1.	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Business

LookSmart, Ltd. (“LookSmart” or the “Company”) is a search advertising network solutions company that provides relevant solutions for search advertisers and publishers. LookSmart was organized in 1996 and is incorporated in the State of Delaware.

LookSmart operates in a large online search advertising ecosystem serving ads that target user queries on partner sites. The Company operates in the middle of this ecosystem, acquiring search queries from a variety of sources and matching them with the keywords of its search advertising customers. The Company's largest category of customers has been intermediaries, the majority of which purchase clicks to sell into the affiliate networks of the large search engine providers. Another category of customers are direct advertisers and their agencies, some of whom want conversions or sales from the clicks, while others want unique page views. The last category of customers is self-service advertisers that sign-up online and pay by credit card.

The Company offers search advertising customers targeted search via a monitored search advertising distribution network using the Company's “AdCenter” platform technology. The Company's search advertising network includes publishers and search advertising customers, including intermediaries and direct advertising customers and their agencies as well as self-service customers in the United States and certain other countries. The Company's application programming interface (“API”) allows search advertising customers and their advertising agencies to connect any type of marketing or reporting software with minimal effort, for easier access, management, and optimization of search advertising campaigns.

The Company also offers publishers licensed private-label search advertiser network solutions based on its AdCenter platform technology (“Publisher Solutions”). Publisher Solutions consist of hosted auction-based ad serving with an ad backfill capability that allows publishers and portals to manage their advertiser relationships, distribution channels and accounts.

In the first quarter of 2008, the Company's management made the decision to exit its remaining consumer products activities and to sell or otherwise dispose of the remaining consumer assets. The results of operations of consumer product activities have been classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations, as further described in Note 2. At December 31, 2011, the Company continues to own the Wisenut search engine technology, intellectual property rights in such technology, and other assets.

Principles of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its Subsidiaries. All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates and Assumptions

The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). This requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenue, expenses, and contingent assets and liabilities during the reporting period. The Company bases its estimates on various factors and information which may include, but are not limited to, history and prior experience, experience of other enterprises in the same industry, new related events, and current economic conditions and information from third party professionals that is believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in the financial statements for 2010 have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. These reclassifications did not change the previously reported net income, net change in cash and cash equivalents or stockholders' equity.

Investments

The Company invests its excess cash primarily in debt instruments of high-quality corporate and government issuers. All highly liquid instruments with maturities at the date of purchase greater than ninety days are considered investments. All instruments with maturities greater than one year from the balance sheet date are considered long-term investments unless management intends to liquidate such securities in the current operating cycle. Such securities are classified as short-term investments. These securities are classified as available-for-sale and carried at fair value.

Changes in the value of these investments are primarily related to changes in interest rates and are considered to be temporary in nature. Except for declines in fair value that are not considered temporary, net unrealized gains or losses on these investments are reported as a component of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity. The Company recognizes realized gains and losses upon sale of investments using the specific identification method.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company's estimate of fair value for assets and liabilities is based on a framework that establishes a hierarchy of the inputs used in valuation and gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and requires that observable inputs be used in the valuations when available. The disclosure of fair value estimates is based on whether the significant inputs into the valuation are observable. In determining the level of the hierarchy in which the estimate is disclosed, the highest priority is given to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs that reflect our significant market assumptions. The three levels of the hierarchy are as follows:

Level 1:

Unadjusted quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that we have the ability to access.

Level 2:

Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets in inactive markets; or valuations based on models where the significant inputs are observable (e.g., interest rates, yield curves, default rates, etc.) or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3:

Valuations based on models where significant inputs are not observable. The unobservable inputs reflect our assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use.

Revenue Recognition

Online search advertising revenue is primarily composed of per transaction fees that the Company charges customers. Revenue also includes revenue share from licensing of private-labeled versions of the Company's AdCenter Platform.

Revenues associated with online advertising products, including Advertiser Networks, are generally recognized once collectability is established, delivery of services has occurred, all performance obligations have been satisfied, and no refund obligations exist of when we are aware. The Company pays distribution network partners based on clicks on the advertiser's ad that are displayed on the websites of these distribution network partners. These payments are called traffic acquisition costs (“TAC”) and are included in cost of revenue. The revenue derived from these arrangements that involve traffic supplied by distribution network partners is reported gross of the payment to the distribution network partners. This revenue is reported gross due to the fact that the Company is the primary obligor to the advertisers who are the customers of the advertising service.

The Company also enters into agreements to provide private-labeled versions of its AdCenter platform technology. These license arrangements may include some or all of the following elements: revenue-sharing based on the publisher's customer's monthly revenue generated through the AdCenter application; upfront fees; monthly minimum fees; and other license fees. The Company recognizes upfront fees over the term of the arrangement or the expected period of performance, other license fees over the term of the license, and revenue-sharing portions over the period in which such revenue is earned. In all cases, revenue is recognized only when the price is fixed or determinable, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the service is performed, and collectability of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured.

The Company provides a provision against revenue for estimated reductions resulting from billing adjustments and customer refunds. The amounts of these provisions are evaluated periodically based upon customer experience and historical trends. The allowance included in trade receivables, net is $0.3 million and $0.2 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Deferred revenue is recorded when payments are received in advance of performance in underlying agreements. Customer deposits are recorded when customers make prepayments for online advertising.

The Company evaluates individual arrangements with customers to make a determination under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605-45 Revenue Recognition. We test and record revenue accordingly.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from customers failing to make required payments. This valuation allowance is reviewed on a periodic basis to determine whether a provision or reversal is required. The review is based on factors including the application of historical collection rates to current receivables and economic conditions. The Company will record an increase or reduction of its allowance for doubtful accounts if collection rates or economic conditions are more or less favorable than it anticipated. Additional allowances for doubtful accounts may be required if there is deterioration in past due balances, if economic conditions are less favorable than the Company anticipated or for customer-specific circumstances, such as bankruptcy. The allowance for doubtful accounts included in trade accounts receivable, net is $0.6 million and $0.2 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010. Bad debt expense included in general and administrative expense is $0.5 million and insignificant for each of the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.

Concentrations, Credit Risk and Credit Risk Evaluation

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, investments, and accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company placed its cash equivalents and investments primarily through one financial institution, City National Bank (“CNB”), and mitigated the concentration of credit risk by placing percentage limits on the maximum portion of the investment portfolio which may be invested in any one investment instrument. These amounts exceed federally insured limits at December 31, 2011 and 2010. The Company has not experienced any credit losses on these cash equivalents and investment accounts and does not believe it is exposed to any significant credit risk on these funds. The fair value of these accounts is subject to fluctuation based on market prices.

Credit Risk, Customer and Vendor Evaluation

Accounts receivable are typically unsecured and are derived from sales to customers. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and maintains allowances for estimated credit losses. The Company applies judgment as to its ability to collect outstanding receivables based primarily on management's evaluation of the customer's financial condition and past collection history and records a specific allowance. In addition, the Company records an allowance based on the length of time the receivables are past due. Historically, such losses have been within management's expectations.

The following table reflects customers that accounted for more than 10% of gross accounts receivable:

	December 31,
	2011			2010
Company 1		20	%		**
Company 2		12	%		21	%

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** Less than 10%

Revenue and Cost Concentrations

The following table reflects countries that accounted for more than 10% of net revenue:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2011			2010
United States		70	%		60	%
Europe, Middle East and Africa		21	%		27	%

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** Less than 10%

LookSmart derives its revenue from two service offerings, or “products”: Advertiser Networks and Publisher Solutions. The percentage distributions between the two service offerings are as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2011			2010
Advertiser Networks		95	%		93	%
Publisher Solutions		5	%		7	%

The following table reflects the percentage of revenue attributed to customers who accounted for 10% or more of net revenue. All are Intermediaries and we do not expect them to represent similar revenues in 2012 and beyond:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2011			2010
Company 1		11	%		**
Company 2		11	%		11	%
Company 3		**			14	%

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** Less than 10%

The Company derives its revenue primarily from its relationships with significant distribution network partners. The following table reflects the distribution partners that accounted for more than 10% of the total TAC:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2011		2010
Distribution Partner 1		**		17	%
Distribution Partner 2		**		11	%
Distribution Partner 3		**		10	%

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** Less than 10%

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

Computer equipment	3 to 4 years
Furniture and fixtures	5 to 7 years
Software	2 to 3 years

Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the lease term.

When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from their respective accounts, and any gain or loss on such sale or disposal is reflected in operating expenses. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Expenditures that substantially increase an asset's useful life are capitalized.

Internal Use Software Development Costs

The Company capitalizes external direct costs of materials and services consumed in developing and obtaining internal-use computer software and the payroll and payroll-related costs for employees who are directly associated with and who devote time to developing the internal-use computer software. These costs are capitalized after certain milestones have been achieved and generally amortized over a three year period once the project is placed in service.

Management exercises judgment in determining when costs related to a project may be capitalized, in assessing the ongoing value of the capitalized costs, and in determining the amortization period for the capitalized costs, which is generally three years. The Company expects to continue to invest in internally developed software and to capitalize such costs.

Restructuring Charges

On January 7, 2011, our Board of Directors approved a plan of termination that resulted in a reduction of the workforce of approximately 20 full-time positions, or approximately 35%.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews long-lived assets held or used in operations, including property and equipment and capitalized software development costs, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. Subject assets are tested for impairment at the lowest level of operations that generate cash flows that are largely independent of the cash flows from those of other groups of asset and liabilities. Management has determined that the equity of its single reporting unit is the lowest level of operation at which independent cash flows can be identified. An impairment loss is recognized when estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition is less than its carrying amount. Impairment, if any, is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of a long-lived asset exceeds its fair value. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to dispose.

The Company tested its long-lived assets used in operations for impairment as of December 31, 2011, and determined there was no impairment.

Traffic Acquisition Costs

The Company enters into agreements of varying durations with its distribution network partners that display the Company's listings ads on their sites in return for a percentage of the revenue-per-click that the Company receives when the ads are clicked on those partners' sites.

The Company also enters into agreements of varying durations with third party affiliates. These affiliate agreements provide for variable payments based on a percentage of the Company's revenue or based on a certain metric, such as number of searches or paid clicks.

The Company records TAC as cost of revenue and TAC are expensed based on the volume of the underlying activity or revenue, multiplied by the agreed-upon price or rate.

Share-Based Compensation

The Company recognizes share-based compensation costs for all share-based payment transactions with employees, including grants of employee stock options, restricted stock awards, and employee stock purchases related to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, over the requisite service period based on their relative fair values. The Company estimates the fair value of option awards on the grant date using the Black-Scholes method. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations over the requisite service periods. Share-based compensation expense recognized for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, were $0.4 million and $0.7 million, respectively, which was related to stock grants, options and employee stock purchases.

Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant in order to estimate the amount of share-based awards that will ultimately vest. The forfeiture rate is determined at the end of each fiscal quarter, based on historical rates.

The Company elected to adopt the alternative transition method for calculating the tax effects of share-based compensation to establish the beginning balance of the additional paid-in capital pool (“APIC pool”) related to the tax effects of employee share-based compensation, and to determine the subsequent impact on the APIC pool and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows of the tax effects of employee share-based compensation awards.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are charged to sales and marketing expenses as incurred and were insignificant and $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Product Development Costs

Research of new product ideas and enhancements to existing products are charged to expense as incurred.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method. Under the liability method, deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts expected to be realized. The Company records liabilities, where appropriate, for all uncertain income tax positions. The Company recognizes potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within operations as income tax expense.

Comprehensive Gain (Loss)

Other comprehensive gain (loss) as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 consists of unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities categorized as available-for-sale and foreign currency translation adjustments.

Net Income (Loss) per Common Share

Basic net income (loss) and diluted net income (loss) per share is calculated using the weighted average shares of common stock outstanding. Diluted net income per share is calculated using the weighted average number of common and potentially dilutive common shares outstanding during the period, using the treasury stock method for stock options.

Segment Information

The Company has one operating segment, online advertising. While the Company operates under one operating segment, management reviews revenue under two product offerings-Advertiser Networks and Publisher Solutions.

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, all of the Company's accounts receivable, intangible assets, and deferred revenue are related to the online advertising segment. All long-lived assets are located in the United States and Canada.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an amendment to an existing accounting standard which requires companies to present net income and other comprehensive income in one continuous statement or in two separate, but consecutive, statements. In addition, in December 2011, the FASB issued an amendment to an existing accounting standard which defers the requirement to present components of reclassifications of other comprehensive income on the face of the income statement. The Company is required to adopt this standard as of the beginning of 2012 and it is to be applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. This guidance will not have an impact on the Company's results of operations, financial position or cash flows as it is disclosure-only in nature.

In May 2011, the FASB issued a new accounting standard on fair value measurements that clarifies the application of existing guidance and disclosure requirements, changes certain fair value measurement principles and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements. This new guidance is to be applied prospectively. The Company is required to adopt this standard as of the beginning of 2012. Adoption of this new guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, financial position or liquidity.