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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

NOTE 24 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Legal Proceedings

 

The Company may from time to time be subject to legal proceedings that may arise in the ordinary course of business. Although there can be no assurance in this regard, the Company does not expect any of those legal proceedings to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.

 

License Agreements

 

Cornerstone is a party to two license agreements in connection with certain technology being used for products under development and is required to make certain annual maintenance payments. In addition, royalty payments, calculated on a low single digit percentage of net sales, as defined in the respective agreements, will be required upon the commercialization of licensed technology. Sublicensing fees are calculated and due based upon a percentage of gross sublicense fees. Cornerstone expenses license obligation payments to research and development on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

One worldwide license agreement requires Cornerstone to reimburse the other party for costs associated with filing and defending various patents worldwide. Payment obligations under this license agreement remain in effect until the last underlying patents granted under the license agreement expire in their respective countries. The last patent expired in 2019. License maintenance fees are currently $20,000 per year and continue for the term of the agreement, which expires in 2026. The license maintenance fees are replaced by minimum royalties of $10,000 during the first year following governmental approval to market products and escalates to $1,000,000 during the term of the agreement. Cornerstone is also responsible to pay fees on any sub-licensing of the licensed patents. Cornerstone may credit each annual license maintenance fee in full against all royalties and sublicensing fees due during the same calendar year. Cornerstone may terminate the license agreement upon 90 days’ notice. Either party may terminate the license agreement if the other party commits any material breach of any covenant or promise and does not cure such breach within 30 days of the receipt of written notice of such material breach. In May 2017, Cornerstone renegotiated the agreement referred to as the “second license.” In exchange for a waiver of certain product development milestones, Cornerstone modified the agreement to pay a low single digit percentage royalty for a duration of five years on Net Sales of product sold after the expiration of the licensed patent and potentially up to eight years. As of July 31, 2024, there are no products being marketed which are covered by the patents under the license agreement.

 

The remaining minimum payments required under the license agreement, assuming the agreement is not terminated by Cornerstone, excluding any escalation for receiving government marketing approval subsequent to July 31, 2018, are $20,000 per year. The agreement may continue until January 1, 2029 (if not earlier terminated).

 

Cornerstone’s second license continues until the termination of the later of the last to expire patent or royalty obligation under the agreement on a country-by-country basis (currently, or as otherwise provided in the license agreement). Fifty percent of the maintenance fee payments, up to $1.1 million, may be credited against the potential future royalty payments, calculated on a single digit percentage of net sales, as defined, that Cornerstone would have to make to the license holder should royalties be paid. The agreement may be terminated on 15 days’ written notice after default by the other party if said default is not cured within 30 days of receipt of notice by the defaulting party. In addition, Cornerstone may terminate the agreement on 15 days’ written notice to the license holder. Royalties are due based on Gross Sales, as defined, for products sold relating to patented and unpatented technology, and shall terminate on the 15th anniversary of the first commercial sale of the product in the corresponding country or territory. Sublicense payments are due in connection with any sublicense fees received relating to patented and non-patented products related to the patented technology and proprietary know-how, as provided in the agreement. As of July 31, 2024, there were no products being marketed which are covered by the patents under the license agreement. There were no additional annual license maintenance fees required beyond 2010.

 

As part of a royalty agreement, Cornerstone is obligated to pay royalties, based upon percentage (low single digit) of net sales, to Altira Capital and Consulting LLC (“Altira”), a consolidated subsidiary of the Company. The royalty obligations remain in effect, on a country-by-country basis, until the last to expire patent claims associated with such products and services expire or are no longer in force. No payments have been made in connection with a royalty pool. As of July 31, 2024, the last to expire patent claim is to remain in force until fiscal 2034.