XML 29 R17.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.23.1
Commitments and Contingencies
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
11. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Patent Litigations

 

On July 23, 2021, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, Paltalk Holdings, Inc., filed a patent infringement lawsuit against WebEx Communications, Inc., Cisco WebEx LLC, and Cisco Systems, Inc. (collectively, “Cisco”), in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. The Company alleges that Cisco’s Webex products have infringed U.S. Patent No. 6,683,858, and that the Company is entitled to damages.

 

A Markman hearing took place on February 24, 2022. On September 7, 2022, the United States Patent Office issued a reexamination of U.S. Patent No. 6,683,858, and on January 19, 2023, the Examiner issued an Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate, ending the reexamination and confirming the patentability of claims 1-10 of U.S. Patent No. 6,683,858. Trial is now scheduled for early third quarter of 2023.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

The Company may be included in legal proceedings, claims and assessments arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company evaluates the need for a reserve for specific legal matters based on the probability of an unfavorable outcome and the reasonability of an estimable loss. No reserve was deemed necessary as of December 31, 2022.

 

Officer Employment Agreements

 

On March 23, 2022, the Company entered into Amended and Restated Employment Agreements with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), which amended and restated their existing employment agreements with the Company dated October 7, 2016 and December 9, 2019, respectively. The agreements are each for a term of one year with auto renewal provisions. Except for adjustments to base salaries, all other terms and conditions of the prior employment agreements between the Company and the CEO and CFO remained in full force and effect. The CEO agreement is retroactive to February 2021. The CFO agreement is retroactive to January 2022. Aggregate commitments of base salaries under the agreements for 2022 total $490,000. Should the agreements be renewed for 2023 and beyond, the aggregate base salary commitments would total $510,000 per year.