XML 17 R8.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT  v2.3.0.11
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES


Revenue Recognition.  Revenue is recognized when (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) all obligations have been substantially performed pursuant to the terms of the arrangement, (iii) amounts are fixed or determinable, and (iv) the collectibility of amounts is reasonably assured.


In general, revenue arrangements provide for the payment of contractually determined fees in consideration for the grant of certain intellectual property rights for patented technologies owned or controlled by Acacia's operating subsidiaries.  These rights typically include some combination of the following:  (i) the grant of a non-exclusive, retroactive and future license to manufacture and/or sell products covered by patented technologies owned or controlled by Acacia's operating subsidiaries, (ii) a covenant-not-to-sue, (iii) the release of the licensee from certain claims, and (iv) the dismissal of any pending litigation.  The intellectual property rights granted may be perpetual in nature, extending until the expiration of the related patents, or can be granted for a defined, relatively short period of time, with the licensee possessing the right to renew the agreement at the end of each contractual term for an additional minimum upfront payment.  Pursuant to the terms of these agreements, Acacia's operating subsidiaries have no further obligation with respect to the grant of the non-exclusive retroactive and future licenses, covenants-not-to-sue, releases, and other deliverables, including no express or implied obligation on Acacia's operating subsidiaries' part to maintain or upgrade the technology, or provide future support or services.  Generally, the agreements provide for the grant of the licenses, covenants-not-to-sue, releases, and other significant deliverables upon execution of the agreement, or upon receipt of the minimum upfront payment for term agreement renewals.  As such, the earnings process is complete and revenue is recognized upon the execution of the agreement, when collectibility is reasonably assured, or upon receipt of the minimum upfront fee for term agreement renewals, and when all other revenue recognition criteria have been met.
 
Cost of Revenues.  Cost of revenues include the costs and expenses incurred in connection with Acacia's patent licensing and enforcement activities, including inventor royalties paid to original patent owners, contingent legal fees paid to external patent counsel, other patent-related legal expenses paid to external patent counsel, licensing and enforcement related research, consulting and other expenses paid to third parties and the amortization of patent-related acquisition costs.  These costs are included under the caption “Cost of revenues” in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.  


Inventor Royalties and Contingent Legal Expenses. Inventor royalties are expensed in the consolidated statements of operations in the period that the related revenues are recognized.  In certain instances, pursuant to the terms of the underlying inventor agreements, costs paid by Acacia's operating subsidiaries to acquire patents are recoverable from future net revenues.  Patent acquisition costs that are recoverable from future net revenues are amortized over the estimated economic useful life of the related patents, or as the prepaid royalties are earned by the inventor, as appropriate, and the related expense is included in amortization expense in the consolidated statements of operations.  Any unamortized patent acquisition costs recovered from net revenues are expensed in the period recovered, and included in amortization expense in the consolidated statements of operations.


Contingent legal fees are expensed in the consolidated statements of operations in the period that the related revenues are recognized. In instances where there are no recoveries from potential infringers, no contingent legal fees are paid; however, Acacia's operating subsidiaries may be liable for certain out of pocket legal costs incurred pursuant to the underlying legal services agreement.  Legal fees advanced by contingent law firms that are required to be paid in the event that no license recoveries are obtained are expensed as incurred and included in liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.


During the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, Acacia entered into significant agreements with unrelated third parties resolving pending patent matters that resulted in the grant of certain intellectual property rights and recognition of revenues, a portion of which were not subject to inventor royalty and contingent legal fee arrangements, as well as the grant of licenses from certain of Acacia's operating subsidiaries and recognition of revenues that were subject to inventor royalties and contingent legal fee arrangements.  Revenues recognized subject to inventor royalties and contingent legal fees are based on a determination by the respective operating subsidiaries.




Use of Estimates.  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Acacia believes that, of the significant accounting policies described herein, the accounting policies associated with revenue recognition, stock-based compensation expense, and impairment of marketable securities, require its most difficult, subjective or complex judgments.


Concentrations. Three licensees individually accounted for 30%, 28% and 12% of revenues recognized during the three months ended June 30, 2011, and three licensees individually accounted for 45%, 12% and 11% of revenues recognized during the six months ended June 30, 2011. Two licensees individually accounted for 17% and 10% of revenues recognized during the three months ended June 30, 2010, and one licensee individually accounted for 46% of revenues recognized during the six months ended June 30, 2010. Two licensees individually represented approximately 59% and 24% of accounts receivable at June 30, 2011. One licensee represented approximately 74% of accounts receivable at December 31, 2010.


Stock-Based Compensation. The compensation cost for all stock-based awards is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense, on a straight-line basis, over the employee’s requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity award) which is generally two to four years. The fair value of restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards is determined by the product of the number of shares or units granted and the grant date market price of the underlying common stock. Stock-based compensation expense is recorded only for those awards expected to vest using an estimated forfeiture rate.


Fair Value Measurements. U.S. generally accepted accounting principles define fair value as the price that would be received for an asset or the exit price that would be paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date, and also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs, where available. The three-level hierarchy of valuation techniques established to measure fair value is defined as follows:
 
Level 1 - Observable Inputs:  Quoted prices in active markets for identical investments;
 
Level 2 - Pricing Models with Significant Observable Inputs:  Other significant observable inputs, including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, credit risk, etc.; and
 
Level 3 - Unobservable Inputs:  Significant unobservable inputs, including the entity’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments.
 
Whenever possible, the Company is required to use observable market inputs (Level 1 - quoted market prices) when measuring fair value.


Impairment of Marketable Securities. Acacia evaluates its investments in marketable securities for potential impairment, employing a systematic methodology on a quarterly basis that considers available quantitative and qualitative evidence. If the cost or carrying value of an investment exceeds its estimated fair value, the Company evaluates, among other factors, general market conditions, credit quality of instrument issuers, the duration and extent to which the fair value is less than cost, and the Company's intent and ability to hold, or plans or ability to sell. Fair value is estimated based on publicly available market information or other estimates determined by management. Investments are considered to be impaired when a decline in fair value is estimated to be other-than-temporary. Acacia reviews impairments associated with its investments in marketable securities and determines the classification of any impairment as temporary or other-than-temporary.   An impairment is deemed other-than-temporary unless (a) Acacia has the ability and intent to hold an investment for a period of time sufficient for recovery of its carrying amount and (b) positive evidence indicating that the investment's carrying amount is recoverable within a reasonable period of time outweighs any evidence to the contrary. All available evidence, both positive and negative, is considered to determine whether, based on the weight of that evidence, the carrying amount of the investment is recoverable within a reasonable period of time. For investments classified as available-for-sale, unrealized losses that are other-than-temporary are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.  


Income Taxes.  Income taxes are accounted for using an asset and liability approach that requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in Acacia's consolidated financial statements or consolidated tax returns. A valuation allowance is established to reduce deferred tax assets if all, or some portion, of such assets will more than likely not be realized.




The provision for income taxes for interim periods is determined using an estimate of Acacia's annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items, if any, that are taken into account in the relevant period. Each quarter, Acacia updates its estimate of the annual effective tax rate, and if the estimated tax rate changes, a cumulative adjustment is made.  For the six months ended June 30, 2011, the provision for income taxes related primarily to Korean foreign withholding taxes totaling $7,586,000, withheld by the Korean tax authority pursuant to the requirements of the applicable Income Tax Convention, on payments in connection with certain revenue arrangements executed during the six months ended June 30, 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign withholding taxes, the 2011 annual effective tax rate is estimated to be lower than the 35% U.S. federal statutory rate due primarily to the anticipated utilization of available net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards to reduce U.S. taxable income.  For the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, the provision for income taxes related primarily to state tax liabilities in jurisdictions where Acacia or certain of Acacia's operating subsidiaries file separate state tax returns.


At December 31, 2010, Acacia had U.S. federal and state income tax NOLs totaling approximately $99,267,000 and $61,681,000, expiring between 2020 and 2030, and 2011 and 2030, respectively. Due to uncertainties surrounding Acacia's ability to generate future taxable income to fully realize these assets, a full valuation allowance has been established to offset its estimated unutilized net deferred tax assets at each balance sheet date.  Utilization of NOLs and credit carryforwards can be subject to a substantial annual limitation due to ownership change limitations that may have occurred or that could occur in the future, as required by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as well as similar state provisions.  Currently, Acacia estimates that it will have sufficient NOL carryforwards to offset estimated taxable income, if any, for the periods presented.