Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The accompanying interim financial statements are condensed and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s latest annual financial statements. It is management’s opinion that all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods have been made, and all such adjustments were of a normal recurring nature.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At September 30, 2016, the Company had an accumulated deficit since inception of $60,528,081 (including a net loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 of $2,795,081) and had a negative working capital of $11,616,970. As of November 10, 2016, we had remaining cash of $2,357,850. These factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Since January 1, 2015, the Company has completed the following transactions to provide working capital:Entered into our first license agreement in February 2015 (under which we have received an aggregate of $2,000,000 for a five-year license), received net proceeds from an additional drawdown from the Fortress Agreement of $1,126,900 in February 2015, received net proceeds of $1,835,000 from the sale of common stock in April 2015, executed a sale of patents for $4,000,000 in June 2015, received net proceeds of approximately $2,175,000 in January 2016 from the sale of Series C preferred stock, received net proceeds of $250,000 from the sale of Series D preferred stock in May 2016, received net proceeds of $1,200,000 from the sale of common stock in a registered direct offering, also in May 2016, and received $1,300,000 from a patent license and settlement in June 2016. On July 25, 2016, we closed on a $3,000,000 sale of Series E convertible preferred stock, pursuant to which we received net proceeds of approximately $2,800,000. We used $2,500,000 of the net proceeds to redeem approximately 70% of the Series C preferred stock. On October 12, 2016, we closed a public offering of common stock and warrants from which we received approximately $5,100,000 after fees and expenses. We used approximately $1,300,000 to redeem substantially all of the remaining Series C preferred stock and will use the remainder for working capital purposes. We will seek to continue our operations primarily with income received through our patent monetization efforts, including licensing revenues and patent sales, but we will likely need to seek additional financing through loans, which will be subject to the restrictions of the Fortress Agreement, and/or the sale of securities. If we are required to raise additional capital financing, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain such additional capital on terms acceptable to us or at all. Additionally, if we raise capital through the issuance of equity, our current stockholders will experience dilution.

The business will require significant additional capital and/or patent monetization revenues to continue operations and execute the Company’s longer term business plan. Based on the Company’s updated internal financial plan covering the next fifteen months (through December 31, 2017), we will require approximately $5,000,000 in cash to fund operating expenses, which includes approximately $2,800,000 for employee-related costs and consultants performing outsourced functions, approximately $1,500,000 for legal and compliance, and approximately $800,000 for other operational costs. During the next 15 months, we anticipate making $5,700,000 of payments relating to the acquisition of our patent portfolios, $2,200,000 of which are fixed payments and $3,500,000 are variable payments based on forecasted patent monetization revenues. In addition, we will require approximately $7,400,000 to meet our debt service obligations with Fortress (including payments of both interest and principal). These amounts payable to Fortress are in addition to any revenue sharing amounts expected to be paid from forecasted patent monetization revenues. The aforementioned payments due to Fortress would be eliminated and replaced by a new patent monetization program funded by Fortress if the terms of the non-binding letter of intent between the Company and Fortress results in a definitive agreement, as more fully discussed in Note 5. We continue to work to reduce and control expenses and defer obligations where possible. While we believe our forecasted revenues are supported by a pipeline cultivated over multiple years of business development activities, should these efforts fail to meet our forecasts, we will seek additional working capital through the sale of debt or equity securities, as referenced in the preceding paragraph. Based on our existing cash on hand, our management believes we have funds sufficient to meet our anticipated needs for approximately seven months.

To date, the Company has acquired an aggregate of approximately 755 currently active patents and patent applications for aggregate purchase payments of $12,109,118. We are required to make guaranteed payments to one of the sellers of the patents totaling $2,200,000. See Note 9 herein for further information regarding these guaranteed payments.

The Company may also require additional financing for the purchase of additional patent portfolios and to fund its monetization efforts if new attractive opportunities are found. In the event the Company acquires additional large patent portfolios, in addition to the cost of the upfront purchase fee (if any) it is likely that additional resources (business, technical or legal) may be required to effectively monetize the portfolio. Resources to analyze new portfolios are already part of the current staffing of the Company. Litigation costs are based primarily on a contingent fee structure (expected to average less than 20% of license revenue for a portfolio) and as such do not scale significantly with the acquisition of new portfolios. Acquisitions or investments may be consummated through the use of cash, equity, seller financing, third party debt, earn-out obligations, revenue sharing, profit sharing, or some combination of two or more of these types of consideration. Due to the current state of the credit markets, the Company is not able to predict with any certainty whether it will be able to obtain debt or equity financing to provide additional sources of liquidity, should the need arise, at favorable rates.

Management estimates and related risks

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions about the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities, at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported periods. Although these estimates reflect management's best estimates, it is at least reasonably possible that a material change to these estimates could occur in the near term.

Cash and cash equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid financial instruments with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable, net

Accounts receivable are stated net of allowances for doubtful accounts. The Company typically grants standard credit terms to customers in good credit standing. The Company generally reserves for estimated uncollectible accounts on a customer-by-customer basis, which requires the Company to judge each individual customer’s ability and intention to fully pay account balances. The Company makes these judgments based on knowledge of and relationships with customers and current economic trends, and updates these estimates on a monthly basis. Any changes in estimates, which could be significant, are included in earnings in the period in which the change in estimate occurs. As of September 30, 2016, the Company has established a reserve of $22,350 for uncollectable accounts.

Property and equipment, net

Property and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets (or the term of the lease, if shorter), which range from three to five years. Routine maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred. The costs of major additions, replacements and improvements are capitalized. Upon retirement or sale, the cost of assets disposed of and the related accumulated depreciation is removed and any resulting gain or loss is credited or charged to operations.

Patents, net

Patents, including acquisition costs, are stated at cost, less accumulated amortization. Amortization is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets, generally 7 - 10 years. Upon retirement or sale, the cost of assets disposed and the related accumulated amortization are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is credited or charged to operations. Patents are utilized for the purpose of generating licensing revenue.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets consist of certain contract rights acquired in the Merger. Intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful life of five years.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the aggregate purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired by the Company. The carrying amount of goodwill will be tested for impairment annually or more frequently if facts and circumstances warrant a review. The Company determined that it is a single reporting unit for the purpose of goodwill impairment tests. For purposes of assessing the impairment of goodwill, the Company estimates the value of the reporting unit using independent valuation and/or other market validation of certain asset values as the best evidence of fair value. This fair value is then compared to the carrying value of the reporting unit.

Impairment of long-lived assets

The Company evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets on an annual basis, or more frequently whenever circumstances indicate a long-lived asset may be impaired. When indicators of impairment exist, the Company estimates future undiscounted cash flows attributable to such assets. In the event cash flows are not expected to be sufficient to recover the recorded value of the assets, the assets are written down to their estimated fair value.

Concentration of credit risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are deposited with high quality financial institutions. Periodically, such balances are in excess of federally insured limits.

Stock-based compensation

The Company has a stock option plan under which incentive and non-qualified stock options and restricted stock awards (“RSAs”) are granted primarily to employees. All share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options and RSAs, are recognized in the financial statements based on their respective grant date fair values. The benefits of tax deductions in excess of recognized compensation cost are reported as a financing cash flow.

The Company estimates the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense ratably over the requisite service periods in the Company’s statements of comprehensive income or loss. The Company has estimated the fair value of each option award as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value of RSAs is calculated as the fair value of the underlying stock multiplied by the number of shares awarded. The awards issued consist of fully-vested stock awards, performance-based restricted shares, and service-based restricted shares.

Expenses related to stock-based awards issued to non-employees are recognized at fair value on a recurring basis over the expected service period. The Company estimates the fair value of the awards using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

Income taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method whereby deferred tax asset and liability account balances are determined based on temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. A valuation allowance is established when it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets will not be realized. Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon future pretax earnings, the reversal of temporary differences between book and tax income, and the expected tax rates in future periods. The Company has a full valuation allowance on all deferred tax assets.

The Company is required to evaluate the tax positions taken in the course of preparing its tax returns to determine whether tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax benefits of positions not deemed to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold would be recorded as a tax expense in the current year. The amount recognized is subject to estimate and management judgment with respect to the likely outcome of each uncertain tax position. The amount that is ultimately sustained for an individual uncertain tax position or for all uncertain tax positions in the aggregate could differ from the amount that is initially recognized.

Fair value measurements

The Company 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. The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs within the fair value hierarchy. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s own assumptions about what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments:

⋅	Level 1 - Valuation is based upon quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets.

⋅	Level 2 - Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market.

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Level 3 - Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use significant assumptions not observable in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect management’s estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques include use of option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques.

The category within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”), which amends the existing accounting standards for revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 is based on principles that govern the recognition of revenue at an amount an entity expects to be entitled when products are transferred to customers. ASU 2014-09 will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of 2019 and early adoption is permitted. Subsequently, the FASB has issued the following standards related to ASU 2014-09: ASU No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (“ASU 2016-08”); ASU No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing (“ASU 2016-10”); and ASU No. 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients (“ASU 2016-12”). The Company must adopt ASU 2016-08, ASU 2016-10 and ASU 2016-12 with ASU 2014-09 (collectively, the “new revenue standards”). The new revenue standards may be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized as of the date of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the timing of its adoption and the impact of adopting the new revenue standards on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued a new accounting standard which requires management to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern for each annual and interim reporting period and to provide related footnote disclosures in certain circumstances. ASU 2014-15 Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern is effective for annual reporting periods (including interim reporting periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this accounting standard.

In April 2015, the FASB issued a new accounting standard which changes the presentation of debt issuance costs in financial statements. Under the new standard, an entity presents such costs in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset. Amortization of the costs is reported as interest expense. The Company adopted this standard beginning in 2016, and its adoption did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842).” The amendments under this pronouncement will change the way all leases with a duration of one year of more are treated. Under this guidance, lessees will be required to capitalize virtually all leases on the balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and an associated financing lease liability or capital lease liability. The right-of-use asset represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the specified lease term. The lease liability represents the lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease, measured on a discounted basis. Based on certain characteristics, leases are classified as financing leases or operating leases. Financing lease liabilities, those that contain provisions similar to capitalized leases, are amortized like capital leases are under current accounting, as amortization expense and interest expense in the statement of operations. Operating lease liabilities are amortized on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease as lease expense in the statement of operations. This update is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim periods within those reporting periods, beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this standard will have on its policies and procedures pertaining to its existing and future lease arrangements, disclosure requirements and on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued a new accounting standard for employee share-based payments accounting. The accounting standard primarily affects the accounting for forfeitures, minimum statutory tax withholding requirements, and income tax effects related to share-based payments at settlement (or expiration). The accounting standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this accounting standard on our consolidated financial statements.