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Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Significant Accounting Policies | Significant Accounting Policies Description of Business Immersion Corporation (the “Company”) was incorporated in 1993 in California and reincorporated in Delaware in 1999. The company focuses on the creation, design, development, and licensing of innovative haptic technologies that allow people to use their sense of touch more fully as they engage with products and experience the digital world around them. The Company has adopted a “hybrid” business model, under which it provides advanced tactile software, related tools, and technical assistance to certain customers; and offers licenses to the Company's patented intellectual property (“IP”) to other customers. Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Immersion Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Immersion Canada Corporation; Immersion International, LLC; Immersion Medical, Inc.; Immersion Japan K.K.; Immersion Ltd.; Immersion Software Ireland Ltd.; Haptify, Inc.; Immersion (Shanghai) Science & Technology Company, Ltd.; and Immersion Technology International Ltd. All intercompany accounts, transactions, and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company has prepared the accompanying consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid instruments purchased with an original or remaining maturity of less than three months at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Short-term Investments The Company’s short-term investments consist primarily of U.S treasury bills with an original or remaining maturity of greater than 90 days on the date of purchase. The Company classifies debt securities with readily determinable market values as “available-for-sale.” Even though the stated maturity dates of these debt securities may be one year or more beyond the balance sheet date, the Company has classified all debt securities as short-term investments as they are reasonably expected to be realized in cash or sold within one year. These investments are carried at fair market value with unrealized gains and losses considered to be temporary in nature reported as a separate component of other comprehensive income (loss) within stockholders’ equity. The Company recognizes an impairment charge in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss when a decline in value is judged to be other than temporary based on the specific identification method. Other-than-temporary impairment charges may exist when the Company has the intent to sell the security, will more likely than not be required to sell the security, or does not expect to recover the principal. Property and Equipment Property is stated at cost and is depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the related asset. The estimated useful lives are typically as follows:
Computer equipment and purchased software | 3 years
Machinery and equipment | 3-5 years
Furniture and fixtures | 5 years
Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or their estimated useful life. Long-lived Assets The Company evaluates its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of that asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss would be recognized when the sum of the undiscounted future net cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition is less than its carrying amount. Measurement of an impairment loss for long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangible assets that management expects to hold and use is based on the fair value of the asset. Revenue Recognition The Company recognizes revenues in accordance with applicable accounting standards, including ASC 605-10-S99, “Revenue Recognition” (“ASC 605-10-S99”); ASC 605-25, “Multiple Element Arrangements” (“ASC 605-25”), and ASC 985-605, “Software-Revenue Recognition” (“ASC 985-605”). The Company derives its revenues from two principal sources: royalty and license fees, and development contract and service fees. As described below, management judgments, assumptions, and estimates must be made and used in connection with the revenue recognized in any accounting period. Material differences may result in the amount and timing of revenue for any period based on the judgments and estimates made by management. Specifically, in connection with each transaction, the Company must evaluate whether: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred, (iii) the fee is fixed or determinable, and (iv) collectability is probable. The Company applies these criteria as discussed below.
• | Persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists. For a license arrangement, the Company requires a written contract, signed by both the customer and the Company.
• | Delivery has occurred. The Company delivers software electronically. Delivery occurs when the Company provides the customer access codes or “keys” that allow the customer to take immediate possession of the software.
• | The fee is fixed or determinable. The Company’s arrangement fee is based on the use of standard payment terms, which are those that are generally offered to the majority of customers. For transactions involving extended payment terms, the Company deems these fees not to be fixed or determinable for revenue recognition purposes and revenue is deferred until the fees become due and payable.
• | Collectability is probable. To recognize revenue, the Company must judge collectability of fees, which is done on a customer-by-customer basis pursuant to the Company’s credit review policy. The Company typically sells to customers with whom there is a history of successful collection. For new customers, the Company evaluates the customer’s financial condition and ability to pay. If it is determined that collectability is not probable based upon the credit review process or the customer’s payment history, revenue is recognized when payment is received.
Royalty and license revenue — The Company licenses its patents and software to customers in a variety of industries such as mobility, gaming, automotive, and medical devices. Revenues that are derived from the sale of a licensee's products that incorporate the Company’s IP are classified as royalty revenues. The terms of the royalty agreements generally require licensees to give notification of royalties due to the Company within 30 – 45 days of the end of the quarter during which their related sales occur. As the Company is unable to reliably estimate the licensees’ sales in any given quarter to determine the royalties due to it, the Company recognizes royalty revenues based on royalties reported by licensees and when all revenue recognition criteria are met. Certain royalties could be subject to change and may result in out of period adjustments depending on the specific terms of the arrangement. The Company also enters into fixed license fee arrangements. The Company recognizes fixed license fee revenue when earned under the terms of the agreements, which generally results in recognition on a straight-line basis over the expected term of the license. Development, services, and other revenue — Development, services, and other revenue are composed of engineering services (engineering services and/or development contracts), and in limited cases, post contract customer support (“PCS”). Engineering services revenues are recognized under the proportional performance accounting method based on the completion of the work to be performed or completed performance method. A provision for losses on contracts is made, if necessary, in the period in which the loss becomes probable and can be reasonably estimated. Revisions in estimates are reflected in the period in which the conditions become known. To date, such losses have not been significant. Revenue from PCS is typically recognized over the period of the ongoing obligation, which is generally consistent with the contractual term. Multiple element arrangements — The Company enters into multiple element arrangements in which customers purchase time-based non-exclusive licenses that cannot be resold to others, which include a combination of software and/or IP licenses, engineering services, and in limited cases PCS. For arrangements that are software based with an engineering services component, the services are generally not essential to the functionality of the software, and customers may purchase engineering services from the Company to facilitate the adoption of the Company’s technology, but they may choose to use their own resources or appoint other engineering service organizations to perform these services. For arrangements that are in substance subscription arrangements, the entire arrangement fee is recognized ratably over the contract term, subject to any limitations related to extended payment terms. For arrangements involving upfront fees for services and royalties earned by the Company based on units sold or sales volumes of the respective licensed products, and the services are performed ratably over the arrangement or are front-end loaded, the upfront fees are recognized ratably over the contract term, and royalties based on units sold or sales volume are recognized when they become fixed and determinable. As the Company is unable to reliably estimate the licensees’ sales in any given quarter to determine the royalties due to it, the Company recognizes per unit or sales volume driven royalty revenues based on royalties reported by licensees and when all revenue recognition criteria are met. Deferred Revenue Deferred revenue consists of amounts that have been invoiced and for which the Company has the right to bill, but that have not been recognized as revenue. The amounts are primarily related to our fixed fee contracts which are recognized ratably over the license term (up to 10 years). Deferred revenue that will be realized during the succeeding 12-month period is recorded as current, and the remaining deferred revenue is recorded as non-current. Advertising Advertising costs (including obligations under cooperative marketing programs) are expensed as incurred and included in sales and marketing expense. Advertising expense was as follows:
| Year ended December 31,
| 2017 |  | 2016 |  | 2015
| (In thousands)
Advertising expense | $ | 221 |  |  | $ | 102 |  |  | $ | 265 |
Research and Development Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Income Taxes The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, income tax expense is recognized for the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year. In addition, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, and for operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized and are reversed at such time that realization is believed to be more likely than not. Software Development Costs Costs for the development of new software products and substantial enhancements to existing software products are expensed as incurred until technological feasibility has been established, at which time any additional costs would be capitalized. The Company considers technological feasibility to be established upon completion of a working model of the software. Because the Company believes its current process for developing software is essentially completed concurrently with the establishment of technological feasibility, no costs have been capitalized to date. Stock-based Compensation Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period. See Note 6 for further information regarding the Company’s stock-based compensation assumptions and expenses. Comprehensive Income Comprehensive income includes net income as well as other items of comprehensive income or loss. The Company’s other comprehensive income (loss) consists of foreign currency translation adjustments and unrealized gains and losses on short term investments, net of tax. Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in accordance with U.S. GAAP and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts 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. Significant estimates include valuation of income taxes including uncertain tax provisions, revenue recognition, stock-based compensation, and accruals for other liabilities. Actual results may differ materially from those estimates which were made based on the best information known to management at that time. Concentration of Credit Risks Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk principally consist of cash, cash equivalents, short term investments, and accounts receivable. The Company is also subjected to a concentration of revenues given certain key licensees that contributed a significant portion of the Company's total revenue. See Note 15 for customer revenue concentration. The Company invests primarily in money market accounts and highly liquid debt instruments purchased with an original or remaining maturity of greater than 90 days on the date of purchase. Deposits held with banks may exceed the amount of insurance provided on such deposits. Generally, these deposits may be redeemed upon demand. The Company licenses technology primarily to companies in North America, Europe, and Asia. To reduce credit risk, management performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition. The Company periodically evaluates potential credit losses to ensure adequate reserves are maintained, but historically the Company has not experienced any significant losses related to individual customers or groups of customers in any particular industry or geographic area. As such, the Company had zero reserves for the year ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 due to its low credit risk. Certain Significant Risks and Uncertainties The Company operates in multiple industries and its operations can be affected by a variety of factors. For example, management believes that changes in any of the following areas could have a negative effect on the Company's future financial position and results of operations: the mix of revenues; the loss of significant customers; fundamental changes in the technologies underlying the Company’s and its licensees’ products; market acceptance of the Company’s and its licensees’ products under development; development of sales channels; litigation or other claims in which the Company is involved; the ability to successfully assert its patent rights against others; the impact of changing economic conditions; the hiring, training, and retention of key employees; successful and timely completion of product and technology development efforts; and new product or technology introductions by competitors. Fair Value of Financial Instruments Financial instruments consist primarily of cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable and accounts payable. Cash equivalents and short term investments are stated at fair value based on quoted market prices, broker or dealer quotations, or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency. The recorded cost of accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate the fair value of the respective assets and liabilities. Foreign Currency Translation The functional currency of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is U. S. dollars. Accordingly, gains and losses from the translation of the financial statements of the foreign subsidiaries and foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in earnings. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2017-09 “Stock Compensation: Scope of Modification Accounting” ("ASU 2017-09"). The ASU provides guidance on the types of changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards to which an entity would be required to apply modification accounting under ASC 718. For public business entities, the amendments in this update are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company will adopt the standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2018, but does not expect the adoption of ASU 2016-19 will have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements. In December 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-19 “Technical Corrections and Improvements”. The amendments in this update affect a wide variety of topics in the Accounting Standards Codification. For public business entities, the amendments in this update are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods in the annual period beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company will adopt the standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2018, but does not expect the adoption of ASU 2016-19 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 “Leases: Topic 842” (“ASU 2016-02”), which supersedes the existing guidance for lease accounting in Topic 840, Leases. The FASB issued the ASU to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset for all leases. Lessor accounting remains largely unchanged. In September 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-13 "Revenue Recognition (Topic 605), Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), Leases (Topic 840), and Leases (Topic 842)" ("ASU 2017-13)", which adds SEC paragraphs to the new revenue and leases sections of the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC or Codification) on the announcement the SEC Observer made at the July 20, 2017 EITF meeting, and supersedes certain SEC paragraphs in the Codification related to previous SEC staff announcements and moves other paragraphs, upon adoption of ASC 606 or ASC 842. ASU2016-02 is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. An entity will be required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements but has not elected to early adopt the standard and would plan to implement the standard on January 1, 2019. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Topic 606” (“ASU 2014-09”) which will supersede the current revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Further, the guidance requires improved disclosures to help users of financial statements better understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue that is recognized. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Deferral of the Effective Date”, which deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for periods beginning after December 15, 2016 to December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted but not earlier than the original effective date. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), Principal versus Agent Considerations" ("ASU 2016-08") which provides updates to revenue recognition guidance relating to considerations for reporting revenue gross versus net. In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing" ("ASU 2016-10"), which provides updates to revenue recognition guidance relating to performance obligations and accounting for licensing revenue. In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-12 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients" ("ASU 2016-12") which provides updates to revenue recognition guidance relating to scope and practical expedients for revenue recognition. In December 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-20 "Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606" ("ASU 2016-20") which further provides updates to certain aspects of the revenue recognition guidance. In September 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-13 "Revenue Recognition (Topic 605), Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), Leases (Topic 840), and Leases (Topic 842)" ("ASU 2017-13)", which adds SEC paragraphs to the new revenue and leases sections of the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC or Codification) on the announcement the SEC Observer made at the July 20, 2017 EITF meeting, and supersedes certain SEC paragraphs in the Codification related to previous SEC staff announcements and moves other paragraphs, upon adoption of ASC 606 or ASC 842. In November 2017, the FASB issued ASU2017-14 "Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), Revenue Recognition (Topic 605), and Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)" ("ASU 2017-14"). ASU 2017-14 amends SEC paragraphs pursuant to the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 116 and SEC Release No. 33-10403, which bring existing guidance into conformity with Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The amendments may be applied retrospectively to each prior period (full retrospective) or retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized as of the date of initial application (modified retrospective). The Company will adopt the new standard as of January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method rather than full retrospective method. The Company's revenue is primarily comprised of per-unit royalty revenue and fixed fee license revenue, along with less significant revenue earned from development, services, and other revenue. The expected impacts upon adoption and post-adoption for each revenue stream are as follows: Per-unit Royalty revenue Under current GAAP, the Company recognizes per-unit royalty revenue when royalty reports are received from its customers (typically one quarter in arrears). The Company expects a shift in the method and timing by which it recognizes per-unit royalty revenue under the new standard, as the Company will be required to estimate the amount of this revenue in the quarter when the customer sales transaction occurs. As a result, there will be variances between the estimated per-unit royalty revenue and that based on the actual sales reported by its customers. The Company will be required to adjust the estimate to reflect the actual sales upon receipt of royalty reports submitted by the licensees in the following quarter. Upon adoption of ASU 2014-09 on January 1, 2018, the Company will recognize the per-unit royalty revenue for customer transactions that occur in the fourth quarter of 2017 as an adjustment to accumulated deficit. Based on royalty reports received for the period and the estimates for those not yet received, the Company has estimated the impact on accumulated deficit will be $5.2 million. The Company also expects a shift in the method and timing of revenue recognition for contracts with minimum royalty arrangements. Under current GAAP, minimum royalties are recognized as revenue at the end of each reporting period (usually a calendar year) if the actual royalties reported by the customer for that reporting period are below the minimum royalty amount set forth in the contract. Under the new standard, minimum royalties are considered a fixed transaction price to which the Company will have an unconditional right once all performance obligations are satisfied. At the inception of a contract, the Company will be required to recognize all minimum royalties, since only the passage of time is required before payment of the minimum royalty is due. The Company determined that the contract asset to be established for the unbilled minimum royalties that exist as of January 1, 2018 will be immaterial. After adoption, the Company will record its unconditional right to minimum royalties as contract asset at the inception of the contract where the license is granted to the licensee, and present any associated contract assets and contract liabilities under one contract on a net basis in the statement of financial position. Fixed fee license revenue In accordance with current GAAP, fixed fee license revenue historically has been recognized ratably over the term of the license agreement. Under the new standard, the Company will be required to recognize fixed fee license revenue when it satisfies its performance obligations, which typically occurs upon the transfer of rights to the Company's technology at the point in time a contract is executed, and/or the transfer of rights to technology updates and/or new technologies developed over the contract term. In certain contracts, the Company provides to its customers access to both the patent portfolio that exists as of the contract signing as well as future patents that are to be issued throughout the contract term. In consideration of ASU 2014-09, the Company has concluded that, for such arrangements, it has two separate performance obligations being (a) patents in existence when the contract is signed for which revenue will be recognized up front and (b) patents to be issued, finalized, or approved over the contract term that will be made available to customers for which revenue will be recognized over the course of the contract term. In connection with the allocation of the transfer price between these two aforementioned performance obligations, the Company has developed a process to estimate the standalone price for each of the two performance obligations in these arrangements, considering a number of factors primarily based on the volume of the Company's patents outstanding as of the contract date as well as those which are expected to be filed and enforceable during the contract term. As of the date of this filing, the Company is in the process of finalizing this estimate and evaluating the performance of certain controls over the information used therein, and expects to complete the determination of its estimate in the first quarter of 2018. Upon review of the potential impact of this change in accounting, the Company has determined that the majority of its deferred revenue balance as of December 31, 2017 relates to fixed fee license revenue, and expects that a substantial portion of this balance will be recorded as an adjustment to accumulated deficit on January 1, 2018 upon adoption of ASU 2014-09. After adoption, the Company will account for and present any associated contract assets and contract liabilities under one contract on a net basis in the statement of financial position. Development, services, and other revenue The Company expects minimum changes on this revenue stream under the new standard. It will continue to recognize development, services, and other revenue when such service obligation is satisfied. The Company acknowledges that the conclusions are drawn from the specific facts and circumstances pertaining to its existing contracts. With the Company’s continuous evolution of technologies and its increasing ability to demonstrate the value of its innovations to licensees, the Company will need to assess the application of ASU 2014-09 for each new contract entered after the adoption date, and determine the appropriate revenue recognition on a case-by-case, industry-by-industry basis.

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