Note 18 - Contingencies:

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

18.   Contingencies

(a)The Company may, from time to time, be subject to claims and legal proceedings brought against it in the normal course of business. Such matters are subject to many uncertainties. Management believes that adequate provisions have been made in the accounts where required and the ultimate resolution of such contingencies will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position of the Company.

(b) The Company entered into indemnification agreements with all officers and directors. The maximum potential amount of future payments required under these indemnification agreements is unlimited. However, the Company maintains appropriate liability insurance that limits the exposure and enables the Company to recover any future amounts paid, less any deductible amounts pursuant to the terms of the respective policies, the amounts of which are not considered material.

(c)The Company has entered into license and research agreements with third parties that include indemnification provisions that are customary in the industry. These indemnification provisions generally require the Company to compensate the other party for certain damages and costs incurred as a result of third party claims or damages arising from these transactions. In some cases, the maximum potential amount of future payments that could be required under these indemnification provisions is unlimited. These indemnification provisions may survive termination of the underlying agreement. The nature of the indemnification obligations prevents the Company from making a reasonable estimate of the maximum potential amount it could be required to pay. Historically, the Company has not made any indemnification payments under such agreements and no amount has been accrued in the accompanying consolidated financial statements with respect to these indemnification obligations.

(d) The Company is party to a proceeding related to its use of certain intellectual property, however, management believes that the possibility of a material loss arising from this matter is not likely.