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Commitments and Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies

6.     Commitments and Contingencies

 

Legal Matters -From August 2005 until May 2013, the Company was involved in lawsuits in various foreign jurisdictions against the European Central Bank ("ECB") alleging patent infringement by the ECB and claimed unspecified damages (the "ECB Litigation"). The Company brought the suit in the European Court of First Instance in Luxembourg.   The Company alleged that all Euro banknotes in circulation infringed the Company's European Patent 0 455 750B1 (the "Patent") which covered a method of incorporating an anti-counterfeiting feature into banknotes or similar security documents to protect against forgeries by digital scanning and copying devices.  The ECB then filed claims against the Company in eight European countries seeking to invalidate the patents. During the course of the ECB Litigation, the losing party, in certain jurisdictions, was responsible for the prevailing party's legal fees and disbursements. As of June 30, 2013, pursuant to foreign judgments for costs and fees, the Company has recorded as accrued liabilities approximately €129,000 ($168,000) for the Germany case and approximately €175,000 ($228,000) for The Netherlands case for such fees. In February 2013, the ECB filed an action in the United States District Court, Western District of New York to domesticate the amounts due under a foreign judgment issued in the Germany proceeding. In addition, the ECB formally requested the Company to pay attorneys and court fees for the Court of First Instance case in Luxembourg which amounts to €93,752 ($120,000) as of June 30, 2013, which, unless the amount is settled, will be subject to an assessment procedure that has not been initiated. The Company will accrue the assessed amount, if any, as soon as it is reasonably estimable.

 

On August 20, 2008, the Company entered into an agreement (the "Trebuchet Agreement") with Trebuchet Capital Partners, LLC ("Trebuchet") under which Trebuchet agreed to pay substantially all of the litigation costs associated with validity proceedings in eight European countries relating to the ECB Litigation, and the Company provided Trebuchet with the sole and exclusive right to manage infringement litigation relating to the Patent in Europe, including the right to initiate litigation in the name of the Company, Trebuchet or both, and to choose whom and where to sue, subject to certain limitations set forth in the Trebuchet Agreement. On February 18, 2010, Trebuchet, on behalf of the Company, filed an infringement suit in The Netherlands against the ECB and two security printing entities with manufacturing operations in The Netherlands, Joh. Enschede Banknotes B.V and Koninklijke Joh. Enschede B.V.  The Netherlands Court determined in December 2010 that the patent was invalid in The Netherlands, and the infringement case was terminated by Trebuchet. Trebuchet remains responsible for cost and fee reimbursements associated with the case when such amounts are determined and fixed by order of the Dutch Court. On July 7, 2011, Trebuchet and the Company entered into a series of related agreements and general releases wherein Trebuchet effectively ended its ongoing participation in the ECB Litigation, except for its continuing involvement in the final settlement of fees that may become payable as a result of the infringement case in The Netherlands. The Trebuchet Agreement that was executed in August 2008 will remain in full force and effect, in its entirety, until Trebuchet makes any and all final payments that may become due in connection with The Netherlands infringement case.

 

On October 24, 2011 the Company initiated a law suit against Coupons.com Incorporated ("Coupons.com"). The suit was filed in the United States District Court, Western District of New York, located in Rochester, New York. Coupons.com is a Delaware corporation having its principal place of business located in Mountain View, California. In the Coupons.com suit, the Company alleged breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition and unjust enrichment, and is seeking in excess of $10 million in money damages from Coupons.com for those claims. The Company's breach of contract claim remains intact as of the date of this report.

 

In addition to the foregoing, we are subject to other legal proceedings that have arisen in the ordinary course of business and have not been finally adjudicated. Although there can be no assurance in this regard, in the opinion of management, none of the legal proceedings to which we are a party, whether discussed herein or otherwise, will have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows or our financial condition.

 

Contingent Litigation Payments -  The Company has a legal fee agreement with Niro, Haller & Niro in connection with its law suit against Coupons.com. Under the agreement, the Company would pay Niro, Haller & Niro 33% of any settlements or damages awards collected from Coupons.com in connection with the suit. Under the agreement, the Company is responsible for payment of out-of-pocket charges and disbursements of Niro, Haller & Niro necessarily accrued during the prosecution of the suit. This fee agreement replaced an agreement the Company had with Nixon Peabody LLP, the Company's former legal counsel in the Coupons.com litigation.

 

Contingent Purchase Price -In December, 2008, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of DPI of Rochester, LLC in which the Company guaranteed up to $50,000 to certain parties depending on whether certain conditions occurred within five years of the acquisition.   As of June 30, 2013, the Company considers the likelihood that the payment will be required as remote.

 

Related Party Consulting Payments  - The Company has a consulting agreement with Patrick White, its former CEO. During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Company paid approximately $94,000 to Mr. White and expects to pay approximately $265,000 in future monthly payments through the expiration of the agreement in March 2015.