Segment Reporting

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 15 – Segment Reporting

From 2005 until the second quarter of 2009, the Company operated in a single business segment, Patent Licensing. With the commencement of Counsel RB’s operations in the second quarter of 2009, the Company diversified into a second segment, Asset Liquidation.

There are no material inter-segment revenues. The Company’s business is conducted principally in the U.S. and Canada. The table below presents information about the segments of the Company as of and for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:

	For the Year Ended December 31, 2011
	Reportable Segments
	Asset		Patent
	Liquidation		Licensing			Total
Revenues from external customers	$	17,238	$	—		$	17,238
Earnings from equity accounted asset liquidation investments		2,183		—			2,183
Other income		30		—			30
Interest expense		245		—			245
Depreciation and amortization		2		—			2
Segment income from continuing operations		5,593		(86	)		5,507
Investment in equity accounted asset liquidation investees		3,455		—			3,455
Segment assets		8,801		28			8,829

	For the Year Ended December 31, 2010
	Reportable Segments
	Asset			Patent
	Liquidation			Licensing			Total
Revenues from external customers	$	3,266		$	—		$	3,266
Earnings from equity accounted asset liquidation investments		7,586			—			7,586
Other income (expense)		(387	)		(173	)		(560	)
Interest expense		272			—			272
Depreciation and amortization		—			—			—
Segment income (loss) from continuing operations		6,114			(305	)		5,809
Investment in equity accounted asset liquidation investees		3,548			—			3,548
Segment assets		10,677			28			10,705

The following table reconciles reportable segment information to the consolidated financial statements of the Company:

	Year ended			Year ended
	December 31,			December 31,
	2011			2010
Total other income and earnings from equity investments for reportable segments	$	2,213		$	7,026
Unallocated other income and earnings from equity investments from corporate accounts		28			362
	$	2,241		$	7,388
Total interest expense for reportable segments	$	245		$	272
Unallocated interest expense from third party debt		—			—
Unallocated interest expense from related party debt		—			64
	$	245		$	336
Total depreciation and amortization for reportable segments	$	2		$	—
Other unallocated depreciation from corporate assets		—			—
	$	2		$	—
Total segment income	$	5,507		$	5,809
Other income		28			362
Other corporate expenses (primarily corporate level interest, general and administrative expenses)		(1,139	)		(1,275	)
Income tax recovery		26,317			1,318
Net income from continuing operations	$	30,713		$	6,214
Segment assets	$	8,829		$	10,705
Intangible assets not allocated to segments		—			—
Other assets not allocated to segments(1)		38,318			5,981
	$	47,147		$	16,686

(1) Other assets not allocated to segments are corporate assets such as cash, non-trade accounts receivable, prepaid insurance, investments and deferred income tax assets.