Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2022

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Note 11 – Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation 

On or about June 25, 2020, Home Revolution, LLC (“Home Revolution”) filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Home Revolution, LLC, et al. v. Jerrick Media Holdings, Inc. et al., Case No. 2:20-cv-07775-JMV-MF. The Complaint alleges, among other things, that Creatd, Inc. breached the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, as modified, and ancillary transaction documents in connection with the acquisition of Seller’s Choice, LLC, from Home Revolution in September 2019. The Complaint additionally alleges violation of the New Jersey Uniform Securities Law, violations of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, fraud, equitable accounting, breach of fiduciary duty, conversion and unjust enrichment. Plaintiff also sought to have a receiver appointed by the Court to take over Creatd’s operations. After substantial motion practice, Creatd successfully settled this dispute from June 2020 for a total of $799,000, which includes $660,000 of note principal and $139,000 of accrued interest. The matter has been dismissed as of March 3, 2022.

On or about August 30, 2021, Robert W. Monster and Anonymize, Inc. (“Monster”) filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington at Seattle, Robert W. Monster, et al. v. Creatd, Inc., et al. (Western District of Washington at Seattle 2:21-CV-1177). The Complaint alleges, among other things, that action for Declaratory Judgment under 28 U.S.C. § 2201 that Monster’s registration and use of the internet domain name VOCL.COM (the “Domain Name”) does not violate Creatd’s rights under the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (“ACPA”), 15 U.S.C. § 1125(d), or otherwise under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1051 et seq. Creatd claims trademark rights and certain other rights with respect to the term and the domain name VOCL.COM. Monster seeks a determination by the Court that Monster’s registration and/or use of VOCL.COM is not, and has not been in violation of the ACPA, and that Plaintiffs’ use of VOCL.COM constitutes neither a violation of the ACPA nor trademark infringement or dilution under the Lanham Act. Creatd believes the lawsuit lacks merit and will vigorously challenge the action. At this time, we are unable to estimate potential damage exposure, if any, related to the litigation.

A complaint against the Company, dated September 21, 2022, has been filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, by Lind Global Macro Fund LP and Lind Global Fund II LP, making certain claims alleging breach of contract related to two Securities Purchase Agreements executed on May 31, 2022, seeking damages in excess of $920,000. No response to the Complaint has been filed at this time. The Company has not yet submitted a response to the Complaint or had the opportunity to conduct discovery as to the allegations. The Company will file an initial response on or before November 18, 2022. Given the premature nature of this case, it is still too early for the Company to make an assessment as to liability.

Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IRA”) was signed into law. The IRA includes a 15% Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax (“Corporate AMT”) for tax years beginning after December 31, 2022. We do not expect the Corporate AMT to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. Additionally, the IRA imposes a 1% excise tax on net repurchases of stock by certain publicly traded corporations. The excise tax is imposed on the value of the net stock repurchased or treated as repurchased. The new law will apply to stock repurchases occurring after December 31, 2022.

Lease Agreements

On April 26, 2022, the Company signed a 7-year lease for approximately 8,000 square feet of office space at 419 Lafayette Street, 6th Floor, New York, NY, 10003. Commencement date of the lease is May 1, 2022. The total amount due under this lease is $3,502,033.

On July 28, 2022, the Company signed a 3-year lease for approximately 1,364 square feet of office space at 1674 Meridian Ave., Miami Beach, FL, 33131. Commencement date of the lease is July 28, 2022. The total amount due under this lease is $181,299. During the three months ended September 30, 2022, it was decided the company would not be using the office space and recorded an impairment of $101,623 on the right-of-use asset.

The components of lease expense were as follows:

	Three Months Ended September 30, 2022
Operating lease cost	$	148,446
Short term lease cost		5,568
Total net lease cost	$	154,015

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022
Operating lease cost	$	241,601
Short term lease cost		154,108
Total net lease cost	$	395,709

Supplemental cash flow and other information related to leases was as follows:

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating lease payments		54,564
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years):		3.40
Weighted average discount rate:		12.50	%

Total future minimum payments required under the lease as of September 30, are as follows:

For the Twelve Months Ended September 30,	Operating Leases
2023	$	534,880
2024		541,905
2025		513,507
2026		528,589
2027		544,122
Thereafter		892,399
Total lease payments		3,555,402
Less: Amounts representing interest		(1,140,416	)
Total lease obligations		2,414,986
Less: Current		(279,593	)
	$	2,135,393

Rent expense for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 was $154,015 and $67,397, respectively. Rent expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 was $395,709 and $121,266, respectively. 

Market price risk of crypto (“digital”) assets

The Company holds crypto and digital assets in third-party wallets. Crypto asset price risk could adversely affect its operating results and will depend upon the market price of Bitcoin, ETH, as well as other crypto assets. Crypto asset prices have fluctuated significantly from quarter to quarter. There is no assurance that crypto asset prices will reflect historical trends. A decline in the market price of Bitcoin, ETH, and Other crypto assets could have an adverse effect on our earnings, the carrying value of the crypto assets, and future cash flows. This may also affect the liquidity and the ability to meet our ongoing obligations.

Appointment of New Directors

On February 17, 2022, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company appointed Joanna Bloor, Brad Justus, and Lorraine Hendrickson to serve as members of the Board. Ms. Bloor has been nominated to, and will serve as, chair of the Compensation Committee, and to be a member of the Audit Committee and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Justus has been nominated, and will serve as, chair of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee, and to be a member of the Compensation Committee and Audit Committee. Ms. Hendrickson has been nominated to, and will serve as, chair of the Audit Committee and to be a member of the Compensation and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee.

Departure of Directors

On February 17, 2022, the Board received notice that effective immediately, Mark Standish resigned as Chair of the Board, Chair of the Audit Committee and as a member of the Compensation Committee and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee; Leonard Schiller resigned as member of the Board, Chair of the Compensation Committee and as a member of the Audit Committee and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee; and LaBrena Martin resigned as a member of the Board, Chair of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee and as a member of the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee. Such resignations are not the result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.

Management Restructuring

On February 17, 2022, the Board of the Company approved the restructuring of the Company’s senior management team to eliminate the Co-Chief Executive Officer role, appointing Jeremy Frommer as Executive Chairman and Founder, and appointing Laurie Weisberg as Chief Executive Officer (the “Second Restructuring”). Prior to the Second Restructuring, Mr. Frommer and Ms. Weisberg served as the Company’s co-Chief Executive Officers and Ms. Weisberg served as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer. The Second Restructuring does not impact the role or functions of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Chelsea Pullano, or the role or functions of the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Justin Maury.

Nasdaq Notice of Delisting 

On September 2, 2022, the Company received a letter from the staff of The Nasdaq Capital Market notifying the Company that the Nasdaq Hearings Panel has determined to delist the Company’s common stock from the Exchange, based on the Company’s failure to comply with the listing requirements of Nasdaq Rule 5550(b)(1) as a result of the Company’s shareholder equity deficit for the period ended June 30, 2022, as demonstrated in Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 15, 2022, following the Company having not complied with the market value of listed securities requirement in Nasdaq Rule 5550(b)(2) on March 1, 2022, while the Company was under a Panel Monitor, as had been previously disclosed. Suspension of trading in the Company’s shares on the Exchange became effective at the opening of business on September 7, 2022, at which time the Company’s common stock, under the symbol “CRTD,” and publicly-traded warrants, under the symbol “CRTDW,” was quoted on the OTCPink marketplace operated by OTC Markets Group Inc.  

Following passage of the proscribed 15-day time period for appeal as stated in the Letter, on October 26, 2022, Nasdaq completed the delisting by filing a Form 25 Notification of Delisting with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Company’s common stock, under the symbol “CRTD,” is quoted on the OTCQB marketplace operated by OTC Markets Group Inc. effective as of September 26, 2022. The Company’s publicly-traded warrants, under the symbol “CRTDW,” are quoted on the OTCPink marketplace operated by OTC Markets Group Inc.

Employment Agreements

On April 5, 2022, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Board, the Board approved employment agreements with, and equity issuances for, (i) Jeremy Frommer, Executive Chairman, who will receive (a) an signing award of $80,000, (b) an annual salary of $420,000; (c) 121,000 options, to vest immediately with a strike price of $1.75, and (d) 50,000 shares of the Company’s restricted common stock; (ii) Laurie Weisberg, Chief Executive Officer, who will receive (a) an annual salary of $475,000; (b) 121,000 options, to vest immediately with a strike price of $1.75, and (c) 50,000 shares of the Company’s restricted common stock; (iii) Justin Maury, Chief Operating Officer & President, who will receive (a) an annual salary of $475,000 (b) 81,000 options, to vest immediately with a strike price of $1.75, and (c) 50,000 shares of the Company’s restricted common stock; and (iv) Chelsea Pullano, Chief Financial Officer, who will receive (a) an annual salary of $250,000; (b) 37,000 options, to vest immediately with a strike price of $1.75, and (c) 35,000 shares of the Company’s restricted common stock (collectively, the “Executive Employment Arrangements”).

Pursuant to the Executive Employment Arrangements, the Company entered into executive employment agreements with each of the respective executives as of April 5, 2022 (the “Executive Employment Agreements”). The Executive Employment Agreements contain customary terms, conditions and rights.

Executive Separation Agreement

On September 2, 2022, the Company entered into an Executive Separation Agreement with Laurie Weisberg the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors setting forth the terms and conditions related to the Executive’s resignation for good reason as Chief Executive Officer, Director and any other positions held with the Company or any subsidiary.

The Company will pay severance in the aggregate amount of $475,000, payable as follows: (i) 1/24 will be paid on each of September 15, 2022, October 1, 2022 and November 1, 2022, respectively; (ii) 1/8 will be paid on each of December 1, 2022, January 1, 2023 and February 1, 2023, respectively; (iii) 1/4 will be paid on April 1, 2023; and (iv) the balance will be paid on May 1, 2023. The Company has executed and delivered a Confession of Judgment concerning the severance amount, which is being held in escrow pending satisfaction of payment.

Additionally, all unvested and/or outstanding stock options held by Ms. Weisberg as of the date of the separation agreement that are not subject to metric based vesting shall automatically and fully vest. All unvested and/or outstanding stock options held by Ms. Weisberg as of the date of the separation agreement that are subject to metric based vesting shall vest in accordance with their respective original terms.