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Note 7 - Litigation
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Disclosure Text Block Supplement [Abstract]  
Legal Matters and Contingencies [Text Block]

7. Litigation


The Company and certain of its subsidiaries are parties to actions and proceedings in the ordinary course of business, including litigation regarding its shareholders and its intellectual property, challenges to the enforceability or validity of its intellectual property and claims that the Company’s products infringe on the intellectual property rights of others. These proceedings often involve complex questions of fact and law and may require the expenditure of significant funds and the diversion of other resources to prosecute and defend. The Company defends itself vigorously against any such claims.


O2 Micro


On May 3, 2012, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California issued an order finding O2 Micro International, Ltd. (“O2 Micro”) liable for approximately $9.1 million in attorneys’ fees and non-taxable costs, plus interest, in connection with the patent litigation that the Company won in 2010.  This award is in addition to the approximately $0.3 million in taxable costs that the Court had earlier ordered O2 Micro to pay to the Company in connection with the same lawsuit. The Court then entered judgment for the Company. In October 2012, O2 Micro filed an appeal against this judgment. As of June 30, 2013, the Company did not record the award as income since payment has not been received.


 Silergy


In December 2011, the Company entered into a settlement and license agreement with Silergy Corp and Silergy Technologies for infringement of the Company’s patent whereby the Company would receive a total of $2.0 million.  The first $1.2 million was paid in equal installments of $300,000 in each quarter of 2012 and the remainder was paid in two equal installments in the first two quarters of 2013. For the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company received payments totaling $400,000 and $300,000, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company received payments totaling $800,000 and $600,000, respectively. No further amount was due to the Company as of June 30, 2013. All amounts were recorded as credits to litigation benefits in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.