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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIESIn June 2021, S1 Holdco entered into a multi-year agreement with a service provider whereby the Company is contractually obligated to spend $8,000 between July 2022 and June 2023. As of December 31, 2022 (Successor), the Company remains contractually obligated to spend $4,115 towards this commitment.
As of December 31, 2022, the Company had various non-cancelable operating lease commitments for office space which have been recorded as Operating lease liabilities. Refer to Note 7—LEASES for additional information regarding lease commitments.

Litigation

The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes the ultimate liability, if any, with respect to these actions will not materially affect the consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows reflected in the consolidated financial statements. There can be no assurance, however, that the ultimate resolution of such actions will not materially or adversely affect the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. The Company accrues for losses when the loss is deemed probable and the liability can reasonably be estimated.

In July 2021, System1 OpCo (f/k/a System1, LLC) received initial correspondence from counsel for a United Kingdom-based marketing research company and its United States subsidiary (collectively, the “Demanding Group”) alleging trademark infringement (i) based on its use of the “SYSTEM1” trade name and mark in the United States, and (ii) subsequently based on its use of the “SYSTEM1” trade name and mark in the United Kingdom. The correspondence demanded that System1 OpCo cease and desist from using the “SYSTEM1” name and mark, and made reference to potential legal action if System1 OpCo did not comply with that demand. While System1 OpCo was engaged in active discussions and correspondence with the Demanding Group to attempt to resolve the matter, the Demanding Group filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in September 2021 (the “Infringement Suit”), alleging (i) trademark infringement, (ii) false designation of origin, (iii) unfair competition and (iv) certain violations of New York business laws, seeking, among other things, an injunction, disgorgement of profits, actual damages and attorneys’ fees and costs. The Company believes that the Demanding Group’s infringement and other allegations and claims set forth in the Infringement Suit may be subject to a laches defense, among other defenses, and the Company intends to vigorously defend its rights and position in the Infringement Suit. System1 OpCo filed a motion to dismiss the Infringement Suit in November 2021, which was granted in part (without prejudice) and denied in part. As a result of the court’s ruling on the motion to dismiss, the Demanding Group filed an Amended Complaint in October 2022, which matter remains pending. Even though the Company received similar correspondence from the Demanding Group regarding its alleged infringing use of the SYSTEM1 trade name and mark in the United Kingdom, no lawsuit has been filed in the United Kingdom. The Company does not believe that its activities infringe any rights of the Demanding Group in the United Kingdom because, among other defenses, the Company does not actively offer services to customers using the SYSTEM1 trade name and mark in the United Kingdom. The Company’s counsel has informed the Demanding Group’s UK counsel of these circumstances, and the Demanding Group’s UK counsel confirmed receipt of this correspondence, and the parties have not shared any further meaningful correspondence with respect to the Demanding Group’s allegations of infringing use in the United Kingdom. The parties to the Infringement Suit have been negotiating a mediated settlement and co-existence agreement, which is still in process as of the date of the filing of this Form 10-K and the terms of which have yet to be finalized, while the matter remains outstanding. Amounts accrued as of December 31, 2022 for any potential losses have been immaterial to-date.

In March 2023, the Company received a letter from counsel for Alta Partners, LLC (“Alta”), which purports to be a holder of certain Public Warrants of the Company (“Demand Letter”). The Demand Letter alleges that the Company breached the terms of the Warrant Agreement, and that Alta is entitled to approximately $5.7 million in damages, plus prejudgment interest, as a result. On April 20, 2023, counsel for the Company responded to the Demand Letter, denying that any breach occurred or that Alta is entitled to any damages (“Response Letter”). The Company continues to deny liability and will defend vigorously against any claims. The Company has not accrued a loss for this matter, as a loss is not probable and a loss, or range of loss, is not reasonably estimable.

Indemnifications

In the ordinary course of business, the Company may provide indemnifications of varying scope and terms to customers, vendors, lessors, investors, directors, officers, employees, and other parties with respect to certain
matters, including, but not limited to, losses arising out of the Company’s breach of such agreements, services to be provided by the Company, or from intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties. These indemnifications may survive termination of the underlying agreement and the maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification provisions may not be subject to claims related to these indemnifications. As a result, the Company believes the estimated fair value of these agreements was immaterial. Accordingly, the Company has no liabilities recorded for these agreements as of December 31, 2022 (Successor) or December 31, 2021 (Predecessor), respectively.