop in our common stock. Because of the low public float and the absence of any significant trading volume, the
reported prices may not reflect the price at which you would be able to sell shares if you want to sell any shares you own or
buy shares if you wish to buy share. Further, stocks with a low public float may be more subject to manipulation than a stock
that has a significant public float. The price may fluctuate significantly in response to a number of factors, many of which are
beyond our control. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following, in addition to the risks described above and
general market and economic conditions:
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our
low stock price, which may result in a modest dollar purchase or sale of our common stock having a disproportionately large
effect on the stock price;
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the
market’s perception as to our ability to generate positive cash flow or earnings from our intellectual property portfolios;
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changes
in our or securities analysts’ estimate of our financial performance;
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our
ability or perceived ability to obtain necessary financing for operations and for the monetization of our intellectual property
rights;
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the
market’s perception of the effects of legislation or court decisions on our business;
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the
market’s perception that a defendant may obtain a judgement against a subsidiary and foreclose on the intellectual property
of the subsidiary, which may result in a default under our agreement with United Wireless;
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the
effects or perceived effects of the potential convertibility of convertible notes issued by us;
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the
results or anticipated results of litigation by or against us;
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the
anticipated or actual results of our operations;
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events
or conditions relating to the enforcement of intellectual property rights generally;
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changes
in market valuations of other intellectual property marketing companies;
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any
discrepancy between anticipated or projected results and actual results of our operations;
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the
market’s perception or our ability to continue to make our filings with the SEC in a timely manner;
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actions
by third parties to either sell or purchase stock in quantities which would have a significant effect on our stock price;
and
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other
matters not within our control.
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Legislation,
court decisions and other factors affecting enforcement of intellectual property rights may affect the price of our stock
.
Court rulings in intellectual property enforcement actions and new legislation or proposed legislation are often difficult to
understand, even when favorable or neutral to the value of our intellectual property rights and our overall business. Investors
and market analysts may react without a full understanding of these matters, causing fluctuations in our stock prices that may
not accurately reflect the impact of court rulings, legislation, proposed legislation or other developments on our business operations
and assets.
Raising
funds by issuing equity or convertible debt securities could dilute the value of the common stock and impose restrictions on our
working capital
. If we were to raise additional capital by issuing equity securities, either alone or in connection with a
non-equity financing, the value of the then outstanding common stock could decline. If the additional equity securities were issued
at a per share price less than the per share value of the outstanding shares, which is customary in the private placement of equity
securities, the holders of the outstanding shares would suffer a dilution in value with the issuance of such additional shares.
Because of the low price of our stock and our working capital deficiency, the dilution to our stockholders could be significant.
We may have difficulty in raising funds through the sale of debt securities because of both our financial position, the lack of
any collateral on which a lender may place a value, and the absence of any history of significant monetizing of our intellectual
property rights. If we are able to raise funds from the sale of debt securities, the lenders may impose restrictions on our operations
and may impair our working capital as we service any such debt obligations.
Our
failure to have filed reports with the SEC may impair the market for and the value of our common stock and may result in liability
to us
. We did not file reports with the SEC from 2003 until December 2014. We filed our Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2012
on December 15, 2014; our Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2013
on April 10, 2015; and our Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2014 on August 18, 2015. Our failure to have made such filings may affect both the market for our common
stock and the value of our common stock as well as the willingness of investors to purchase our stock. Further, because we did
not have current information concerning our business and operations available, we have potential liability resulting from our
failure to have been current in our SEC filings, and the SEC has broad power to take action against us for our failure to have
been in compliance with the reporting requirement of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Although the SEC permits an issuer to
file an omnibus 10-K covering the periods for which filings were not made, the SEC is not foreclosed from seeking enforcement
action for our filing delinquencies. Any such action could have a material adverse effect upon us and the market for and price
of our common stock.
Because
we have a classified board of directors, it may be more difficult for a third party to obtain control of us
. As a result of
the approval by our stockholders of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our board of directors is a classified
board, which means that at each annual meeting, the stockholder will vote for only one-third of the board. A classified board
of directors may make it more difficult for a third party of gain control of us which may affect the opportunity of our stockholders
to receive any potential benefit which could be available from a third party seeking to obtain control over us.
We
do not intend to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future
. We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock
and do not intend to pay cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.
CAUTIONARY
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This
prospectus contains “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995, all of which are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words
such as “expects,” “plans,” “will,” “forecasts,” “projects,” “intends,”
“estimates,” and other words of similar meaning. You can identify them by the fact that they do not relate strictly
to historical or current facts. These statements are likely to address our growth strategy, financial results and product and
development programs. You must carefully consider any such statements and should understand that many factors could cause actual
results to differ from our forward-looking statements. These factors may include inaccurate assumptions and a broad variety of
other risks and uncertainties, including some that are known and some that are not. No forward looking statement can be guaranteed
and actual future results may vary materially.
These
risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, include, and are not limited to:
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Our
ability to generate revenue from our intellectual property rights, including our ability to license our intellectual property
rights and our ability to be successful in any litigation which we may commence in order to seek to monetize our intellectual
property rights;
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Our
ability or perceived ability to obtain necessary financing for operations and for the monetization of our intellectual property
rights;
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Our
ability to generate sufficient proceeds from our intellectual property rights to enable us to pay the promissory notes which
we issued and will issue in connection with our purchase of patent rights in October 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 and any other
intellectual property rights we may acquire;
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Our
ability to obtain litigation funding to enable us to seek to protect our intellectual property rights, particularly our recently-acquired
intellectual property rights, through litigation when necessary;
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Our
ability to identify and acquire intellectual property rights for innovative technologies for which there is a significant
potential market;
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The
effect of any adverse decision in any action one of our subsidiaries may commence, including the award of legal fees in favor
of a defendant, which may result in the bankruptcy of the subsidiary;
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Our
ability to recoup any investment which we may make to acquire or generate revenue from intellectual property rights;
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The
effects on our business, financial conditions and ownership of proprietary rights in the event of any breach by us of our
agreements with United Wireless Holdings, Inc. (“United Wireless”), including our failure or inability to generate
sufficient revenue to enable us to pay our obligations to Intelligent Partners, LLC (“Intelligent Partners”) as
transferee of the notes, which become due on September 30, 2020;
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Our
ability to increase our authorized common stock to enable us to satisfy our obligations to have sufficient authorized common
stock with respect to potential conversion of our convertible notes;
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The
effect of legislation and court decisions on the ability to generate revenue from patent and other intellectual property rights
as well as the market’s perception of the effects of such legislation or court decisions on our business;
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The
effects or perceived effects of the potential convertibility of convertible notes issued by us including the possibility of
a Conversion Eligible Event of Default in the event that we do not have sufficient shares of common stock available for issuance
upon conversion of the notes held by Intelligent Partners as transferee of United Wireless;
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Our
ability to obtain the funding that we require in order to acquire intellectual property and otherwise develop our business;
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Our
ability to reduce the cost of litigation through contingent fees with counsel or to obtain third-party financing to enable
us to enforce our intellectual property rights through litigation or otherwise;
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The
results or anticipated results of litigation by or against us, including any actions or motions by defendants seeking legal
fees or any other recovery from us in the event that a court decision is against us or otherwise does not uphold our intellectual
property rights;
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The
effects on us in the event that any party against which we commence litigation obtains a judgement against one of our subsidiaries
and seeks to foreclose on the intellectual property owned by the subsidiary which may result in a default under our loan agreement
with United Wireless.
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The
anticipated or actual results of our operations;
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Events
or conditions relating to the enforcement of intellectual property rights generally;
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The
development of a market for our common stock;
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Our
ability to retain our key executive officers and identify, hire and retain additional key employees;
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Any
discrepancy between anticipated or projected results and actual results of our operations;
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The
market’s perception or our ability to continue to make our filings with the SEC in a timely manner;
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Actions
by third parties to either sell or purchase stock in quantities which would have a significant effect on our stock price;
and
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Other
matters not within our control.
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In
addition, factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in this
prospectus, and in particular, the risks discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” and “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Given these risks and uncertainties, you are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
Information
regarding market and industry statistics contained in this prospectus is included based on information available to us that we
believe is accurate. It is generally based on industry and other publications that are not produced for purposes of securities
offerings or economic analysis. We have not reviewed or included data from all sources. Forecasts and other forward-looking information
obtained from these sources are subject to the same qualifications and the additional uncertainties accompanying any estimates
of future market size, revenue and market acceptance of products and services. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking
statement. As a result, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
USE
OF PROCEEDS
We
will not receive any proceeds from the sale by the selling stockholder of their common stock.
SELLING
STOCKHOLDERS
The
following table sets forth the names of the selling stockholders, the number of shares of common stock owned beneficially by the
selling stockholders as of June 26, 2019, and the number of shares of our common stock that may be offered by the selling stockholders
pursuant to this prospectus. The table and the other information contained under the captions “Selling Stockholders”
and “Plan of Distribution” has been prepared based upon information furnished to us by or on behalf of the selling
stockholders. The following table sets forth, as to the selling stockholders, the number of shares beneficially owned, the number
of share being sold, the number of shares beneficially owned upon completion of the offering and the percentage beneficial ownership
upon completion of the offering.
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After Sale of Shares in Offering
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Name
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Shares Beneficially Owned
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Shares Being Sold
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Shares Beneficially Owned
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Percent of Outstanding
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Intelligent Partners, LLC
1
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50,000,000
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50,000,000
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0
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0.0
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%
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Andrew C. Fitton
2
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35,000,000
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35,000,000
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3,200,000
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1.0
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%
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Michael Carper
3
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15,000,000
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15,000,000
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0
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0.0
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%
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1
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The
members of Intelligent Partners, consisting of Andrew C. Fitton and Michael Carper, have the sole right to vote and dispose
of the shares owned by Intelligent Partners. The number of shares reflected as owned by Intelligent Partners represents 50,000,000
shares issuable pursuant to the purchase option.
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2
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Represents
shares owned by Mr. Fitton. For purposes of this table, the shares 50,000,000 shares being sold by Intelligent Partners, as
to which Mr. Fitton, together with Michael Carper, as members of Intelligent Partners, have the right to vote and dispose
of the shares, are not included in shares being sold be Mr. Fitton.
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3
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Represents
shares owned by Mr. Carper. For purposes of this table, the shares 50,000,000 shares being sold by Intelligent Partners, as
to which Mr. Carper, together with Mr. Fitton, as members of Intelligent Partners, have the right to vote and dispose of the
shares, are not included in shares being sold be Mr. Carper
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The
selling stockholders do not have, and within the past three years have not had, any position, office or material relationship
with us or with any of our predecessors or affiliates except as described below.
Issuances
of Shares to Selling Stockholders
Pursuant
to the securities purchase agreement dated October 22, 2015, between United Wireless and us:
We
sold 50,000,000 shares of common stock to United Wireless for $250,000. These shares are presently owned by Andrew C. Fitton (35,000,000
shares) and Michael Carper (15,000,000 shares).
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We
granted United Wireless an option to purchase a total of 50,000,000 shares of common stock, with exercise prices of $0.01
per share as to 16,666,667 shares, which may be exercised from September 30, 2016 through September 30, 2020, $0.03 per share
as to 16,666,667 shares, which may be exercised from September 30, 2017 through September 30, 2020, and $0.05 per share as
to 16,666,666 shares, which may be exercised from September 30, 2018 through September 30, 2020. This option is presently
held by Intelligent Partners, which is owned by Mr. Fitton and Mr. Carper, and is presently exercisable.
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We
issued to United Wireless our 10% promissory notes due September 30, 2020 in the principal amount of $3,900,000, for which
we received $3,900,000, of which $3,000,000 was paid to Intellectual Ventures in three installments of $1,000,000 as payment
of the purchase price of the patents acquired from Intellectual Ventures, $25,000 was paid to IV 34/37 at the initial payment
for the purchase of intellectual property and $875,000 was paid to us for working capital, including costs of the financing.
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United
Wireless agreed to make working capital loans to us, subject to our meeting standard closing conditions, in the aggregate
amount of $1,000,000. Through June 30, 2019, United Wireless has made working capital loans to us in the aggregate amount
of $875,000 and has no further obligation to make working capital loans.
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We
entered into a monetization proceeds agreement pursuant to which United Wireless received the right to receive 15% of the
net monetization proceeds received from (i) the patents acquired by us from Intellectual Ventures and (ii) the patents in
our mobile data and financial data intellectual property portfolios.
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The
working capital loans included a $25,000 loan which was made to enable our subsidiary CXT to purchase certain intellectual
property from IV 34/37. On July 31, 2017, we entered into a monetization agreement with United Wireless pursuant to which
we agreed to pay United Wireless 7.5% of the net monetization proceeds from the patents acquired by CXT from IV 34/37. CXT’s
obligations under the monetization proceeds agreement are secured by a security interest in the proceeds (from litigation
or otherwise) from the CXT Portfolio. The security interest in the proceeds from the CXT Portfolio is junior to the security
interest held by IV 34/37 in the CXT Portfolio and proceeds thereof. We also agreed to amend the monetization proceeds agreement
between CXT and United Wireless to include the patents acquired from IV 62/71.
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Our
obligations under our agreements with United Wireless, including our obligations under the notes and the monetization proceeds
agreement, are secured by a pledge of the stock of the three subsidiaries that hold the intellectual property acquired from Intellectual
Ventures and by the proceeds from the intellectual property represented by (i) the patents acquired from Intellectual Ventures
and (ii) the intellectual property in the mobile data and financial data portfolios.
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
The
selling stockholders and any of their pledgees, donees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any
or all of their shares of common stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in
private transactions or by gift. The shares offered by this prospectus may be sold by the selling stockholders at market prices
prevailing at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. The selling stockholders may use any one or more of the following methods
when selling or otherwise transferring shares:
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ordinary
brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
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block
trades in which a broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may purchase a position and resell a portion
of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
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sales
to a broker-dealer as principal and the resale by the broker-dealer of the shares for its account;
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an
exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange if we are listed on an exchange at the time
of sale;
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privately
negotiated transactions, including gifts;
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covering
short sales made after the date of this prospectus;
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pursuant
to an arrangement or agreement with a broker-dealer to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
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a
combination of any such methods of sale; and
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any
other method of sale permitted pursuant to applicable law.
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To
the extent permitted under Rule 144, the selling stockholders may also the shares owned by them pursuant to Rule 144 rather than
pursuant to this prospectus.
Broker-dealers
engaged by the selling stockholders may arrange for other brokers dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive
commissions or discounts from the selling stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from
the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated. The selling stockholders do not expect these commissions and discounts to exceed what
is customary in the types of transactions involved. None of the selling stockholders is an affiliate of any broker-dealer.
The
selling stockholders may from time to time pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares owned by them and,
if the selling stockholders default in the performance of the secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and
sell the shares of common stock from time to time under this prospectus, or under an amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3)
or other applicable provision of the Securities Act amending the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee
or other successors in interest as selling stockholder under this prospectus.
In
connection with the sale of our common stock or interests therein, the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions
with broker-dealers or other financial institutions which may in turn engage in short sales of our common stock in the course
of hedging the positions they assume. The selling stockholders may, after the date of this prospectus, also sell shares of our
common stock short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or lend or pledge their common stock to broker-dealers
that in turn may sell these securities. The selling stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers
or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer
or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution
may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
The
selling stockholders also may transfer the shares of common stock in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees
or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.
The
selling stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the shares may be deemed to be “underwriters”
within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, they will be subject to the prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale
of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act, and federal
securities laws, including Regulation M, may restrict the timing of purchases and sales of our common stock by the selling stockholders
and any other persons who are involved in the distribution of the shares of common stock pursuant to this prospectus. The selling
stockholders have informed us that they do not have any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to
distribute the common stock.
We
may be required to amend or supplement this prospectus in the event that (a) a selling stockholder transfers securities under
conditions which require the purchaser or transferee to be named in the prospectus as a selling stockholder, in which case we
will be required to amend or supplement this prospectus to name the selling stockholder, or (b) any one or more selling stockholders
sells stock to an underwriter, in which case we will be required to amend or supplement this prospectus to name the underwriter
and the method of sale.
We
are paying all fees and expenses incident to the registration of the shares. We have agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders
against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
MARKET
FOR COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Our
common stock trades on the OTCQB market under the symbol QPRC. Any over-the-counter market quotations reflect inter-dealer prices,
without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions. The last reported sale
price of our common stock on July 9, 2019 was $0.021 per share.
Stockholders
of Record
As
of June 30, 2019, we had 461 record holders of our common stock.
Transfer
Agent
Continental
Stock Transfer & Trust Company, One State Street, 30th floor, New York, New York 10004-1561 is the transfer agent for our
common stock.
Dividend
Policy
We
have not paid any cash dividends to date and do not anticipate or contemplate paying dividends in the foreseeable future. It is
the present intention of management to utilize all available funds for the development of our business.
BUSINESS
Overview
We
are an intellectual property asset management company. Our principal operations include the development, acquisition, licensing
and enforcement of intellectual property rights that are either owned or controlled by us or one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries.
We currently own, control or manage eleven intellectual property portfolios, which principally consist of patent rights. Our eleven
intellectual property portfolios include the portfolios which we acquired from Intellectual Ventures Assets 16, LLC (“Intellectual
Ventures”) and seven of its affiliates. As part of our intellectual property asset management activities and in the ordinary
course of our business, it has been necessary for us or the intellectual property owner who we represent to initiate, and it is
likely to continue to be necessary to initiate, patent infringement lawsuits and engage in patent infringement litigation. We
anticipate that our primary source of revenue will come from the grant of licenses to use our intellectual property, primarily
licenses granted as part of the settlement of patent infringement lawsuits.
We
seek to generate revenue from two sources:
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●
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Patent
licensing fees relating to our intellectual property portfolio, which includes fees from the licensing of our intellectual property,
primarily from litigation relating to enforcement of our intellectual property rights.
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|
●
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Licensed
packaging sales, which relate to the sale of licensed products.
|
In
previous periods, we also generated revenue from management fees, which we received for managing structured licensing programs,
including litigation, related to our intellectual property rights. We do not currently receive these fees and do not have any
agreements that provide for such payments.
Intellectual
property monetization includes the generation of revenue and proceeds from the licensing of patents, patented technologies and
other intellectual property rights. Patent litigation is often a necessary element of intellectual property monetization where
a patent owner, or a representative of the patent owner, seeks to protect its patent rights against the unlicensed manufacture,
sale, and use of the owner’s patent rights or products which incorporate the owner’s patent rights. In general, we
seek to monetize the bundle of rights granted by the patents through structured licensing and when necessary enforcement of those
rights through litigation, although to date all of our patent license revenues have resulted from litigation.
We
intend to seek to develop our business by acquiring intellectual property rights, either in the form of ownership of or an exclusive
license to the underlying intellectual property. Our goal is to enter into agreements with inventors of innovative technologies
for which there may be a significant market for products which use or incorporate the intellectual property. We seek to purchase
all of, or interests in, intellectual property in exchange for cash, securities of our company, the formation or a joint venture
or separate subsidiary in which the owner has an equity interest, and/or interests in the monetization of those assets. Our revenue
from this aspect of our business can be generated through licensing and, when necessary, which is typically the case, litigation.
We engage in due diligence and a principled risk underwriting process to evaluate the merits and potential value of any acquisition,
partnership or joint venture. We seek to structure the terms of our acquisitions in a manner that will achieve the highest risk-adjusted
returns possible, in the context of our financial condition. In connection with the acquisition of intellectual property portfolios,
we have granted the party providing the financing an interest in any recovery we have with respect to the intellectual property
purchased with the financing, and we expect that we will have to continue to grant such interests until and unless we have generated
sufficient cash from licensing our intellectual property to enable us to acquire additional intellectual property portfolios without
outside financing. However, we cannot assure you that we will ever generate sufficient revenues to enable us to purchase additional
intellectual property without third-party financing.
We
employ a due diligence process before completing the acquisition of an intellectual property interest. We begin with an investment
thesis supporting the potential transaction and then proceed to test the thesis through an examination of the critical drivers
of the value of the underlying intellectual property asset. Such an examination focuses on areas such as title and inventorship
issues, the quality of the drafting and prosecution of the intellectual property assets, legal risks inherent in licensing programs
generally, the applicability of the invention to the relevant marketplace and other issues such as the effects of venue and other
procedural issues. However, our financial position may affect our ability to conduct due diligence with respect to intellectual
property rights.
It
is generally necessary to commence litigation in order to obtain a recovery for past infringement of, or to license the use of,
our intellectual property rights, and all of our revenue from intellectual property licensing has resulted from litigation. Intellectual
property litigation is very expensive, with no certainty of any recovery. To the extent possible we seek to engage counsel on
a contingent fee or partial contingent fee basis, which significantly reduces our litigation cost, but which also reduces the
value of the recovery to us. We do not have the resources to enable us to fund the cost of litigation. To the extent that we cannot
fund litigation ourselves, we may enter into an agreement with a third party, which may be the patent owner or the former patent
owner who transferred the patent rights to us, or an independent third party. In view of our limited cash and our working capital
deficiency, we are not able to institute any monetization program that may require litigation unless we engage counsel on a fully
contingent basis or we obtain funding from third party funding sources. In these cases, counsel may be afforded a greater participation
in the recovery and the third party that funds the litigation would be entitled to participate in any recovery.
Purchase
of Intellectual Property from Intellectual Ventures Entities
On
October 22, 2015, pursuant to an agreement with an effective date of July 8, 2015, as amended, between us and Intellectual Ventures,
we purchased three groups of patents from Intellectual Ventures for a purchase price of $3,000,000, which was paid in three annual
installments of $1,000,000 from the proceeds of our loans from United Wireless. Contemporaneously with our acquisition of the
patents, we granted Intellectual Ventures a security interest in the patents transferred to us as security for the payment of
the balance of the purchase price. Intellectual Ventures released its security interest upon receipt of the third installment
payment in November 2017. The patent portfolios which we acquired from Intellectual Ventures are the anchor structure portfolio,
the power management/bus control portfolio and the diode on chip portfolio, which are described under “Business –
Our Intellectual Property Portfolios.”
On
July 28, 2017, CXT entered into an agreement with IV 34/37 pursuant to which CTX paid IV 34/37 $25,000 and IV34/37 transferred
to CXT all right, title and interest in a portfolio of thirteen United States patents included in the CXT Portfolio. Under the
agreement, CXT will distribute 50% of net proceeds, as defined, to IV 34/37, as long as we generate revenue from the CXT Portfolio.
The $25,000 payment to IV 34/37 was made from a loan from United Wireless and was paid directly by United Wireless to IV 34/37.
The agreement with IV 34/37, as amended on January 26, 2018, provides that if, on December 31, 2018, December 31, 2019 and December
31, 2020, cumulative distributions to IV 34/37 total less than $100,000, $375,000 and $975,000, respectively, CXT shall pay the
difference between such cumulative amounts and the amount paid to IV 34/37 within ten days after the applicable date. We made
the payment with respect to December 31, 2018. The $25,000 advance is treated as an advance against distributions of net proceeds
payable to IV 34/37. The useful lives of the patents, at the date of acquisition, was 5-6 years. Neither we nor any affiliate
of CXT has guaranteed the minimum payments. CXT’s obligations under the agreement with IV 34/37 are secured by a security
interest in the proceeds (from litigation or otherwise) from the CXT Portfolio. CXT portfolio is described under “Business
– Our Intellectual Property Portfolios.”
On
January 26, 2018, CXT entered into an agreement with IV 62/71 pursuant to which CXT advanced IV 62/71 $10,000 at closing and IV
62/71 assigned to CXT all right, title, and interest in a portfolio of sixteen United States patents and three pending applications.
Under the agreement, CXT will distribute 50% of net proceeds, as defined, to IV 62/71, as long as we generate net proceeds from
this portfolio. The initial $10,000 advance is treated as an advance toward our future distributions of net proceeds payable to
IV 62/71. CXT’s obligations under the agreement are secured by a security interest in the proceeds (from litigation or otherwise)
from the CXT Portfolio. We agreed to modify the monetization proceeds agreement between CXT and United Wireless to include the
patents acquired from IV 62/71.
On
January 26, 2018, PIS entered into an agreement with IV 64 pursuant to which PIS advanced $10,000 to IV 64 at closing and IV 64
assigned to PIS all right, title, and interest in a portfolio of eleven United States patents and sixteen foreign patents representing
the CMOS Portfolio. Under the agreement, PIS will distribute to IV 64 70% of the first $1,500,000 of revenue, as defined in the
agreement, 30% of the next $1,500,000 of revenue and 50% of revenue over $3,000,000; with the $10,000 advance being treated as
an advance against the first distributions of net proceeds payable to IV 64. PIS’ obligations under the monetization proceeds
agreement are secured by a security interest in the proceeds (from litigation or otherwise) from the portfolio. CMOS portfolio
is described under “Business – Our Intellectual Property Portfolios.”
On
March 15, 2019, M-RED entered into an agreement with IV 113/108 pursuant to which M-RED paid IV 113/108 $75,000 and IV 113/108
transferred to M-RED all right, title and interest in a portfolio of sixty United States patents and eight foreign patents which
we refer to as our M-RED Portfolio. Under the agreement, M-RED will distribute 50% of net proceeds, as defined, to IV 113/108,
as long as we generate revenue from the M-RED Portfolio. The agreement with IV 113/108 provides that if, on September 30, 2020,
September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2022, cumulative distributions to IV 113/108 total less than $450,000, $975,000 and $1,575,000,
respectively, M-RED shall pay the difference between such cumulative amounts and the amount paid to IV 113/108 within ten days
after the applicable date. The $75,000 advance is treated as an advance against distributions the first distributions of net proceeds
payable to IV 113/108. The useful lives of the patents, at the date of acquisition, was approximately nine years. Neither we nor
any affiliate of M-RED has guaranteed the minimum payments. M-RED’s obligations under the agreement with IV 113/108 are
secured by a security interest in the proceeds (from litigation or otherwise) from the M-RED Portfolio. The M-RED portfolio is
described under “Business – Our Intellectual Property Portfolios.”
Our
Organization
We
were incorporated in Delaware on July 17, 1987 under the name Phase Out of America. On September 21, 1997, we changed our name
to Quest Products Corporation, and, on June 6, 2007, we changed our name to Quest Patent Research Corporation. We have been engaged
in the intellectual property monetization business since 2008. Our executive principal office is located at 411 Theodore Fremd
Ave., Suite 206S, Rye, New York 10580-1411, telephone (888) 743-7577. Our website is
www.qprc.com
. Information contained
on or derived from our website or any other website does not constitute a part of this annual report.
Our
Intellectual Property Portfolios
Mobile
Data
The
real-time mobile data portfolio relates to the automatic update of information delivered to a mobile device without the need for
a manual refreshing. The portfolio is comprised of U.S. Patent No. 7,194,468 “Apparatus and Method for Supplying Information”
and all related patents, patent applications, and all continuations, continuations-in-part, divisions, extensions, renewals, reissues
and re-examinations relating to all inventions thereof (the “Mobile Data Portfolio”). We initially entered into an
agreement with the patent owner, Worldlink Information Technology Systems Limited, whereby we received the exclusive license to
license and enforce the Mobile Data Portfolio. Under the agreement we received a monthly management fee and a percentage of licensing
revenues. Subsequently Worldlink transferred its remaining interest in the Mobile Data Portfolio to Allied Standard Limited. In
October 2012, we entered into an agreement with Allied pursuant to which Allied transferred its entire right title and interest
in the Mobile Data Portfolio to Quest Licensing Corporation, which was at the time, a wholly-owned subsidiary. Under the agreement,
Allied was entitled to receive a 50% interest in Quest Licensing. Quest Licensing’s only intellectual property is the Mobile
Data Portfolio. Our agreement with Allied provides that we and Allied will each receive 50% of the net licensing revenues, as
defined by the agreement. In June 2013, we entered into an agreement with The Betting Service Limited, an entity controlled by
a former director of Worldlink. Pursuant to the agreement, we granted The Betting Service an interest in licensing proceeds from
the Mobile Data Portfolio in return for The Betting Service’s assistance in developing certain Mobile Data Portfolio assets.
In April 2014, we entered into a further agreement with Allied whereby Allied relinquished certain rights under the October 2012
agreement, including its entitlement to a 50% interest in Quest Licensing, in exchange for our commitment to fund a structured
licensing program for the Mobile Data Portfolio.
In
March 2014, we entered into a funding agreement whereby a third party agreed to provide funds to us to enable us to implement
a structured licensing program, including litigation if necessary, for the Mobile Data Portfolio and engaged counsel on a partial
contingency basis in connection with a proposed patent infringement action relating to the Mobile Data Portfolio. Under the funding
agreement, the third party receives an interest in the proceeds from the program, and we have no other obligation to the third
party.
In
April and June 2014, as part of a structured licensing program, Quest Licensing Corporation brought patent infringement suits
in the U.S. District for the District of Delaware against Bloomberg LP et. al., FactSet Research Systems Inc., Interactive Data
Corporation, SunGard Data Systems Inc. and The Charles Schwab Corporation et. al. These cases have been consolidated for trial.
A hearing, known as a Markman hearing, in which the judge examines the evidence from the parties on the appropriate meanings of
relevant key words in the claim was held on February 8, 2016. In June and August 2016 Quest Licensing Corporation entered into
settlement agreements with SunGard Data Systems Inc. and FactSet Research Systems Inc. On January 19, 2017 the Court granted the
remaining defendants’ motion for summary judgment of non-infringement. On January 31, 2017, Quest Licensing Corporation
filed a notice of appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit whereby Quest Licensing Corporation appealed
the court’s order construing the terms of U.S. patent No. 7,194,468 as well as the court’s order granting defendants’
motion for summary judgment of non-infringement. On June 8, 2018 the appellate court affirmed the lower court’s decision.
On June 9, 2018 Quest Licensing Corporation filed a petition for rehearing with the appellate court. On July 30, 2018 the appellate
court denied Quest Licensing Corporations petition for rehearing. In connection with this litigation, a third party funding source
incurred approximately $0 in 2018 and $153,125 in 2017, which was paid to litigation counsel and other third parties. In addition,
the funding source paid management fees to us of approximately $0 in 2018 and $21,000 in 2017. Through March 31, 2019, we did
not receive any proceeds from the Mobile Data Portfolio.
Following
the court’s decision granting the defendant’s motion for summary judgment, the defendants moved for an award of attorneys’
fees under Section 285 of the patent act which provides that “the court in exceptional cases may award reasonable attorney
fees to the prevailing party.” On June 29, 2017, the defendants’ motion for attorney fees in the Mobile Data litigation
was denied, without prejudice and with leave to renew their motion thirty days from the decision of the appellate court on Quest
Licensing Corporation’s appeal. On August 8, 2018, the defendants’ renewed their motion for an award of attorneys’
fees under Section 285 of the Patent Act. On March 27, 2019 the defendants’ motion for attorney fees in the Mobile Data
litigation was denied.
Online
Marketing, Sweepstakes, Promotions & Rewards (Von Kohorn Portfolio)
The
portfolio consists of three United States Patents that include patent claims related to, among other areas, online couponing,
print-at-home boarding passes and tickets, online sweepstakes; including the promotion by television networks of online sweepstakes
(the “Von Kohorn Portfolio”). In December 2009, we entered into an agreement with Intertech Holdings, LLC pursuant
to which our wholly-owned subsidiary, Quest NetTech Corporation, acquired by assignment all right, title, and interest in the
Von Kohorn Portfolio. Under the agreement, we will receive 20% of adjusted gross recoveries, as defined. In August 2013, we and
Intertech Holdings amended the December 2009 agreement to provide that Intertech Holdings will receive 33% of the adjusted gross
recoveries and Quest NetTech will receive 67% of adjusted gross recoveries.
We
did not generate license from the Von Kohorn Portfolio for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 and no further licensing
activities are contemplated.
On
December 17, 2018, Wynn Technologies, Inc. granted an exclusive license to the Financial Data Portfolio, including the right to
enforce, to Quest NetTech. Under the agreement, Quest NetTech receives 100% of the net proceeds, as defined by the agreement.
On April 11, 2019 Quest NetTech Corporation merged with Wynn Technologies, Inc. with Quest NetTech Corporation being the surviving
entity. On April 12, 2019, Quest NetTech brought a patent infringement suit in the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Texas
against Apple, Inc.
Flexible
Packaging - Turtle Pak
TM
In
March 2008, we entered into an agreement with Emerging Technologies Trust whereby our majority-owned subsidiary, Quest Packaging
Solutions Corporation, acquired the exclusive license to make, use, sell, offer for sale or sublicense the intellectual property
of Emerging Technologies Trust (the “Turtle Pak™ Portfolio”). The Turtle Pak portfolio relates to a cost effective,
high-protection packaging system recommended for fragile items weighing less than ten pounds. The intellectual property consists
of two U.S. patents, U.S. Patent No. RE36,412 and U.S. Patent No.6,490,844, and the Turtle Pak
TM
trademark. Turtle
Pak™ brand packaging is suited for such uses as electrical and electronic components, medical, dental, and diagnostic equipment,
instrumentation products, and control components. Turtle Pak™ brand packaging materials are 100% curbside recyclable.
As
the exclusive licensee and manager of the manufacture and sale of licensed product, we coordinate the manufacture and sale of
licensed products to end users; we contract for the manufacture and assembly of the product components, and we coordinate order
receipt, fulfillment and invoicing. Revenues from the TurtlePak
TM
product sales were approximately $20,000 and $14,000
for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. We continue to generate modest revenue from this product.
Universal
Financial Data System
The
invention describes a universal financial data system which allows its holder to use the device to access one or more accounts
stored in the memory of the device as a cash payment substitute as well as to keep track of financial and transaction records
and data, such as transaction receipts, in a highly portable package, such as a cellular device (the “Financial Data Portfolio”).
The inventive universal data system is capable of supporting multiple accounts of various types, including but not limited to
credit card accounts, checking/debit accounts, and loyalty accounts. Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Wynn Technologies Inc., acquired
US Patent No. 5,859,419, from the owner, Sol Wynn. In January 2001, we filed a reissue application for the patent, and the United
States Patent and Trademark Office issued patent RE38,137. This reissued patent, which contains 35 separate claims, replaces the
original patent, which had seven claims. In February 2011, we entered into a new agreement with Sol Li (formerly Sol Wynn), pursuant
to which we issued to Mr. Li a 35% interest in Wynn Technologies and warrants to purchase up to 5,000,000 shares of our common
stock at an exercise price of $0.001 per share, the warrants expired unexercised. We also agreed that Mr. Li would receive 40%
of the net licensing revenues generated by Wynn Technologies with respect to this patent, which is the only patent owned by Wynn
Technologies. On December 17, 2018, Wynn Technologies, Inc. granted an exclusive license to the Financial Data Portfolio, including
the right to enforce, to our wholly owned subsidiary, Quest NetTech. Under the agreement, Quest NetTech receives 100% of the net
proceeds, as defined by the agreement. On April 11, 2019 Quest NetTech Corporation merged with Wynn Technologies, Inc. with Quest
NetTech Corporation being the surviving entity. On April 12, 2019, Quest NetTech brought a patent infringement suit in the U.S.
District for the Eastern District of Texas against Apple, Inc.
Through
March 31, 2019, we did not generate any revenue from the Financial Data Portfolio.
Rich
Media
The
rich media portfolio is directed to methods, systems, and processes that permit typical Internet users to design rich-media production
content (
i.e.
, rich-media applications), such as websites. The portfolio consists of U.S. Patent No. 7,000,180, “Methods,
Systems, and Processes for the Design and Creation of Rich Media Applications via the Internet” and all related patents,
patent applications, corresponding foreign patents and foreign patent applications and foreign counterparts, and all continuations,
continuations-in-part, divisions, extensions, renewals, reissues and re-examinations relating to all inventions thereof (the “Rich
Media Portfolio”). In July 2008, we entered into a consulting and licensing program management agreement with Balthaser
Online, Inc., the patent owner, pursuant to which we performed services related to the establishment and management of a licensing
program to evaluate and analyze the relevant market and to obtain licenses for the Rich Media Portfolio in exchange for management
fees as well as an irrevocable entitlement to a distribution of 15% of all proceeds generated by the Rich Media Portfolio for
the remaining life of the portfolio regardless of whether those proceeds are derived from litigation, settlement, licensing or
otherwise. Our 15% distribution right is subject to reduction to 7.5% in the event that we refuse or are unable to perform the
services detailed in the agreement.
Through
March 31, 2019, we did not generate any revenue from the rich media patents.
Anchor
Structure Portfolio
This
portfolio, which we acquired from Intellectual Ventures in October 2015 and transferred to a newly formed subsidiary, Mariner
IC Inc., consists of two United States patents which relate to technology for incorporating metal structures in the corners and
edges of semiconductor dies to prevent cracking from stresses.
In
March 2016, we entered into a funding agreement whereby a third party agreed to provide funds to us to enable us to implement
a structured licensing program, including litigation if necessary, for the Anchor Structure Portfolio and engaged counsel on a
partial contingency basis in connection with a proposed patent infringement action relating to the Anchor Structure Portfolio.
Under the funding agreement, the third party receives an interest in the proceeds from the program, and we have no other obligation
to the third party.
Following
the execution of the funding agreements and the engagement of counsel, in April 2016, Mariner IC brought patent infringement suits
in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against MediaTek Inc., Texas Instruments Incorporated, LG
Electronics, Inc., Toshiba Corporation, and Funai Electric Co., Ltd. In May 2016, the action against Funai was dismissed, and
in November 2016, the action against Texas Instruments was dismissed. The remaining suits settled in 2017.
In
March 2018, Mariner IC brought patent infringement suits in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
against Acer Inc., Schneider Electric, Sharp Corporation, AsusTek Computer Inc., and Bose Corporation. In April 2018, the actions
against Acer Inc., Schneider Electric and Bose Corporation were dismissed. In April 2018, Mariner IC brought patent infringement
actions in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against TiVo Corporation and Huawei Device Co.,
Ltd et. al. In August 2018, the action against Huawei Device Co., Ltd et. al. was voluntarily dismissed. In September 2018, Mariner
IC brought a patent infringement action in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against Huawei Device
Co., Ltd et. al. In April 2019 the TiVo action was settled. A trial in the AsusTek action is scheduled to commence on December
2, 2019. A Markman claim construction hearing in the Sharp action is scheduled for July 23, 2019 with trial scheduled to commence
on February 3, 2020. A Markman claim construction hearing in the Huawei action is scheduled for October 31, 2019 with trial scheduled
to commence on May 4, 2020. All hearing and trial dates are subject to change at the discretion of the court.
We
did not generate license fees from the Anchor Structure Portfolio in 2018. We generated license fees of approximately $1,196,000
for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Power
Management/Bus Control Portfolio
This
portfolio, which is the second portfolio which we acquired from Intellectual Ventures and transferred to a newly-formed subsidiary,
Semcon IP Inc., consists of four United States patents that cover fundamental technology for adjusting the processor clock and
voltage to save power based on the operating characteristics of the processor and one United States patent that relates to coordinating
direct bus communications between subsystems in an assigned channel.
In
March 2016, we entered into a funding agreement whereby a third party agreed to provide funds to us to enable us to implement
a structured licensing program, including litigation if necessary, for the Power Management/Bus Control Portfolio and engaged
counsel on a partial contingency basis in connection with a proposed patent infringement action relating to the Power Management/Bus
Control. Under the funding agreement, the third party receives an interest in the proceeds from the program, and we have no other
obligation to the third party.
Following
the execution of the funding agreement and partial contingency agreement with counsel, in April 2016, Semcon IP Inc. brought patent
infringement suits in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against Huawei Technologies, MediaTek
Inc., STMicroelectronics Inc., Texas Instruments Incorporated and ZTE Corporation. As of December 31, 2018, these actions have
been settled and dismissed. Our revenue for the year ended December 31, 2018 includes revenue from these settlements.
In
May 2018 Semcon brought patent infringement actions in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against
Amazon.com, Inc., AsusTeK Computer Inc., TCT Mobile International Limited et. al., Kyocera Corporation, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis
Vuitton, SE, Shenzhen OnePlus Science & Technology Co., Ltd., and Michael Kors Holdings Ltd. A Markman claim construction
hearing in the Amazon action was conducted on May 2, 2019 with trial to commence on November 4, 2019. A Markman claim construction
hearing in the AsusTek and Michael Kors actions was conducted on June 20, 2019 with trial to commence on December 2, 2019. A Markman
claim construction hearing in the Kyocera action was conducted on June 20, 2019 with trial to commence on February 3, 2020. All
hearing and trial dates are subject to change at the discretion of the court.
Pursuant
to the terms of the funding agreement and the partial contingency agreement with counsel, we do not have any liability or obligations
with respect to the costs associated with prosecuting the actions, and we do not receive any payments for any assistance which
we may provide in connection with the litigation. Both the funding source and counsel will participate in any recovery in these
lawsuits.
We
generated license fees from the Power Management/Bus Control Portfolio of approximately $7,049,000 for the year ended December
31, 2018. We did not generate revenue from this portfolio prior to 2018.
Diode
on Chip Portfolio
This
portfolio, which is the third portfolio which we acquired from Intellectual Ventures and transferred to a newly-formed subsidiary,
IC Kinetics Inc., consists of three United States patents and one pending continuation application which cover technology relating
to on-chip temperature measurement for semiconductors. As of March 31, 2019, we did not generate any revenue from this portfolio.
CXT
Portfolio
This
portfolio consists of twenty-nine United States patents and three pending continuation applications which cover technology relating
to systems and methods of operating an accessible information database which provides for inventory evaluation, filtering according
to preferences, alternative product recommendations, and access to a database of consumer feedback/evaluation.
In
April 2018 CXT brought patent infringement suits in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against
Academy Ltd., The Container Store Group, Inc. and Pier 1 Imports, Inc. In May 2018 CXT brought patent infringement suits in the
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against Conn’s, Inc., Fossil Group, Inc., JC Penney Company,
Inc., Stage Stores, Inc. and Tailored Brands, Inc. A Markman claim construction hearing has been scheduled in these actions for
August 1, 2019 with trial to commence on February 18, 2020. All hearing and trial dates are subject to change at the discretion
of the court. As of March 31, 2019 certain claims alleged in the original complaints have been dismissed pursuant to licenses
granted to third parties suppliers of several defendants, our revenue for the period ended March 31, 2019 includes revenue from
these licenses.
CMOS
Portfolio
This
portfolio consists of eleven United States patents and sixteen foreign patents which cover technology relating to digital image
sensor technology systems and methods which PIS acquired on January 26, 2018.
In
April 2018 PIS brought patent infringement actions in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware against Lenovo
Group Ltd., AsusTek Computer Inc., Lorex Technology Inc., and NETGEAR, Inc. A Markman claim construction hearing has been scheduled
in these actions for August 30, 2019 with trials to commence on October 26, 2020 and November 2, 2020. All hearing and trial dates
are subject to change at the discretion of the court.
Through
March 31, 2019, we did not generate any revenues from this portfolio.
M-RED
Portfolio
This
portfolio consists of sixty-one United States patents and eight foreign patents which cover technology relating to processor and
power management which M-RED acquired on March 15, 2019. On April 29, 2019, M-RED brought patent infringement suits in the U.S.
District for the Eastern District of Texas against MediaTek Inc. and Acer Inc.
Through
March 31, 2019, we did not generate any revenues from this portfolio.
Competition
We
encounter and expect to continue to encounter competition in the areas of intellectual property acquisitions for the sake of licensure
from both private and publicly traded companies that engage in intellectual property monetization activities. Such competitors
and potential competitors include companies seeking to acquire the same intellectual property assets and intellectual property
rights that we may seek to acquire. Entities such as Acacia Research Corporation, Document Security Systems, Inc., Intellectual
Ventures, Wi-LAN, Conversant IP, VirnetX Holding Corporation, Network-1 Security Solutions, Round Rock Research LLC, IPvalue Management
Inc., Form Holdings, Pendrell Corporation , Finjan Holdings, Inc., Inventergy Global, Inc., Netlist Inc., Parkervision Inc., Spherix
Incorporated, Intelligent Partners, Walker Innovation, Inc. and others derive all or a substantial portion of their revenue from
patent monetization activities, and we expect more entities to enter the market. Most of our competitors have longer operating
histories and significantly greater financial resources and personnel than we have.
We
also compete with venture capital firms, strategic corporate buyers and various industry leaders for intellectual property and
technology acquisitions and licensing opportunities. Many of these competitors have more financial and human resources than our
company. In seeking to obtain intellectual property assets or intellectual property rights, we seek to both demonstrate our understanding
of the intellectual property that we are seeking to acquire or license and our ability to monetize their intellectual property
rights. Our weak cash position may impair our ability to negotiate successfully with the intellectual property owners.
Other
companies may develop competing technologies that offer better or less expensive alternatives to intellectual property rights
that we may acquire and/or out-license. Many potential competitors may have significantly greater resources than we do. The development
of technological advances or entirely different approaches could render certain of the technologies owned or controlled by our
operating subsidiaries obsolete and/or uneconomical.
Intellectual
Property Rights
We
have eleven intellectual property portfolios: financial data, mobile data, Von Kohorn, Turtle Pak, anchor structure, power management/bus
control, diode on chip, rich media, CXT, CMOS and M-RED. The following table sets forth information concerning our patents and
other intellectual property.
Each patent or other intellectual property right listed in
the table below that has been granted is publicly accessible on the Internet website of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office at
www.uspto.gov
.
In the table below, the anchor structure portfolio is referred to as Mariner, the power management/bus
control portfolio is referred to as Semcom, and the diode on chip portfolio is referred to as IC.
Segment
|
|
Type
|
|
Number
|
|
Title
|
|
File Date
|
|
Issue / Publication Date
|
|
Expiration
|
Financial Data
|
|
US Patent
|
|
RE38,137
|
|
Programmable multiple company credit card system
|
|
1/11/2001
|
|
6/10/2003
|
|
9/28/2015
|
Mobile Data
|
|
US Patent
|
|
7,194,468
|
|
Apparatus and method for supplying information
|
|
2/9/2001
|
|
3/20/2007
|
|
2/9/2021
|
Mobile Data
|
|
US Patent
|
|
9,288,605
|
|
Apparatus and method for supplying information
|
|
11/12/2009
|
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11/2/2021
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,456,183
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Inductor for Integrated Circuit
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2/24/2000
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,838,970
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,459,135
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Monolithic Integrated Circuit Incorporating An Inductive Component And Process For Fabricating Such An Integrated Circuit
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,388,322
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,458,411
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Method of making a mechanically compliant bump
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,506,648
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,735,422
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,674,998
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,891,440
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,763,228
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12/21/2001
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7/13/2004
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10/3/2021
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,748,200
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4/4/2003
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6/8/2004
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10/2/2020
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M-RED
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US Patent
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RE42,799
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6/27/2008
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10/4/2011
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,560,448
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,448,910
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3/26/2001
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9/10/2002
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M-RED
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US Patent
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7,127,588
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12/5/2000
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,757,752
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,509,646
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,365,970
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Bond Pad Structure And Its Method Of Fabricating
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,912,601
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Method of programming PLDs using a wireless link
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6/28/2000
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,496,054
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Control signal generator for an overvoltage-tolerant interface circuit on a low voltage process
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,194,279
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,281,554
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3/20/2000
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8/28/2001
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,657,263
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MOS transistors having dual gates and self-aligned intüerconnect contact windows
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6/28/2001
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12/2/2003
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3/24/2020
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,461,908
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Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device
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4/10/2001
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10/8/2002
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4/10/2021
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,737,995
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Clock and data recovery with a feedback loop to adjust the slice level of an input sampling circuit
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4/10/2002
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5/18/2004
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4/18/2022
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,747,522
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Digitally controlled crystal oscillator with integrated coarse and fine control
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5/3/2002
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6/8/2004
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5/17/2022
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,275,116
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METHOD, CIRCUIT AND/OR ARCHITECTURE TO IMPROVE THE FREQUENCY RANGE OF A VOLTAGE CONTROLLED OSCILLATOR
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6/8/1999
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8/14/2001
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6/8/2019
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,608,763
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Stacking system and method
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9/15/2000
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8/19/2003
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5/24/2021
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,404,043
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Panel stacking of BGA devices to form three-dimensional modules
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6/21/2000
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6/11/2002
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6/21/2020
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,472,735
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Three-dimensional memory stacking using anisotropic epoxy interconnections
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4/5/2001
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10/29/2002
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6/27/2020
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,544,815
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Panel stacking of BGA devices to form three-dimensional modules
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8/6/2001
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4/8/2003
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6/21/2020
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,566,746
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Panel stacking of BGA devices to form three-dimensional modules
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12/14/2001
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5/20/2003
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6/21/2020
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,878,571
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Panel stacking of BGA devices to form three-dimensional modules
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12/11/2002
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4/12/2005
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4/30/2021
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,627,984
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Chip stack with differing chip package types
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7/24/2001
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9/30/2003
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7/24/2021
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,908,792
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Chip stack with differing chip package types
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10/3/2002
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6/21/2005
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2/21/2022
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,205,524
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MULTIMEDIA ARBITER AND METHOD USING FIXED ROUND-ROBIN SLOTS FOR REAL-TIME AGENTS AND A TIMED PRIORITY SLOT FOR NON-REAL-TIME AGENTS
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9/16/1998
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3/20/2001
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9/16/2018
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,157,978
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MULTIMEDIA ROUND-ROBIN ARBITRATION WITH PHANTOM SLOTS FOR SUPER-PRIORITY REAL-TIME AGENT
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1/6/1999
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12/5/2000
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9/16/2018
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,117,750
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Process for obtaining a layer of single-crystal germanium or silicon on a substrate of single-crystal silicon or germanium, respectively
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12/21/1998
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9/12/2000
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12/21/2018
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,429,098
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Process for obtaining a layer of single-crystal germanium or silicon on a substrate of single-crystal silicon or germanium, respectively, and multilayer products obtained
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9/11/2000
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8/6/2002
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12/21/2018
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,134,176
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DISABLING A DEFECTIVE ELEMENT IN AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DEVICE HAVING REDUNDANT ELEMENTS
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11/24/1998
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10/17/2000
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11/24/2018
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,366,998
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RECONFIGURABLE FUNCTIONAL UNITS FOR IMPLEMENTING A HYBRID VLIW-SIMD PROGRAMMING MODEL
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10/14/1998
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4/2/2002
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10/14/2018
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,401,217
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Method For Error Recognition In A Processor System
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7/22/1998
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7/22/2018
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,169,028
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1/26/1999
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,190,981
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2/3/1999
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,130,823
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M-RED
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US Patent
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6,208,004
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Semiconductor device with high-temperature-stable gate electrode for sub-micron applications and fabrication thereof
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US Patent
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6,479,362
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Semiconductor device with high-temperature-stable gate electrode for sub-micron applications and fabrication thereof
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M-RED
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Korean Patent
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KR10-0796825
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M-RED
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British Patent
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GB0930382
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M-RED
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Italian Patent
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IT0930382
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M-RED
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Korean Patent
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KR10-0633947
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French Patent
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French Patent
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M-RED
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Japanese Patent
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Agreements
with United Wireless
Summary
As
of March 31, 2019, United Wireless had transferred the note and assigned all of its remaining rights under the agreements to Intelligent
Partners. As a result, Intelligent Partners holds the rights under the notes and the agreements we signed with United Wireless.
On
October 22, 2015, we entered into a series of agreements with United Wireless:
Pursuant
to a securities purchase agreement between us and five of our subsidiaries (Quest Licensing Corporation, Quest NetTech Corporation,
Mariner IC Inc., Semcon IP Inc., and IC Kinetics Inc.), at the closing, United Wireless agreed to lend us a total of $4,250,000.
As of March 31, 2019, United Wireless had lent us $3,900,000, of which $3,000,000 was used to purchase the intellectual property
from Intellectual Ventures in three annual installments of $1,000,000, with the final installment in November 2017, $25,000 was
used to purchase intellectual property from IV 34/37 and the balance of $875,000 was used for working capital, including expenses
relating to the agreements with United Wireless. Pursuant to the loan agreement, we issued to United Wireless our 10% promissory
notes. The terms of the notes are described under “Promissory Notes.”
Pursuant
to the securities purchase agreement, at the closing we sold to United Wireless 50,000,000 shares of common stock for $250,000,
or $0.005 per share.
Pursuant
to the securities purchase agreement, we granted United Wireless an option to purchase a total of 50,000,000 shares, with exercise
prices of $0.01 per share as to 16,666,667 shares, which may be exercised from September 30, 2016 through September 30, 2020,
$0.03 per share as to 16,666,667 shares, which may be exercised from September 30, 2017 through September 30, 2020, and $0.05
per share as to 16,666,666 shares, which may be exercised from September 30, 2018 through September 30, 2020.
United
Wireless agreed to make loans to us for payment of the second and third $1,000,000 payments due to Intellectual Ventures regardless
of whether we are in compliance with our obligations under the securities purchase agreement or our other agreements with United
Wireless.
All
of the notes to be issued to United Wireless, whether in respect of the purchase of the patent rights from Intellectual Ventures
or for working capital, will have the same terms and conditions, including default provisions and conversion rights. In the event
that certain events of default, which are called Conversion Eligible Events of Default, shall have occurred and are continuing
on the date a $1,000,000 payment is due to Intellectual Ventures, United Wireless shall have the obligation to make the payment,
and immediately upon the United Wireless’ payment to Intellectual Ventures, we shall be deemed to have assigned, transferred
and conveyed to United Wireless and/or its nominee full, absolute and unconditional title to and ownership of the stock of three
subsidiaries that hold the patents acquired from Intellectual Ventures, and our obligations on the notes including the conversion
rights, to the extent that the notes relate to the payment of the purchase price of the patents from Intellectual Venture, terminate,
and United Wireless will have no further obligation to make working capital loans to us. On November 15, 2017, when the last payment
was made to Intellectual Venture, no Conversion Eligible Event of Default had occurred. As of the March 31, 2019, of the $4,788,030
note that is outstanding, $3,000,000 relates to the purchase of the patents from Intellectual Ventures, $25,000 relates to the
purchase of intellectual property from IV 34/37, $875,000 relates to working capital, including expenses relating to the agreement
with United Wireless, approximately $395,000 relates to interest accrued through, and added to principal on September 30, 2016,
2017 and 2018 in accordance with the terms of the note and $115,220 relates to interest accrued through March 31, 2019.
In
October 2015, we entered into a monetization proceeds agreement pursuant to which United Wireless received the right to receive
15% of the net monetization proceeds received from (a) the patents acquired by us from Intellectual Ventures and (b) the patents
in our mobile data and financial data intellectual property portfolios. On July 31, 2017, we entered into a monetization agreement
with United Wireless pursuant to which we agreed to pay United Wireless 7.5% of the net monetization proceeds from the patents
acquired by CXT. This obligation was recorded as an expense and is reflected in interest expenses. CXT’s obligations under
the monetization proceeds agreement are secured by a security interest in the proceeds (from litigation or otherwise) from the
CXT Portfolio. The security interest in the proceeds from the CXT Portfolio is junior to the security interest held by IV 34/37
in the CXT Portfolio and proceeds thereof. We agreed to amend the monetization proceeds agreement between CXT and United Wireless
to include the patents acquired from IV 62/71.
Our
obligations under our agreements with United Wireless, including our obligations under all notes issued to United Wireless and
the monetization proceeds agreement, are secured by a pledge of the stock of the three subsidiaries that hold the patents acquired
from Intellectual Ventures and by the proceeds from the intellectual property represented by (i) the patents acquired from Intellectual
Ventures and (ii) the intellectual property in the mobile data and financial data portfolios.
Five
of our subsidiaries, Quest Licensing, Quest NetTech, Mariner, Semcon, and IC, guaranteed our obligations to United Wireless.
We
granted United Wireless certain registration rights with respect to (i) the 50,000,000 shares of common stock purchased by United
Wireless at the closing, (ii) the 50,000,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the purchase options, and (iii)
in the event that the notes become convertible, to the extent that the note holders request, the shares of common stock issuable
upon conversion of the notes.
We
agreed that, within 135 days from the closing date (
i.e.
, by March 2, 2016), we would increase our authorized common stock
from 390,000,000 shares to 1,250,000,000 shares, and, in the event that, in the future, the number of authorized shares of common
stock is not sufficient to enable the full conversion of the notes, we will have 135 days to take corporate action, as necessary,
so as to have a sufficient number of shares, including to increase the common stock (or effect a reverse split or a combination
of an increase in the authorized common stock and a reverse split) to an amount requested by United Wireless, or absent such request,
as we believe to be necessary such that there will be sufficient shares of common stock available for full conversion of the notes.
United Wireless agreed to vote its shares or give its consent in connection with any such increase in authorized common stock.
On January 22, 2016, we filed an amended and restated certificate of incorporation which increased our authorized common stock
to 1,250,000,000 shares. On the dates that United Wireless purchased notes from us in 2016, we were in compliance with the authorized
share requirement. Because there is no fixed conversion price, compliance with the authorized share reserve requirement is outside
of our control. As a result of fluctuations in our stock price, at various times during the period, beginning May 4, 2016 and
through December 31, 2016, but never for a period exceeding 135 days, we did not have sufficient authorized shares of common stock
necessary for United Wireless to convert its notes and exercise its options. Because of a decrease in the price of our common
stock, at February 13, 2017, we did not have a sufficient number of shares to meet the authorized share requirements. On June
15, 2017, we amended our certificate of incorporation to increase our authorized common stock to 10,000,000,000 shares. In the
event that, in the future, we do not have sufficient shares to permit conversion of the notes and the exercise of the options,
we will have to either increase our authorized common stock or effect a reverse split in order that we are in compliance with
the authorized share requirement. The failure to have sufficient authorized common stock may result in a Conversion Eligible Event
of Default.
We
agreed with United Wireless that, as long as United Wireless’ stockholdings exceed 10%, United Wireless has the right to
designate one member of the board of directors and at such time and for as long as United Wireless’ stockholdings exceed
24.9%, United Wireless may nominate a second director to the board. Unless a Conversion Eligible Event of Default shall have occurred,
United Wireless agreed not to seek to elect a majority of the board for a period of at least three years from the closing date.
We agreed that the size of the board would not exceed five during the two years following the closing date.
Commencing
six months from the closing date, if the shares owned by United Wireless cannot be sold pursuant to a registration statement and
cannot be sold pursuant to Rule 144 without our being in compliance with the current public information requirements of Rule 144,
if we are not in compliance with the current public information requirements, the agreements provide for the payment of damages
to United Wireless.
The
securities purchase agreement, the note issued at the closing, the monetization proceeds agreement, the patent proceeds security
agreement, the pledge and security agreement and the registration rights agreement are exhibits to this annual report. The description
of these agreements are summaries only and are qualified in their entireties by the agreements filed as exhibits.
Promissory
Notes
The
promissory notes bear interest at 10% per annum and mature on September 30, 2020. Interest accrues through September 30, 2018,
with accrued interest being added to principal on each of September 30, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Subsequent to September 30, 2018,
we are to pay interest quarterly, with the first interest payment being due on December 31, 2018. We have the right to prepay
the notes in whole at any time and in part from time to time. Although the notes have no conversion rights, if a Conversion Eligible
Event of Default occurs, the notes become convertible at a conversion price equal to 90% of the closing sale price of our common
stock on the principal market on which the common stock is trading on the trading day immediately preceding the date the holder
gives notice of conversion. As required under our agreements with United Wireless, we have increased our authorized common stock
to 10,000,000,000 shares. However, we cannot assure you that such number of shares would be sufficient to permit conversion of
the notes in full if a Conversion Eligible Event of Default should occur. We are required to have reserved from our authorized
and unissued common stock, 130% of the number of shares of common stock as shall be necessary for issuance upon conversion of
the notes.
Conversion
Eligible Events of Default include the breach of selected representations and warranties and covenants contained in the securities
purchase agreement and the note, including our failure to pay principal of any note or interest and other charges in excess of
$100,000. Although the observance of these covenants is generally within our control, one of the provisions which would trigger
a Conversion Eligible Event of Default is our inability to have sufficient shares reserved for issuance upon conversion of the
notes for more than 135 consecutive days from the date of such inability. Because there is no fixed conversion price, this reserve
requirement is outside of our control.
The
holders of the notes also have the right to demand redemption of the notes at 110% of the principal amount of the note in the
event of a change of control.
Monetization
Proceeds Agreement
Pursuant
to the monetization proceeds agreement, United Wireless has a right to receive 15% of the net monetization proceeds from (i) the
patents acquired by us from Intellectual Ventures and (ii) the patents in our mobile data and financial data intellectual property
portfolios. The agreement has no termination provisions, so United Wireless will be entitled to its percentage interest as long
as revenue can be generated from the intellectual property covered by the agreement.
Net
monetization proceeds represent the amount by which any consideration received from the patents, including royalty payments and
amounts received as a result of litigation relating to the patents exceeds monetization expenses, including legal fees, and certain
other expenses, but not operating expenses not relating to the monetization activities, including patent litigation. The percentage
payable with respect to monetization proceeds from the mobile data and financial data intellectual property (but not the patents
acquired from Intellectual Ventures) is reduced in the event that United breaches its agreement to make working capital loans
pursuant to the securities purchase agreement.
Grant
of Security Interest
Payment
of the notes and our obligations under the monetization proceeds agreement as well as the other obligations under the agreements
with United Wireless is secured by a security interest in all proceeds (from litigation or otherwise) from the (i) the patents
acquired from Intellectual Ventures and (ii) the intellectual property in the mobile data and financial data portfolios, and a
pledge of the stock of the three subsidiaries which hold the patents acquired from Intellectual Ventures. The security interest
in proceeds from the patents relating to our mobile data portfolio is junior to the security interest held by a third party litigation
funding source.
Registration
Rights Agreement
Pursuant
to a registration rights agreement, we agreed to file a registration statement with the SEC covering the 50,000,000 shares of
common stock issued to United Wireless at the closing and the 50,000,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the
purchase option. We are required to file the registration statement within 60 days of the October 22, 2015 closing, which is December
21, 2015, and have the registration statement declared effective by the SEC within 120 days of the closing if the registration
statement is not subject to a full review by the SEC and 180 days if the registration statement is subject to a full review. We
filed the registration statement on December 14, 2015 and it was declared effective by the SEC on February 11, 2016. We are required
to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement until United Wireless (or its transferees) may sell all the shares
covered by the registration statement without restriction or limitation pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement to be
in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1). We are also required to file a registration statement covering the shares issuable upon conversion
of the notes upon request by the note holders. The notes do not become convertible until and unless there is a Conversion Eligible
Event of Default, and the failure to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement is not a Conversion Eligible Event
of Default. The registration rights agreement provides for us to pay damages in the event that we do not meet the required deadlines
or do not maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement. The damages are computed at 1.5% of the aggregate purchase
price paid for such securities, which was $250,000 on the date we fail to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement
and each 30 days thereafter.
Research
and Development
Research
and development expense are incurred by us in connection with the evaluation of patents. We did not incur research and development
expenses during the period ended March 31, 2019 or December 31, 2018, respectively.
Property
We
do not own or lease any real property.
Employees
We
have no employees other than our two officers, only one of whom, Mr. Jon Scahill, our chief executive officer and president, is
full time. Our employees are not represented by a labor union, and we consider our employee relations to be good.
MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The
following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated
financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements
that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. See “Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” Our actual results
could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors discussed in “Risk
Factors” and elsewhere in this report.
Overview
Our
principal operations include the development, acquisition, licensing and enforcement of intellectual property rights that are
either owned or controlled by us or one of our wholly owned subsidiaries. We currently own, control or manage eleven intellectual
property portfolios, which principally consist of patent rights. As part of our intellectual property asset management activities
and in the ordinary course of our business, it has been necessary for either us or the intellectual property owner who we represent
to initiate, and it is likely to continue to be necessary to initiate, patent infringement lawsuits and engage in patent infringement
litigation.
We
seek to generate revenue from two sources:
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Patent
licensing fees relating to our intellectual property portfolio, which includes fees from the licensing of our intellectual
property, primarily from litigation relating to enforcement of our intellectual property rights.
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Licensed
packaging sales, which relate to the sale of licensed products.
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In
previous periods, including the year ended December 31, 2017, we also generated revenue from management fees, which we received
for managing structured licensing programs, including litigation, related to our intellectual property rights. Our revenue from
management fees was $21,196, and we do not currently receive these fees and do not have any agreements that provide for such payments.
Because
of the nature of our business transactions to date, we recognize revenues from licensing upon execution of a license agreement
following settlement of litigation and not over the life of the patent. Thus, we would recognize revenue when we receive the license
fee or settlement payment. Although we intend to seek to develop portfolios of intellectual property rights that provide us for
a continuing stream of revenue, to date we have not been successful in doing so, and we cannot give you any assurance that we
will be able to generate any significant revenue from licenses that provide a continuing stream of revenue. Thus, to the extent
that we continue to generate cash from single payment licenses, our revenues can, and are likely to, vary significantly from quarter
to quarter and year to year. Our gross profit from license fees reflects any royalties which we pay in connection with our license.
To
a significantly lesser extent, we generate revenue from sale of packaging materials based on our TurtlePak
TM
technology.
Our gross profit from sales reflects the cost of contract manufacturing and labor. We did not generate any revenue from the TurtlePak
TM
Portfolio other than from the sale of products using our technology.
Inventor
Royalties, Contingent Litigation Funding Fees and Contingent Legal Expenses
In
connection with the investment in certain patents and patent rights, certain of our operating subsidiaries executed agreements
which grant to the former owners of the respective patents or patent rights, the right to receive inventor royalties based on
future net revenues (as defined in the respective agreements) generated as a result of licensing and otherwise enforcing the respective
patents or patent portfolios.
Our
operating subsidiaries may engage third party funding sources to provide funding for patent licensing and enforcement. The agreements
with the third party funding sources may provide that the funding source receives a portion of any negotiated fees, settlements
or judgments. In certain instances, these third party funding sources are entitled to receive a significant percentage of any
proceeds realized until the third party funder has recouped agreed upon amounts based on formulas set forth in the underlying
funding agreement, which may reduce or delay and proceeds due to us.
Our
operating subsidiaries may retain the services of law firms in connection with their licensing and enforcement activities. These
law firms may be retained on a contingent fee basis whereby the law firms are paid by the funding source on a scaled percentage
of any negotiated fees, settlements or judgments awarded based on how and when the fees, settlements or judgments are obtained.
Depending on the amount of any recovery, it is possible that all the proceeds from a specific settlement may be paid to the funding
source and legal counsel.
The
economic terms of the inventor agreements, funding agreements and contingent legal fee arrangements associated with the patent
portfolios owned or controlled by our operating subsidiaries, if any, including royalty rates, proceeds sharing rates, contingent
fee rates and other terms, vary across the patent portfolios owned or controlled by the operating subsidiaries. Inventor royalties,
payments to non-controlling interests, payments to third party funding providers and contingent legal fees expenses fluctuate
period to period, based on the amount of revenues recognized each period, the terms and conditions of revenue agreements executed
each period and the mix of specific patent portfolios with varying economic terms and obligations generating revenues each period.
Inventor royalties, payments to third party funding sources and contingent legal fees expenses will continue to fluctuate and
may continue to vary significantly period to period, based primarily on these factors.
In
March 2014, we entered into a funding agreement whereby a third party agreed to provide funds to us to enable us to implement
a structured licensing program, including litigation if necessary, for the Mobile Data. Under the funding agreement, the third
party receives an interest in the proceeds from the program, and we have no other obligation to the third party. In April and
June 2014, as part of a structured licensing program for the Mobile Data portfolio, Quest Licensing Corporation brought patent
infringement suits in the U.S. District for the District of Delaware against Bloomberg LP et. al., FactSet Research Systems Inc.,
Interactive Data Corporation, SunGard Data Systems Inc. and The Charles Schwab Corporation et. al. These cases have been consolidated
for trial. In June and August 2016, Quest Licensing Corporation entered into a settlement agreement with SunGard Data Systems
Inc. and FactSet Research Systems Inc. As of March 31, 2019, the third party funding source has advanced approximately $3,000,000
in litigation fees, costs and expenses. Under the terms of the funding agreement, the third party funder is entitled to a priority
return of funds advanced from any proceeds recovered. In 2017 we received management fees and management support services expenses
relating to this agreement. We no longer receive management fees under the funding agreement.
In
December 2018, we entered into a funding agreement whereby a third party agreed to provide funds to us to enable us to support
our structured licensing programs for the CMOS and M-RED portfolios. Under the funding agreement, the third party receives an
interest in the proceeds from the programs, and we have no other obligation to the third party. As of March 31, 2019, the third
party funding source advanced $150,000 for costs and expenses, and has no further obligation to provide additional funds. Under
the terms of the funding agreement, the third party funder is entitled to a priority return of funds advanced from net proceeds
recovered.
In
connection with any litigation seeking to enforce our intellectual property rights, it is possible that a defendant may request
and/or a court may rule that an operating subsidiary has violated statutory authority, regulatory authority, federal rules, local
court rules, or governing standards relating to the substantive or procedural aspects of such enforcement actions. In such event,
a court may issue monetary sanctions against us or its operating subsidiaries or award attorney’s fees and/or expenses to
a defendant(s), which could be material, and if required to be paid by us or its operating subsidiaries, could materially harm
our operating results and financial position. Since the operating subsidiaries do not have any assets other than the patents,
and the Company does not have any available financial resources to pay any judgment which a defendant may obtain against a subsidiary,
such a judgement may result in the bankruptcy of the subsidiary and/or the loss of the patents, which are the subsidiaries’
only assets.
On
January 19, 2017, the court in the Mobile Data Portfolio litigation granted certain defendants’ motion for summary judgment
of non-infringement, and Quest Licensing Corporation has appealed the summary judgment. Following the court’s decision granting
the defendant’s motion for summary judgment, the defendants moved for an award of attorneys’ fees under Section 285
of the patent act which provides that “the court in exceptional cases may award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing
party.” On June 29, 2017, the defendants’ motion for attorney fees in the Mobile Data litigation was denied, without
prejudice and with leave to renew their motion thirty days from the decision of the appellate court on our appeal of the district
court’s decision granting the defendant’s motion for summary judgment. On June 8, 2018 the appellate court affirmed
the lower court’s decision. On June 9, 2018 Quest Licensing Corporation filed a petition for rehearing with the appellate
court. On July 30, 2018 the appellate court denied Quest Licensing Corporations petition for rehearing. On August 8, 2018, the
defendants’ renewed their motion for an award of attorneys’ fees under Section 285 of the Patent Act. On March 27,
2019 the defendants’ motion for attorney fees in the Mobile Data litigation was denied.
Acquisition
of Patents; Agreements with United Wireless
As
of March 31, 2019, United Wireless had transferred the note and assigned all of its remaining rights under the agreements to Intelligent
Partners. As a result, Intelligent Partners holds the rights under the notes and the agreements we signed with United Wireless.
On
October 22, 2015, we acquired three patent portfolios from Intellectual Ventures, which we assigned to three newly-formed subsidiaries.
We paid the purchase price of $3,000,000 with the proceeds of three loans from United Wireless, each in the amount of $1,000,000,
with the third and final payment being made on November 15, 2017. Pursuant to our agreements with United Wireless:
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We
sold to United Wireless 50,000,000 shares of common stock for $250,000.
|
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●
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We
borrowed a total of $3,900,000 from United Wireless through March 31, 2019, for which we issued our 10% promissory notes due
September 30, 2020. Of this amount, $3,000,000 was paid directly to Intellectual Ventures as the purchase price of the patents
we purchased from Intellectual Ventures, $25,000 was paid to IV 34/37 at the initial payment for the purchase of intellectual
property and $875,000 was paid to us for working capital, including costs of the financing. As of March 31, 2019 we owe Intelligent
Partners, as transferee of the United Wireless, $4,788,030 which represents the notes issues and interest accrued through,
and added to principal on September 30, 2016, 2017 and 2018 in accordance with the terms of the note and $115,220 relates
to interest accrued through March 31, 2019.
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●
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We
granted United Wireless an option to purchase a total of 50,000,000 shares of common stock.
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We
entered into a monetization proceeds agreement pursuant to which we gave United Wireless a 15% interest in the net monetization
proceeds, as defined in the agreement, generated from both the patents acquired from Intellectual Ventures and our financial
data and mobile data portfolios, which continues as long as we receive revenue, whether from litigation or otherwise, from
these patents.
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We
granted United Wireless a security interest in the proceeds of the patents acquired from Intellectual Ventures, IV 34/37 and
our financial data and mobile data portfolios and a pledge of the stock of the three subsidiaries that own the patents we
acquired from Intellectual Ventures.
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In
the event that certain events of default, which are called Conversion Eligible Events of Default, have occurred, the outstanding
notes become convertible at a conversion price equal to 90% of the closing sale price of our common stock on the principal
market on which the common stock is trading on the trading day immediately preceding the date the holder gives notice of conversion.
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In
addition to our obligation to increase our authorized common stock to 1,250,000,000, which we satisfied by amending our certificate
of incorporation in January 2016, we agreed, in the event that, in the future, the number of authorized shares of common stock
is not sufficient to enable the full conversion of the notes, unless the share price subsequently increases so that we would have
sufficient shares, the Company will have 135 days from the last such date we had sufficient shares to enable full conversion of
the notes to take all corporate action necessary so that we have sufficient shares of common stock for full conversion of the
notes (including, without limitation an increase in authorized common stock, reverse split of a combination of an increase in
authorized common stock and a reverse split). The failure to do so may be a Conversion Eligible Event of Default. As a result
of a decline in our stock price, at February 13, 2017, we did not have sufficient authorized shares of common stock to meet the
required authorized common stock necessary for United Wireless to convert its notes. On June 15, 2017, we amended our certificate
of incorporation to increase our authorized common stock to 10,000,000,000 shares. In the event that 10,000,000,000 authorized
shares become insufficient to satisfy our obligations to United Wireless, we will have 135 days to increase our authorized common
stock or effect a reverse split or a combination such that we are in compliance with our authorized stock requirement under the
United Wireless agreements. Our failure to have sufficient shares of common stock available may give United Wireless the right
to declare a Conversion Eligible Event of Default under the notes.
We
granted United Wireless certain registration rights with respect to the shares issued at the closing, the shares issuable upon
exercise of the purchase option and, if requested by the note holders, the common stock issuable upon conversion of the note if
the notes become convertible.
As
long as United Wireless’, or its principals’ stockholdings exceed 10%, United Wireless has the right to designate
one member of the board of directors and at such time and for as long as United Wireless’ stockholdings exceed 24.9%, United
Wireless may nominate a second director to the board. Unless a Conversion Eligible Event of Default shall have occurred, United
Wireless agreed not to seek to elect a majority of the board for a period of at least three years from the initial closing date.
We agreed that the size of the board would not exceed five for the two years following the closing. The 50,000,000 shares of common
stock purchased by United Wireless at the closing have been transferred to Andrew C. Fitton (35,000,000 shares) and Michael R.
Carper (15,000,000 shares).
Because
of both our financial position and the terms of our agreements with United Wireless, including the possibility that the notes
may become convertible at a discount from market and United Wireless’ rights if a Conversion Eligible Event of Default occurs,
it is very difficult for us to raise any funds in the equity or debt market. Our only potential source funds would be from funding
sources who would finance litigation for one or more of our patent portfolios. Such funding sources would typically pay our litigation
counsel and would only receive any funds if we are successful in the litigation, in which event the funding source would receive
its compensation for providing the funding based on a percentage of the recovery, as defined in the particular agreement.
At
present, we are pursuing litigation with respect to our mobile data portfolio, anchor structure portfolio, power management/bus
control portfolio, CXT portfolio and CMOS portfolio. We cannot estimate when or whether we will receive any revenue from these
litigations, or whether, in the event we do not prevail, the defendant will not obtain an award of legal fees against our plaintiff
subsidiary which could result in the bankruptcy of the subsidiary and a default under our agreement with United Wireless. The
actions are described in Item 1. Business.
If
we are unable to monetize our patents, we cannot assure you that we will be able to pay the notes held by Intelligent Partners,
as transferee of United Wireless, which could result in our inability to continue in business and could result in our bankruptcy.
Results
of Operations
Three
Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2018
The
following table shows the revenue and cost of revenue from our three categories of revenue for three months ended March 31, 2019
and 2018:
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Three Months ended March 31,
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2019
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2018
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Licensed packaging sales
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|
$
|
4,865
|
|
|
|
1.3
|
%
|
|
$
|
8,318
|
|
|
|
1.0
|
%
|
Patent licensing fees
|
|
|
370,000
|
|
|
|
98.7
|
%
|
|
|
849,000
|
|
|
|
99.0
|
%
|
Total
|
|
$
|
374,865
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
$
|
857,318
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of sales
|
|
$
|
977
|
|
|
|
0.4
|
%
|
|
$
|
1,465
|
|
|
|
0.2
|
%
|
Litigation and licensing expenses
|
|
|
265,044
|
|
|
|
99.5
|
%
|
|
|
799,100
|
|
|
|
99.0
|
%
|
Management support services
|
|
|
340
|
|
|
|
0.1
|
%
|
|
|
6,484
|
|
|
|
0.8
|
%
|
Total
|
|
$
|
266,361
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
$
|
807,049
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
Revenues
for the three months ended March 31, 2019 were approximately $375,000, a decrease of approximately $482,000, or 56%, compared
to the three months ended March 31, 2018, which were approximately $857,000. We generated revenue of approximately $370,000 for
the three months ended March 31, 2019, from settlements in the licenses to the CXT portfolio. We generated revenue of approximately
$849,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018, from settlements in the power management/bus controller portfolio actions.
As discussed above, the timing and amount of our revenue is dependent upon the results of litigation seeking to enforce our intellectual
property rights, and we cannot predict when or whether we will have a recovery and how much of the recovery will be received by
us after payments to legal counsel, to our funding sources and to Intelligent Partners who has an interest in our share of the
recovery from certain patent portfolios after deducting payments due to counsel and the litigation funding source.
Operating
expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2019 decreased by approximately $514,000, or 47%, compared to the three months ended
March 31, 2018. Our principal operating expense for the three months ended March 31, 2019 were selling, general and administrative
expenses. Our principal operating expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was litigation and licensing expenses which
consist of fees payable to attorneys and third-party funding sources associated with the power management/bus controller portfolio
settlements of approximately $799,000. These fees, which are paid directly from the settlement funds, became payable as a result
of settlement agreements that provided for a recovery. The total settlement recovery is included in revenue and the associated
costs are deducted as cost of revenue. When the settlement funds are disbursed we receive the net amount due us after deducting
the associated settlement costs.
Other
income (expense) for the three months ended March 31, 2019 included a $165,000 loss on the derivative liability associated with
the options granted pursuant to our agreement with Intelligent Partners. We realized a loss of $10,000 on derivative liability
in the comparable period of 2018. Other income reflects interest expense of approximately $163,000 for the three months ended
March 31, 2019 and approximately $150,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The increase in interest expense reflects
the interest accrued on our note to Intelligent Partners.
During
the period we incurred income tax expense of approximately $225 for the three months March 31, 2019, compared to approximately
$50,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The decrease in income tax expense primarily reflect foreign income taxes related
to foreign source patent licensing fees. We did not incur foreign income tax expenses in the three months ended March 31, 2019.
As
a result of the foregoing, we realized net loss of approximately $540,000, or $0.00 per share (basic and diluted), for the three
months ended March 31, 2019, compared to net loss of approximately $453,000, or $0.00 per share (basic and diluted), for the three
months ended March 31, 2018.
Years
Ended December 31, 2018 and 2017
The
following table shows the revenue and cost of revenue from our three categories of revenue for the years ended December 31, 2018
and 2017:
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|
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
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2017
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Licensed packaging sales
|
|
$
|
20,004
|
|
|
|
0.3
|
%
|
|
$
|
14,201
|
|
|
|
1.2
|
%
|
Patent licensing fees
|
|
|
7,049,000
|
|
|
|
99.7
|
%
|
|
|
1,196,250
|
|
|
|
97.1
|
%
|
Management fees
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
%
|
|
|
21,196
|
|
|
|
1.7
|
%
|
Total
|
|
|
7,069,004
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
1,231,647
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of sales
|
|
|
3,689
|
|
|
|
0.06
|
%
|
|
|
2,435
|
|
|
|
0.3
|
%
|
Litigation and licensing expenses
|
|
|
6,071,608
|
|
|
|
99.83
|
%
|
|
|
807,614
|
|
|
|
96.4
|
%
|
Management support services
|
|
|
6,774
|
|
|
|
0.11
|
%
|
|
|
27,908
|
|
|
|
3.3
|
%
|
Total
|
|
|
6,082,071
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
837,957
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
Revenues
for the year ended December 31, 2018 were $7,069,004, as compared with $1,231,647 in 2017, an increase of $5,987,357, or
approximately 489%. The increase in 2018 principally reflects an increase in patent licensing fees of $5,852,750. Our
licensing fees reflect the settlement of litigation for infringement of our patent rights. These fees are one-time fees, with
the result that there is no continuity of revenues from period to period, and any revenue we generate in future period will
be solely dependent upon the results of pending and future litigation. We cannot assure you that we will generate any revenue
from patent licensing fees in the future. The patent licensing fees of $7,049,000 in 2018 resulted from the settlements of
Power Management/Bus Control Portfolio litigation. The licensing fees for 2017 resulted from the settlement of actions
relating to the Anchor Structure Portfolio. We no longer receive management fees and do not have agreements to receive
management fees in connection with any of our intellectual property portfolios. We cannot assure you that we will generate
any significant management fees in the future. In addition, licensed sales increased approximately $6,000.
Cost
of revenues was approximately $6,082,000 for 2018 as compared with approximately $838,000 for 2017. Our cost of revenue includes
expenses which we incurred in connection with our pending litigations and fees we pay to litigation funding sources, legal counsel
and pursuant to monetization proceeds agreements in connection with license fees. Cost of revenues for 2018 includes approximately
$6,072,000 of litigation and licensing fees paid to litigation funding sources and legal counsel in connection with the Power
Management/Bus Control licenses, approximately $7,000 for management support services in connection with management of the Mobile
Data Portfolio litigation, and approximately $4,000 relating to TurtlePak
TM
. Cost of revenues for 2017 includes approximately
$808,000 of litigation and licensing fees paid in connection with the Anchor Structure licenses, approximately $28,000 for management
support services in connection with management of the Mobile Data Portfolio litigation, and approximately $2,000 relating to TurtlePak
TM
.
Selling,
general, and administrative expenses for the 2018 increased by approximately $18,000, or 2%, from approximately $939,000 in 2017
to approximately $958,000 in 2018. Our principal selling, general and administrative expense for 2018 and 2017 was amortization
expense of approximately $438,000 and approximately $331,000 for 2018 and 2017, respectively, related to amortization of the patent
assets acquired from Intellectual Ventures in October 2015, IV 34/37 in July 2017, and IV 62/71 and IV 64 in January 2018. Selling,
general and administrative expenses also reflect executive compensation, which was approximately $300,000 for 2018 and approximately
$366,000 for 2017. Executive and director compensation in 2017 included $77,000 of stock-based compensation. We did not incur
stock-based compensation in 2018. Selling, general and administrative expenses in 2017 also reflect an approximately $11,000 gain,
resulting from the settlement of an account payable for less than the amount previously accrued.
Other
expense consists primarily of interest expense of approximately $651,000 in 2018 as compared with approximately $566,000 in 2017.
In 2018, we recognized a $450,000 loss on derivative liability as compared with a gain on derivative liability of $50,000 in 2017.
Because it is possible that we will not have sufficient authorized shares of common stock to satisfy our obligations in the event
that the notes to United Wireless become convertible, we have classified the options issued to United Wireless and other options
and warrants that were then outstanding as derivative liabilities. See Note 4 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
As
a result of the foregoing we had a net loss of approximately $2,110,000, or $0.01 per share (basic and diluted) for 2018 compared
to net loss of approximately $1,168,000, or $0.00 per share (basic and diluted), for 2017.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
At
March 31, 2019, we had current assets of approximately $127,000, and current liabilities of approximately $6,544,000. Our
current liabilities include approximately $275,000 payable to Intellectual Ventures, loans payable of approximately
$4,334,000 (net of discount of approximately $339,000) and accrued interest of approximately $115,000 payable to Intelligent
Partners, as transferee of United Wireless, and loans payable of $163,000 and accrued interest of approximately $286,000 due
to former directors and minority stockholders. As of March 31, 2019, we have an accumulated deficit of approximately
$19,200,000 and a negative working capital of approximately $6,417,000. For the three-months ended March 31, 2019, we
generated modest revenues in our operations and a modest cash flow from operations of approximately $104,000. The cash flow
from operations is the result of depreciation and amortization of our intellectual property rights of $110,378, amortization
of debt discount of $68,615, an increase in account payable and accrued expenses of $327,263, and a $165,00 loss on
derivative liability, which more than offset our net loss of approximately $540,000. Other than salary to our chief executive
officer, we do not contemplate any other material operating expense in the near future other than normal general and
administrative expenses, including expenses relating to our status as a public company filing reports with the
SEC.
Cash flow from financing activities for the three-months ended
March 31, 2019 related to repayment of the purchase price of patents to IV34/37.
For the three months ended March 31, 2019, non-cash investing and financing activities consisted of an
account payable of $1,238,219, representing a $1,575,000 payment due to IV 113/108, net of imputed interest of $336,781.
We
cannot assure you that we will be successful in generating future revenues, in obtaining additional debt or equity financing or
that such additional debt or equity financing will be available on terms acceptable to us, if at all, or that we will be able
to obtain any third party funding in connection with any of our intellectual property portfolios. We have no credit facilities.
Historically,
our only source of financing was loans from officers and directors. In October 2015, we entered into an agreement with United
Wireless, pursuant to which, as of March 31, 2019 we had borrowed $3,900,000 from United Wireless and United Wireless has no further
obligation to provide us with additional loans, as described under “Item 1. Business – Agreements with United Wireless.”
We
have agreements with funding sources which are providing litigation financing in connection with our pending litigations relating
to our mobile data, anchor structure, power management/bus control, CMOS and M-RED portfolios. We cannot predict the success of
any pending or future litigation. Our obligations to Intelligent Partners, as transferee of our obligations to United Wireless,
are not contingent upon the success of any litigation. If we fail to generate a sufficient recovery in these actions (net of any
portion of any recovery payable to the funding source or our legal counsel) in a timely manner to enable us to pay Intelligent
Partners on the present loans, we would be in default under our agreements with United Wireless. The agreements with the funding
sources provide we have no obligation to the funding source with respect to legal expenses in connection with litigation covered
by the funding sources until and unless there is a recovery, in consideration of which the funding sources will participate in
any recovery which is generated. To the extent that litigation counsel provides services on a contingent fee or partial contingent
fee basis, counsel may also participate in the recovery. Our agreements with United Wireless provide that United Wireless also
participates in any recovery. To the extent that the funding source, counsel or United Wireless participate in any recovery, the
amount allocated to us is reduced. We believe that our financial condition, our history of losses and negative cash flow from
operations, and our low stock price make it difficult for us to raise funds in the debt or equity markets.
In
April and June 2014, as part of a structured licensing program, Quest Licensing Corporation brought patent infringement suits
in the U.S. District for the District of Delaware against Bloomberg LP et. al., FactSet Research Systems Inc., Interactive Data
Corporation, SunGard Data Systems Inc. and The Charles Schwab Corporation et. al. These cases have been consolidated for trial.
In June and August 2016, Quest Licensing Corporation entered into a settlement agreement with SunGard Data Systems Inc. and FactSet
Research Systems Inc. On January 19, 2017, the court granted the remaining defendants’ motion for summary judgment of non-infringement,
which we have appealed. Following the court’s decision granting the defendant’s motion for summary judgment, those
defendants moved for an award of attorneys’ fees under Section 285 of the patent act which provides that “the court
in exceptional cases may award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party.” On June 29, 2017, the defendants’
motion for attorney fees was denied, without prejudice. Defendants may renew their motion thirty days from the decision of the
appellate court on Quest Licensing Corporation’s appeal. On June 8, 2018 the appellate court affirmed the lower court’s
decision. On June 9, 2018 Quest Licensing Corporation filed a petition for rehearing with the appellate court. On July 30, 2018
the appellate court denied Quest Licensing Corporations petition for rehearing. On August 8, 2018, the defendants’ renewed
their motion for an award of attorneys’ fees under Section 285 of the Patent Act. On March 27, 2019 the defendants’
motion for attorney fees in the Mobile Data litigation was denied.
As
noted below, there is a substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
Critical
Accounting Estimates
The
discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon our financial statements that have
been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of
these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities.
On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates including the allowance for doubtful accounts, the salability and recoverability
of our products, income taxes and contingencies. We base our estimates on historical experience and on other assumptions that
we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form our basis for making judgments about the carrying
values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates
under different assumptions or conditions.
Principles
of Consolidation
The
condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with US GAAP and present the financial statements of us
and our wholly-owned subsidiary. In the preparation of our consolidated financial statements, intercompany transactions and balances
are eliminated.
Use
of Estimates and Assumptions
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America
requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure
of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses
during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Revenue
Recognition
We
adopted ASC Topic 606,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
as of January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective transition
method. The core principle of the new revenue standard is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised
goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange
for those goods or services. The following five steps are applied to achieve that core principle:
|
●
|
Step
1: Identify the contract with the customer
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
Step
2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
Step
3: Determine the transaction price
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
Step
4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
Step
5: Recognize revenue when the company satisfies a performance obligation
|
A
performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer and is the unit of account
in ASC 606. In order to identify the performance obligations in a contract with a customer, a company must assess the promised
goods or services in the contract and identify each promised good or service that is distinct. A performance obligation meets
ASC 606’s definition of a “distinct” good or service (or bundle of goods or services) if both of the following
criteria are met:
|
●
|
The
customer can benefit from the good or service either on its own or together with other resources that are readily available
to the customer (i.e., the good or service is capable of being distinct).
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
The
entity’s promise to transfer the good or service to the customer is separately identifiable from other promises in the
contract (i.e., the promise to transfer the good or service is distinct within the context of the contract).
|
If
a good or service is not distinct, the good or service is combined with other promised goods or services until a bundle of goods
or services is identified that is distinct.
The
transaction price is the amount of consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring promised
goods or services to a customer. The consideration promised in a contract with a customer may include fixed amounts, variable
amounts, or both. When determining the transaction price, an entity must consider the effects of all of the following:
|
●
|
Variable
consideration
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
Constraining
estimates of variable consideration
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
The
existence of a significant financing component in the contract
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
Noncash
consideration
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
Consideration
payable to a customer
|
Variable
consideration is included in the transaction price only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount
of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently
resolved.
The
transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation on a relative standalone selling price basis.
The
transaction price allocated to each performance obligation is recognized when that performance obligation is satisfied, at a point
in time or over time as appropriate.
In
general, the Company is required to make certain judgments and estimates in connection with the accounting for revenue contracts
with customers. Such areas may include identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the timing of satisfaction
of performance obligations, determining whether a promise of consideration, whether a license to intellectual property or an entitlement
to payment of a percentage of net proceeds, is distinct from other promised goods or services, evaluating whether consideration
transfers to a customer at a point in time or over time, allocating the transaction price to separate performance obligations,
determining whether contracts contain a significant financing component, and estimating revenues recognized at a point in time
for licensed sales.
Patent
Licensing Fees
Revenue
is recognized upon transfer of control of promised bundled intellectual property rights and other contractual performance obligations
to licensees in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those intellectual property rights.
Revenue contracts that provide promises to grant “the right” to use intellectual property rights as they exist at
the point in time at which the intellectual property rights are granted, are accounted for as performance obligations satisfied
at a point in time and revenue is recognized at the point in time that the applicable performance obligations are satisfied and
all other revenue recognition criteria have been met.
For
the periods presented, revenue contracts executed by the Company primarily provided for the payment of contractually determined,
one-time, paid-up license fees in consideration for the grant of certain intellectual property rights for patented technologies
owned or controlled by the Company’s operating subsidiaries. intellectual property rights granted included the following,
as applicable: (i) the grant of a non-exclusive, retroactive and future license to manufacture and/or sell products covered by
patented technologies, (ii) a covenant-not-to-sue, (iii) the release of the licensee from certain claims, and (iv) the dismissal
of any pending litigation. The intellectual property rights granted were perpetual in nature, extending until the legal expiration
date of the related patents. The individual intellectual property rights are not accounted for as separate performance obligations,
as (i) the nature of the promise, within the context of the contract, is to transfer combined items to which the promised intellectual
property rights are inputs and (ii) the Company’s promise to transfer each individual intellectual property right described
above to the customer is not separately identifiable from other promises to transfer intellectual property rights in the contract.
Since
the promised intellectual property rights are not individually distinct, the Company combined each individual IP right in the
contract into a bundle of IP rights that is distinct, and accounted for all of the intellectual property rights promised in the
contract as a single performance obligation. The intellectual property rights granted were “functional IP rights”
that have significant standalone functionality. The Company’s subsequent activities do not substantively change that functionality
and do not significantly affect the utility of the IP to which the licensee has rights. The Company’s subsidiaries have
no further obligation with respect to the grant of intellectual property rights, including no express or implied obligation to
maintain or upgrade the technology, or provide future support or services. The contracts provide for the grant (i.e. transfer
of control) of the licenses, covenants-not-to-sue, releases, and other significant deliverables upon execution of the contract.
Licensees legally obtain control of the intellectual property rights upon execution of the contract. As such, the earnings process
is complete and revenue is recognized upon the execution of the contract, when collectability is probable and all other revenue
recognition criteria have been met. Revenue contracts generally provide for payment of contractual amounts within 30-90 days of
execution of the contract. Contractual payments made by licensees are generally non-refundable. We do not have any significant
payment terms, as payment is received shortly after goods are delivered or services are provided, therefore there is no significant
financing component or consideration payable to the customer in these transactions.
Licensed
Sales
The
balance of our revenue, from licensed sales, is not significant but includes sales-based revenue contracts pursuant to purchase
orders. There is only one distinct performance obligation in each purchase order, transfer of the promised good to the customer,
and the customer can benefit from the good together with other resources readily available to the customer. For licensed sales,
the transaction price is allocated to the performance obligation on a relative standalone selling price basis per the purchase
order, and the Company includes in the transaction price some or all of an amount of estimated variable consideration to the extent
that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty
associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. Estimates are generally based on historical levels of activity,
if available. Notwithstanding, revenue is recognized for a licensed sale when the performance obligation has been satisfied –
transfer of the good to the customer. The purchase order generally provides for payment of contractual amounts within 30 days
of transfer of the goods to the customer, therefore there is no significant financing component or consideration payable to the
customer in these transactions.
Cost
of Revenues
Cost
of revenues include the costs and expenses incurred in connection with our patent licensing and enforcement activities, including
inventor royalties paid to original patent owners, contingent litigation funding fees, contingent legal fees paid to external
patent counsel, other patent-related legal expenses paid to external patent counsel, licensing and enforcement related research,
consulting and other expenses paid to third-parties and the amortization of patent-related investment costs. These costs are included
under the caption “Cost of revenues” in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. No such fees are recognized
as a cost of revenue to the extent that we have no obligation with respect to fees prior to a settlement or license.
Inventor
Royalties, Contingent Litigation Funding Fees and Contingent Legal Expenses.
Inventor
royalties are expensed in the consolidated statements of operations in the period that the related revenues are recognized. Contingent
litigation funding and legal fees are expensed in the consolidated statements of operations in the period that the related revenues
are recognized. In instances where there are no recoveries from potential infringers, no contingent litigation funding fees are
due.
Accounts
Receivable
Accounts
receivable, which generally relate to licensed sales, are presented on the balance sheet net of estimated uncollectible amounts.
The Company records an allowance for estimated uncollectible accounts in an amount approximating anticipated losses. Individual
uncollectible accounts are written off against the allowance when collection of the individual accounts appears doubtful. We recorded
an allowance for doubtful accounts of $0 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
Intangible
Assets
Intangible
assets consist of patents which are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives or statutory lives
whichever is shorter and are reviewed for impairment upon any triggering event that may give rise to the assets ultimate recoverability
as prescribed under the guidance related to impairment of long-lived assets. Costs incurred to acquire patents, including legal
costs, are also capitalized as long-lived assets and amortized on a straight-line basis with the associated patent.
Patents
include the cost of patents or patent rights (collectively “patents”) acquired from third-parties or acquired in connection
with business combinations. Patent acquisition costs are amortized utilizing the straight-line method over their remaining economic
useful lives, ranging from one to ten years. Certain patent application and prosecution costs incurred to secure additional patent
claims, that based on management’s estimates are deemed to be recoverable, are capitalized and amortized over the remaining
estimated economic useful life of the related patent portfolio.
Impairment
of long-lived assets
Long-lived
assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may
not be recoverable through the estimated undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the
assets. Whenever any such impairment exists, an impairment loss will be recognized for the amount by which the carrying value
exceeds the fair value. No impairment was recorded for the either the three months ended March 31, 2019 or the three months
ended March 31, 2018.
Derivative
Financial Instruments
Management
evaluates the embedded conversion feature within its convertible debt instruments under ASC 815-15 and ASC 815-40 to determine
if the conversion feature meets the definition of a liability and, if so, whether to bifurcate the conversion feature and account
for it as a separate derivative liability. For derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the derivative
instrument is initially recorded at its fair value and is then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value
reported in the statements of operations. For stock-based derivative financial instruments, management uses a Black Scholes model,
in accordance with ASC 815-15 “Derivative and Hedging” to value the derivative instruments at inception and on subsequent
valuation dates. The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities
or as equity, is evaluated at the end of each reporting period. Derivative instrument liabilities are classified in the balance
sheet as current or non-current based on whether net-cash settlement of the derivative instrument could be required within 12
months after the balance sheet date.
Beneficial
Conversion Features
The
Company evaluates the conversion feature for whether it was beneficial as described in ASC 470-30. The intrinsic value of a beneficial
conversion feature inherent to a convertible note payable, which is not bifurcated and accounted for separately from the convertible
note payable and may not be settled in cash upon conversion, is treated as a discount to the convertible note payable. This discount
is amortized over the period from the date of issuance to the date the note is due using the effective interest method. If the
note payable is retired prior to the end of its contractual term, the unamortized discount is expensed in the period of retirement
to interest expense. In general, the beneficial conversion feature is measured by comparing the effective conversion price, after
considering the relative fair value of detachable instruments included in the financing transaction, if any, to the fair value
of the shares of common stock at the commitment date to be received upon conversion.
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments
We
adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”,
for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. ASC 820 establishes a common definition for fair value
to be applied to existing US GAAP that require the use of fair value measurements which establishes a framework for measuring
fair value and expands disclosure about such fair value measurements.
ASC
820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction
between market participants at the measurement date. Additionally, ASC 820 requires the use of valuation techniques that maximize
the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. These inputs are prioritized below:
|
Level
1:
|
Observable
inputs such as quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
Level
2:
|
Observable
market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data
|
|
|
|
|
Level
3:
|
Unobservable
inputs for which there is little or no market data, which require the use of the reporting entity’s own assumptions.
|
In
addition, FASB ASC 825-10-25 “Fair Value Option” was effective for January 1, 2008. ASC 825-10-25 expands opportunities
to use fair value measurements in financial reporting and permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and
certain other items at fair value.
Income
Tax
We
record revenues on a gross basis, before deduction for income taxes. We incurred foreign income tax expenses of approximately
$0 and $49,900 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Stock-based
Compensation
We
account for share-based awards issued to employees in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 718, “Compensation-Stock
Compensation”. Accordingly, employee share-based payment compensation is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value
of the award, and is recognized as an expense over the requisite service period, which is normally the vesting period. Share-based
compensation to directors is treated in the same manner as share-based compensation to employees, regardless of whether the directors
are also employees. We account for share-based compensation to persons other than employees in accordance with FASB ASC 505-50.
Equity instruments issued to other than employees are valued at the earlier of a commitment date or upon completion of the services,
based on the fair value of the equity instruments and is recognized as expense over the service period. We estimate the fair value
of share-based payments using the Black Scholes option-pricing model for common stock options and warrants and the closing price
of our common stock for common share issuances.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
Management
has adopted ASU 2016-09, “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” which amends ASC 718. We account
for forfeitures as they occur. Policy election only relates to the service condition aspects of awards; the likelihood of achieving
performance conditions will still need to be assessed each period. There was no impact from the adoption of this ASU on our financial
statements.
Management adopted Topic 842 “Leases” as of January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective
transition method with no impact on the consolidated financial position or results of operations.
Going
Concern
We
have an accumulated deficit of approximately $19,200,000 and negative working capital of approximately $6,417,000 as of March
31, 2019. Because of our continuing losses, our working capital deficiency, the uncertainty of future revenue, the possible effect
of a judgement against one or more of our subsidiaries for legal fees; our low stock price and the absence of a trading market
in our common stock, our ability to raise funds in equity market or from lenders is severely impaired. These conditions raise
substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern. Although we may seek to raise funds and to obtain third party
funding for litigation to enforce its intellectual property rights, the availability of such funds in uncertain, and our use of
the funds from funding sources relating to the monetization of our intellectual property may not be available for working capital
purposes. Our financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Off-balance
Sheet Arrangements
We
have not entered into any other financial guarantees or other commitments to guarantee the payment obligations of any third parties.
We have not entered into any derivative contracts that are indexed to our shares and classified as stockholder’s equity
or that are not reflected in our consolidated financial statements. Furthermore, we do not have any retained or contingent interest
in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity that serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support to such entity.
MANAGEMENT
Executive
Officers and Directors
Our
directors and executive officers are:
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position(s)
|
Jon
C. Scahill
|
|
42
|
|
Chief
executive officer, president, acting chief financial officer, secretary and director
|
Timothy
J. Scahill
|
|
51
|
|
Chief
technology officer and director
|
Dr.
William Ryall Carroll
|
|
43
|
|
Director
|
Our
amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides for a classified board of directors, with directors being elected to
serve for a three-year term. Our classified board of directors has three classes of directors – Class I directors, Class
II directors and Class III directors. The Class I director has a term of which expires in 2020, the Class II director has a term
which expires in 2018, and the Class III director has a term which expires in 2019. Directors are elected for a term of three
years. Since we did not have an annual meeting of stockholders in 2018, the Class II director continues in office until the next
meeting of stockholders.
Jon
C. Scahill, a Class I director, has been president and chief executive officer since January 2014 and a director since 2007. He
was appointed secretary in April 2014. He also served as president and chief operating officer from May 2007 to December 2013.
From December 2006 to May 2007, Mr. Scahill was founder and managing director of the Urban-Rigney Group, LLC, a private consultancy
specializing in new business/new venture development, operations optimization, and strategic analysis. Prior to launching his
consultancy business, Mr. Scahill held numerous positions in sales and marketing, technical management, and product development
in the consumer products/flexible packaging arena. Mr. Scahill holds a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Rochester,
an MBA in finance, strategy and operations from Rochester’s Simon Graduate School of Business and a JD from Pace Law School. Mr.
Scahill is admitted to practice in New York, Florida and the District of Columbia, and he is a registered patent attorney admitted
to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Timothy
J. Scahill, a Class II director, has a director since October 2014 and our chief technology officer since 2007. Mr. Scahill is
also currently a managing partner of Managed Services Team LLC, an IT services provider. Prior to Managed Services Team, he was
president of Layer 8 Group, Inc. from August 2005 to December 2012, at which time Layer 8 merged with Structured Technologies
Inc. to form Managed Services Team LLC. In his roles he has taken the responsibility for business strategy, acquisition, execution,
as well as financial management. His entrepreneurial acumen and proven record of successful management with sole discretionary
responsibility, demonstrate the scope of his capability and his value to delivering results. He serves on the boards of the Upstate
New York Technology Council, is an investor in Greater Rochester Enterprise, Pariemus Rochester and also serves on the Corporate
Advisory Board for Habitat for Humanity. He is a member of Greater Rochester Enterprise and CEO Roundtable Chair.
Dr.
William Ryall Carroll, a Class III director, has been a director since October 2014. Dr. Carroll has been associate professor
and chairman of the marketing department at St. John’s University College of Business since July 2014. From September 2008
until June 2014, Dr. Carroll was an assistant professor in the marketing department of St. John’s University College of
Business. Dr. Carroll is founder, chief executive officer and owner of Raiserve Inc., a web-based platform for monetizing non-profit
programmatic work in the area of service formed in October 2014. Dr. Carroll’s research focuses on consumer behavior and
behavioral decision theory. Dr. Carroll’s work has been published in top academic journals including the Journal of Advertising,
Marketing Letters, as well in books such as Psycholinguistic Phenomena in Marketing Communications. In addition to his research
Dr. Carroll has taught Marketing at the executive, graduate and undergraduate level across in the United States, Europe and Asia.
Prior to pursuing his academic career, Dr. Carroll held various marketing positions at NOP Worldwide Marketing Research Company
and Ralston Purina Company. Dr. Carroll earned his BA in Economics from the University of Rochester, his MS in Marketing Research
from the University of Texas in Arlington, and his PhD from City University of New York – Baruch College.
Timothy
J. Scahill and Jon C. Scahill are first cousins.
Code
of Ethics
We
have not yet adopted a code of ethics that applies to our principal executive officers, principal financial officer, principal
accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, since we have been focusing our efforts on developing
our business. We expect to adopt a code as we develop our business.
Committees
of the Board of Directors
We
do not have any committees of our board of directors.
Executive
Compensation
The
following summary compensation table sets forth information concerning compensation for services rendered in all capacities during
the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, earned by or paid to our executive officers.
Name and
Principal
Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
|
|
|
Bonus
Awards
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
|
|
|
Option/
Warrant
Awards
|
|
|
Non-
Equity Plan
Compensation
|
|
|
Non-
Qualified
Deferred
Earnings
|
|
|
All Other
Compensation
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Jon Scahill,
|
|
2018
|
|
$
|
300,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
300,000
|
|
CEO President
|
|
2017
|
|
|
300,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
66,000
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
366,000
|
|
1
|
Represents
the value of 60,000,000 shares granted to Mr. Scahill in 2017.
|
Employment
Agreement
Pursuant
to the restated employment agreement, dated November 30, 2014, we agreed to employ Jon C. Scahill as president and chief executive
officer for a term of three years, commencing January 1, 2014, and continuing on a year-to-year basis unless terminated by either
party on not less than 90 days’ notice prior to the expiration of the initial term or any one-year extension. The agreement
provides for an annual salary of $252,000, which may be increased, but not decreased, by the board or the compensation committee.
In March 2016, the board of directors increased Mr. Scahill’s annual salary to $300,000, effective January 1, 2016. Mr.
Scahill is entitled to a bonus if we meet or exceed performance criteria established by the compensation committee. In August
2016, the board of directors approved annual bonus compensation to Mr. Scahill equal to 30% of the amount by which our consolidated
income before income taxes exceeds $500,000, but, if we are subject to the limitation on deductibility of executive compensation
pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, the bonus cannot exceed the amount which would be deductible pursuant
to Section 162(m). Mr. Scahill is also eligible to participate in any executive incentive plans which we may adopt. Pursuant to
the agreement, we issued to Mr. Scahill warrants to purchase 60,000,000 shares, representing the warrants that had been previously
covered in his prior employment agreement but which had never been issued, and we issued to Mr. Scahill a restricted stock grant
for 30,000,000 shares which vested on January 15, 2015. In the event that we terminate Mr. Scahill’s employment other than
for cause or as a result of his death or disability, we will pay him severance equal to his salary for the balance of the term
and, if he received a bonus for the previous year, an amount equal to that bonus, as well as continuation of his insurance benefits.
Mr. Scahill also waived accrued compensation of $1,167,705, representing his accrued salary for periods prior to January 1, 2014.
The restated employment agreement also includes mutual general releases between Mr. Scahill and us. In March 2016, the board of
directors permitted Mr. Scahill to devote a portion of his time on a part-time basis as a contract partner or counsel for a New
York City law firm as long as such activities did not interfere with his duties as our president and chief executive officer.
Since March 1, 2017, Mr. Scahill no longer performs services at the law firm.
Pension
Benefits
We
currently have no plans that provide for payments or other benefits at, following, or in connection with retirement of our officers.
2017
Equity Incentive Plan
On
November 10, 2017, the board of directors adopted the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan pursuant to which 150,000,000 shares of common
stock may be issued. Set forth below is a summary of the plan, as amended, but this summary is qualified in its entirety by reference
to the full text of the plan, a copy of which is included as an exhibit to this prospectus.
The
2017 plan provides for the grant of non-qualified options, stock grants and other equity-based incentives to employees, including
officers, directors and consultants.
In
November 2017, the board of directors granted 60,000,000 shares to Jon C. Scahill and 5,000,000 shares to each of Timothy J. Scahill
and Dr. William Ryall Carroll. All shares were fully vested on issuance.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
There
were no outstanding equity awards granted to and held by the officers as of December 31, 2018.
Directors’
Compensation
We
do not have any agreements or formal plan for compensating our directors for their service in their capacity as directors, although
our board has, and may in the future, award stock grants or options to purchase shares of common stock to our directors.
The
following table provides information concerning the compensation of each member of our board of directors whose compensation is
not included in the Summary Compensation Table for his services as a director for 2018.
Name
|
|
Fees
Earned
or Paid in
Cash
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Timothy
J. Scahill
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Dr.
William Ryall Carroll
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
PRINCIPAL
STOCKHOLDERS
The
following table provides information as to shares of common stock beneficially owned as of July 9, 2019, by:
|
●
|
Each
director;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
Each
current officer named in the summary compensation table;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
Each
person owning of record or known by us, based on information provided to us by the persons named below, at least 5% of our
common stock; and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
All
directors and officers as a group.
|
For
purposes of the following table, “beneficial ownership” means the sole or shared power to vote, or to direct the voting
of, a security, or sole or shared investment power with respect to a security, or any combination thereof, and the right to acquire
such power (for example, through the exercise of warrants granted by us) within 60 days of July 9, 2019.
Name and Address (1) of Beneficial Owner
|
|
Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership
|
|
|
% of Class
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jon C. Scahill
|
|
|
91,000,000
|
|
|
|
23.8
|
%
|
Andrew C. Fitton(2)
515 Congress Avenue, Suite 1850
Austin, TX 78701
|
|
|
85,200,000
|
|
|
|
22.2
|
%
|
Intelligent Partners, LLC (3)
515 Congress Avenue, Suite 1850
Austin, TX 78701
|
|
|
50,000,000
|
|
|
|
13.1
|
%
|
Michael R. Carper (4)
515 Congress Avenue, Suite 1850
Austin, TX 78701
|
|
|
65,000,000
|
|
|
|
17.0
|
%
|
Tomas Arce
3463 State Street
Suite 327
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
|
|
|
25,700,000
|
|
|
|
6.7
|
%
|
Dr. William Ryall Carroll
|
|
|
5,484,633
|
|
|
|
1.4
|
%
|
Timothy J. Scahill
|
|
|
5,105,000
|
|
|
|
1.3
|
%
|
All officers and directors as a group (three individuals)
|
|
|
101,589,633
|
|
|
|
26.5
|
%
|
(1)
|
The
address of Mr. Jon C. Scahill, Dr. Carroll and Mr. Timothy J. Scahill is c/o Quest Patent Research Corporation, 411 Theodore
Fremd Ave., Suite 206S, Rye, New York 10580-1411.
|
(2)
|
Represents
(a) 35,000,000 shares owned by Mr. Fitton, (b) 200,000 owned by Tele Tech Investments Limited, with respect to which Mr. Fitton
has sole power to vote and dispose of the shares, and (c) 50,000,000 shares issuable upon exercise of an option held by Intelligent
Partners.
|
(3)
|
Represents
50,000,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options held by Intelligent Partners. Andrew C. Fitton and Michael
R. Carper, as the members of Intelligent Partners, have the right to vote and dispose of the shares owned by Intelligent Partners.
The option, which was granted to United Wireless pursuant to the securities purchase agreement with United Wireless, was transferred
by United Wireless to Intelligent Partners, which is an affiliate of United Wireless.
|
(4)
|
Represents
(a) 15,000,000 shares owned by Mr. Carper and (b) 50,000,000 shares issuable upon exercise of an option held by Intelligent
Partners.
|
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
As
a result of the sale to United Wireless of 50,000,000 shares of common stock, representing 13.0% of our common stock and its right
to name a director, United Wireless is a related party as of March 31, 2019. United Wireless had no relationship with us prior
to the closing of the securities purchase agreement and related agreements in October 2015. United Wireless transferred its shares
to its principals, Andrew C. Fitton and Michael R. Carper, it transferred its option, the notes and its remaining rights under
the agreements to Intelligent Partners LLC, of which Mr. Fitton and Mr. Carper are the members. See “Item 1. Business –
Agreements with United Wireless” for information concerning our agreements with United Wireless and obligations to Intelligent
Partners as transferee of the notes and assignee of the rights and obligations under the agreements with United Wireless.
Managed
Services Team LLC, an entity for which Timothy Scahill, our chief technology officer and a director, is a managing partner, provides
information technology services to us. We are obligated to pay for these services at usual and customary rates. In 2018, the cost
of these services was approximately $794.
DESCRIPTION
OF CAPITAL STOCK
Our
authorized capital stock consists of 10,000,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.00003 per share, and 10,000,000 shares
of preferred stock, par value $0.00003 per share. Holders of our common stock are entitled to equal voting rights, consisting
of one vote per share on all matters submitted to a stockholder vote. Holders of common stock do not have cumulative voting rights.
Therefore, holders of a majority of the shares of common stock voting for the election of directors can elect all of the directors.
The presence, in person or by proxy duly authorized, of the holders of one-third of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to
vote are necessary to constitute a quorum at any meeting of our stockholders. A vote by the holders of a majority of our outstanding
shares is required to effectuate certain fundamental corporate changes such as liquidation, merger or an amendment to our articles
of incorporation. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, either voluntarily or involuntarily,
each outstanding share of the common stock is entitled to share equally in our assets.
Holders
of our common stock have no pre-emptive rights, no conversion rights and there are no redemption provisions applicable to our
common stock. They are entitled to receive dividends when and as declared by our board of directors, out of funds legally available
therefore. We have not paid cash dividends in the past and do not expect to pay any within the foreseeable future.
Preferred
Stock
Our
articles of incorporation give our board of directors the power to issue shares of preferred stock in one or more series without
stockholder approval. Our board of directors has the discretion to determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions,
including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, of each series
of preferred stock. The purpose of authorizing our board of directors to issue preferred stock and determine its rights and preferences
is to eliminate delays associated with a stockholder vote on specific issuances. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing
desirable flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it
more difficult for a third party to acquire, or could discourage a third party from acquiring, a majority of our outstanding voting
stock. The rights granted to the holders of a series of preferred stock could restrict payment of dividends on the common stock,
dilute the voting power of the common stock, impair the liquidation rights of the holders of the common stock and delay or prevent
a change in control without further action by stockholders. We have no present plans to issue any shares of preferred stock, and
our agreements with United Wireless prohibit us from issuing preferred stock without its consent.
Other
Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation
As
described under “Management – Executive Officers and Directors” our board of directors is a classified board,
with three classes of directors and directors being elected for a term of three years.
Our
certificate of incorporation provides that we shall indemnify our officers and directors and others whom we are permitted to indemnify
to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law gives a corporation broad
power to indemnify directors, officers and other persons. Our by-laws include a provision which provides that we will indemnify
our officers and directors to the maximum extent permitted by law, and have authorization provisions which conform with the provisions
of Section 145. We also have indemnification agreements with our directors which are consistent with our certificate of incorporation
and bylaws.
Our
certificate of incorporation provides that no director shall be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages
for any breach of fiduciary duty subject to certain exceptions as provided in the Delaware General Corporation Law, and, if the
General Corporation Law is amended to authorize further elimination or limitation of the liability of directors, these additional
provisions shall apply to our directors.
Our
certificate of incorporation provides that where, in connection with a compromise or arrangement between us and any class of creditors
or stockholders, if a majority in number and three-fourth in value of the creditors or stockholders or class of creditors or stockholders,
as the case may be, approve a compromise or arrangement which is sanctioned by the court, it is binding on all of the creditors
or class of creditors or stockholders or class of stockholders.
Delaware
Law Provisions Relating to Business Combinations with Related Persons
We
are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law statute. Section 203 prohibits a publicly-held
Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a
period of three years after the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed
manner. A “business combination” includes mergers, asset sales and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit
to the interested stockholder. Subject to certain exceptions, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together
with affiliates and associates, owns, or within the prior three years did own, 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock.
SEC
Policy on Indemnification for Securities Act liabilities
Insofar
as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons
controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Penny-Stock
Rules
The
SEC has adopted regulations which generally define a “penny stock” to be any equity security that has a market price
(as defined) of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions, and is not listed on the a registered stock exchange
or the Nasdaq Stock Market (although the $5.00 per share requirement may apply to Nasdaq listed securities) or has net tangible
assets in excess of $2,000,000, if the issuer has been in continuous operation for at least three years, or $5,000,000, if the
issuer has been in continuous operation for less than three years, or has average revenue of at least $6,000,000 for the last
three years.
As
a result, our common stock may be subject to rules that impose additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell
such securities to persons other than established customers and accredited investors (generally those with assets in excess of
$1,000,000 or annual income exceeding $200,000, or $300,000 together with their spouse). For transactions covered by these rules,
the broker-dealer must make a special suitability determination for the purchase of such securities and have received the purchaser’s
written consent to the transaction prior to the purchase. Additionally, for any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt,
the rules require the delivery, prior to the transaction, of a risk disclosure document mandated by the SEC relating to the penny
stock market. The broker-dealer must also disclose the commission payable to both the broker-dealer and the registered representative,
current quotations for the securities and, if the broker-dealer is the sole market maker, the broker-dealer must disclose this
fact and the broker-dealer’s presumed control over the market. Finally, monthly statements must be sent disclosing recent
price information for the penny stock held in the account and information on the limited market in penny stocks. Consequently,
the “penny stock” rules may restrict the ability of broker-dealers to sell our securities and may affect your ability
to sell our securities in the secondary market and the price at which you can sell our common stock.
According
to the SEC, the market for penny stocks has suffered in recent years from patterns of fraud and abuse. Such patterns include:
|
●
|
Control
of the market for the security by one or a few broker-dealers that are often related to the promoter or issuer;
|
|
●
|
Manipulation
of prices through prearranged matching of purchases and sales and false and misleading press releases;
|
|
●
|
“Boiler-room”
practices involving high pressure sales tactics and unrealistic price projections by inexperienced sales persons;
|
|
●
|
Excessive
and undisclosed bid-ask differentials and markups by selling broker-dealers; and
|
The
wholesale dumping of the same securities by promoters and broker-dealers after prices have been manipulated to a desired level,
along with the inevitable collapse of those prices with consequent losses to investors.
Purchasers
of penny stocks may have certain legal remedies available to them in the event the obligations of the broker-dealer from whom
the penny stock was purchased violates or fails to comply with the above obligations or in the event that other state or federal
securities laws are violated in connection with the purchase and sale of such securities. Such rights include the right to rescind
the purchase of such securities and recover the purchase price paid for them.
Since
our stock is a “penny stock” we do not have the safe harbor protection under federal securities laws with respect
to forward-looking statements.
Transfer
Agent
The
transfer agent for the common stock is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, One State Street, 30th floor, New York,
New York 10004-1561.
LEGAL
MATTERS
The
validity of the common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, New York, New York.
EXPERTS
Our
consolidated financial statements included in this prospectus as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and for the years then ended have
been included in reliance on the report of MaloneBailey, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority
of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We
have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act of 1933 with
respect to the common stock offered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the
registration statement and the exhibits to the registration statement. For further information with respect to our company and
our common stock offered hereby, reference is made to the registration statement and the exhibits filed as part of the registration
statement. We file periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including annual reports which include our audited
financial statements and quarterly reports although we are not currently required to make such filings pursuant to the Securities
Exchange Act. We also plan to include our SEC filings on our website. The registration statement, including exhibits thereto,
and all of our periodic reports may be inspected without charge at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s principal office
in Washington, DC, and copies of all or any part thereof may be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. You may obtain additional information regarding the operation of
the Public Reference Section by calling the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. The Securities and Exchange
Commission also maintains a website which provides online access to reports, registration statements and other information regarding
registrants that file electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission at the address: http://www.sec.gov. Our SEC filings
are also available on our website at http://qprc.com/InvestorRelations/SECFilings.aspx.
INDEX
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
QUEST
PATENT RESEARCH CORPORATION
QUEST
PATENT RESEARCH CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
|
|
March 31,
2019
|
|
|
December 31,
2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
120,775
|
|
|
$
|
166,911
|
|
Accounts receivable
|
|
|
4,865
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Other current assets
|
|
|
1,317
|
|
|
|
2,343
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
126,957
|
|
|
|
169,254
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patents, net of accumulated amortization of $1,198,657 and $1,088,280, respectively
|
|
|
3,173,459
|
|
|
|
2,045,618
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
3,300,416
|
|
|
$
|
2,214,872
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
|
$
|
666,011
|
|
|
$
|
338,748
|
|
Loans payable – third party
|
|
|
163,000
|
|
|
|
163,000
|
|
Purchase price of patents, current portion
|
|
|
275,000
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
Loan payable – related party, net of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs of $338,635 and $379,948, respectively
|
|
|
4,334,175
|
|
|
|
4,292,862
|
|
Accrued interest – loan payable related party
|
|
|
115,220
|
|
|
|
117,780
|
|
Accrued interest - loans payable third party
|
|
|
285,589
|
|
|
|
281,514
|
|
Derivative liability
|
|
|
705,000
|
|
|
|
540,000
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
6,543,995
|
|
|
|
5,833,904
|
|
Non-current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contingent funding liabilities
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
Purchase price of patents, net of unamortized discount of $414,650 and $105,171, respectively
|
|
|
1,685,350
|
|
|
|
769,829
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
8,379,345
|
|
|
|
6,753,733
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’ deficit:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock – par value $.00003 per share – authorized 10,000,000 Shares – no shares issued and outstanding
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Common stock, par value $0.00003 per share; authorized 10,000,000,000 shares and 10,000,000,000 at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively; shares issued and outstanding 383,038,334 at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively
|
|
|
11,491
|
|
|
|
11,491
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
14,107,782
|
|
|
|
14,107,782
|
|
Accumulated deficit
|
|
|
(19,199,701
|
)
|
|
|
(18,659,892
|
)
|
Total Quest Patent Research Corporation deficit
|
|
|
(5,080,428
|
)
|
|
|
(4,540,619
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-controlling interest in subsidiary
|
|
|
1,499
|
|
|
|
1,758
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total stockholders’ deficit
|
|
|
(5,078,929
|
)
|
|
|
(4,538,861
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit
|
|
$
|
3,300,416
|
|
|
$
|
2,214,872
|
|
See
accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.
QUEST
PATENT RESEARCH CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
|
For the
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Licensed packaging sales
|
|
$
|
4,865
|
|
|
$
|
8,318
|
|
Patent licensing fees
|
|
|
370,000
|
|
|
|
849,000
|
|
|
|
|
374,865
|
|
|
|
857,318
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of sales
|
|
|
977
|
|
|
|
1,465
|
|
Litigation and licensing expenses
|
|
|
265,044
|
|
|
|
799,100
|
|
Management support services
|
|
|
340
|
|
|
|
6,484
|
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses
|
|
|
320,437
|
|
|
|
293,986
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
586,798
|
|
|
|
1,101,035
|
|
Loss from operations
|
|
|
(211,933
|
)
|
|
|
(243,717
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Income and (expense)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Loss) gain on derivative
|
|
|
(165,000
|
)
|
|
|
(10,000
|
)
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(162,910
|
)
|
|
|
(150,075
|
)
|
Total Other Income and (expenses)
|
|
|
(327,910
|
)
|
|
|
(160,075
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss before income tax
|
|
|
(539,843
|
)
|
|
|
(403,792
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax
|
|
|
(225
|
)
|
|
|
(50,125
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
(540,068
|
)
|
|
|
(453,917
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiaries
|
|
|
259
|
|
|
|
594
|
|
Net loss attributable to Quest Patent Research Corporation
|
|
$
|
(539,809
|
)
|
|
$
|
(453,323
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss per share – basic and diluted
|
|
$
|
(0.00
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.00
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic and diluted
|
|
|
383,038,334
|
|
|
|
383,038,334
|
|
See
accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.
QUEST
PATENT RESEARCH CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
|
|
Common Stock
|
|
|
Additional Paid-in
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-
controlling Interest in
|
|
|
Total Stockholders’
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Capital
|
|
|
Deficit
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Deficit
|
|
Balances as of December 31, 2017
|
|
|
383,038,334
|
|
|
|
11,491
|
|
|
|
14,107,782
|
|
|
|
(16,549,493
|
)
|
|
|
3,219
|
|
|
|
(2,427,001
|
)
|
Net loss
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(453,323
|
)
|
|
|
(594
|
)
|
|
|
(453,917
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balances as of March 31, 2018
|
|
|
383,038,334
|
|
|
$
|
11,491
|
|
|
$
|
14,107,782
|
|
|
$
|
(17,002,816
|
)
|
|
$
|
2,625
|
|
|
$
|
(2,880,918
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Stock
|
|
|
Additional Paid-in
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-
controlling Interest in
|
|
|
Total Stockholders’
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Capital
|
|
|
Deficit
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Deficit
|
|
Balances as of December 31, 2018
|
|
|
383,038,334
|
|
|
|
11,491
|
|
|
|
14,107,782
|
|
|
|
(18,659,892
|
)
|
|
|
1,758
|
|
|
|
(4,538,861
|
)
|
Net loss
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(539,809
|
)
|
|
|
(259
|
)
|
|
|
(540,068
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balances as of March 31, 2019
|
|
|
383,038,334
|
|
|
$
|
11,491
|
|
|
$
|
14,107,782
|
|
|
$
|
(19,199,701
|
)
|
|
$
|
1,499
|
|
|
$
|
(5,078,929
|
)
|
See
accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.
QUEST
PATENT RESEARCH CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
|
|
For the
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(540,068
|
)
|
|
$
|
(453,917
|
)
|
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization of debt discount
|
|
|
68,615
|
|
|
|
46,698
|
|
Loss on derivative liability
|
|
|
165,000
|
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
110,378
|
|
|
|
124,430
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable
|
|
|
(4,865
|
)
|
|
|
(5,500
|
)
|
Accrued interest – loans payable related party
|
|
|
(27,560
|
)
|
|
|
99,303
|
|
Accrued interest – loans payable third party
|
|
|
4,075
|
|
|
|
4,075
|
|
Other current assets
|
|
|
1,026
|
|
|
|
1,026
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
|
|
|
327,263
|
|
|
|
44,847
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided (used) in operating activities
|
|
|
103,864
|
|
|
|
(129,038
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase of patents
|
|
|
(75,000
|
)
|
|
|
(20,000
|
)
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(75,000
|
)
|
|
|
(20,000
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Repayment of purchase price of patents
|
|
|
(75,000
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
Net cash used in financing activities
|
|
|
(75,000
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
(46,136
|
)
|
|
|
(149,038
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
|
|
166,911
|
|
|
|
165,546
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
|
|
$
|
120,775
|
|
|
$
|
16,508
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-cash investing and financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable for patent purchase, net of imputed interest of $336,781 and $0
|
|
|
1,238,219
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid during the year for:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income taxes including foreign taxing authorities withheld taxes of $0 and $49,900 during the periods ended March 31, 2019, and 2018 respectively.
|
|
|
225
|
|
|
|
50,125
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
117,780
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
See
accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.
QUEST
PATENT RESEARCH CORPORATION
NOTES
TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MARCH 31, 2019
NOTE
1 – DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The
Company is a Delaware corporation, incorporated on July 17, 1987 and has been engaged in the intellectual property monetization
business since 2008.
As
used herein, the “Company” refers to Quest Patent Research Corporation and its wholly and majority-owned and controlled
operating subsidiaries unless the context indicates otherwise. All intellectual property acquisition, development, licensing and
enforcement activities are conducted by the Company’s wholly and majority-owned and controlled operating subsidiaries.
The
accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the US (GAAP) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation
S-X. Accordingly, these interim financial statements do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete
financial statements. All adjustments (consisting of normal recurring items) necessary to present fairly the Company’s consolidated
financial position have been included. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated
financial statements and accompanying notes included in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2018. Operating
results for the interim periods presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other
interim period or for the entire year. Reclassifications have been made to conform with the current year presentation.
NOTE
2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principles
of consolidation and financial statement presentation
The
consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“US GAAP”)
and present the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries as of March
31, 2019.
The
consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of:
|
Quest
Patent Research Corporation (“The Company”)
|
|
Quest
Licensing Corporation (NY) (wholly owned)
|
|
Quest
Licensing Corporation (DE) (wholly owned)
|
|
Quest
Packaging Solutions Corporation (90% owned)
|
|
Quest
Nettech Corporation (wholly owned)
|
|
Semcon
IP, Inc. (wholly owned)
|
|
Mariner
IC, Inc. (wholly owned)
|
|
IC
Kinetics, Inc. (wholly owned)
|
|
CXT
Systems, Inc. (wholly owned)
|
|
Photonic
Imaging Solutions Inc. (wholly owned)
|
|
M-RED
Inc. (wholly owned)
|
The
operations of Wynn Technologies Inc. are not included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements as there are significant
contingencies related to its control of Wynn Technologies Inc. The sole asset of Wynn Technologies Inc. is US Patent No. RE38,137E.
Wynn Technologies Inc. cannot transfer, assign, sell, hypothecate or otherwise encumber US Patent No. RE38,173E without the express
written consent of Sol Li, owner of 35% of Wynn Technologies Inc., unless, as of the date of such transfer, assignment, sale,
hypothecation or other encumbrance, Mr. Li has received a total of at least $250,000.
The
Company accounts for its 65% interest in Wynn Technologies, Inc. under the equity method whereby the investment accounts are increased
for contributions by the Company plus its 60% share of income pursuant to the contractual agreement which provides that Sol Li
retains 40% of the income, and reduced for distributions and its 60% share of losses incurred, respectively, with the restriction
whereby the account balances cannot go below zero.
Significant
intercompany transaction and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use
of Estimates
In
preparing financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management
is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and revenue and expenses during the reporting period.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Intangible
Assets
Intangible
assets consist of patents which are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives or statutory lives
whichever is shorter and are reviewed for impairment upon any triggering event that may give rise to the assets ultimate recoverability
as prescribed under the guidance related to impairment of long-lived assets. Costs incurred to acquire patents, including legal
costs, are also capitalized as long-lived assets and amortized on a straight-line basis with the associated patent.
Patents
include the cost of patents or patent rights (hereinafter, collectively “patents”) acquired from third-parties or
acquired in connection with business combinations. Patent acquisition costs are amortized utilizing the straight-line
method over their remaining economic useful lives, ranging from one to ten years. Certain patent application and prosecution costs
incurred to secure additional patent claims that, based on management’s estimates are deemed to be recoverable, are capitalized
and amortized over the remaining estimated economic useful life of the related patent portfolio.
Derivative
Financial Instruments
The
Company evaluates the embedded conversion feature within its convertible debt instruments under ASC 815-15 and ASC 815-40 to determine
if the conversion feature meets the definition of a liability and, if so, whether to bifurcate the conversion feature and account
for it as a separate derivative liability. For derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the derivative
instrument is initially recorded at its fair value and is then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value
reported in the statements of operations. For stock-based derivative financial instruments, the Company uses a Black Scholes model,
in accordance with ASC 815-15 “Derivative and Hedging” to value the derivative instruments at inception and on subsequent
valuation dates. The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities
or as equity, is evaluated at the end of each reporting period. Derivative instrument liabilities are classified in the balance
sheet as current or non-current based on whether net-cash settlement of the derivative instrument could be required within 12
months after the balance sheet date.
Fair
value of financial instruments
Fair
value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in
the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on
the measurement date. A fair value hierarchy is used which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize
the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. See Note 4 for information about derivative liabilities.
The
fair value hierarchy based on the three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value are as follows:
Level
1
– Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level
2
– Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; or other inputs
that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level
3
– Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are financial instruments whose
values are determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments
for which the determination of fair value requires significant judgment or estimation.
The
carrying value reflected in the consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable
and accrued expenses and short-term borrowings approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these items.
Income
Tax
The
Company records revenues on a gross basis, before deduction for income taxes. The Company incurred foreign income tax expenses
of approximately $0 and $49,900 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Inventor/Former
Owner Royalties and Contingent Legal/Litigation Finance Expenses
In
connection with the investment in certain patents and patent rights, certain of the Company’s operating subsidiaries may
execute related agreements which grant to the inventors and/or former owners of the respective patents or patent rights, the right
to receive a percentage of future net revenues (as defined in the respective agreements) generated as a result of licensing and
otherwise enforcing the respective patents or patent portfolios.
The
Company’s operating subsidiaries may retain the services of law firms that specialize in patent licensing and enforcement
and patent law in connection with their licensing and enforcement activities. These law firms may be retained on a contingent
fee basis whereby such law firms are paid a percentage of any negotiated fees, settlements or judgments awarded.
The
Company’s operating subsidiaries may engage with funding sources that provide financing for patent licensing and enforcement. These
litigation finance firms may be engaged on a non-recourse basis whereby such litigation finance firms are paid a percentage of
any negotiated fees, settlements or judgments awarded in exchange for providing funding for legal fees and out of pocket expenses
incurred as a result of the licensing and enforcement activities.
The
economic terms of the inventor agreements, operating agreements, contingent legal fee arrangements and litigation financing agreements
associated with the patent portfolios owned or controlled by the Company’s operating subsidiaries, if any, including royalty
rates, contingent fee rates and other terms, vary across the patent portfolios owned or controlled by such operating subsidiaries. Inventor/former
owner royalties, payments to non-controlling interests, contingent legal fees expenses and litigation finance expenses fluctuate
period to period, based on the amount of revenues recognized each period, the terms and conditions of revenue agreements executed
each period and the mix of specific patent portfolios with varying economic terms and obligations generating revenues each period.
Inventor/former owner royalties, contingent legal fees expenses and litigation finance expenses will continue to fluctuate and
may continue to vary significantly period to period, based primarily on these factors.
Revenue
Recognition
The
Company recognizes revenue in accordance with ASC Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”. Revenue
is recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to customers at an amount that reflects the consideration
to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. Under Topic 606, revenue is recognized
when there is a contract which has commercial substance which is approved by both parties and identifies the rights of the parties
and the payment terms. The Company adopted Topic 606 as of January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective transition method,
with no impact on the consolidated financial position or results of operations.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
The
Company adopted Topic 842 “Leases” as of January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective transition method with no
impact on the consolidated financial position or results of operations.
Management
does not believe that there are any recently issued, but not effective, accounting standards which, if currently adopted, would
have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
Going
Concern
As
shown in the accompanying financial statements, the Company has an accumulated deficit of approximately $19,200,000 and negative
working capital of approximately $6,417,000 as of March 31, 2019. Because of the Company’s continuing losses, its working
capital deficiency, the uncertainty of future revenue, the Company’s low stock price and the absence of a trading market
in its common stock, the ability of the Company to raise funds in equity market or from lenders is severely impaired. These conditions
raise substantial doubt as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Although the Company may seek to raise
funds and to obtain third party funding for litigation to enforce its intellectual property rights, the availability of such funds
is uncertain. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
NOTE
3 – SHORT-TERM DEBT AND LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
The
following table shows the Company’s short-term and long-term debt at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
Short-term debt:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loans payable – third party
|
|
$
|
163,000
|
|
|
$
|
163,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loan payable – related party
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross
|
|
|
4,672,810
|
|
|
|
4,672,810
|
|
Accrued Interest
|
|
|
115,220
|
|
|
|
117,780
|
|
Unamortized discount
|
|
|
(338,635
|
)
|
|
|
(379,948
|
)
|
Net loans payable – related party
|
|
$
|
4,449,395
|
|
|
$
|
4,410,642
|
|
Long-term liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase price of patents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross
|
|
|
2,100,000
|
|
|
|
875,000
|
|
Unamortized discount
|
|
|
(414,650
|
)
|
|
|
(105,171
|
)
|
Net purchase price of patents – long-term
|
|
$
|
1,685,350
|
|
|
$
|
769,829
|
|
Contingent funding liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
Net contingent funding liabilities
|
|
$
|
150,000
|
|
|
$
|
150,000
|
|
The
loan payable – third party is a demand loan made by former officers and directors, who are unrelated third parties at March
31, 2019, and December 31, 2018, in the amount of $163,000. The loans are payable on demand plus accrued interest at 10% per annum. These
third parties are also stockholders, but their stockholdings are not significant.
The
loan payable – related party at March 31, 2019 represents the principal amount of the Company’s 10% note to Intelligent
Partners, LLC (“Intelligent Partners”) as transferee of the notes issued to United Wireless Holdings, Inc. (“United
Wireless”), in the amount of $4,672,810 pursuant to securities purchase agreement dated October 22, 2015 between the Company
and United Wireless, as more fully described in the Company’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31,
2018. On March 16, 2017, the Company received a letter from counsel to United Wireless claiming that the Company is in violation
of the requirements of the registration rights agreement dated October 22, 2015 on the grounds that the Company did not update
the registration statement in November 2016. The Company disputed the claim that it was in breach of the registration rights agreement.
On June 12, 2017, the Company entered into a standstill agreement with United Wireless pursuant to which the Company agreed (i)
to increase its authorized common stock to 10,000,000,000 shares, (ii) to file by June 30, 2017, a post-effective amendment to
the registration statement covering the sale of the shares of common stock initially issued to United Wireless pursuant to the
securities purchase agreement and the shares of common stock issuable upon the option granted to United Wireless pursuant to the
securities purchase agreement, (iii) if the existing warrant held by the Company’s chief executive officer is not exercised
prior to its expiration date, any re-issuance will not have an exercise price less than the current exercise price and the existing
warrants will not be amended to lower the exercise price, and (iv) United Wireless no longer has any obligation to purchase any
note pursuant to the securities purchase agreement other than the $1,000,000 note related to the final payment to Intellectual
Ventures which was made in November 2017, except in connection with the potential acquisition by the Company of patent rights
which triggered a $25,000 working capital loan in connection with the acquisition and the Company can require United Wireless
to make $125,000 working capital loans to the Company, at the Company’s sole discretion, on December 31, 2017, March 31,
2018 and June 30, 2018 pursuant to securities purchase agreement dated October 22, 2015 more fully described in the Company’s
Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2017 and, in such event, United Wireless would have a 7½% net
proceeds percentage interest in the net proceeds from such patent. On June 15, 2017, the Company amended its certificate of incorporation
to increase its authorized common stock to 10,000,000,000 shares. On June 30, 2017, the Company filed a post-effective amendment
to the registration statement covering the sale of the shares of common stock initially issued to United Wireless pursuant to
the securities purchase agreement and the shares of common stock issuable upon the option granted to United Wireless pursuant
to the securities purchase agreement. The registration statement was declared effective on July 6, 2017. The Company issued to
United Wireless a 10% promissory note due September 30, 2020 in the principal amount of $25,000 pursuant to the standstill agreement,
for which the Company received $25,000, which was used to make the $25,000 advance to Intellectual Ventures Assets 34 LLC and
Intellectual Ventures Assets 37 LLC (“IV 34/37”) as part of acquisition of intellectual property from IV 34/37. In
connection with the loan, the Company entered into a monetization agreement with United Wireless pursuant to which the Company
agreed to pay United Wireless 7.5% of the net monetization proceeds from the patents acquired by CXT from IV 34/37. This obligation
was recorded as an expense related to obtaining the standstill agreement and is reflected in interest expenses. CXT’s obligations
under the monetization proceeds agreement are secured by a security interest in the proceeds (from litigation or otherwise) from
the CXT Portfolio. The security interest in the proceeds from the CXT Portfolio is junior to the security interest held by IV
34/37 in the CXT Portfolio and proceeds thereof. The notes payable to Intelligent Partners, as transferee of United Wireless,
have been classified as a current liability as of March 31, 2019.
Interest
on all notes issued pursuant to the securities purchase agreement, accrued through September 30, 2018, with accrued interest being
added to principal on September 30, 2016, 2017 and 2018. On September 30, 2018, approximately $395,459 of accrued interest was
added to principal. Since September 30, 2018, the Company has been required to pay interest quarterly. For the three months ended
March 31, 2019, the Company paid approximately $117,780 in interest.
Because
of its right to elect a director of the Company, United Wireless is treated as a related party. Prior to the securities purchase
agreement with United Wireless, the Company had no relationship with United Wireless.
Long
term liabilities
The
purchase price of patents at March 31, 2019 represents:
|
●
|
The
non-current portion of minimum payments due under the agreement between CXT Systems, Inc. (“CXT”), a wholly owned
subsidiary, and IV 34/37 pursuant to which at closing CXT acquired by assignment all right, title, and interest in a portfolio
of fourteen United States patents, five foreign patents and six related applications (the “CXT Portfolio”). Under
the agreement, CXT will distribute 50% of net recoveries, as defined, to IV 34/37. CXT advanced $25,000 to IV 34/37 at closing,
and agreed that in the event that, on December 31, 2018, December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, cumulative distributions
to IV 34/37 total less than $100,000, $375,000 and $975,000, respectively, CXT shall pay the difference necessary to achieve
the applicable minimum payment amount within ten days after the applicable date; with any advances being credited toward future
distributions to IV 34/36. The C ompany made the payment with respect to December 31, 2018. No affiliate of CXT
has guaranteed the minimum payments. CXT’s obligations under the agreement are secured by a security interest in the
proceeds (from litigation or otherwise) from the CXT Portfolio. During the period ended March 31, 2019, the Company paid the
$75,000 liability that was classified as a short-term liability as of December 31, 2018.
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
The
non-current portion of minimum payments due under the agreement between M-RED Inc. (“M-RED”), a wholly owned subsidiary
Intellectual Ventures Assets 113 LLC and Intellectual Ventures Assets 108 LLC (“IV 113/108”) pursuant to which
M-RED paid IV 113/108 $75,000 and IV 113/108 transferred to M-RED all right, title and interest in a portfolio of sixty United
States patents and eight foreign patents (the “M-RED Portfolio”). Under the agreement, M-RED will distribute 50%
of net proceeds, as defined, to IV 113/108, as long as the Company generates revenue from the M-RED Portfolio. The agreement
with IV 113/108 provides that if, on September 30, 2020, September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2022, cumulative distributions
to IV 113/108 total less than $450,000, $975,000 and $1,575,000, respectively, M-RED shall pay the difference between such
cumulative amounts and the amount paid to IV 113/108 within ten days after the applicable date. The $75,000 advance is treated
as an advance against the first distributions of net proceeds payable to IV 113/108. No affiliate of M-RED has guaranteed
the minimum payments. M-RED’s obligations under the agreement with IV 113/108 are secured by a security interest in
the proceeds (from litigation or otherwise) from the M-RED Portfolio.
|
The
contingent funding liabilities at March 31, 2019 represents the non-current portion of our obligations under the litigation funding
agreement with a third-party litigation funder entered into in December 2018 whereby the third-party agreed to provide litigation
funding in the amount of $150,000 to the Company to enable the Company to support its structured licensing programs for the CMOS
and M-RED portfolios. Under the funding agreement, the third party receives an interest in the proceeds from the programs that
are payable to the Company, and the Company has no other obligation to the third party.
Our
relationship with the funding source meets the criteria in ASC 470-10-25 - Sales of Future Revenues or Various Other Measures
of Income (“ASC 470”), which relates to cash received from a funding source in exchange for a specified percentage
or amount of revenue or other measure of income of a particular product line, business segment, trademark, patent, or contractual
right for a defined period. Under this guidance, we recognized the fair value of our contingent obligation to the funding source,
as of the acquisition date, as long-term debt in our consolidated balance sheet. This initial fair value measurement is based
on the perspective of a market participant and includes significant unobservable inputs which are classified as Level 3 inputs
within the fair value hierarchy and are discussed further within Note 2. At each subsequent reporting period, we will measure
the long-term debt at fair value based on the discounted expected future cash flows over the life of the obligation. Our repayment
obligations are contingent upon future patent licensing fee revenues generated from the licensing programs.
Under
ASC 470, amounts recorded as debt shall be amortized under the interest method. The Company made an accounting policy election
to utilize the prospective method when there is a change in the estimated future cash flows, whereby a new effective interest
rate is determined based on the revised estimate of remaining cash flows. The new rate is the discount rate that equates the present
value of the revised estimate of remaining cash flows with the carrying amount of the debt, and it will be used to recognize interest
expense for the remaining periods. Under this method, the effective interest rate is not constant, and any change in expected
cash flows is recognized prospectively as an adjustment to the effective yield. As of March 31, 2019, the total contingent funding
liability remains $150,000 and the effective interest rate was approximately 12.8%. This rate represents the discount rate that
equates the estimated future cash flows with the fair value of the debt and is used to compute the amount of interest to be recognized
each period. Any future payments made to the funding source will decrease the long-term debt balance accordingly. For the period
ended March 31, 2019, the amortization amount is deemed immaterial.
NOTE
4 – DERIVATIVE LIABILITIES
Because
there is not a fixed conversion price, remaining compliant with the authorized share requirement under the notes to Intelligent
Partners is outside of the control of the Company. Because there is no set limit on the number of shares issuable under the notes
if the notes become convertible, absent an increase in the stock price or an increase in authorized shares, there are potentially
not enough authorized shares of common stock to satisfy the exercise of the Company’s options, thus the Company determined
that certain options qualify as derivative liabilities under ASC Topic 815. On January 22, 2016, the Company reclassified all
non-employee warrants and options as derivative liabilities and revalued them at their fair values at each balance sheet date.
Any change in fair value was recorded as other income (expense) for each reporting period at each balance sheet date.
As
of March 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018, the aggregate fair value of the outstanding derivative liability was approximately $705,000
and $540,000, respectively.
The
Company estimated the fair value of the derivative liability using the Black-Scholes option pricing model using the following
key assumptions during the period ended March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018:
|
|
Period
Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
Volatility
|
|
|
403
|
%
|
|
|
388-426
|
%
|
Risk-free interest rate
|
|
|
0.64
|
%
|
|
|
0.64
|
%
|
Expected dividends
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
%
|
Expected term
|
|
|
1.5
|
|
|
|
1.75-4.70
|
|
The
following schedule summarizes the valuation of financial instruments at fair value in the balance sheets as of March 31, 2019
and December 31, 2018:
|
|
Fair Value Measurements as of
|
|
|
|
31-Mar-19
|
|
|
31-Dec-18
|
|
|
|
Level 1
|
|
|
Level 2
|
|
|
Level 3
|
|
|
Level 1
|
|
|
Level 2
|
|
|
Level 3
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option derivative liability
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
705,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
540,000
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
705,000
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
540,000
|
|
The
following table sets forth a reconciliation of changes in the fair value of derivative liabilities classified as Level 3 in the
fair value hierarchy:
|
|
Significant Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
as of
March 31,
2019
|
|
Beginning balance
|
|
$
|
540,000
|
|
Change in fair value
|
|
|
165,000
|
|
Ending balance
|
|
$
|
705,000
|
|
NOTE
5 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
No
options were granted during three months ended March 31, 2019.
A
summary of the status of the Company’s stock options and changes is set forth below:
|
|
Number of
Options (#)
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price ($)
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (Years)
|
|
Balance - December 31, 2018
|
|
|
50,000,000
|
|
|
|
0.03
|
|
|
|
1.75
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Expired
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Cancelled
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Balance - March 31, 2019
|
|
|
50,000,000
|
|
|
|
0.03
|
|
|
|
1.5
|
|
NOTE
6 – INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Intangible
assets include patents purchased and are recorded based at their acquisition cost. Intangible assets consisted of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
amortization
period
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
(years)
|
|
Patents
|
|
$
|
5,595,000
|
|
|
$
|
4,020,000
|
|
|
|
6.50
|
|
Less: net monetization obligations
|
|
|
(509,811
|
)
|
|
|
(509,811
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Imputed interest
|
|
|
(713,073
|
)
|
|
|
(376,291
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal
|
|
|
4,372,116
|
|
|
|
3,133,898
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less: accumulated amortization
|
|
|
(1,198,657
|
)
|
|
|
(1,088,280
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Net value of intangible assets
|
|
$
|
3,173,459
|
|
|
$
|
2,045,618
|
|
|
|
6.25
|
|
Intangible
assets are comprised of patents with estimated useful lives. The intangible assets at March 31, 2019 represent:
|
●
|
patents
acquired in October 2015 for a purchase price of $3,000,000, the useful lives of the patents, at the date of purchase, was
6-10 years;
|
|
●
|
patents
acquired in July 2017 pursuant to an obligation to distribute 50% of net revenues to IV 34/37, against which $25,000 was advanced
at closing and provided that in the event that, on December 31, 2018, December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, cumulative
distributions of 50% of net revenues to IV 34/37 total less than $100,000, $375,000 and $975,000, respectively, CXT shall
pay the difference necessary to achieve the applicable minimum payment amount within ten days after the applicable date, which
payment was made with respect to December 3, 2018; with any advances being credited toward future distributions to IV 34/36;
the useful lives of the patents, at the date of acquisition, was 5-6 years;
|
|
●
|
patents
(which were fully depreciated at the date of acquisition) acquired in January 2018 pursuant to an agreement with to Intellectual
Ventures Assets 62 LLC and Intellectual Ventures Assets 71 LLC “(IV 62/71”), pursuant to which CXT has an obligation
to distribute 50% of net revenues to IV 62/71 against which CXT advanced $10,000 at closing;
|
|
●
|
patents
acquired in January 2018 by Photonic Imaging Solutions Inc. (“PIS”) from Intellectual Ventures Assets 64 LLC (“IV
64”) pursuant to which PIS is to pay IV 64 (a) 70% of the first $1,500,000 of net revenue, (b) 30% of the next $1,500,000
of net revenue and (c) 50% of net revenue in excess of $3,000,000, against which PIS advanced $10,000 at closing; and
|
|
●
|
patents
acquired in March 2019 by M-Red Inc. (“M-Red”) from Intellectual Ventures Assets 113 LLC and Intellectual Ventures
108 LLC (“IV 113/108”) pursuant to which M-Red is obligated to distribute 50% of net revenues to IV 113/108, against
which $75,000 was advanced at closing and provided that in the event that, on September 30, 2020, September 30, 2021 and September
30, 2022, cumulative distributions of 50% of net revenues to IV 113/108 total less than $450,000, $975,000 and $1,575,000,
respectively, M-Red shall pay the difference necessary to achieve the applicable minimum payment amount within ten days after
the applicable date; with any advances being credited toward future distributions to IV 113/108; the useful lives of the patents,
at the date of acquisition, was approximately nine years.
|
The
Company amortizes the costs of intangible assets over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis. Costs incurred
to acquire patents, including legal costs, are also capitalized as long-lived assets and amortized on a straight-line basis with
the associated patent. Amortization of patents is included as a selling, general and administrative expense in the accompanying
consolidated statements of operations.
The
Company assesses intangible assets for any impairment to the carrying values. As of March 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018,
management concluded that there was no impairment to the acquired assets. At March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the book value
of the Company’s intellectual property was $3,173,459 and $2,045,618, respectively.
Amortization
expense for patents comprised $110,378 and $437,720 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and the year ended December 31,
2018, respectively. Future amortization of intangible assets is as follows:
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
$
|
415,520
|
|
2020
|
|
|
553,779
|
|
2021
|
|
|
549,345
|
|
2022
|
|
|
495,742
|
|
2023 and thereafter
|
|
|
1,159,073
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
3,173,459
|
|
Pursuant
to the securities purchase agreement dated October 22, 2015 between the Company and United Wireless, more fully described in the
Company’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2018, 15% of the net monetization proceeds from the
patents acquired in October 2015 will be paid to Intelligent Partners, as transferee of United Wireless. This monetization obligation
was recognized as a discount to the loan and will be amortized over the life of the loan using the effective interest method.
In addition, the Company entered into a monetization agreement with United Wireless pursuant to which the Company agreed to pay
United Wireless 7.5% of the net monetization proceeds from the patents acquired by CXT in July 2017. This obligation was recorded
as an expense and is reflected in interest expense during the third quarter of 2017.
The
Company granted Intellectual Ventures a security interest in the patents assigned to the Company as security for the payment of
the balance of the purchase price. The security interest of Intellectual Ventures is senior to the security interest of United
Wireless in the proceeds derived from such patents.
The
balance of the purchase price of the patents is reflected as follows:
|
|
March 31,
2019
|
|
|
December 31,
2018
|
|
Current Liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase price of patents,
current portion
|
|
|
275,000
|
|
|
$
|
100,000
|
|
Unamortized discount
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase price of patents, long term
|
|
|
2,100,000
|
|
|
$
|
875,000
|
|
Unamortized discount
|
|
|
(414,650
|
)
|
|
|
(105,172
|
)
|
Total current and non-current
|
|
|
1,960,350
|
|
|
|
869,828
|
|
Effective interest rate of Amortized
over 2-3 years
|
|
|
9.35-14.45
|
%
|
|
|
9.6
|
%
|
Because
the non-current minimum payment obligations of $2,100,000 are due over the next three and a half years, the Company imputed interest
of 10% and the interest will be accreted up to the maturity date.
NOTE
7 – NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST
The
following table reconciles equity attributable to the non-controlling interest related to Quest Packaging Solutions Corporation.
Balance as of December 31, 2018
|
|
$
|
1,758
|
|
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest
|
|
$
|
(259
|
)
|
Balance as of March 31, 2019
|
|
$
|
1,499
|
|
NOTE
8 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The
Company has at various times entered into transactions with related parties, including officers, directors and major stockholders,
wherein these parties have provided services, advanced or loaned money, or both, to the Company which was needed to support its
daily operations. The Company discloses all related party transactions.
See
Notes 3 and 6 in connection with transactions with United Wireless. During periods ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the
Company incurred interest expense on the Company’s 10% notes issued to United Wireless pursuant to the securities
purchase agreement dated October 22, 2015 more fully described in the Company’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2018. The interest expense was approximately $115,220 and $99,303 for the three
months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. On each of September 30, 2017 and 2018, accrued interest was added to the
principal amount of the note. Subsequent to September 30, 2018, the Company is to pay interest quarterly. During the period
ended March 31, 2019 the Company paid approximately $117,780 in interest.
See
Note 10 with respect to the employment agreement with the Company’s president and chief executive officer.
During
the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company contracted with an entity owned by the chief technology officer for
the provision of information technology services to the Company. For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the cost
of these services was approximately $145 and $230 respectively.
NOTE
9 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Employment
Agreements
Pursuant
to a restated employment agreement, dated November 30, 2014, with the Company’s president and chief executive officer, the
Company agreed to employ him as president and chief executive officer for a term of three years, commencing January 1, 2014, and
continuing on a year-to-year basis unless terminated by either party on not less than 90 days’ notice prior to the expiration
of the initial term or any one-year extension. The agreement provides for an initial annual salary of $252,000, which may be increased,
but not decreased, by the board or the compensation committee. In March 2016, the Company’s board of directors increased
the chief executive officer’s annual salary to $300,000, effective January 1, 2016. The chief executive officer is entitled
to a bonus if the Company meets or exceeds performance criteria established by the compensation committee. In August 2016, the
Company’s board of directors approved annual bonus compensation equal to 30% of the amount by which our consolidated income
before income taxes exceeds $500,000, but, if the Company is subject to the limitation on deductibility of executive compensation
pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, the bonus cannot exceed the amount which would be deductible pursuant
to Section 162(m). The chief executive officer is also eligible to participate in any executive incentive plans which the Company
may adopt.
Inventor
Royalties, Contingent Litigation Funding Fees and Contingent Legal Expenses
In
connection with the investment in certain patents and patent rights, certain of the Company’s operating subsidiaries executed
agreements which grant to the former owners of the respective patents or patent rights, the right to receive inventor royalties
based on future net revenues (as defined in the respective agreements) generated as a result of licensing and otherwise enforcing
the respective patents or patent portfolios.
The
Company’s operating subsidiaries may engage third party funding sources to provide funding for patent licensing and enforcement. The
agreements with the third party funding sources may provide that the funding source receive a portion of any negotiated fees,
settlements or judgments. In certain instances, these third party funding sources are entitled to receive a significant percentage
of any proceeds realized until the third party funder has recouped agreed upon amounts based on formulas set forth in the underlying
funding agreement, which may reduce or delay and proceeds due to the Company.
The
Company’s operating subsidiaries may retain the services of law firms in connection with their licensing and enforcement
activities. These law firms may be retained on a contingent fee basis whereby the law firms are paid on a scaled percentage
of any negotiated fees, settlements or judgments awarded based on how and when the fees, settlements or judgments are obtained.
Depending
on the amount of any recovery, it is possible that all the proceeds from a specific settlement may be paid to the funding source
and legal counsel.
The
economic terms of the inventor agreements, funding agreements and contingent legal fee arrangements associated with the patent
portfolios owned or controlled by the Company’s operating subsidiaries, if any, including royalty rates, proceeds sharing
rates, contingent fee rates and other terms, vary across the patent portfolios owned or controlled by the operating subsidiaries. Inventor
royalties, payments to noncontrolling interests, payments to third party funding providers and contingent legal fees expenses
fluctuate period to period, based on the amount of revenues recognized each period, the terms and conditions of revenue agreements
executed each period and the mix of specific patent portfolios with varying economic terms and obligations generating revenues
each period. Inventor royalties, payments to third party funding sources and contingent legal fees expenses will continue to fluctuate
and may continue to vary significantly period to period, based primarily on these factors.
In
March 2014, the Company entered into a funding agreement whereby a third party agreed to provide funds to the Company to enable
the Company to implement a structured licensing program, including litigation if necessary, for the Mobile Data portfolio. Under
the funding agreement, the third party receives an interest in the proceeds from the program, and we have no other obligation
to the third party. In April and June 2014, as part of a structured licensing program for the Mobile Data portfolio, Quest Licensing
Corporation brought patent infringement suits in the U.S. District for the District of Delaware against Bloomberg LP et. al.,
FactSet Research Systems Inc., Interactive Data Corporation, SunGard Data Systems Inc. and The Charles Schwab Corporation et.
al. In June and August 2016, Quest Licensing Corporation entered into a settlement agreement with SunGard Data Systems Inc. and
FactSet Research Systems Inc. On January 19, 2017, the court in the Mobile Data Portfolio litigation granted the remaining defendants’
motion for summary judgment of non-infringement. On June 8, 2018 the appellate court affirmed the lower court’s decision.
On June 9, 2018 Quest Licensing Corporation filed a petition for rehearing with the appellate court. On July 30, 2018 the appellate
court denied Quest Licensing Corporations petition for rehearing. As of the date of filing the third party litigation has advanced
approximately $3,000,000 in litigation fees, costs and expenses. Under the terms of the funding agreement, the third party funder
is entitled to a priority return of funds advanced from any proceeds recovered. The Company’s management fees and management
support services expenses relate to this agreement.
In
December 2018, we entered into a funding agreement whereby a third party agreed to provide funds to us to enable us to support
our structured licensing programs for the CMOS and M-RED portfolios. Under the funding agreement, the third party receives an
interest in the proceeds from the programs, and we have no other obligation to the third party. As of December 31, 2018, the third
party funding source advanced $150,000 for costs and expenses, and has no further obligation to provide additional funds. Under
the terms of the funding agreement, the third party funder is entitled to a priority return of funds advanced from net proceeds
recovered.
Patent
Enforcement and Other Litigation
Certain
of the Company’s operating subsidiaries are engaged in litigation to enforce their patents and patent rights. In connection
with these patent enforcement actions, it is possible that a defendant may request and/or a court may rule that an operating subsidiary
has violated statutory authority, regulatory authority, federal rules, local court rules, or governing standards relating to the
substantive or procedural aspects of such enforcement actions. In such event, a court may issue monetary sanctions against
the Company or its operating subsidiaries or award attorney’s fees and/or expenses to a defendant(s), which could be material,
and if required to be paid by the Company or its operating subsidiaries, could materially harm the Company’s operating results
and financial position and could result in a default under the Company’s notes to Intelligent Partners. Since the operating
subsidiaries do not have any assets other than the patents, and the Company does not have any available financial resources to
pay any judgment which a defendant may obtain against a subsidiary, such a judgement may result in the bankruptcy of the subsidiary
and/or the loss of the patents, which are the subsidiaries’ only assets.
On
January 19, 2017, the court in the Mobile Data Portfolio litigation granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment
of non-infringement, On January 31, 2017, Quest Licensing Corporation filed a notice of appeal with the United States Court of
Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Following the court’s decision granting the defendant’s motion for summary judgment,
the defendants moved for an award of attorneys’ fees under Section 285 of the Patent Act which provides that “the
court in exceptional cases may award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party.” Such a motion, if granted, would
result in a judgment against Quest Licensing Corporation, which does not have the financial resources to enable it to pay any
judgment which may be rendered against it, and, the defendants may seek to enforce their judgment by seeking to foreclose on the
patents owned by the subsidiary or seek to force the subsidiary into bankruptcy and purchase the patents in the bankruptcy proceeding,
either of which could result in a default under the Company’s agreement with United Wireless. The possible amount of any
judgment cannot be estimated and the funding source for the litigation will not provide the Company with funds to pay an adverse
judgment. On June 29, 2017, the defendants’ motion for attorney fees in the Mobile Data litigation was denied, without prejudice
and with leave to renew their motion thirty days from the decision of the appellate court on Quest Licensing Corporation’s
appeal. On June 8, 2018 the appellate court affirmed the lower court’s decision. On June 9, 2018 Quest Licensing Corporation
filed a petition for rehearing with the appellate court. On July 30, 2018 the appellate court denied Quest Licensing Corporations
petition for rehearing. On March 27, 2019 the court in the Mobile Data Portfolio litigation denied the defendants’ motion
for attorney fees under Section 285 of the Patent Act.
NOTE
10 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On
April 11, 2019 Quest NetTech Corporation merged with Wynn Technologies, Inc. with Quest NetTech Corporation being the surviving
entity. On April 12, 2019, Quest NetTech brought a patent infringement suit in the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Texas
against Apple, Inc.
On
April 23. 2019, as part of a license agreement, BazaarVoice, Inc. issued to CXT Systems, Inc. a promissory note in the principal
amount of $250,000 in two installment payments each in the amount of $125,000, without interest, as follows: the first installment
payment in the amount of $125,000 on July 7, 2019, and; the second installment payment in the amount of $125,000 on October 7,
2019.
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To
the stockholders and board of directors of
Quest
Patent Research Corporation
Opinion
on the Financial Statements
We
have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Quest Patent Research Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively,
the “Company”) as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’
deficit, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”).
In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of
December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Going
Concern Matter
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed
in Note 2 to the financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and has a net capital deficiency
that raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters
are also described in Note 2. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this
uncertainty.
Basis
for Opinion
These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
the Company’s financial statements 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 audit
to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error
or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial
reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not
for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control over financial reporting.
Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our
audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the 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 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 financial statements.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/
MaloneBailey, LLP
www.malonebailey.com
We
have served as the Company’s auditor since 2013.
Houston,
Texas
April 16, 2019
Quest
Patent Research Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
166,911
|
|
|
$
|
165,546
|
|
Accounts receivable
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,846
|
|
Other current assets
|
|
|
2,343
|
|
|
|
2,522
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
169,254
|
|
|
|
170,914
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patents, net of accumulated amortization of $1,088,280 and $650,560, respectively
|
|
|
2,045,618
|
|
|
|
2,463,338
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
2,214,872
|
|
|
$
|
2,634,252
|
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
|
$
|
338,748
|
|
|
$
|
147,356
|
|
Loans payable – third party
|
|
|
163,000
|
|
|
|
163,000
|
|
Purchase price of patents, current portion
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
Loan payable – related party, net of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs of $379,948 and $517,182
|
|
|
4,292,862
|
|
|
|
3,510,169
|
|
Accrued interest – loans payable related party
|
|
|
117,780
|
|
|
|
85,757
|
|
Accrued interest - loans payable third party
|
|
|
281,514
|
|
|
|
265,214
|
|
Derivative liability
|
|
|
540,000
|
|
|
|
90,000
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
5,833,904
|
|
|
|
4,361,496
|
|
Non-current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contingent funding liabilities
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Purchase price of patents, net of unamortized discount of $105,172 and $175,243, respectively
|
|
|
769,829
|
|
|
|
699,757
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
6,753,733
|
|
|
|
5,061,253
|
|
Stockholders’ deficit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock, par value $0.00003 per share – authorized 10,000,000 shares – no shares issued and outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock, par value $0.00003 per share; authorized 10,000,000,000 at December 31, 2018 and 2017; shares issued and outstanding 383,038,334 at December 31, 2018 and 2017
|
|
|
11,491
|
|
|
|
11,491
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
14,107,782
|
|
|
|
14,107,782
|
|
Accumulated deficit
|
|
|
(18,659,892
|
)
|
|
|
(16,549,493
|
)
|
Total Quest Patent Research Corporation deficit
|
|
|
(4,540,619
|
)
|
|
|
(2,430,220
|
)
|
Non-controlling interest in subsidiary
|
|
|
1,758
|
|
|
|
3,219
|
|
Total stockholders’ deficit
|
|
|
(4,538,861
|
)
|
|
|
(2,427,001
|
)
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit
|
|
$
|
2,214,872
|
|
|
$
|
2,634,252
|
|
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
Quest
Patent Research Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Statements of Operations
|
|
Year Ended
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Licensed packaging sales
|
|
$
|
20,004
|
|
|
$
|
14,201
|
|
Patent licensing fees
|
|
|
7,049,000
|
|
|
|
1,196,250
|
|
Management fees
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
21,196
|
|
|
|
|
7,069,004
|
|
|
|
1,231,647
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of sales
|
|
|
3,689
|
|
|
|
2,435
|
|
Litigation and licensing expenses
|
|
|
6,071,608
|
|
|
|
807,614
|
|
Management support services
|
|
|
6,774
|
|
|
|
27,908
|
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses
|
|
|
957,571
|
|
|
|
939,408
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
7,039,642
|
|
|
|
1,777,365
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gain (loss) from operations
|
|
|
29,362
|
|
|
|
(545,718
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Loss)/gain on derivative liability
|
|
|
(450,000
|
)
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(651,088
|
)
|
|
|
(565,608
|
)
|
Total other expense
|
|
|
(1,101,088
|
)
|
|
|
(515,608
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss before income tax
|
|
|
(1,071,726
|
)
|
|
|
(1,061,326
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax
|
|
|
(1,040,134
|
)
|
|
|
(106,005
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
(2,111,860
|
)
|
|
|
(1,167,331
|
)
|
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiary
|
|
|
1,461
|
|
|
|
(732
|
)
|
Net Loss Attributable to Quest Patent Research Corporation
|
|
$
|
(2,110,399
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,168,063
|
)
|
Net loss per share – Basic and Diluted
|
|
$
|
(0.01
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.00
|
)
|
Weighted average shares outstanding – Basic and Diluted
|
|
|
383,038,334
|
|
|
|
322,819,156
|
|
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
Quest
Patent Research Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit
|
|
Common Stock
|
|
|
Additional Paid-in
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-
controlling Interest in
|
|
|
Total Stockholders’
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Capital
|
|
|
Deficit
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Deficit
|
|
Balances as of December 31, 2016
|
|
|
313,038,334
|
|
|
$
|
9,391
|
|
|
$
|
14,032,882
|
|
|
$
|
(15,381,430
|
)
|
|
$
|
2,487
|
|
|
$
|
(1,336,670
|
)
|
Compensation expense relating to restricted stock grant
|
|
|
70,000,000
|
|
|
|
2,100
|
|
|
|
74,900
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
77,000
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(1,168,063
|
)
|
|
|
732
|
|
|
|
(1,167,331
|
)
|
Balances as of December 31, 2017
|
|
|
383,038,334
|
|
|
|
11,491
|
|
|
|
14,107,782
|
|
|
|
(16,549,493
|
)
|
|
|
3,219
|
|
|
|
(2,427,001
|
)
|
Net loss
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(2,110,399
|
)
|
|
|
(1,461
|
)
|
|
|
(2,111,860
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balances as of December 31, 2018
|
|
|
383,038,334
|
|
|
$
|
11,491
|
|
|
$
|
14,107,782
|
|
|
$
|
(18,659,892
|
)
|
|
$
|
1,758
|
|
|
$
|
(4,538,861
|
)
|
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
Quest
Patent Research Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
|
|
Year Ended
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
(2,111,860
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,167,331
|
)
|
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization of debt discount
|
|
|
207,306
|
|
|
|
206,801
|
|
Loss on monetization agreement
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
59,811
|
|
Loss (gain) on derivative liability
|
|
|
450,000
|
|
|
|
(50,000
|
)
|
Share-based compensation
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
77,000
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
437,720
|
|
|
|
331,275
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable
|
|
|
2,846
|
|
|
|
52,148
|
|
Accrued interest – loans payable related party
|
|
|
427,482
|
|
|
|
266,395
|
|
Accrued interest – loans payable third party
|
|
|
16,300
|
|
|
|
16,300
|
|
Other current assets
|
|
|
179
|
|
|
|
(32
|
)
|
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
|
|
|
191,392
|
|
|
|
39,855
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in operating activities
|
|
|
(378,635
|
)
|
|
|
(167,778
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase of patents
|
|
|
(20,000
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
Net cash from investing activities
|
|
|
(20,000
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from loans
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
|
|
125,000
|
|
Proceeds from sale of future revenues
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Net cash from financing activities
|
|
|
400,000
|
|
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
1,365
|
|
|
|
(42,778
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
|
|
|
165,546
|
|
|
|
208,324
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
|
|
$
|
166,911
|
|
|
$
|
165,546
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non Cash Investing and Financing Activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable for patent purchase, net of imputed interest of $0 and $202,522
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
772,478
|
|
Loan proceeds paid directly from lender to seller of patents
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,025,000
|
|
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid during the year for:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income taxes, including foreign taxing authorities withheld taxes of $1,039,900 and $101,500 during the years ended December 31, 2018, and 2017 respectively.
|
|
$
|
1,040,134
|
|
|
$
|
106,005
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
Quest
Patent Research Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE
1 – DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
The
Company is a Delaware corporation, incorporated on July 17, 1987 and has been engaged in the intellectual property monetization
business since 2008.
As
used herein, the “Company” refers to Quest Patent Research Corporation and its wholly and majority-owned and controlled
operating subsidiaries unless the context indicates otherwise. All intellectual property acquisition, development, licensing and
enforcement activities are conducted by the Company’s wholly and majority-owned and controlled operating subsidiaries.
NOTE
2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principles
of consolidation and financial statement presentation
The
consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“US GAAP”)
and present the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries as of December
31, 2018 and 2017.
The
consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of:
Quest
Patent Research Corporation (“The Company”)
Quest
Licensing Corporation (NY) (wholly owned)
Quest
Licensing Corporation (DE) (wholly owned)
Quest
Packaging Solutions Corporation (90% owned)
Quest
Nettech Corporation (wholly owned)
Semcon
IP, Inc. (wholly owned)
Mariner
IC, Inc. (wholly owned)
IC
Kinetics, Inc. (wholly owned)
CXT
Systems, Inc. (wholly owned)
Photonic
Imaging Solutions Inc. (wholly owned)
The
operations of Wynn Technologies Inc. are not included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements as there are significant
contingencies related to its control of Wynn Technologies Inc. The sole asset of Wynn Technologies Inc. is US Patent No. RE38,137E.
Wynn Technologies Inc. cannot transfer, assign, sell, hypothecate or otherwise encumber US Patent No. RE38,173E without the express
written consent of Sol Li, owner of 35% of Wynn Technologies Inc., unless, as of the date of such transfer, assignment, sale,
hypothecation or other encumbrance, Mr. Li has received a total of at least $250,000.
The
Company accounts for its 65% interest in Wynn Technologies, Inc. under the equity method whereby the investment accounts are increased
for contributions by the Company plus its 60% share of income pursuant to the contractual agreement which provide that Sol Li
retains 40% of the income, and reduced for distributions and its 60% share of losses incurred, respectively, with the restriction
whereby the account balances cannot go below zero.
Significant
intercompany transaction and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use
of Estimates
In
preparing financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management
is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and revenue and expenses during the reporting period.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash
and Cash Equivalents
The
Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturity dates of three months or less when purchased, to be cash
equivalents.
Accounts
Receivable
Accounts
receivable, which generally relate to licensed sales, are presented on the balance sheet net of estimated uncollectible amounts.
The Company records an allowance for estimated uncollectible accounts in an amount approximating anticipated losses. Individual
uncollectible accounts are written off against the allowance when collection of the individual accounts appears doubtful. The
Company recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts of $0 as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
Intangible
Assets
Intangible
assets consist of patents which are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives or statutory lives
whichever is shorter and are reviewed for impairment upon any triggering event that may give rise to the assets ultimate recoverability
as prescribed under the guidance related to impairment of long-lived assets. Costs incurred to acquire patents, including legal
costs, are also capitalized as long-lived assets and amortized on a straight-line basis with the associated patent.
Patents
include the cost of patents or patent rights (hereinafter, collectively “patents”) acquired from third-parties or
acquired in connection with business combinations. Patent acquisition costs are amortized utilizing the straight-line method over
their remaining economic useful lives, ranging from one to ten years. Certain patent application and prosecution costs incurred
to secure additional patent claims, that based on management’s estimates are deemed to be recoverable, are capitalized and
amortized over the remaining estimated economic useful life of the related patent portfolio.
Impairment
of long-lived assets
Long-lived
assets, including intangible assets with a finite life, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances
indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable through the estimated undiscounted cash flows expected to
result from the use and eventual disposition of the assets. Whenever any such impairment exists, an impairment loss will be recognized
for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value. No impairment was recorded for the years ended December 31,
2018 and 2017.
Derivative
Financial Instruments
The
Company evaluates the embedded conversion feature within its convertible debt instruments under ASC 815-15 and ASC 815-40 to determine
if the conversion feature meets the definition of a liability and, if so, whether to bifurcate the conversion feature and account
for it as a separate derivative liability. For derivative financial instruments that are accounted for as liabilities, the derivative
instrument is initially recorded at its fair value and is then re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value
reported in the statements of operations. For stock-based derivative financial instruments, the Company uses a Black Scholes model,
in accordance with ASC 815-15 “Derivative and Hedging” to value the derivative instruments at inception and on subsequent
valuation dates. The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities
or as equity, is evaluated at the end of each reporting period. Derivative instrument liabilities are classified in the balance
sheet as current or non-current based on whether net-cash settlement of the derivative instrument could be required within 12
months after the balance sheet date.
Beneficial
Conversion Features
The
Company evaluates the conversion feature for whether it was beneficial as described in ASC 470-30. The intrinsic value of a beneficial
conversion feature inherent to a convertible note payable, which is not bifurcated and accounted for separately from the convertible
note payable and may not be settled in cash upon conversion, is treated as a discount to the convertible note payable. This discount
is amortized over the period from the date of issuance to the date the note is due using the effective interest method. If the
note payable is retired prior to the end of its contractual term, the unamortized discount is expensed in the period of retirement
to interest expense. In general, the beneficial conversion feature is measured by comparing the effective conversion price, after
considering the relative fair value of detachable instruments included in the financing transaction, if any, to the fair value
of the shares of common stock at the commitment date to be received upon conversion.
Fair
value of financial instruments
Fair
value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in
the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on
the measurement date. A fair value hierarchy is used which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize
the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. See Note 4 for information about derivative liabilities.
The
fair value hierarchy based on the three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value are as follows:
Level
1
– Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level
2
– Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; or other inputs
that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level
3
– Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are financial instruments whose
values are determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments
for which the determination of fair value requires significant judgment or estimation.
The
carrying value reflected in the consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable
and accrued expenses and short-term borrowings approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these items.
Revenue
Recognition
The
Company adopted ASC Topic 606,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
as of January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective
transition method. The core principle of the new revenue standard is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer
of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled
in exchange for those goods or services. The following five steps are applied to achieve that core principle:
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Step
1: Identify the contract with the customer
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Step
2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract
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●
|
Step
3: Determine the transaction price
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|
●
|
Step
4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract
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●
|
Step
5: Recognize revenue when the company satisfies a performance obligation
|
A
performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer, and is the unit of account
in ASC 606. In order to identify the performance obligations in a contract with a customer, a company must assess the promised
goods or services in the contract and identify each promised good or service that is distinct. A performance obligation meets
ASC 606’s definition of a “distinct” good or service (or bundle of goods or services) if both of the following
criteria are met:
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●
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The
customer can benefit from the good or service either on its own or together with other resources that are readily available
to the customer (i.e., the good or service is capable of being distinct).
|
|
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●
|
The
entity’s promise to transfer the good or service to the customer is separately identifiable from other promises in the
contract (i.e., the promise to transfer the good or service is distinct within the context of the contract).
|
If
a good or service is not distinct, the good or service is combined with other promised goods or services until a bundle of goods
or services is identified that is distinct.
The
transaction price is the amount of consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring promised
goods or services to a customer. The consideration promised in a contract with a customer may include fixed amounts, variable
amounts, or both. When determining the transaction price, an entity must consider the effects of all of the following:
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Variable
consideration
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●
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Constraining
estimates of variable consideration
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●
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The
existence of a significant financing component in the contract
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●
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Noncash
consideration
|
|
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●
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Consideration
payable to a customer
|
Variable
consideration is included in the transaction price only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount
of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently
resolved.
The
transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation on a relative standalone selling price basis.
The
transaction price allocated to each performance obligation is recognized when that performance obligation is satisfied, at a point
in time or over time as appropriate.
In
general, the Company is required to make certain judgments and estimates in connection with the accounting for revenue contracts
with customers. Such areas may include identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the timing of satisfaction
of performance obligations, determining whether a promise of consideration, whether a license to intellectual property or an entitlement
to payment of a percentage of net proceeds, is distinct from other promised goods or services, evaluating whether consideration
transfers to a customer at a point in time or over time, allocating the transaction price to separate performance obligations,
determining whether contracts contain a significant financing component, and estimating revenues recognized at a point in time
for licensed sales.
Patent
Licensing Fees
Revenue
is recognized upon transfer of control of promised bundled intellectual property rights and other contractual performance obligations
to licensees in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those intellectual property rights.
Revenue contracts that provide promises to grant “the right” to use intellectual property rights as they exist at
the point in time at which the intellectual property rights are granted, are accounted for as performance obligations satisfied
at a point in time and revenue is recognized at the point in time that the applicable performance obligations are satisfied and
all other revenue recognition criteria have been met.
For
the periods presented, revenue contracts executed by the Company primarily provided for the payment of contractually determined,
one-time, paid-up license fees in consideration for the grant of certain intellectual property rights for patented technologies
owned or controlled by the Company’s operating subsidiaries. Intellectual property rights granted included the following,
as applicable: (i) the grant of a non-exclusive, retroactive and future license to manufacture and/or sell products covered
by patented technologies, (ii) a covenant-not-to-sue, (iii) the release of the licensee from certain claims, and (iv) the dismissal
of any pending litigation. The intellectual property rights granted were perpetual in nature, extending until the legal expiration
date of the related patents. The individual intellectual property rights are not accounted for as separate performance obligations,
as (i) the nature of the promise, within the context of the contract, is to transfer combined items to which the promised intellectual
property rights are inputs and (ii) the Company’s promise to transfer each individual intellectual property right described
above to the customer is not separately identifiable from other promises to transfer intellectual property rights in the contract.
Since
the promised intellectual property rights are not individually distinct, the Company combined each individual IP right in the
contract into a bundle of IP rights that is distinct, and accounted for all of the intellectual property rights promised in the
contract as a single performance obligation. The intellectual property rights granted were “functional IP rights”
that have significant standalone functionality. The Company’s subsequent activities do not substantively change that functionality
and do not significantly affect the utility of the IP to which the licensee has rights. The Company’s subsidiaries have
no further obligation with respect to the grant of intellectual property rights, including no express or implied obligation to
maintain or upgrade the technology, or provide future support or services. The contracts provide for the grant (i.e.
transfer of control) of the licenses, covenants-not-to-sue, releases, and other significant deliverables upon execution of the
contract. Licensees legally obtain control of the intellectual property rights upon execution of the contract. As such, the
earnings process is complete and revenue is recognized upon the execution of the contract, when collectability is probable and
all other revenue recognition criteria have been met. Revenue contracts generally provide for payment of contractual amounts within
30-90 days of execution of the contract. Contractual payments made by licensees are generally non-refundable. We do not have any
significant payment terms, as payment is received shortly after goods are delivered or services are provided, therefore there
is no significant financing component or consideration payable to the customer in these transactions.
Licensed
Sales
The
balance of our revenue, from licensed sales, is not significant but includes sales-based revenue contracts pursuant to purchase
orders. There is only one distinct performance obligation in each purchase order, transfer of the promised good to the customer,
and the customer can benefit from the good together with other resources readily available to the customer. For licensed sales,
the transaction price is allocated to the performance obligation on a relative standalone selling price basis per the purchase
order, and the Company includes in the transaction price some or all of an amount of estimated variable consideration to the extent
that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur
when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. Estimates are generally based on historical
levels of activity, if available. Notwithstanding, revenue is recognized for a licensed sale when the performance obligation has
been satisfied – transfer of the good to the customer. The purchase order generally provides for payment of contractual
amounts within 30 days of transfer of the goods to the customer, therefore there is no significant financing component or consideration
payable to the customer in these transactions.
Cost
of Revenues
Cost
of revenues include the costs and expenses incurred in connection with our patent licensing and enforcement activities, including
inventor royalties paid to original patent owners, contingent litigation funding fees, contingent legal fees paid to external
patent counsel, other patent-related legal expenses paid to external patent counsel, licensing and enforcement related research,
consulting and other expenses paid to third-parties and the amortization of patent-related investment costs. These costs are included
under the caption “Cost of revenues” in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. No such fees are recognized
as cost of revenue to the extent that the Company has no obligation with respect to such fees prior to a settlement or license.
Inventor
Royalties, Litigation Funding Fees and Contingent Legal Expenses.
In
connection with the investment in certain patents and patent rights, certain of the Company’s operating subsidiaries may
execute related agreements which grant to the inventors and/or former owners of the respective patents or patent rights, the right
to receive a percentage of future net revenues (as defined in the respective agreements) generated as a result of licensing and
otherwise enforcing the respective patents or patent portfolios.
The
Company’s operating subsidiaries may retain the services of law firms that specialize in patent licensing and enforcement
and patent law in connection with their licensing and enforcement activities. These law firms may be retained on a contingent
fee basis whereby such law firms are paid a percentage of any negotiated fees, settlements or judgments awarded.
The
Company’s operating subsidiaries may engage with funding sources that specialize in providing financing for patent licensing
and enforcement. These litigation finance firms may be engaged on a non-recourse basis whereby such litigation finance firms
are paid a percentage of any negotiated fees, settlements or judgments awarded in exchange for providing funding for legal fees
and out of pocket expenses incurred as a result of the licensing and enforcement activities.
The
economic terms of the inventor agreements, operating agreements, contingent legal fee arrangements and litigation financing agreements
associated with the patent portfolios owned or controlled by the Company’s operating subsidiaries, if any, including royalty
rates, contingent fee rates and other terms, vary across the patent portfolios owned or controlled by such operating subsidiaries. Inventor/former
owner royalties, payments to non-controlling interests, contingent legal fees expenses and litigation finance expenses fluctuate
period to period, based on the amount of revenues recognized each period, the terms and conditions of revenue agreements executed
each period and the mix of specific patent portfolios with varying economic terms and obligations generating revenues each period.
Inventor/former owner royalties, contingent legal fees expenses and litigation finance expenses will continue to fluctuate and
may continue to vary significantly period to period, based primarily on these factors.
Research
and development
Research
and development costs are expensed as incurred. We did not incur any research and development costs in the years ended December
31, 2018 and 2017.
Income
Taxes
Deferred
income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future income tax consequences of events that have been included
in the consolidated financial statements or income tax returns. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based
on differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using tax rates in effect for the years
in which the differences are expected to reverse.
In
evaluating the ultimate realization of deferred income tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that
the deferred income tax assets will be realized. Management establishes a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that
all or a portion of the deferred income tax assets will not be utilized. The ultimate realization of deferred income tax assets
is dependent on the generation of future taxable income, which must occur prior to the expiration of the net operating loss carryforwards.
The
Company also follows the guidance related to accounting for income tax uncertainties. In accounting for uncertainty in income
taxes, the Company recognizes the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority
would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more likely than not threshold,
the amount recognized in the consolidated financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of
being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. No liability for unrecognized tax benefits was recorded
as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.
The
Company records revenues on a gross basis, before deduction for income taxes. The Company incurred foreign income tax expenses
of approximately $1,040,000 and $102,000 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Share-based
compensation
The
Company accounts for share-based awards issued to employees in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 718, “Compensation-Stock
Compensation”. Accordingly, employee share-based payment compensation is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value
of the award, and is recognized as an expense over the requisite service period, which is normally the vesting period. Share-based
compensation to directors is treated in the same manner as share-based compensation to employees, regardless of whether the directors
are also employees. The Company accounts for share-based compensation to persons other than employees in accordance with FASB
ASC 505-50. Equity instruments issued to other than employees are valued at the earlier of a commitment date or upon completion
of the services, based on the fair value of the equity instruments and is recognized as expense over the service period. The Company
estimates the fair value of share-based payments using the Black Scholes option-pricing model for common stock options and warrants
and the closing price of the Company’s common stock for common stock issuances.
Earnings
(loss) per share
Basic
earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares
of the Company’s common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution
that could occur if our share-based awards and convertible securities were exercised or converted into common stock. The dilutive
effect of our share-based awards is computed using the treasury stock method, which assumes all share-based awards are exercised
and the hypothetical proceeds from exercise are used to purchase common stock at the average market price during the period. The
incremental shares (difference between shares assumed to be issued versus purchased), to the extent they would have been dilutive,
are included in the denominator of the diluted earnings per share calculation. Because the Company incurred losses in all period
covered by the financial statements and would be anti-dilutive, the diluted earnings per shares is the same as the basic earnings
per share. The 50,000,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants and options are excluded from
the computation of loss per share because the result would have been antidilutive.
Concentration
of credit risk
The
Company maintains its cash in bank deposit accounts, which at times, may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not
experienced any such losses in these accounts.
Segment
reporting
The
Company reports each material operating segment in accordance with ASC 280, “Segment Reporting.” Operating segments
are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly
by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company’s
chief operating decision maker is the chief executive officer. The Company operates in two operational segments; intellectual
property licensing and licensed packaging sales. Licensed packaging sales segment is not reported separately as revenue constitutes
less than 10% of the combined revenue of all segments, reported profit is less than the combined profit of all operating segments
that did not report a loss, and assets are less than 10% of the combined assets of all operating segments. Certain corporate expenses
are not allocated to segments.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In
February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2016-02 (Topic 842 “Leases” which provides guidance
on the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of leases. The new standard supersedes the present U.S. GAAP
standard on leases and requires substantially all leases to be reported on the balance sheet as right-of-use assets and lease
obligations. The Company will adopt Topic 842 as of January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective transition method. The Company
does not believe it will have a material impact.
Other
than that pronouncement, management does not believe that there are any other recently issued, but not effective, accounting standards
which, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
Going
Concern
During
the period from 2008, when the Company changed its business to become an intellectual property management company, through 2018,
the Company generated a cumulative loss of approximately $18,660,000. The Company’s total current assets were approximately
$169,000 at December 31, 2018. At December 31, 2018, the Company had a working capital deficiency of approximately $5,665,000,
and it had negative working capital at December 31, 2018 and 2017. The Company requires funding for its operations. Because of
the Company’s continuing losses, the working capital deficiency, the uncertainty of future revenue, the Company’s
low stock price and the absence of a trading market in its common stock, the ability of the Company to raise funds in equity market
or from lenders is severely impaired, and there exists substantial doubt about the ability of the Company to continue as a going
concern. Although the Company may seek to raise funds and to obtain third party funding for litigation to enforce its intellectual
property rights, the availability of such funds in uncertain. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might
result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
NOTE
3 – SHORT TERM DEBT AND LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
The
following table shows the Company’s debt at December 31, 2018 and 2017.
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|
December 31,
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2018
|
|
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2017
|
|
Short-term debt:
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|
|
|
|
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|
Loans payable – third party
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|
$
|
163,000
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$
|
163,000
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Loans payable – related party
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Gross
|
|
|
4,672,810
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|
|
|
4,027,351
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|
Accrued interest
|
|
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117,780
|
|
|
|
85,757
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|
Unamortized discount
|
|
|
(379,948
|
)
|
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|
(517,182
|
)
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Net loans payable – related party
|
|
$
|
4,410,642
|
|
|
$
|
3,595,926
|
|
Short-term
debt
The
loan payable – third party is a demand loan made by former officers and directors, now unrelated third parties, and shareholders
in the amount of $163,000. The loans are payable on demand plus accrued interest at 10% per annum.
The
loan payable – related party at December 31, 2018 represents the principal amount of the Company’s 10% note to Intelligent
Partners, as transferee of the notes issued to United Wireless Holdings, Inc. (“United Wireless”), in the amount of
$4,672,810 pursuant to securities purchase agreement dated October 22, 2015. On March 16, 2017, the Company received a letter
from counsel to United Wireless claiming that the Company is in violation of the requirements of the registration rights agreement
dated October 22, 2015 on the grounds that the Company did not update the registration statement in November 2016. The Company
disputed the claim that it was in breach of the registration rights agreement. On June 12, 2017, the Company entered into a standstill
agreement with United Wireless pursuant to which the Company agreed (i) to increase its authorized common stock to 10,000,000,000
shares, (ii) to file by June 30, 2017, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement covering the sale of the shares
of common stock initially issued to United Wireless pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement and the shares of common stock
issuable upon the option granted to United Wireless pursuant to the Securities Purchase agreement, (iii) if the existing warrant
held by the Company’s chief executive officer is not exercised prior to its expiration date, any re-issuance will not have
an exercise price less than the current exercise price and the existing warrants will not be amended to lower the exercise price,
and (iv) United Wireless no longer has any obligation to purchase any note pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement other
than the $1,000,000 note related to the final payment to Intellectual Ventures which was made in November 2017, except in connection
with the potential acquisition by the Company of patent rights which triggered a $25,000 loan in connection with the acquisition,
and the Company can require United Wireless to make $125,000 working capital loans to the Company, at the Company’s sole
discretion, on December 31, 2017, March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2018 pursuant to securities purchase agreement dated October 22,
2015, and, in such event, United Wireless would have a 7½% net proceeds percentage interest in the net proceeds from such
patent. On June 15, 2017, the Company amended its certificate of incorporation to increase its authorized common stock to 10,000,000,000
shares. On June 30, 2017, the Company filed a post-effective amendment to the registration statement covering the sale of the
shares of common stock initially issued to United Wireless pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement and the shares of common
stock issuable upon the option granted to United Wireless pursuant to the Securities Purchase agreement. The registration statement
was declared effective on July 6, 2017. United Wireless made a $25,000 loan to the Company to purchase intellectual property from
Intellectual Ventures Assets 34 LLC and Intellectual Ventures Assets 37 LLC (“IV 34/37”), for which the Company issued
to its 10% promissory note due September 30, 2020 in the principal amount of $25,000 to United Wireless. The payment was made
directly to IV 34/37. In connection with the loan, the Company entered into a monetization agreement with United Wireless pursuant
to which the Company agreed to pay United Wireless 7½% of the net monetization proceeds from the patents acquired by CXT
from IV 34/37. This obligation was 7 ½% of the purchase price of the patents, approximately $59,000, is recorded as an
expense related to obtaining the standstill agreement and is reflected in interest expenses. CXT’s obligations under the
monetization proceeds agreement are secured by a security interest in the proceeds (from litigation or otherwise) from the CXT
Portfolio. The security interest in the proceeds from the CXT Portfolio is junior to the security interest held by IV 34/37 in
the CXT Portfolio and proceeds thereof. The note payable to Intelligent Partners, as transferee of United Wireless, has been classified
as a current liability as of December 31, 2018.
Interest
on all notes issued pursuant to the securities purchase agreement, accrues through September 30, 2018, with accrued interest being
added to principal on September 30, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Accordingly, the accrued interest is included in loans payable, related
party. During the year ended December 31, 2018, accrued interest of approximately $395,459 had been added to principal.
Because
of its right to elect a director of the Company, United Wireless is treated as a related party. Prior to the stock purchase agreement
with United Wireless, the Company had no relationship with United Wireless.
Pursuant
to the securities purchase agreement and the related agreements that were executed contemporaneously with the securities purchase
agreement:
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The
Company borrowed a total of $250,000, $1,150,000 and $1,250,000 from United Wireless in 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively,
for which the Company issued its 10% promissory note due September 30, 2020. Notes in the amount of $1,000,000 were issued
on October 22, 2015, September 30, 2016 and November 15, 2017 to pay Intellectual Ventures Assets 16, LLC (“Intellectual
Ventures”) on account of the three installments of the purchase price of the patents purchased from Intellectual Venture
(see Note 6), and the balance was paid in cash to the Company for working capital.
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|
●
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The
Company sold United Wireless 50,000,000 shares of common stock for $250,000.
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|
|
|
●
|
The
Company granted United Wireless an option to purchase 50,000,000 shares of common stock at varying exercise prices. See Note
5.
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|
|
|
|
●
|
The
Company entered into a monetization proceeds agreement pursuant to which United Wireless received the right to receive 15%
of the net monetization proceeds received from (a) the patents acquired by the Company from Intellectual Ventures and (b)
the patents in the Company’s mobile data and financial data intellectual property portfolios.
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|
|
|
|
●
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The
Company’s obligations under the agreements with United Wireless, including the notes and the monetization proceeds agreement,
are secured by a pledge of the stock of the three subsidiaries that hold the patents acquired from Intellectual Ventures and
by the proceeds from the intellectual property represented by (i) the patents acquired from Intellectual Ventures and (ii)
the intellectual property in the mobile data and financial data portfolios.
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|
●
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Although
the notes have no conversion rights, if a Conversion Eligible Event of Default occurs, the notes become convertible at a conversion
price equal to 90% of the closing sale price of the Company’s common stock on the principal market on which the common
stock is trading on the trading day immediately preceding the date the holder gives notice of conversion. Management has evaluated
the conversion feature for derivative accounting consideration under ASC Topic 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts
in Entity’s Own Stock and concluded that it meets the criteria for classification in stockholders’ equity. The
note contains a limitation on conversion whereby it is convertible except to the extent that the number of shares of the Company’s
common stock to be issued upon such conversion exceeds the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock; provided,
that the Company shall then promptly seek stockholder approval of an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation
increasing its authorized Common Stock to at least the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding plus the Required
Reserve Amount. As a result of the potential inability to have sufficient available authorized common stock due to the reserve
requirement, certain other outstanding instruments have been accounted for as derivative liabilities since January 22, 2016
(see Note 4). As a result of fluctuations in the Company’s stock price, from time to time, but never for a period exceeding
135 days, the Company had insufficient authorized shares of common stock necessary for United Wireless to convert its notes
and exercise its options. On June 15, 2017, the Company amended its certificate of incorporation to increase its authorized
common stock to 10,000,000,000 shares.
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
The
Company has agreed that, as long as United Wireless’ stockholding in the Company exceed 10%, United has the right to
designate one member of the board of directors and at such time and for as long as United’s stockholdings exceed 24.9%,
United may nominate a second director to the board. Unless a Conversion Eligible Event of Default shall have occurred, United
Wireless agreed not to seek to elect a majority of the board for a period of at least three years from the closing date. Although
United Wireless transferred the shares of common stock to its stockholders as a dividend and transferred the options to an
affiliate, United Wireless advised the Company that it did not assign the right to designate directors. The Company agreed
that the size of the board would not exceed five during the two years following the closing date.
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|
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|
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●
|
The
holders of the notes also have the right to demand redemption of the notes at 110% of the principal amount of the note in
the event of a change of control of the Company.
|
The
fair value of the options (see Note 5) granted to United Wireless was $220,000.
Management
has evaluated the option for derivative accounting consideration under ASC Topic 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts
in Entity’s Own Stock and concluded that the option meets the criteria for classification in stockholders’ equity.
Therefore, derivative accounting is not applicable for the option.
The
fair value of the investment proceeds was allocated among the notes, common stock, and options as follows:
Relative fair value of options
|
|
$
|
191,860
|
|
Relative fair value of stock
|
|
$
|
218,024
|
|
Relative fair value of note payable
|
|
$
|
1,090,116
|
|
In
connection with the funding which the Company obtained from United Wireless to purchase the patents, the Company entered into
a monetization agreement with United Wireless pursuant to which the Company agreed to pay United Wireless 15% of the net monetization
proceeds from the patents acquired in October 2015 and the intellectual property in the Company’s mobile data and financial
data portfolios. This obligation was recorded as 15% of the purchase price of the patents, or $450,000, and is reflected as net
monetization obligations. The Company granted to United Wireless a security interest in the stock of the three subsidiaries which
own the patents acquired in October 2015 and the proceeds from these patents and the intellectual property in the Company’s
mobile data and financial data portfolios as s security for the Company’s obligations to United Wireless.
The
allocation of proceeds resulted in a discount from the note payable of $188,023. In addition, the Company recognized a discount
associated with the monetization agreement of $450,000. These discounts and debt issuance costs of $60,958, total $698,981, will
be amortized and charged to interest expense over the life of the notes using the effective interest rate method. As of December
31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, $319,033 and $181,799 of the discount and debt issuance cost have been amortized, respectively.
The effective interest rate on the notes, including the discount, is 33%.
Long
term liabilities
The
purchase price of patents at December 31, 2018 represents the non-current portion of minimum payments due under the agreement
between CXT Systems, Inc. (“CXT”), a wholly owned subsidiary, and Intellectual Ventures Assets 34, LLC and Intellectual
Ventures 37, LLC (“IV 34/37”) pursuant to which at closing CXT acquired by assignment all right, title, and interest
in a portfolio of thirteen United States patents (the “CXT Portfolio”). Under the agreement, CXT will distribute 50%
of net recoveries, as defined, to IV 34/37. CXT advanced $25,000 to IV 34/37 at closing, and agreed, pursuant to an amendment
dated January 26, 2018, that in the event that, on December 31, 2018, December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, cumulative distributions
to IV 34/37 total less than $100,000, $375,000 and $975,000, respectively, CXT shall pay the difference necessary to achieve the
applicable minimum payment amount within ten days after the applicable date; with any advances being credited toward future distributions
to IV 34/36. No affiliate of CXT has guaranteed the minimum payments. CXT’s obligations under the agreement are secured
by a security interest in the proceeds (from litigation or otherwise) from the CXT Portfolio.
In
December 2018, the Company entered into a funding agreement whereby a third party agreed to provide funds in the amount of $150,000,
in support of the structured licensing programs of PIS and M-RED. Under the funding agreement, the third party receives an interest
in the proceeds from the programs, and we have no other obligation to the third party.
Our
relationship with the investor meets the criteria in ASC 470-10-25 - Sales of Future Revenues or Various Other Measures of Income
(“ASC 470”), which relates to cash received from an investor in exchange for a specified percentage or amount of revenue
or other measure of income of a particular product line, business segment, trademark, patent, or contractual right for a defined
period. Under this guidance, we recognized the fair value of our contingent obligation to the investor, as of the acquisition
date, as long-term debt in our consolidated balance sheet. This initial fair value measurement is based on the perspective of
a market participant and includes significant unobservable inputs which are classified as Level 3 inputs within the fair value
hierarchy and are discussed further within Note 2. At each subsequent reporting period, we will measure the long-term debt at
fair value based on the discounted expected future cash flows over the life of the obligation. Our repayment obligations are contingent
upon future patent licensing fee revenues generated from the licensing programs.
Under
ASC 470, amounts recorded as debt shall be amortized under the interest method. The Company made an accounting policy election
to utilize the prospective method when there is a change in the estimated future cash flows, whereby a new effective interest
rate is determined based on the revised estimate of remaining cash flows. The new rate is the discount rate that equates the present
value of the revised estimate of remaining cash flows with the carrying amount of the debt, and it will be used to recognize interest
expense for the remaining periods. Under this method, the effective interest rate is not constant, and any change in expected
cash flows is recognized prospectively as an adjustment to the effective yield. As of December 31, 2018, the effective interest
rate was approximately 8.5%. This rate represents the discount rate that equates the estimated future cash flows with the fair
value of the debt and is used to compute the amount of interest to be recognized each period. Any future payments made to the
investor will decrease the long-term debt balance accordingly. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the amortization amount is
deemed immaterial.
NOTE
4 – DERIVATIVE LIABILITIES
Because
there is not a fixed conversion price, remaining compliant with the reserve requirement under the notes held by Intelligent Partners
as transferee of United Wireless, is outside of the control of the Company. As a result of this, the Company has a potential inability
to have sufficient available authorized common shares to settle certain outstanding instruments beginning with the date that the
reserve requirement went into effect on January 22, 2016. There is no limit on the number of shares issuable under the note, and
absent an increase in the stock price or an increase in authorized shares, there are potentially not enough authorized shares
to satisfy the exercise of the options, thus the Company determined the options qualify as derivative liabilities under ASC Topic
815. On January 22, 2016, the Company reclassified all non-employee warrants and options as derivative liabilities and revalued
them at their fair values at each balance sheet date. Any change in fair value was recorded as non-operating, non-cash income
or expense for each reporting period at each balance sheet date.
As
of December 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, the aggregate fair value of the outstanding derivative liability was approximately
$540,000 and $90,000, respectively.
The
Company estimated the fair value of the derivative liability using the Black-Scholes option pricing model using the following
key assumptions during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017:
|
|
Year
Ended
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
Volatility
|
|
|
388-426
|
|
|
|
426-471
|
%
|
Risk-free interest rate
|
|
|
0.64
|
|
|
|
1.36
|
%
|
Expected dividends
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
%
|
Expected term
|
|
|
1.75-4.70
|
|
|
|
2.75-4.70
|
|
The
following schedule summarizes the valuation of financial instruments that are remeasured on a recurring basis at fair value in
the balance sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017:
|
|
Fair Value Measurements as of
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2018
|
|
|
December 31, 2017
|
|
|
|
Level 1
|
|
|
Level 2
|
|
|
Level 3
|
|
|
Level 1
|
|
|
Level 2
|
|
|
Level 3
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
None
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conversion option derivative liability
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
540,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
90,000
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
540,000
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
90,000
|
|
The
following table sets forth a reconciliation of changes in the fair value of derivative liabilities classified as Level 3 in the
fair value hierarchy:
|
|
Significant Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3) as
of December 31,
2018
|
|
Balance - December 31, 2016
|
|
$
|
140,000
|
|
Change in fair value
|
|
|
(50,000
|
)
|
Balance – December 31, 2017
|
|
|
90,000
|
|
Change in fair value
|
|
|
450,000
|
|
Balance - December 31, 2018
|
|
$
|
540,000
|
|
NOTE
5 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Increase
in Authorized Common Stock
On
June 15, 2017, the Company amended its certificate of incorporation to increase its authorized common stock to 10,000,000,000
shares.
Issuance
of Common Stock
On
November 10, 2017, the board of directors adopted the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan pursuant to which we can issue up to 150,000,000
shares of common stock pursuant to non-qualified stock options, restricted stock grants and other equity-based incentives. On
November 10, 2017, the board granted restricted stock grants to its three directors for services rendered to the Company, of which
60,000,000 shares were issued to Jon C. Scahill and 5,000,000 shares were issued to each of Dr. William Ryall Carroll and Timothy
J. Scahill. The right to the shares vested upon the grant. During the year ended December 31, 2017, we recognized compensation
expense of $77,000, representing closing price of the common stock on the grant date. The issuance of the shares was exempt from
registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act as a transaction not involving a public
offering.
As
of December 31, 2018, there was no unamortized option expense associated with compensatory options.
A
summary of the status of the Company’s stock options and changes is set forth below:
|
|
Number of Options
(#)
|
|
|
Weighted Average Exercise
Price
($)
|
|
|
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life
(Years)
|
|
Balance - December 31, 2016
|
|
|
50,000,000
|
|
|
|
0.03
|
|
|
|
3.75
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Cancelled
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Expired
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Balance - December 31, 2017
|
|
|
50,000,000
|
|
|
|
0.03
|
|
|
|
2.75
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Cancelled
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Expired
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Balance - December 31, 2018
|
|
|
50,000,000
|
|
|
|
0.03
|
|
|
|
1.75
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options exercisable at end of year
|
|
|
50,000,000
|
|
|
|
0.03
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Warrants
Pursuant
to the restated employment agreement with the Company’s chief executive officer, the Company granted to the chief executive
office warrants to purchase 60,000,000 shares at $0.004 per share, representing the warrants that had been previously covered
in his prior employment agreement dated January 1, 2014. These warrants are deemed to have been outstanding since January 1, 2014.
The warrants expired unexercised on March 1, 2018.
As
of December 31, 2018, there was no unamortized warrant expense.
A
summary of the status of the Company’s stock warrants and changes is set forth below:
|
|
Number of
Warrants
(#)
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
($)
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
(Years)
|
|
Balance - December 31, 2016
|
|
|
65,000,000
|
|
|
|
0.004
|
|
|
|
1.17
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Cancelled
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Expired
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Balance - December 31, 2017
|
|
|
65,000,000
|
|
|
|
0.004
|
|
|
|
0.17
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Cancelled
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Expired
|
|
|
65,000,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Balance - December 31, 2018
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warrants exercisable at end of year
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
NOTE
6 – INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Intangible
assets include patents purchased and are recorded based at their acquisition cost. Intangible assets consisted of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
amortization
period
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
(years)
|
|
Patents
|
|
$
|
4,020,000
|
|
|
$
|
4,000,000
|
|
|
|
9.8
|
|
Less: net monetization obligations
|
|
|
(509,811
|
)
|
|
|
(509,811
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Imputed interest
|
|
|
(376,291
|
)
|
|
|
(376,291
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Subtotal
|
|
|
3,133,898
|
|
|
|
3,113,898
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less: accumulated amortization
|
|
|
(1,088,280
|
)
|
|
|
(650,560
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Net value of intangible assets
|
|
$
|
2,045,618
|
|
|
$
|
2,463,338
|
|
|
|
8.15
|
|
Intangible
assets are comprised of patents with estimated useful lives. The intangible assets at December 31, 2018 represent: (1) patents
acquired in October 2015 for a purchase price of $3,000,000, the useful lives of the patents, at the date of purchase, was 6-10
years, and (2) patents acquired in July 2017 pursuant to an obligation to pay 50% of net revenues to IV 34/37, against which $25,000
was paid in July 2017 and provided that in the event that, on December 31, 2018, December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, cumulative
distributions of 50% of net revenues to IV 34/37 total less than $100,000, $375,000 and $975,000, respectively, CXT shall pay
the difference necessary to achieve the applicable minimum payment amount within ten days after the applicable date; with any
advances being credited toward future distributions to IV 34/36; the useful lives of the patents, at the date of acquisition,
was 5-6 years, (3) patents (which were fully depreciated at the date of acquisition) acquired in January 2018 pursuant to an agreement
with to Intellectual Ventures Assets 62 LLC and Intellectual Ventures Assets 71 LLC “(IV 62/71”), pursuant to which
CXT has an obligation to distribute 50% of net revenues to IV 62/71 against which CXT advanced $10,000 at closing; and (4) patents
(which were fully depreciated at the date of acquisition) acquired in January 2018 by Photonic Imaging Solutions Inc. (“PIS”)
from Intellectual Ventures Assets 64 LLC (“IV 64”) pursuant to which PIS is to pay IV 64 (a) 70% of the first $1,500,000
of net revenue, (b) 30% of the next $1,500,000 of net revenue and (c) 50% of net revenue in excess of $3,000,000, against which
PIS advanced $10,000 at closing. The Company amortizes the costs of intangible assets over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line
basis. Costs incurred to acquire patents, including legal costs, are also capitalized as long-lived assets and amortized
on a straight-line basis with the associated patent. Amortization of patents is included as a selling, general and administrative
expense as reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
The
Company assesses intangible assets for any impairment to the carrying values. As of December 31, 2018, management concluded
that there was no impairment to the acquired assets. At December 31, 2018, the book value of the Company’s intellectual
property was $2,045,618.
Amortization
expense for patents comprised $437,720 and $331,275 for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Future amortization
of intangible assets is as follows:
Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
$
|
417,719
|
|
2020
|
|
|
417,719
|
|
2021
|
|
|
413,658
|
|
2022
|
|
|
360,054
|
|
2023 and thereafter
|
|
|
436,469
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
2,045,619
|
|
As
discussed in Note 3, 15% of the proceeds from the patents acquired from Intellectual Ventures in October 2015 will be paid to
our lender, United Wireless. This monetization obligation was recognized as a discount to the loan and will be amortized over
the life of the loan using the effective interest method. In addition, the Company entered into a monetization agreement with
United Wireless pursuant to which the Company agreed to pay United Wireless 7.5% of the net monetization proceeds from the patents
acquired by CXT in July 2017. This obligation was recorded as an expense and is reflected in operating expenses.
The
Company granted IV 34/37 a security interest in the patents transferred to the Company as security for the payment of the balance
of the purchase price. The security interest of IV 34/37 is senior to the security interest of United Wireless in the proceeds
derived from such patents.
The
balance of the purchase price of the patents is reflected as follows:
Current Liabilities:
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
Purchase price of patents,
current portion
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
$
|
100,000
|
|
Unamortized discount
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase price of patents, long term
|
|
|
875,000
|
|
|
$
|
875,000
|
|
Unamortized discount
|
|
|
(105,172
|
)
|
|
|
(175,243
|
)
|
Total current and non-current
|
|
|
869,828
|
|
|
|
799,757
|
|
Effective interest rate of Amortized
over 2 years
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.2-9.6
|
%
|
Because
the non-current minimum payment obligations of $875,000 are due over the next three years, the Company imputed interest of 10%
and the interest will be accreted up to the maturity date.
NOTE
7 – NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST
The
following table reconciles equity attributable to the non-controlling interest related to Quest Packaging Solutions Corporation.
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
Balance, beginning of year
|
|
$
|
3,219
|
|
|
$
|
2,487
|
|
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest
|
|
$
|
(1,461
|
)
|
|
$
|
732
|
|
Balance, end of year
|
|
$
|
1,758
|
|
|
$
|
3,219
|
|
NOTE
8 – INCOME TAXES
The
Company uses the liability method, where deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the expected future tax consequences
of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial and income tax reporting purposes.
As of December 31, 2018, the Company has generated approximately $6,810,495 of net operating loss (“NOL”) carry forwards
of which can be carried forward indefinitely. Internal Revenue Code section 382 (“Section 382”) restricts the use
of these net operating losses in future periods if the Company has a “substantial change in ownership” as defined
by Section 382. The Company has had significant equity transactions in both the current and prior periods. Due to this equity
activity and the restrictions resulting under Section 382, most of the Company’s NOLs may not be available to offset future
taxable income. Therefore the Company has fully reserved the deferred tax asset resulting from the net operating loss carry forwards.
Deferred
tax asset consisted primarily of the following:
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
Net operating loss carry forward
|
|
$
|
1,770,729
|
|
|
$
|
1,436,257
|
|
Intangible Assets
|
|
|
195,999
|
|
|
|
101,023
|
|
Valuation allowance
|
|
$
|
(1,966,728
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,537,280
|
)
|
Balance, end of year
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Tax
expense consisted primarily of the following:
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
Federal
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
State
|
|
|
234
|
|
|
|
4,500
|
|
Foreign
|
|
|
1,039,900
|
|
|
|
101,505
|
|
Deferred
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
1,040,134
|
|
|
$
|
106,005
|
|
The
Company’s tax expense does not reflect the statutory rate since the Company’s deferred tax asset is fully offset by
a valuation allowance. The statute of limitations is open for the tax years ending December 31, 2015 and thereafter.
The
Company’s foreign tax expense reflects the tax withheld by the foreign jurisdiction on royalty income received by the Company
and not exempt under the United States tax treaty, if any, with the respective foreign jurisdiction. In 2018 the Company
was subject to foreign source withholding tax of 10% and 20% in the jurisdictions of the People’s Republic of China and
the Republic of China, respectively. In 2017 the Company was subject to foreign source withholding tax of 20% in the jurisdiction
of the People’s Republic of China.
NOTE
9 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The
Company has at various times entered into transactions with related parties, including officers, directors and major shareholders,
wherein these parties have provided services, advanced or loaned money, or both, to the Company needed to support its daily operations.
The Company discloses all related party transactions.
See
Notes 3 and 6 in connection with transactions with United Wireless. During periods ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company
incurred interest expense on the Company’s 10% notes issued to United Wireless pursuant to the securities purchase agreement
dated October 22, 2015. The interest expense was approximately $510,000 and $356,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018 and
2017, respectively. On each of September 30, 2017 and 2018, accrued interest was added to the principal amount of the note.
See
Note 10 with respect to the employment agreement with the Company’s president and chief executive officer.
During
2018, the Company contracted with an entity owned by the chief technology officer for the provision of information technology
services to the Company. In 2018, the cost of these services was approximately $794.
NOTE
10 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Employment
Agreements
Pursuant
to a restated employment agreement, dated November 30, 2014, with the Company’s president and chief executive officer, the
Company agreed to employ him as president and chief executive officer for a term of three years, commencing January 1, 2014, and
continuing on a year-to-year basis unless terminated by either party on not less than 90 days’ notice prior to the expiration
of the initial term or any one-year extension. The agreement provides for an initial annual salary of $252,000, which may be increased,
but not decreased, by the board or the compensation committee. In March 2016, the Company’s board of directors increased
the chief executive officer’s annual salary to $300,000, effective January 1, 2016. The chief executive officer is entitled
to a bonus if we meet or exceed performance criteria established by the compensation committee. In August 2016, the Company’s
board of directors approved annual bonus compensation equal to 30% of the amount by which our consolidated income before income
taxes exceeds $500,000, but, if the Company is subject to the limitation on deductibility of executive compensation pursuant to
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, the bonus cannot exceed the amount which would be deductible pursuant to Section
162(m). The chief executive officer is also eligible to participate in any executive incentive plans which the Company may adopt.
Inventor
Royalties, Contingent Litigation Funding Fees and Contingent Legal Expenses
In
connection with the investment in certain patents and patent rights, certain of the Company’s operating subsidiaries executed
agreements which grant to the former owners of the respective patents or patent rights, the right to receive inventor royalties
based on future net revenues (as defined in the respective agreements) generated as a result of licensing and otherwise enforcing
the respective patents or patent portfolios.
The
Company’s operating subsidiaries may engage third party funding sources to provide funding for patent licensing and enforcement. The
agreements with the third party funding sources may provide that the funding source receive a portion of any negotiated fees,
settlements or judgments. In certain instances, these third party funding sources are entitled to receive a significant percentage
of any proceeds realized until the third party funder has recouped agreed upon amounts based on formulas set forth in the underlying
funding agreement, which may reduce or delay and proceeds due to the Company.
The
Company’s operating subsidiaries may retain the services of law firms in connection with their licensing and enforcement
activities. These law firms may be retained on a contingent fee basis whereby the law firms are paid on a scaled percentage
of any negotiated fees, settlements or judgments awarded based on how and when the fees, settlements or judgments are obtained.
Depending
on the amount of any recovery, it is possible that all the proceeds from a specific settlement may be paid to the funding source
and legal counsel.
The
economic terms of the inventor agreements, funding agreements and contingent legal fee arrangements associated with the patent
portfolios owned or controlled by the Company’s operating subsidiaries, if any, including royalty rates, proceeds sharing
rates, contingent fee rates and other terms, vary across the patent portfolios owned or controlled by the operating subsidiaries. Inventor
royalties, payments to noncontrolling interests, payments to third party funding providers and contingent legal fees expenses
fluctuate period to period, based on the amount of revenues recognized each period, the terms and conditions of revenue agreements
executed each period and the mix of specific patent portfolios with varying economic terms and obligations generating revenues
each period. Inventor royalties, payments to third party funding sources and contingent legal fees expenses will continue to fluctuate
and may continue to vary significantly period to period, based primarily on these factors.
In
March 2014, the Company entered into a funding agreement whereby a third party agreed to provide funds to us to enable us to implement
a structured licensing program, including litigation if necessary, for the Mobile Data. Under the funding agreement, the third
party receives an interest in the proceeds from the program, and we have no other obligation to the third party. In April and
June 2014, as part of a structured licensing program for the Mobile Data portfolio, Quest Licensing Corporation brought patent
infringement suits in the U.S. District for the District of Delaware against Bloomberg LP et. al., FactSet Research Systems Inc.,
Interactive Data Corporation, SunGard Data Systems Inc. and The Charles Schwab Corporation et. al. In June and August 2016, Quest
Licensing Corporation entered into a settlement agreement with SunGard Data Systems Inc. and FactSet Research Systems Inc. On
January 19, 2017, the court in the Mobile Data Portfolio litigation granted the remaining defendants’ motion for summary
judgment of non-infringement. On June 8, 2018 the appellate court affirmed the lower court’s decision. On June 9, 2018 Quest
Licensing Corporation filed a petition for rehearing with the appellate court. On July 30, 2018 the appellate court denied Quest
Licensing Corporations petition for rehearing. As of December 31, 2018, the third-party litigation has advanced approximately
$3,000,000 in litigation fees, costs and expenses. Under the terms of the funding agreement, the third-party funder is entitled
to a priority return of funds advanced from any proceeds recovered. The Company’s management fees and management support
services expenses in 2017 relate to this agreement. We no longer receive management fees under this agreement.
In
December 2018, the Company entered into a funding agreement whereby a third party agreed to provide funds, in the amount of $150,000,
in support of the structured licensing programs of PIS and M-RED. Under the funding agreement, the third party receives an interest
in the proceeds from the programs, and we have no other obligation to the third party.
Patent
Enforcement and Other Litigation
Certain
of the Company’s operating subsidiaries are engaged in litigation to enforce their patents and patent rights. In connection
with these patent enforcement actions, it is possible that a defendant may request and/or a court may rule that an operating subsidiary
has violated statutory authority, regulatory authority, federal rules, local court rules, or governing standards relating to the
substantive or procedural aspects of such enforcement actions. In such event, a court may issue monetary sanctions against
the Company or its operating subsidiaries or award attorney’s fees and/or expenses to a defendant(s), which could be material,
and if required to be paid by the Company or its operating subsidiaries, could materially harm the Company’s operating results
and financial position. Since the operating subsidiaries do not have any assets other than the patents, and the Company does not
have any available financial resources to pay any judgment which a defendant may obtain against a subsidiary, such a judgement
may result in the bankruptcy of the subsidiary and/or the loss of the patents, which are the subsidiaries’ only assets.
On
January 19, 2017, the court in the Mobile Data Portfolio litigation granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment
of non-infringement. On January 31, 2017, Quest Licensing Corporation filed a notice of appeal with the United States Court of
Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Following the court’s decision granting the defendant’s motion for summary judgment,
the defendants moved for an award of attorneys’ fees under Section 285 of the patent act which provides that “the
court in exceptional cases may award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party.” Such a motion, if granted, would
result in a judgment against Quest Licensing Corporation, which does not have the financial resources to enable it to pay any
judgment which may be rendered against it, and, the defendants may seek to enforce their judgment by seeking to foreclose on the
patents owned by the subsidiary or seek to force the subsidiary into bankruptcy and purchase the patents in the bankruptcy proceeding,
either of which could result in a default under the Company’s agreement with United Wireless. The possible amount of any
judgment cannot be estimated and the funding source for the litigation will not provide the Company with funds to pay an adverse
judgment. On June 29, 2017, the defendants’ motion for attorney fees in the Mobile Data litigation was denied, without prejudice.
Defendants may renew their motion thirty days from the decision of the appellate court on Quest Licensing Corporation’s
appeal. On June 8, 2018 the appellate court affirmed the lower court’s decision. On June 9, 2018 Quest Licensing Corporation
filed a petition for rehearing with the appellate court. On July 30, 2018 the appellate court denied Quest Licensing Corporations
petition for rehearing. On August 8, 2018, the defendants’ renewed their motion for an award of attorneys’ fees under
Section 285 of the Patent Act.
NOTE
11 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On
March 15, 2019, M-RED Inc. (“M-RED”), a wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into an agreement with Intellectual Ventures
Assets 113 LLC and Intellectual Ventures Assets 108 LLC (“IV 113/108”) pursuant to which M-RED paid IV 113/108 $75,000
and IV 113/108 transferred to M-RED all right, title and interest in a portfolio of sixty United States patents and eight foreign
patents (the “M-RED Portfolio”). Under the agreement, M-RED will distribute 50% of net proceeds, as defined, to IV
113/108, as long as we generate revenue from the M-RED Portfolio. The agreement with IV 113/108 provides that if, on September
30, 2020, September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2022, cumulative distributions to IV 113/108 total less than $450,000, $975,000
and $1,575,000, respectively, M-RED shall pay the difference between such cumulative amounts and the amount paid to IV 113/108
within ten days after the applicable date; with any advances being credited toward future distributions to IV 113/108; the useful
lives of the patents, at the date of acquisition, was approximately 9 years. Neither the Company nor any affiliate of M-RED has
guaranteed the minimum payments. M-RED’s obligations under the agreement with IV 113/108 are secured by a security interest
in the proceeds (from litigation or otherwise) from the M-RED Portfolio.
On
March 27, 2019 the court in the Mobile Data Portfolio litigation denied the defendants’ motion for attorney fees under Section
285 of the Patent Act.
On
April 11, 2019 Quest NetTech Corporation merged with Wynn Technologies, Inc. with Quest NetTech Corporation being the surviving
entity. On April 12, 2019, Quest NetTech brought a patent infringement suit in the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Texas
against Apple, Inc.
PART
II
INFORMATION
NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM
13. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION. (1)
|
|
Amount
|
|
Nature of Expense:
|
|
|
|
SEC Registration Fee
|
|
$
|
50.35
|
|
Accounting fees and expenses
|
|
|
1,800.00
|
|
Legal fees and expenses
|
|
|
22,000.00
|
|
Printing
|
|
|
600.00
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
|
549.65
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
25,000.00
|
|
(1)
|
All
expenses, except the SEC registration fee, are estimated.
|
ITEM
14. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Section
145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law gives us broad authority to indemnify our officers and directors. under certain prescribed
circumstances and subject to certain limitations against certain costs and expenses, including attorney’s fees actually
and reasonably incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative,
to which a person is a party by reason of being a director or officer if it is determined that such person acted in accordance
with the applicable standard of conduct set forth in such statutory provisions. Our certificate of incorporation provides that
we shall indemnify our officers and directors and others whom we are permitted to indemnify to the maximum extent permitted by
Delaware law. Our by-laws have broad indemnification provisions for our board of directors, consistent with Section 145 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law. We also have indemnification agreements with our directors which are consistent with our certificate
of incorporation and bylaws.
Insofar
as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons
controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities
and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
ITEM
15. RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES
(a)
Pursuant to the Company’s restated employment agreement with Jon C. Scahill, its chief executive officer, on October
30, 2014, the Company issued 30,000,000 shares of common stock to Mr. Scahill. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Scahill’s
rights to the stock vested on January 15, 2015; provided that if he is not employed by the Company at such date other than as
a result of his death or disability, his rights to the shares shall be forfeited, although the chief executive officer had
the right to vote the shares immediately upon issuance. These shares vested on January 15, 2015. The value of the shares,
$63,000, is reflected as stock-related compensation during the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The issuance of the
shares is exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act as a transaction not involving a public
offering.
(b)
On October 22, 2015, pursuant to a securities purchase agreement among the Company, certain of its subsidiaries, and United
Wireless Holdings, Inc., we issued to United Wireless:
(i)
50,000,000 shares of common stock for $250,000.
(ii)
An option to purchase 50,000,000 shares of common stock, with exercise prices of $0.01 per share as to 16,666,667 shares, which
may be exercised from September 30, 2016 through September 30, 2020, $0.03 per share as to 16,666,667 shares, which may be exercised
from September 30, 2017 through September 30, 2020, and $0.05 per share as to 16,666,666 shares, which may be exercised from September
30, 2018 through September 30, 2020.
(iii)
A promissory note in the principal amount of $1,250,000, which becomes convertible upon the occurrence of certain events of
defaults.
In
addition, United Wireless made additional loans to the Company in the aggregate amount of $3,000,000.
The
issuance of the securities to United Wireless was exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) as a transaction not involving
a public offering. No underwriter or broker was involved in the issuance of the securities to United Wireless.
(c)
In November 2017, the Company granted 60,000,000 shares to Jon C. Scahill and 5,000,000 shares to each of Timothy J. Scahill
and Dr. William Ryall Carroll, each of whom is a director of the Company. The shares were issued pursuant to the
Company’s 2017 Long Term Incentive Plan, and the issuance of the shares is exempt from registration pursuant to Section
4(a)(2) of the Securities Act as a transaction not involving a public offering.
ITEM
16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
|
|
|
|
3.1
|
|
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company
5
|
3.1.1
|
|
Certificate of amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation
7
|
3.2
|
|
Bylaws of the Company
3
|
5.1
|
|
Opinion of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
4
|
10.1
|
|
Restated Employment Agreement dated as of November 30, 2014 between the issuer and between the Company and Jon C. Scahill.
1
|
10.2
|
|
Separation Agreement and Mutual General Release dated October 10, 2014 between the Company and Burton Goldstein.
1
|
10.3
|
|
Separation Agreement and Mutual General Release dated October 10, 2014 between the Company and Herbert Reichlin.
1
|
10.4
|
|
Restricted Stock Grant dated October 30, 2014 between the Company and Jon C. Scahill.
1
|
10.5
|
|
License Agreement dated March 26, 2008 between the Company and Emerging Technologies Trust.
1
|
10.6
|
|
Licensing Services Agreement dated July10, 2008 between the Company and Balthaser Online, Inc.
1
|
10.7
|
|
Patent Purchase Agreement dated December 21, 2009 between Company and Intertech Holdings, LLC.
1
|
10.8
|
|
Consulting Agreement dated August 11, 2010 between the Company and Alex W. Hart.
1
|
10.9
|
|
Agreement dated February 8, 2011 between the Company and Sol Li.
1
|
10.10
|
|
Agreement dated June 26, 2013 between the Company and The Betting Service Ltd. and Neil Riches.
1
|
10.11
|
|
Funding Agreement dated March 13, 2014 between the Company and Longford Capital Fund I, LP, (subject to order granting confidential treatment).
1
|
10.12
|
|
Agreement dated April 1, 2014 between the Company and Allied Standard Limited.
1
|
10.13
|
|
Form of warrant issued to Messrs. Goldstein and Reichlin.
1
|
10.14
|
|
Form of warrant issued to Mr. Jon C. Scahill.
1
|
10.15
|
|
Form of indemnification agreement.
1
|
10.16
|
|
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 22, 2015
among the Company, Quest Licensing Corporation, Wynn Technologies, Inc., Mariner IC Inc., Semcon IP Inc., IC Kinetics Inc. and
United Wireless Holdings, Inc.
2
|
10.17
|
|
Promissory note due September 30, 2020 issued by the Company in the principal amount of $1,250,000.
2
|
10.18
|
|
Monetization Proceeds Agreement, dated as of October 22, 2015 among the Company, Quest Licensing Corporation, Wynn Technologies, Inc., Mariner IC Inc., Semcon IP Inc., IC Kinetics Inc. and United Wireless Holdings, Inc.
2
|
10.19
|
|
Patent Proceeds Security Agreement, dated as of October 22, 2015 among the Company, Quest Licensing Corporation, Wynn Technologies, Inc., Mariner IC Inc., Semcon IP Inc., IC Kinetics Inc. and United Wireless Holdings, Inc.
2
|
10.20
|
|
Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of October 22, 2015 between the Company and United Wireless Holdings, Inc.
2
|
10.21
|
|
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 22, 2016 between the Company and United Wireless Holdings, Inc.
2
|
10.22
|
|
Patent Sale Agreement, effective July 8, 2015 between Intellectual Ventures Assets 16 LLC and the Company.
2
|
10.23
|
|
Indemnification agreement, dated December 8, 2014, between the Company and Jon C. Scahill.
4
|
10.24
|
|
Indemnification agreement, dated December 8, 2014, between the Company and Timothy J. Scahill.
4
|
10.25
|
|
Indemnification agreement, dated December 8, 2014, between the Company and Dr. William Ryall Carroll.
4
|
10.26
|
|
Standstill agreement, dated June 12, 2017, between the Company, certain subsidiaries and United Wireless.
6
|
10.27
|
|
Monetization Proceeds Agreement dated as of July 31, 2017 among CXT Systems, Inc. and United Wireless Holdings, Inc.
8
|
10.28
|
|
2017 Equity Incentive Plan
8
|
23.1
|
|
Consent of independent registered public accounting
firm
9
|
23.2
|
|
Consent of counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1).
|
1
|
Filed
as an exhibit to the Company’s report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, which was filed with the SEC
on December 15, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
|
2
|
Filed
as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K, which was filed with the SEC on October 28, 2015 and incorporated herein by
reference.
|
3
|
Filed
as an exhibit to the Company’s report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, which was filed with the SEC
on April 10, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference.
|
4
|
Filed
as exhibit to Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, which was filed with the SEC on February
3, 2016, and incorporated herein by reference.
|
5
|
Filed
as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K, which was filed with the SEC on January 26, 2016 and incorporated herein by
reference.
|
6
|
Filed
as an exhibit to Amendment No. 2 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, which was
filed with the SEC on May 4, 2018, and incorporated herein by reference.
|
7
|
Filed
as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K, which was filed with the SEC June 16, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference.
|
8
|
Filed
as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, which was filed with the SEC on April
2, 2018, and incorporated hereby by reference.
|
ITEM
17. UNDERTAKINGS.
We
hereby undertake:
(a)(1) To
file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To
include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To
reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set
forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if
the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high
end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering
price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.
(iii) To
include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement
or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
(2) That,
for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, to any purchaser, each prospectus filed by
the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) and (h) of this chapter shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as
of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement:
(3) To
remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at
the termination of the offering.
(b)
If the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating
to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A,
shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness.
Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement
or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part
of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify
any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in
any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
(c)
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised that in the opinion of
the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than director, officer or controlling person in
the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection
with the securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by the Company is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized in Rye, New York this 9
th
day of July, 2019.
|
QUEST
PATENT RESEARCH CORPORATION
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Jon C. Scahill
|
|
|
Jon
C. Scahill,
|
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed below by the following
persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Jon C. Scahill
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer,
|
|
July
9, 2019
|
Jon
C. Scahill
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer and Director
(principal
executive and financial officer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Timothy J. Scahill
|
|
Director
|
|
July
9, 2019
|
Timothy
J. Scahill
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Dr. William Ryall Carroll
|
|
Director
|
|
July
9, 2019
|
Dr.
William Ryall Carroll
|
|
|
|
|
II-4
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