UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
10-K
☒ Annual
Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended: December 31 ,
2024
OR
☐
Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the transition period from ___ to ___
Commission File Number 33-18099-NY
QUEST
PATENT RESEARCH CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 11-2873662
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
411 Theodore Fremd Ave ., Suite 206S
Rye , NY
10580-1411
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
(888) 743-7577
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b)
of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g)
of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if
the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐
No ☒
Indicate by check mark if
the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐
No ☒
Note - Checking the box above
will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from their obligations under
those Sections.
Indicate by check mark whether
the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether
the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T
(§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such
files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether
the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging
growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting
company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
Large accelerated filer ☐ Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☒ Smaller reporting company ☒
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company,
indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial
accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether
the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control
over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that
prepared or issued its audit report. ☐
If securities are registered
pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing
reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether
any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the
registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to § 240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether
the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No
☒
State the aggregate market
value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity
was sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently
completed second fiscal quarter: $ 404,035 as of June 30, 2024.
Note.—If a determination
as to whether a particular person or entity is an affiliate cannot be made without involving unreasonable effort and expense, the aggregate
market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates may be calculated on the basis of assumptions reasonable under the circumstances,
provided that the assumptions are set forth in this Form.
As of March 15, 2025, the registrant had 5,331,973
shares of common stock outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE
None
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
PART I
1
Item 1.
Business
1
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
7
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
19
Item 1C.
Cybersecurity
19
Item 2.
Properties
20
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
20
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
20
PART II
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
21
Item 6.
[Reserved]
21
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
22
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
29
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
30
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
30
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
30
Item 9B.
Other Information
31
Item 9C.
Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.
31
PART III
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
32
Item 11.
Executive Compensation
33
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
36
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
38
Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
38
PART IV
Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
39
Item 16.
Form 10-K Summary
40
As used in this annual report, the terms “we,”
“us,” “our,” and words of like import, and the “Company” refers to Quest Patent Research Corporation
and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.
i
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contain “forward-looking
statements,” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, all of which are subject to risks and uncertainties.
Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “expects,” “plans,” “will,”
“forecasts,” “projects,” “intends,” “estimates,” and other words of similar meaning. One
can identify them by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements are likely to address
our growth strategy, financial results and product and development programs. One must carefully consider any such statement and should
understand that many factors could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements. These factors may include inaccurate
assumptions and a broad variety of other risks and uncertainties, including some that are known and some that are not. No forward-looking
statement can be guaranteed, and actual future results may vary materially.
These risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control,
include, and are not limited to:
●
Our ability to generate revenue from our intellectual property rights, including our ability to license our intellectual property rights and our ability to be successful in any litigation which we may commence in order to seek to monetize our intellectual property rights;
●
Our ability or perceived ability to obtain necessary financing for operations and for the monetization of our intellectual property rights;
●
Our ability to remain current with respect to our obligations under patent purchase agreements, the failure of which could result in a default under our agreement with QPRC Finance LLC (“QFL”) and/or QPRC Finance III LLC (“QF3”) or, even if the failure does not result in a default, it may affect the willingness of QF3 to make advances to us under the funding agreement;
●
Our ability to generate sufficient proceeds from our intellectual property rights to enable us to realize any cash flow after payments to our funding sources, including QFL and QF3 under our financing agreements with QFL and QF3, our restructured agreement with Intelligent Partners, LLC (“Intelligent Partners”), and payments due to counsel, as well as payment obligations to sellers of intellectual property rights that we acquire;
●
Our ability to identify intellectual property for innovative technologies for which there is a significant potential market which QF3 is willing to fund and to find other funding sources if QF3 is not willing to fund the acquisition of the intellectual property and our ability to negotiate terms for the acquisition such intellectual property on terms which QF3 is willing to fund;
●
Our ability or perceived ability to obtain necessary financing for operations;
●
The effect of any adverse decision in any action which one of our subsidiaries may commence, including the award of legal fees in favor of a defendant, which may result in the bankruptcy of the subsidiary;
●
The effects on our business, financial conditions and ownership of proprietary rights in the event of any default under our agreements with QFL, QF3 or Intelligent Partners;
●
The effect of legislation and court decisions on our ability to generate revenue from patent and other intellectual property rights as well as the market’s perception of the effects of such legislation or court decisions on our business;
●
Our ability to reduce the cost of litigation through contingent fees with counsel;
●
The results or anticipated results of litigation by or against us, including any actions or motions by defendants seeking legal fees or any other recovery from us in the event that a court decision is against us or otherwise does not uphold our intellectual property rights;
●
The effects on us in the event that any party against which we commence litigation obtains a judgement against one of our subsidiaries and seeks to foreclose on the intellectual property owned by the subsidiary which may result in a default under our agreements with QFL and QF3.
●
Our failure to have effective disclosure controls and internal controls over financial reporting.
●
The anticipated or actual results of our operations;
ii
●
Events or conditions relating to the enforcement of intellectual property rights generally;
●
The development of a market for our common stock;
●
Our ability to retain our key executive officers and identify, hire and retain additional key employees;
●
Any discrepancy between anticipated or projected results and actual results of our operations;
●
Any decline in our stock price which results in our common stock no longer being traded on the OTCQB which could result in a default under our funding agreements;
●
The market’s perception as to our ability to continue to make our filings with the SEC in a timely manner and for our stock to continue to be traded on the OTCQB;
●
Actions by third parties to either sell or purchase stock in quantities
which would have a significant effect on our stock price;
●
The sale or the market’s perception of the possible sale by QFL or Intelligent Partners of the shares of common stock which we have registered pursuant to the Securities Act;
●
Any damages we may be required to pay in the event that we do not keep the registration statement covering shares to be sold by owned by Intelligent Partners or issuable upon warrants held by QFL current and effective without their ability to sell pursuant to Rule 144 or our ability to continue to have our stock traded on the OTCQB;
●
The effect of pandemics or other major outbreaks of disease or civil disruptions or other events which have the effect of reducing court schedules which results in courts giving a lower priority to legal action such as those we file and the ability or willingness of defendants to reach a settlement on our claims, and impairment in the financial condition or bankruptcy of defendants and potential defendants in action which we commenced or may commence; and
●
Other matters not within our control.
In addition, factors that could cause or contribute
to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and in particular, the risks
discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations,” as well as those discussed in other documents we file with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to revise
or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Given these risks and
uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
Information regarding market and industry statistics
contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K is included based on information available to us that we believe is accurate. It is generally
based on industry and other publications that are not produced for purposes of securities offerings or economic analysis. We have not
reviewed or included data from all sources. Forecasts and other forward-looking information obtained from these sources are subject to
the same qualifications and the additional uncertainties accompanying any estimates of future market size, revenue and market acceptance
of products and services. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statement. As a result, you should not place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements.
iii
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Overview
We are an intellectual property asset management
company. Our principal operations include the acquisition, licensing and enforcement of intellectual property rights that are either owned
or controlled by us or one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries. We currently own, control or manage twenty-two intellectual property portfolios
of which we are currently seeking or may seek monetization with respect to six, which principally consist of patent rights. As part of
our intellectual property asset management activities and in the ordinary course of our business, it has been necessary for us or the
intellectual property owner who we represent to initiate, and it is likely to continue to be necessary to initiate, patent infringement
lawsuits and engage in patent infringement litigation in order to generate revenue. We anticipate that our primary source of revenue will
come from the grant of licenses to use our intellectual property, including primarily licenses granted as part of the settlement of patent
infringement lawsuits.
Intellectual property monetization includes the
generation of revenue and proceeds from the licensing of patents, patented technologies and other intellectual property rights. Patent
litigation is often, and for us has been, a necessary element of intellectual property monetization where a patent owner, or a representative
of the patent owner, seeks to protect its patent rights against the unlicensed manufacture, sale, and use of the owner’s patent
rights or products which incorporate the owner’s patent rights. In general, we seek to monetize the bundle of rights granted by
the patents through structured licensing and when necessary, enforcement of those rights through litigation, although to date all of our
patent license revenues have resulted from litigation. To date all of our revenue from the licensing of our patents has resulted from
litigation commenced by us.
We intend to develop our business by acquiring
intellectual property rights, either in the form of ownership of or an exclusive license to the underlying intellectual property. Our
goal is to enter into agreements with inventors of innovative technologies for which there may be a significant market for products which
use or incorporate the intellectual property. We seek to purchase all of, or interests in, intellectual property in exchange for cash,
securities of our company, the formation or a joint venture or separate subsidiary in which the owner has an equity interest, and/or interests
in the monetization of those assets. Our revenue from this aspect of our business can be generated through licensing and, when necessary,
which is typically the case, litigation. We engage in due diligence and a principled risk underwriting process to evaluate the merits
and potential value of any acquisition, partnership or joint venture. We seek to structure the terms of our acquisitions in a manner that
will achieve the highest risk-adjusted returns possible, in the context of our financial condition. In connection with the acquisition
of intellectual property portfolios, we have granted the party providing the financing an interest in any recovery we have with respect
to the intellectual property purchased with the financing, and we expect that we will have to continue to grant such interests until and
unless we have generated sufficient cash from licensing our intellectual property to enable us to acquire additional intellectual property
portfolios without outside financing. However, we cannot assure you that we will ever generate sufficient revenues to enable us to purchase
additional intellectual property without third-party financing.
We employ a due diligence process before completing
the acquisition of an intellectual property interest. We begin with an investment thesis supporting the potential transaction and then
proceed to test the thesis through an examination of the critical drivers of the value of the underlying intellectual property asset.
Such an examination focuses on areas such as title and inventorship issues, the quality of the drafting and prosecution of the intellectual
property assets, legal risks inherent in licensing programs generally, the applicability of the invention to the relevant marketplace
and other issues such as the effects of venue and other procedural issues. If we require financing to acquire intellectual property, we
will have to satisfy our financing sources, which may be QF3, that we have the ability to monetize the intellectual property. However,
our financial position may affect our ability to conduct adequate due diligence with respect to intellectual property rights or to acquire
valuable intellectual property. This due diligence effort is conducted by our chief executive officer, who is our only full-time employee.
It has been necessary to commence litigation in
order to obtain a recovery for past infringement of, or to license the use of, our intellectual property rights. Intellectual property
litigation is very expensive, with no certainty of any recovery. To the extent possible we seek to engage counsel on a contingent fee
or partial contingent fee basis, which significantly reduces our litigation cost, but which also reduces the value of the recovery to
us. We do not have the resources to enable us to fund the cost of litigation. To the extent that we cannot secure counsel on a contingent
basis and cannot fund litigation ourselves, which, considering our financial position, is likely to be the case, we may enter into an
agreement with a third-party, which may be an independent third-party, such as QF3, to finance the cost of litigation. In view of our
limited cash and our working capital deficiency, we are not able to institute any monetization program that may require litigation unless
we engage counsel on a fully contingent basis, or we obtain funding from third-party funding sources. In these cases, counsel may be afforded
a greater participation in the recovery and the third-party that funds the litigation would be entitled to participate in any recovery.
1
Agreements with QF3
On March 12, 2023, we and our wholly-owned subsidiary,
Harbor Island Dynamic LLC (“Harbor”), entered into a series of agreements, all dated March 12, 2023, with QF3, a non-affiliated
party, including a prepaid forward purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), a security agreement (the “Security
Agreement”), a patent security agreement (the “Patent Security Agreement” together with the Security Agreement, the
Patent Security Agreement, and the Purchase Agreement, the “Investment Documents”). The descriptions below and elsewhere in
this Form 10-K relating to our agreements with QF3 are summaries only and are qualified in their entirety by reference to those agreements
which are filed as exhibits to this Form 10-K.
(i) Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement,
QF3 agreed to make available to us a financing facility of: (a) up to $4,334,000 for operating expenses; (b) $3,300,000 to fund the cash
payment portion of the purchase of a patent portfolio from Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (“Tower”); and (c) up to an additional
$25,000,000 for the acquisition of mutually agreed patent rights that we intend to monetize. In return we transferred to QF3 a right
to receive a portion of net proceeds generated from the monetization of those patents. The terms of the Purchase Agreement are described
under “QF3 Purchase Agreement.”
(ii) On March 17, 2023, we used
$3,300,000 of proceeds from the QF3 financing as the cash payment portion of the purchase of a seven-patent portfolio (the “HID
Portfolio”) from Tower.
(iii) Pursuant to the Security Agreement,
our obligations under the Purchase Agreement with QF3 are secured by: (a) the value of anything received from the monetization of the
intellectual property rights covered by the Security Agreement; (b) the patents (as defined in the Security Agreement); (c) all general
intangibles now or hereafter arising from or related to the foregoing (a) and (b); and (d) proceeds (including, without limitation, cash
proceeds and insurance proceeds) and products of the foregoing (a)-(c).
(iv) Pursuant to the Patent Security
Agreement, we and Harbor granted QF3 a first priority continuing security interest in and lien upon Collateral covered by the Security
Agreement. The Patent Security Agreement is the instrument that is filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and other
government agencies to perfect QF3’s security interest in the Collateral.
QF3 Purchase Agreement
Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, QF3 agreed
to make available to us a financing facility of: (a) up to $4,334,000 for operating expenses; (b) $3,300,000 to fund the cash payment
portion of the purchase of the HID Portfolio from Tower and (c) up to an additional $25,000,000 for the acquisition of mutually agreed
patent rights that we would intend to monetize. In return we transferred to QF3 the right to receive a portion of net proceeds generated
from the monetization of those patents. After QF3 has received a negotiated rate of return (as defined in the Purchase Agreement), we
and QF3 shall share net proceeds equally until QF3 shall have achieved its Investment Return (as defined therein). Thereafter, we shall
retain 100% of all net proceeds. Except in an Event of Default, as defined therein, all payments by us to QF3 pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement are non-recourse and shall be paid only if and after net proceeds from monetization of the patent rights owned or acquire by
us are received or are to be received.
Events of Default include any breach of the Investment
Documents, including non-payment, material misrepresentation, security interest compromise, criminal indictment or felony conviction of
one of our officers or directors, our current chief executive no longer serving as our chief executive or as a director, the occurrence
of any Event of Default under the Restructure Agreement with Intelligent Partners, as defined therein, and our insolvency. In addition
to all rights and remedies available under law and the Investment Documents, upon and Event of Default, QF3 may: (i) declare the Investment
Return immediately due and payable, (ii) except in the event of our insolvency, declare an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the
capital provided pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, plus a late charge, immediately due and payable, or (iii) cease making capital available
to us.
Under the agreement, QF3 may terminate capital
advances other than in an Event of Default by giving written notice to us in which case QF3’s interest in Net Proceeds shall be
an amount equal to the greater of (i) the capital advanced to us plus interest at the prime rate, on the one hand, and (ii) Net Proceeds
received by QF3 prior to the date of such termination.
2
Grant of Security Interests
Pursuant to the Security Agreement and Patent
Security Agreement, payment of our obligations under the Purchase Agreement with QF3 are secured by (a) the value of anything received
from the monetization of the intellectual property rights covered by the Security Agreement; (b) the patents (as defined in the Security
Agreement); (c) all general intangibles now or hereafter arising from or related to the foregoing (a) and (b); and (d) proceeds (including,
without limitation, cash proceeds and insurance proceeds) and products of the foregoing (a)-(c).
Intercreditor Agreement
In connection with the agreements with QF3, we,
Harbor, Quest Licensing Corporation (“QLC”), Quest NetTech Corporation (“NetTech”), Mariner IC Inc. (“Mariner”),
Semcon IP Inc. (“Semcon”), IC Kinetics Inc. (“IC”), CXT Systems Inc. (“CXT”), M-Red Inc. (“MRED”),
and Audio Messaging Inc. (“AMI”), collectively, the “Subsidiary Guarantors”) entered into an intercreditor agreement
with QF3 and Intelligent Partners which provides for the priority of QF3 in the collateral under the Investment Documents.
Agreements with QFL and Intelligent Partners
On February 22, 2021, we entered into a funding
agreement with QFL which was amended and restated on May 2, 2024 and a restructure agreement with Intelligent Partners. The descriptions
below and elsewhere in this Form 10-K relating to our agreements with QFL and Intelligent Partners are summaries only and are qualified
in their entirety by reference to those agreements which were filed as exhibits to this Form 10-K.
Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement with QFL, QFL
made available to us a total of $6,402,000, consisting of (a) $2,653,000 for the acquisition of mutually agreed patent rights that we
intended to monetize; (b) $2,000,000 for operating expenses; and (iii) $1,750,000 to fund the cash payment portion of the restructure
of our obligations to Intelligent Partners. In return we transferred to QFL a right to receive a portion of net proceeds generated from
the monetization of those patents. During the year ended December 31, 2024 we repaid the full outstanding principal balance of $1,525,502.
No further advances are to be made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. We also granted QFL a ten-year warrant to purchase a total of up
to 962,463 shares of our common stock, with an exercise price of $0.54 per share which may be exercised through February 18, 2031 on a
cash or cashless basis, subject to certain limitations on exercisability. The warrant also contains certain minimum ownership percentage
antidilution rights pursuant to which the aggregate number of shares of common stock purchasable upon the initial exercise of the Warrant
shall not be less than 10% of the aggregate number of outstanding shares of our capital stock (determined on a fully diluted basis). A
portion of any gain from sale of the shares, net of taxes and costs of exercise, realized prior to the completion of all monetization
activities shall be credited against the total return due to QFL pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. We also agreed to take all commercially
reasonable steps necessary to regain compliance with the OTCQB eligibility standards as soon as practicable, but in no event later than
12 months from the closing date, and regained compliance on May 7, 2021. We also granted QFL registration rights with respect to the common
stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants. We also granted QFL certain board observation rights. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement,
all of the net proceeds from the monetization of the intellectual property acquired with funds from QFL are paid directly to QFL. After
QFL has received a negotiated rate of return, we and QFL share net proceeds equally until QFL achieves its investment return, as defined
in the agreement. Thereafter, we retain 100% of all net proceeds. Except in an Event of Default, as defined therein, all payments by us
to QFL pursuant to the Purchase Agreement are non-recourse and shall be paid only if and after net proceeds from monetization of the patent
rights owned or acquire by us are received, or to be received.
Contemporaneously with the execution of the agreements
with QFL, we entered into a restructure agreement with Intelligent Partners to eliminate any obligations we had with respect to the outstanding
notes and the securities purchase agreement. As part of the restructure of our agreements with Intelligent Partners, we amended the existing
monetization proceeds agreements (“MPAs”) and granted Intelligent Partners certain rights in the monetization proceeds from
any new intellectual property we acquire. Under these MPAs, Intelligent Partners receives a 60% interest in the proceeds from our intellectual
property owned by the eight Subsidiary Guarantors. Intelligent Partners also participates in the monetization proceeds from new intellectual
property that we acquire until the total payments under all the monetization participation agreements equal $2,805,000, as follows: for
net proceeds between $0 and $1,000,000, Intelligent Partners receives 10% of the net proceeds realized from new patents, except that if,
in any calendar quarter, net proceeds realized by us exceed $1,000,000, Intelligent Partners’ entitlement for that quarter only
shall increase to 30% on the portion of net proceeds in excess of $1,000,000 but less than $3,000,000. If in the same calendar quarter,
net proceeds exceed $3,000,000, Intelligent Partners’ entitlement for that quarter only shall increase to 50% on the portion of
net proceeds in excess of $3,000,000. The payments with respect to the new patents terminate once total payments to Intelligent Partners
under all monetization participation agreements reach $2,805,000. The payments to Intellectual Partners with respect new patents are payable
from the proceeds which are allocated to us under the QFL and QF3 agreements, which start after QFL and QF3 have received a negotiated
rate of return.
3
Our Organization
We were incorporated in Delaware on July 17, 1987
under the name Phase Out of America. On September 21, 1997, we changed our name to Quest Products Corporation, and, on June 6, 2007, we
changed our name to Quest Patent Research Corporation. We have been engaged in the intellectual property monetization business since 2008.
Our executive principal office is located at 411 Theodore Fremd Ave., Suite 206S, Rye, New York 10580-1411, telephone (888) 743-7577.
Our website is www.qprc.com. Information contained on or derived from our website, or any other website or any social media does not constitute
a part of this annual report.
Our Intellectual Property Portfolios
Intellectual Property Rights
We have twenty-two intellectual property portfolios
of which we are seeking to monetize the intellectual property rights of six portfolios. Our operating subsidiaries own or control the
rights to these patent portfolios, covering technologies used in a variety of industries. We generate revenues and related cash flows
primarily from licenses granted as part of the settlement of patent infringement lawsuits for the use of patented technologies that our
operating subsidiaries control or own.
The six portfolios which we are currently planning
or seeking to monetize are described below.
EDI Portfolio
In July 2022, EDI acquired, via assignment from
Edward D. Ioli Trust, all right title and interest to a portfolio of five United States patents and related applications relating to a
system and method for controlling vehicles and for providing assistance to operated vehicles (“EDI Portfolio”) for a purchase
price consisting of 50% of the net proceeds resulting from monetization of the EDI Portfolio.
HPE Portfolio
Acquired in July 2022 pursuant to an agreement
with Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP and Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, the HPE portfolio consists of eight United States
Patents across five patent families which relate generally to systems and methods around hardware, software and system security and capabilities
(“HPE Portfolio”). We requested and received a capital advance from QFL in the amount of $350,000, which was used to make
payment of the purchase price pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement. The HPE Portfolio is held by our wholly owned subsidiary,
Flash Uplink LLC.
HID Portfolio
Acquired by Harbor in March 2023 from Tower, the
HID Portfolio consists of seven United States Patents which relate generally to the field of fabrication of semiconductor structures and
circuits. We requested and received a capital advance from QF3 in the amount of $3,300,000, which was used to make payment of the purchase
price pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement. Pursuant to the acquisition agreement, Tower is entitled to a portion of the net
proceeds, if any, from monetization of the HID Portfolio.
Koyo Portfolio
Acquired in August 2023 by our wholly owned subsidiary,
Koyo Licensing LLC pursuant to a purchase agreement with Koji Yoden for the acquisition of two United States Patents relating generally
to a user interface at a computing device with a sensitive display (“Koyo Portfolio”). Pursuant to the purchase agreement,
after recovery of the purchase price Mr. Yoden is entitled to a portion of net proceeds, if any, as defined in the purchase agreement.
Taasera Portfolio
Acquired by our wholly-owned subsidiary, Taasera
Licensing LLC (“TLL”), this portfolio consists of 29 United States patents and two foreign patents which generally relate
to the field of network security (the “Taasera Portfolio”). In June 2021 seven patents were acquired via assignment from Taasera,
Inc. for the purchase price of $250,000. In August 2021 acquired a portfolio of network security patents from Daedalus Blue LLC (“DBL”)
consisting of 22 United States patents and 2 foreign patents. Original assignees of the patents acquired from DBL include International
Business Machines Corporation, Internet Security Systems, Inc. and Fiberlink Communications Corporation (“Fiberlink”). ISS
and Fiberlink were acquired by IBM in 2006 and 2013, respectively. In September 2019, IBM divested over 500 United States patent assets,
as well as a number of foreign counterparts in Asia, Europe, and elsewhere, to Daedalus Group, and affiliate of DBL. Pursuant to the acquisition
agreement, DBL is entitled to a portion of the net proceeds from monetization of the TLL portfolio.
4
In November 2021, TLL brought patent infringement
suits in the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Texas against Trend Micro Incorporated. In March 2022, Trend Micro, Inc. filed
a complaint against TLL in the U.S. District for the Western District of Texas seeking declaratory judgement of non-infringement of the
patents in suit. In February 2022, TLL brought patent infringement suits in the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Texas against
Checkpoint Software Technologies Ltd. and Palo Alto Networks, Inc. In March 2022, TLL voluntarily dismissed, without prejudice, the action
against Palo Alto Networks, Inc. In March 2022, Palo Alto Networks, Inc. filed a complaint against TLL and the Company in the U.S. District
for the Southern District of New York seeking declaratory judgement of non-infringement of the patents in suit. In May 2022, Trend Micro
Inc. filed a motion with the Panel on Multidistrict Litigation seeking to have the pending actions consolidated into a centralized multidistrict
litigation for pretrial proceedings. In August 2022, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated all actions in the U.S.
District for the Eastern District of Texas. In October 2022, TLL brought patent infringement suits in the U.S. District for the Eastern
District of Texas against Fortinet, Inc., Crowdstrike, Inc. et.al., and Musarubra US, LLC. The actions against Trend Micro Incorporated,
Checkpoint Software Technologies Ltd, Palo Alto Networks, Inc. and Crowdstrike, Inc. were resolved in 2023 and our revenue for the year
ended December 31, 2023 includes revenue from the related settlements.
Multimodal Media Portfolio
Acquired by our wholly owned subsidiary, Multimodal
Media LLC (“MML”), the Multimodal Media portfolio consists of fifteen United States patents and one pending application which
generally relate to systems and methods of recording and sending interactive messages and voice messages using mobile devices, as well
as completing a communication after an incomplete call (the “Multimodal Media Portfolio”). MML advanced $642,000 at closing
pursuant to an agreement, as amended, with Aawaaz Inc. (“AI”). Under the agreement, MML retains an amount equal to the purchase
price plus any fees incurred out of net proceeds, as defined in the agreement, after which AI is entitled to a percentage of further net
proceeds realized, if any.
The Multimodal Media Portfolio was originally
developed by Kirusa, Inc., a communications software development company founded in 2001 by Inderpal Mumick together with other technocrats
with a dream of connecting people through the power of voice. Heralded by the invention of Voice SMS, Kirusa, Inc. was born with a vision
to revolutionize the experiences users derived from their mobile phones.
In November 2021, MML brought patent infringement
suits in the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Texas against ZTE Corporation and Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corp.,
Ltd. In November 2022, MML brought patent infringement suits in the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Texas against Samsung Electronics
Co., Ltd. et al and TCL Technology Group Corporation et al. The actions against ZTE Corporation and Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications
Corp., Ltd. were resolved in 2023 and revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 includes revenue from the related settlements. The
actions against Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. etal were resolved in 2024 and revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024 includes revenue
from the related settlement.
Other Portfolios
We also own 16 additional portfolios; however, we do not anticipate
allocating any resources to the monetization of the intellectual property of these portfolios. During 2024 and 2023, we generated revenue
from the portfolios described below.
Tyche Portfolio
The Tyche portfolio consists of two United States
patents and related assets relating generally to symmetric inducting devices incorporated in integrated circuits and in particular to
an integrated circuit having symmetric inducting device with a ground shield.
In May 2022, Tyche brought patent infringement
suits in the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Texas against MediaTek Inc., Realtek Semiconductor Corporation, Texas Instruments
Incorporated, Infineon Technologies AG and STMicroelectronics NV et. al. In May 2022, Tyche voluntarily dismissed, without prejudice,
the action against STMicroelectronics NV et .al. In May 2022, STMicroelectronics, Inc. filed an action for declaratory judgement of non-infringement
in the U.S. District for the Northern District of Texas, the action was dismissed without prejudice in July 2022. In September 2022, the
action against Texas Instruments Incorporated was dismissed with prejudice. The actions against MediaTek Inc. and Infineon Technologies
AG were resolved in 2023 and revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 includes revenue from the related settlement.
5
Deepwell Portfolio
Acquired in January 2022, the Deepwell portfolio
consists of 12 United States patents and related assets (“Deepwell Portfolio”). Certain of the patents relate generally to
the manufacture and operation of integrated circuits. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to 1) selectively
coupling Voltage feeds to body bias Voltage in an integrated circuit device; 2) routing body-bias voltage to the MOSFETS (metal oxide
semiconductor field effect transistors). Certain other patents in the portfolio relate generally to method and system for conservatively
managing store capacity available to a processor issuing stores including but not limited to the utilization of a counter mechanism, whereas
the counter mechanism is incremented or decremented based on the occurrence of particular events. In September 2023, Deepwell brought
a patent infringement suit in the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Texas against MediaTek Inc. The actions against MediaTek Inc.
were resolved in 2024 and revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024 includes revenue from the related settlement.
Soundstreak Portfolio
Acquired through our acquisition of all of the
issued and outstanding equity interests of Soundstreak Texas LLC (“STX”) in August 2021 for a purchase price consisting of
50% of the net proceeds resulting from monetization of the patent portfolio, this patent portfolio consists of three United States patents
and one pending patent application which generally relate to streaming data (including audio or video) while also storing higher quality
versions of the same data locally. The patented technology has applications in the professional recording industry, digital audio/video
industries, the drone/remote capture industry, the teleconferencing industry, and more.
In August 2021, STX brought a patent infringement
suit in the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Texas against Yamaha Corporation and Steinberg Media Technologies GMBH. In March
2022, STX brought a patent infringement suit in the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Texas against Parrot SA, Delair SAS, Drone
Volt, SA, EHang Holdings Limited and Flyability SA. In July 2022, STX brought a patent infringement suit in the U.S. District for the
Eastern District of Texas against Fujifilm Holdings Corporation et.al.
The actions against Yamaha Corporation, Steinberg
Media Technologies GMBH, Parrot SA, Drone Volt, SA, Flyability SA and Delair SAS were resolved in 2022 and revenue for the year ended
December 31, 2022 includes revenue from the related settlements. The matter against Fujifilm Holdings Corporation et. al. was resolved
in 2023 and revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 includes revenue from the related settlement.
Competition
We encounter and expect to continue to encounter
competition in the areas of intellectual property acquisitions for the sake of licensure from both private and publicly traded companies
that engage in intellectual property monetization activities. Such competitors and potential competitors include companies seeking to
acquire the same intellectual property assets and intellectual property rights that we may seek to acquire. Entities such as Acacia Research
Corporation, Document Security Systems, Inc., Intellectual Ventures, Quarterhill Inc., MOSAID Technologies Inc., VirnetX Holding Corporation,
Network-1 Security Solutions, Interdigital, Inc., IPValue Management Inc., Pendrell Corporation, Inventergy Global, Inc., Netlist Inc.,
Parkervision Inc., Walker Innovation, Inc., Daedalus Group LLC, Netlist Inc. and others derive all or a substantial portion of their revenue
from intellectual property monetization activities, and we expect more entities to enter the market. Most of our competitors have longer
operating histories and significantly greater financial resources and personnel than we have.
We also compete with venture capital firms, strategic
corporate buyers and various industry leaders for intellectual property and technology acquisitions and licensing opportunities. Many
of these competitors have more financial and human resources than our company. In seeking to obtain intellectual property assets or intellectual
property rights, we seek to both demonstrate our understanding of the intellectual property that we are seeking to acquire or license
and our ability to monetize their intellectual property rights. Our weak cash position and history of losses, together with our low stock
price and our stock not being listed on a stock exchange, may impair our ability to negotiate successfully with the intellectual property
owners.
Other companies may develop competing technologies
that offer better or less expensive alternatives to intellectual property rights that we may acquire and/or license. Many potential competitors
may have significantly greater resources than we do. The development of technological advances or entirely different approaches could
render certain of the technologies owned or controlled by our operating subsidiaries obsolete and/or uneconomical.
6
Research and Development
We did not incur research and development expenses
during 2024 or 2023, since research and development are not part of our business.
Consulting Contracts
On February 22, 2021, we entered into advisory
service agreement with three consultants pursuant to which they will provide services to us in connection with the development of our
business. The agreements have a term of ten years and may be terminated by us for cause or upon the death or disability of the consultants.
Pursuant to the consulting agreement, the Company
granted options to purchase a total of 900,000 shares of Common Stock of which options to purchase a total of 900,000 shares of Common
Stock which expire on February 21, 2031. Option to purchase 300,000 shares of Common Stock at $1.00 per share, 100,000 shares at $3.00
per share and 100,000 shares at $5.00 per share are currently exercisable. Option to purchase 200,000 shares at an exercise price of $3.00
per share, become exercisable on the first day on which the Company files with the SEC a Form 10-K or Form 10-Q which reports stockholders’
equity of at least $5,000,000 and options to purchase 200,000 shares at an exercise price of $5.00 per share become exercisable on the
date on which the Common Stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange.
Employees
As of March 15, 2025, we have two employees,
who are our officers, one of whom works on a part-time basis. Our employees are not represented by a labor union, and we consider our
employee relations to be good.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
An investment in our common stock involves
a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below together with all of the other information included in
this annual report before making an investment decision with regard to our securities. The statements contained in this annual report
include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. The risks set forth below are not the only risks facing us. Additional risks
and uncertainties may exist that could also adversely affect our business, prospects or operations. If any of the following risks actually
occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be harmed. In that case, the trading price of our common stock
could decline, and you may lose all or a significant part of your investment.
Risks Relating to our Financial Conditions and Operations
We have a history of losses and are continuing
to incur losses . During the period from 2008, when we changed our business to become an intellectual property management company,
through December 31, 2024, we generated a cumulative loss of approximately $26.4 million on cumulative revenues of approximately $39.8
million, and our losses are continuing. Although we generated net income in 2023, of approximately $2.3 million on revenues of approximately
$13.2 million, the revenue and net income resulted from one-time, paid-up licenses in consideration for the grant of certain intellectual
property rights for patented technologies owned or controlled by our operating subsidiaries as part of the settlement of patent infringement
lawsuits, and we cannot assure you that we will generate any significant revenue or net income in the future. Our total assets were approximately
$3,541,000 at December 31, 2024, of which approximately $2,558,000 represented the book value of patents we acquired from Tower in March
of 2024. At December 31, 2024, we had a working capital deficiency of approximately $11,536,000.
7
Our independent auditors have included a substantial
doubt going concern explanatory paragraph in their report on our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024 . Because
of our history of losses, deficiency in stockholders’ equity, working capital deficiency and the uncertainty of generating revenues
in the future, our independent auditors have included a substantial doubt going concern explanatory paragraph in their report on our financial
statements for the year ended December 31, 2024.
We require significant funding in order to
develop our business . Our business requires substantial funding to evaluate and acquire intellectual property rights and to develop
and implement programs to monetize our intellectual property rights, including the prosecution of any litigation necessary to enable us
to monetize our intellectual property rights. Our failure to develop and implement these programs could both jeopardize our relationships
under our existing agreements and could inhibit our ability to generate new business, either through the acquisition of intellectual property
rights or through exclusive management agreements. We cannot be profitable unless we are able to obtain the funding necessary to develop
our business, including litigation to monetize our intellectual property, and to pay our ongoing expenses, including compensation to our
chief executive officer, which is $667,500 for 2025, as well as professional expenses and other public company expenses. Although we have
agreements with QFL and QF3 which provide a funding to acquire intellectual property rights, QFL or QF3 must approve any intellectual
property we acquire and, if QFL or QF3 does not fund an intellectual property acquisition, we may not be able to acquire and monetize
the intellectual property. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain necessary funding or to develop our business.
The terms of our agreements with QF3, QFL and
Intelligent Partners may make it difficult for us to generate cash flow from our operations . We have an agreement with QF3 pursuant
to which QF3 agreed to make available to us a financing facility of (i) up to $25,000,000 for the acquisition of mutually agreed patent
rights that the Company intends to monetize: (ii) up to $4,334,000 for operating expenses from which the Company may, at its discretion,
draw up to $500,000 per calendar quarter, of which we have drawn down $4,334,000 as of December 31, 2024, and (iii) $3,300,000 which was
used to fund purchase of a patent portfolio from Tower. Although we have paid QFL the money due QFL, QFL continues to have an interest
in the cash flow from patents financed by QFL. Pursuant to the QFL and QF3 agreements, QFL and QF3 receive all proceeds payable to us
from the monetization of those patents which have been financed by QFL and QF3, respectively, until QFL and QF3 have received their respective
negotiated rate of return, then we and QFL and QF3, respectively, share equally in the proceeds from monetization until QFL and QF3, have
received their respective investment return and thereafter we receive all of the net proceeds. Pursuant to our restructure agreement with
Intelligent Partners, we have an obligation to pay TMPO totaling $2,805,000. Under our amended monetization proceeds agreements with Intelligent
Partners, we pay Intelligent Partners 60% of the net monetization proceeds from associated intellectual property portfolios. Further,
until we have paid Intelligent Partners a total of $2,805,000 under all of the monetization proceeds agreements, for net proceeds between
$0 and $1,000,000 we are to pay Intelligent Partners 10% of the net proceeds realized from new assets acquired by us, provided, that,
if, in any calendar quarter, our net proceeds realized exceed $1,000,000, Intelligent Partner’s entitlement for that quarter shall
increase to 30% on the portion of net proceeds in excess of $1,000,000 but less than $3,000,000, and if in the same calendar quarter,
net proceeds exceed $3,000,000, Intelligent Partners’ entitlement for that quarter shall increase to 50% on the portion of net proceeds
in excess of $3,000,000. These payments come from our share of the proceeds after QFL and QF3 have recovered their negotiated rate of
return, respectively. In these agreements, the monetization proceeds is determined after payment of contingent legal fees and certain
other expenses, including payments due by us to as part of the purchase price for intellectual property rights. We cannot assure you that,
as a result of these provisions, that we will generate any meaningful cash flow from the intellectual property we acquire. If we do not
generate sufficient cash flow from our monetization activities, we may not be able to fund our operations or continue in business.
We are dependent upon our chief executive officer .
We are dependent upon Jon Scahill, our chief executive officer and president and sole full-time employee, for all aspects of our business
including locating, evaluating and negotiating and performing due diligence with respect to intellectual property rights from the owners,
managing our intellectual property portfolios, engaging in licensing activities and monetizing the rights through licensing and managing
and monitoring any litigation with respect to our intellectual property as well as defending any actions by potential licensees seeking
a declaratory judgment that they do not infringe. The loss of Mr. Scahill would materially impair our ability to conduct our business.
Although we have an employment agreement with Mr. Scahill, the employment agreement does not ensure that Mr. Scahill will remain with
us.
8
Any equity funding we obtain may
result in significant dilution to our stockholders . Because of our financial position, our continuing losses, our negative working
capital from operations, and our low stock price, we do not expect that we will be able to obtain any debt financing for our operations.
Our stock price has generally been trading at a price which is less than $1.00 per share for more than the past two years. As a result,
it will be very difficult for us to raise funds in the equity markets. However, in the event that we are able to raise funds in the equity
market, the sale of shares would result in significant dilution to the present stockholders, and even a modest equity investment could
result in the issuance of a very significant number of shares.
We may be subject to cybersecurity risks .
We will face significant and persistent cybersecurity risks due to the need to protect both our business generally, including our intellectual
property and our negotiations with respect to the acquisition and monetization of intellectual property rights, as well as the need to
protect the confidentiality of information concerning our personnel and others with whom we conduct business. We will face threats from
bad actors who seek to disrupt our business as well as others who are engaging in malicious activities for profit, to make a political
point or for no particular reason other than creating disruption. Disclosure of certain information as a result of a cybersecurity breach
may result is a breach of privacy laws. The substantial level of harm that could occur to us and those with whom we conduct business were
we to suffer impacts of a material cybersecurity incident requires us to maintain robust governance and oversight of these risks and to
implement mechanisms, controls, technologies, and processes designed to help us assess, identify, and manage these risks.
While we have not, as of the date of this annual
report, experienced a cybersecurity threat or incident, we cannot assure you that we will not experience such an incident in the future.
Any cybersecurity incidents, whether or not successful, could result in our incurring additional costs related to, for example, rebuilding
our internal systems, implementing additional threat protection measures, responding to regulatory inquiries or actions, paying damages
or making payments to obtain access to our computer systems, or taking other remedial steps with respect to third parties. We cannot assure
you that the steps we are taking will not be successful in preventing a cybersecurity breach, that we will not suffer cybersecurity breaches
or that we will not incur significant expenses in seeking to deal with the consequences of any attempted or successful cybersecurity breaches
or that, if we suffer a material cybersecurity breach that we will be able to continue in business following such breach.
Risks Relating to Monetizing our Intellectual
Property Rights
We may not be able to monetize our intellectual
property portfolios . Although our business plan is to generate revenue from our intellectual property portfolios, we have not been
successful in generating any significant positive cash flow from our portfolios, we have not generated any revenues from several of our
intellectual property portfolios and we have ceased allocating resources toward the monetization of several of our portfolios. We cannot
assure you that we will be able to generate any significant revenue from our existing portfolios or that we will be able to acquire new
intellectual property rights that will generate significant revenue.
If we are not successful in monetizing
our portfolios, we may not be able to continue in business . Although we have ownership of some of our intellectual property, we also
license the rights pursuant to agreements with the owners of the intellectual property. If we are not successful in generating revenue
for those parties who have an interest in the results of our efforts, those parties may seek to renegotiate the terms of our agreements
with them, which could both impair our ability to generate revenue from our intellectual property and make it more difficult for us to
obtain rights to new intellectual property rights. If we continue to be unable to generate revenue from our existing intellectual property
portfolios and any new portfolios we may acquire, we may be unable to continue in business.
9
If we are not successful in patent litigation,
the defendants may seek to have the court award attorneys’ fees to them against us which could result in the bankruptcy of the plaintiff
subsidiary and may result in a default under our agreements with QFL and QF3 . The United States patent laws provide that “the
court in exceptional cases may award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party.” Although the patents are owned by our subsidiaries
and any judgment would be awarded against the subsidiaries, the subsidiaries have no assets other than the patent rights. Our funding
sources for our patent litigation do not provide for the funding source to pay any judgment against us. Thus, if any defendants obtain
a judgment against one of our subsidiaries, they may seek to enforce their judgment against the patents owned by the subsidiary or seek
to put the subsidiary into bankruptcy and acquire the patents in the bankruptcy proceeding. As a result, it is possible that an adverse
verdict in a petition for legal fees could result in the loss of the patents owned by the subsidiary and a default under our agreements
with QFL and QF3.
Our inability to acquire intellectual property
portfolios on reasonable terms will impair our ability to generate revenue and develop our business . We do not have the personnel
to develop patentable technology by ourselves. Thus, we need to depend on acquiring rights to intellectual property and intellectual property
portfolios from third parties on an ongoing basis. In acquiring intellectual property rights, there are delays in (i) identifying the
intellectual property which we may want to acquire, (ii) negotiating an agreement with the owner or holder of the intellectual property
rights, (iii) obtaining a financing source to enable us to acquire the intellectual property rights, and (iv) generating revenue from
those intellectual property rights which we acquire. During these periods, we will continue to incur expenses with no assurance that we
will generate revenue. We currently hold intellectual property portfolios from which we have not generated any revenue to date, and we
cannot assure you that we will generate revenue from our existing intellectual property portfolios or any additional intellectual properties
which we may acquire.
We may be unable to enforce our intellectual
property rights unless we obtain third-party funding . Because of the expense of litigation and our lack of working capital, we may
be unable to enforce our intellectual property rights unless we obtain the agreement of a third-party to provide funding in support of
our litigation. We cannot assure you that QF3 or any other funding source provide us the any necessary funding, and the failure to obtain
such funding will impair our ability to monetize our intellectual property portfolio or continue in business.
Because we need to rely on third-party funding
sources to provide us with funds to enforce our intellectual property rights we are dependent upon the perception by potential funding
sources of the value of our intellectual property . Because we do not have funds to pursue litigation to enforce our intellectual property
rights, we are dependent upon the valuation which potential funding sources, which currently is QF3, give to our intellectual property
or any intellectual property we may acquire. In determining whether to provide funding for intellectual property litigation, the funding
sources need to make an evaluation of the strength of our patents, the likelihood of success, the nature of the potential defendants and
a determination as to whether there is a sufficient potential recovery to justify a significant investment in intellectual property litigation.
Typically, such funding sources receive a percentage of the recovery after litigation expenses, and seek to generate a sufficient return
on investment to justify the investment. Under our agreements with QFL and QF3, QFL and QF3 are allocated all of the net proceeds (after
allowable expenses), respectively, until it has received a negotiated return. QFL is no longer providing us with funding for intellectual
property acquisitions but it retains its interest in the assets it funded. Unless QF3 or any other funding source believes that it will
generate a sufficient return on investment, it will not fund litigation. If QF3 does not fund our acquisition or monetization of intellectual
property we propose to acquire, we cannot assure you that we will be able to negotiate funding agreements with third-party funding sources
on terms reasonably acceptable to us, if at all. Because of our financial condition, we may only be able to obtain funding on terms which
are less favorable to us than we would otherwise be able to obtain.
Although we have a funding agreement with QF3,
there is no assurance that QF3 will provide funding for portfolios we are looking to acquire or that we will generate revenue from any
funded litigation . Although the funding sources makes their evaluation as to the likelihood of success, patent litigation is very
uncertain, and we cannot assure you that we will obtain litigation funding or that, if we obtain litigation funding, we will be successful
or that any recovery we may obtain will generate any significant positive cash flow from operations for us.
10
Because QFL, QF3 and Intelligent Partners hold
a security interest in almost all of our intellectual property and the proceeds from our intellectual property, we may not be able to
raise funds through a debt financing . Pursuant to our agreements with QFL, QF3 and Intelligent Partners, we granted them a security
interest in the stock of our subsidiaries that hold the intellectual property covered by their agreements and in the proceeds from the
monetization of such intellectual property. The inability to grant a security interest in these assets to a new lender, as well as our
financial condition in general, is likely to materially impair our ability to obtain debt financing for our operations, and may also impair
our ability to obtain financing to acquire additional intellectual property rights.
Because of our financial condition and our
having generated a loss from operations in 2024 from our existing portfolios, we may not be able to obtain intellectual property rights
to the most advanced technologies . In order to generate meaningful revenues from intellectual property rights, we need to be able
to identify, negotiate rights to and offer technologies for which there is a developing market. Because of our financial condition and
the terms under which we obtain financing for our litigation, we may be unable to negotiate rights to technology for which there which
will be a strong developing market, or, if we are able to negotiate agreements for such intellectual property, the terms of our purchase
or license may not be favorable to us. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that we will be able to acquire intellectual property rights
to the technology for which there is a strong market demand.
Potential acquisitions may present risks, and
we may be unable to achieve the financial or other goals intended at the time of any potential acquisition . Our ability to grow depends,
in large part, on our ability to acquire interests in intellectual property, including patented technologies, patent portfolios, or companies
holding such patented technologies and patent portfolios. Accordingly, we intend to seek to engage in acquisitions to expand our intellectual
property portfolios and we intend to continue to explore such acquisitions. Such acquisitions are subject to numerous risks, including
the following:
●
our failure to have sufficient funding to enable us to make the acquisition, together with the terms on which such funding is available, if at all;
●
our failure to have sufficient personal to satisfy the seller that we have the personnel to monetize the assets we propose to acquire;
●
dilution to our stockholders to the extent that we use equity in connection with any acquisition;
●
our inability to enter into a definitive agreement with respect to any potential acquisition, or if we are able to enter into such agreement, our inability to consummate the potential acquisition;
●
difficulty integrating the operations, technology and personnel of the acquired entity;
●
our inability to achieve the anticipated financial and other benefits of the specific acquisition;
●
difficulty in maintaining controls, procedures and policies during the transition and monetization process;
●
diversion of our management’s attention from other business concerns, especially considering that we have only one full-time employee/officer who is responsible for performing due diligence, negotiating agreements, negotiating funding and implementing a monetization program; and
●
our failure, in our due diligence process, to identify significant issues, including issues with respect to patented technologies and intellectual property portfolios, and other legal and financial contingencies.
11
If we are unable to manage these risks and other
risks effectively as part of any acquisition, our business could be adversely affected.
Our acquisition of intellectual property rights
may be time consuming, complex and costly, which could adversely affect our operating results . Acquisitions of patent or other intellectual
property assets, which are and will be critical to the development of our business, are often time consuming, complex and costly to consummate.
We may utilize many different transaction structures in our acquisitions and the terms of such acquisition agreements tend to be heavily
negotiated, particularly in view of our financial condition and need to obtain financing for any payments we may be required to make.
As a result, we expect to incur significant operating expenses and may be required to obtain funding during the negotiations even if the
acquisition is ultimately not consummated. Even if we are able to acquire particular intellectual property assets, there is no guarantee
that we will generate sufficient revenue related to those intellectual property assets to offset the acquisition costs. We may also identify
intellectual property assets that cost more than we are prepared or able to spend with our own capital resources and any financing sources.
We may incur significant costs to organize and negotiate a structured acquisition that does not ultimately result in an acquisition of
any intellectual property assets or, if consummated, proves to be unprofitable for us. These higher costs could adversely affect our operating
results.
If we acquire technologies that are in the
early stages of market development, we may be unable to monetize the rights we acquire . We may acquire patents, technologies and other
intellectual property rights that are in the early stages of adoption in the commercial, industrial and consumer markets. Demand for some
of these technologies will likely be untested and may be subject to fluctuation based upon the rate at which companies may adopt our intellectual
property in their products and services. As a result, there can be no assurance as to whether technologies we acquire will have value
that we can monetize. It may also be necessary for us to develop additional intellectual property and file new patent applications as
the underlying commercial market evolves, as a result of which we may incur substantial costs with no assurance that we will ever be able
to either file the new patent application or monetize our intellectual property.
Our intellectual property monetization cycle
is lengthy and costly and may be unsuccessful . We expect to incur significant marketing, legal and sales expenses prior to entering
into monetization events that generate revenue and cash flow from operations for us. We will also spend considerable resources educating
potential licensees on the benefits of entering into an agreement with us that may include a non-exclusive license for future use of our
intellectual property rights. Thus, we may incur significant losses in any particular period before any associated revenue stream begins.
If our efforts to convince potential licensees of the benefits of a settlement arrangement without litigation are unsuccessful, which
is typically the case, we may need to continue with the litigation process or other enforcement action to protect our intellectual property
rights and to realize revenue from those rights. We may also need to litigate to enforce the terms of existing agreements, protect our
trade secrets, or determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others. Enforcement proceedings are typically protracted
and complex. The costs are typically substantial, and the outcomes are unpredictable. Enforcement actions will divert our managerial,
technical, legal and financial resources from business operations.
We may not be successful in obtaining judgments
in our favor . We have commenced litigation seeking to monetize our intellectual property portfolios and it will be necessary for us
to commence ligation in the future. All litigation is uncertain, and a number of the actions we commenced have been dismissed by the trial
court. We cannot assure you that any litigation will be decided in our favor or that, if damages are awarded or a license is negotiated,
that we will generate any significant revenue from the litigation or that any recovery may be allocated to counsel and third-party funding
source which may result in little if any revenue to us.
12
Our financial condition may cause both intellectual
property rights owners and potential licensees to believe that we do not have the financial resources to commence and prosecute litigation
for infringement . Because of our financial condition, both intellectual property rights owners and potential licensees may believe
that we do not have the ability to commence and prosecute sustained and expensive litigation to protect our intellection rights with the
effect that (i) intellectual property rights owners may be reluctant to grant us rights to their intellectual property and (ii) potential
licensees may be less inclined to pay for license rights from us or settle any litigation we may commence on terms which generate any
meaningful monetization.
Any patents which may be issued to us pursuant
to patent applications which we filed or may file may fail to give us necessary protection . We cannot be certain that patents will
be issued as a result of any pending or future patent applications, or that any of our patents, once issued, will provide us with adequate
protection from competing products. For example, issued patents may be circumvented or challenged, declared invalid or unenforceable,
or narrowed in scope. In addition, since publication of discoveries in scientific or patent literature often lags behind actual discoveries,
we cannot be certain that we will be the first to make additional new inventions or to file patent applications covering those inventions.
It is also possible that others may have or may obtain issued patents that could prevent us from commercializing our products or require
us to obtain licenses requiring the payment of significant fees or royalties in order to enable us to conduct our business. As to those
patents that we may acquire, our continued rights will depend on meeting any obligations to the seller and we may be unable to do so.
Our failure to obtain or maintain intellectual property rights for our inventions would lead to the loss of our investments in such activities,
which would have a material adverse effect on us.
Our ability to monetize our intellectual property
depends in part upon our ability to retain the qualified legal counsel to represent us in patent enforcement litigation on a contingent
or partial contingent fee basis. The success of our licensing business may depend upon our ability to retain the qualified legal counsel
to prosecute patent infringement litigation. As our patent enforcement actions increase, it will become more difficult to find the preferred
choice for legal counsel to handle all of our cases because many of these firms may have a conflict of interest that prevents their representation
of us or because they are not willing to represent us on a contingent or partial contingent fee basis. Because of our financial position,
we are not likely to be able to commence litigation unless the legal fees are on a contingent fee basis unless the funding source pays
the legal fees, which is not usually the case.
The provisions of Federal Declaratory Judgment Act may affect our
ability to monetize our intellectual property . Under the Federal Declaratory Judgment Act, it is possible for a party who we consider
to be infringing upon our intellectual property to commence an action against us seeking a declaratory judgment that such party is not
infringing upon our intellectual property rights. In such a case, the plaintiff could choose the court in which to bring the action and
we would be the defendant in the action. Common claims for declaratory judgment in patent cases are claims of non-infringement, patent
invalidity and unenforceability. Although the commencement of an action requires a claim or controversy, a court may find a letter from
us to the alleged infringer seeking a royalty for the use of our intellectual property rights to form the basis of a controversy. In such
a case, the plaintiff, rather than we, would choose the court in which to bring the action and the timing of the action. In addition,
when we commence an action as plaintiff, we may be able to enter into a contingent fee arrangement with counsel, it is possible that counsel
may be less willing to accept such an arrangement if we are the defendant. Further, we would not have the opportunity of choosing against
which party to bring the action. An adverse decision in a declaratory judgment action could significantly impair our ability to monetize
the intellectual property rights which are the subject of the litigation. We have been a defendant in one declaratory judgment action,
which resulted in a settlement. We cannot assure you that potential infringers will not be able to use the Declaratory Judgment Act to
reduce our ability to monetize the patents that are the subject of the action.
A 2014 Supreme Court decision could significantly
impair business method and software patents . In June 2014, the United States Supreme Court, in Alice v. CLS Bank, struck down patents
covering a computer-implemented scheme for mitigating “settlement risk” by using a third-party intermediary, holding the patent
claims to be ineligible as being drawn to a patent-ineligible abstract idea. The courts have been dealing for many years over what business
methods are patentable. We cannot predict the extent to which the decision in Alice as well as prior Supreme Court decisions dealing with
patents, will be interpreted by courts. To the extent that the Supreme Court decision in Alice gives businesses reason to believe that
business model and software patents are not enforceable, it may become more difficult for us to monetize patents which are held to be
within the ambit of the patents before the Supreme Court in Alice and for us to obtain counsel willing to represent us on a contingency
basis. As a result, the decision in Alice could materially impair our ability to obtain patent rights and monetize those which we do obtain.
13
Legislation, regulations or rules related to
obtaining patents or enforcing patents could significantly increase our operating costs and decrease our revenue . We may apply for
patents and may spend a significant amount of resources to enforce those patents. If legislation, regulations or rules are implemented
either by Congress, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or the courts that impact the patent application process, the patent
enforcement process or the rights of patent holders, these changes could negatively affect our expenses and revenue. For example, new
rules regarding the burden of proof in patent enforcement actions could significantly both increase the cost of our enforcement actions
and make it more difficult to sign licenses without litigation, changes in standards or limitations on liability for patent infringement
could negatively impact our revenue derived from such enforcement actions, and any rules requiring that the losing party pay legal fees
of the prevailing party could also significantly increase the cost of our enforcement actions. United States patent laws were amended
with the enactment of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, or the America Invents Act, which took effect on March 16, 2013. The America
Invents Act includes a number of significant changes to U.S. patent law. In general, the legislation attempts to address issues surrounding
the enforceability of patents and the increase in patent litigation by, among other things, establishing new procedures for patent litigation.
For example, the America Invents Act changes the way that parties may be joined in patent infringement actions, increasing the likelihood
that such actions will need to be brought against individual parties allegedly infringing by their respective individual actions or activities.
The America Invents Act and its implementation increases the uncertainties and costs surrounding the enforcement of our patented technologies,
which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice has conducted
reviews of the patent system to evaluate the impact of patent assertion entities on industries in which those patents relate. It is possible
that the findings and recommendations of the Department of Justice could impact the ability to effectively license and enforce standards-essential
patents and could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the enforcement of any such patented technologies.
Proposed legislation may affect our ability
to conduct our business . There have been a number of laws which, if enacted, would affect the ability of companies such as us to generate
revenue from our intellectual property rights. Typically, these proposed laws cover legal actions brought by companies which do not manufacture
products or supply services but seek to collect licensing fees based on their intellectual property rights and, if they are not able to
enter into a license, to commence litigation. Although a number of such bills have been proposed in Congress, we do not know which, if
any, bills will be enacted into law or what the provisions will be and, therefore, we cannot predict the effect, if any, that such laws,
if passed by Congress and signed by the president, would provide. However, we cannot assure you that legislation will not be enacted which
would impair our ability to operate by making it more difficult for us to commence litigation against a potential licensee or infringer.
To the extent that an alleged infringer believes that we will not prevail in litigation, it would be more difficult to negotiate a license
agreement without litigation.
The unpredictability of our revenues may harm
our financial condition . Our revenues from licensing have typically been lump sum payments entered into at the time of the license,
which is typically in connection with the settlement of litigation, and not from licenses that pay an ongoing royalty. Due to the nature
of the licensing business and uncertainties regarding the amount and timing of the receipt of license and other fees from potential infringers,
stemming primarily from uncertainties regarding the outcome of enforcement actions, rates of adoption of our patented technologies, the
growth rates of potential licensees and certain other factors, our revenues, if any, may vary significantly from quarter to quarter, which
could make our business difficult to manage, adversely affect our business and operating results, cause our quarterly results to fall
below market expectations and adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
Our reliance on representations, warranties
and opinions of third parties may expose us to certain material liabilities . From time to time, we rely upon the representations and
warranties of third parties, including persons claiming ownership of intellectual property rights, and opinions of purported experts.
In certain instances, we may not have the opportunity to independently investigate and verify the facts upon which such representations,
warranties and opinions are made. By relying on these representation, warranties and opinions, we may be exposed to liability in connection
with the licensing and enforcement of intellectual property and intellectual property rights which could have a material adverse effect
on our operating results and financial condition.
14
In connection with patent enforcement actions,
counterclaims may be brought against us, and a court may rule against us in counterclaims which may expose us and our operating subsidiaries
to material liabilities . In connection with patent enforcement actions, it is possible that a defendant may file counterclaims against
us, or a court may rule that we have violated statutory authority, regulatory authority, federal rules, local court rules, or governing
standards relating to the substantive or procedural aspects of such enforcement actions. In such event, a court may issue monetary sanctions
against us or our operating subsidiaries or award attorney’s fees and/or expenses to the counterclaiming defendant, which could
be material, and if we or our operating subsidiaries are required to pay such monetary sanctions, attorneys’ fees and/or expenses,
such payment could materially harm our operating results, our financial position and our ability to continue in business.
Trial judges and juries may find it difficult
to understand complex patent enforcement litigation, and as a result, we may need to appeal adverse decisions by lower courts in order
to successfully enforce our patents . It is difficult to predict the outcome of patent enforcement litigation at the trial level. It
is often difficult for juries and trial judges to understand complex, patented technologies, and, as a result, there is a higher rate
of successful appeals in patent enforcement litigation than more standard business litigation. Regardless of whether we prevail in the
trial court, appeals are expensive and time consuming, resulting in increased costs and delayed revenue, and attorneys may be less likely
to represent us in an appeal on a contingency basis especially if we are seeking to appeal an adverse decision. Although we may diligently
pursue enforcement litigation, we cannot predict the decisions made by juries and trial courts.
More patent applications are filed each year
resulting in longer delays in getting patents issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office . We hold a number of pending
patents and may file or acquire rights to additional patent applications. We have identified a trend of increasing patent applications
each year, which we believe is resulting in longer delays in obtaining approval of pending patent applications. The application delays
could cause delays in recognizing revenue, if any, from these patents and could cause us to miss opportunities to license patents before
other competing technologies are developed or introduced into the market.
U.S. Federal courts are becoming more crowded,
and, as a result, patent enforcement litigation is taking longer . Patent enforcement actions are almost exclusively prosecuted in
federal district courts. In May 2017, the United States Supreme Court, in TC Heartland v. Kraft Foods Groups Brands, held that a corporate
defendant may be sued either in its state of incorporation, or where it has committed acts of infringement and has a regular and established
place of business. To the extent that the Supreme Court decision in TC Heartland concentrates patent litigation in districts within states
popular for business incorporation, such as the Federal District Court for the District of Delaware, such courts may become increasingly
crowded. Federal trial courts that hear patent enforcement actions also hear criminal and other civil cases. Criminal cases always take
priority over patent enforcement actions. As a result, it is difficult to predict the length of time it will take to complete any enforcement
action. Moreover, we believe there is a trend in increasing numbers of civil lawsuits and criminal proceedings, and, as a result, we believe
that the risk of delays in patent enforcement actions will have a significant effect on our business in the future unless this trend changes.
Any reductions in the funding of the United
States Patent and Trademark Office could have an adverse impact on the cost of processing pending patent applications and the value of
those pending patent applications . Our primary assets are our patent portfolios, including pending patent applications before the
United States Patent and Trademark Office. The value of our patent portfolios is dependent upon the issuance of patents in a timely manner,
and any reductions in the funding of the United States Patent and Trademark Office could negatively impact the value of our assets. Further,
reductions in funding from Congress could result in higher patent application filing and maintenance fees charged by the United States
Patent and Trademark Office, causing an unexpected increase in our expenses.
The rapid development of technology may impair
our ability to monetize intellectual property that we own . In order for us to generate revenue from our intellectual property, we
need to offer intellectual property that is used in the manufacture or development of products. Rapid technological developments have
reduced the market for products using less advanced technology. To the extent that technology develops in a manner in which our intellectual
property is not a necessary element or to the extent that others design around our intellectual property, our ability to license our intellectual
property portfolios or successfully prosecute litigation will be impaired. We cannot assure you that we will have rights to intellectual
property for most advanced technology or that there will be a market for products which require our technology.
15
The intellectual property management business
is highly competitive . A large number of other companies seek to obtain rights to new intellectual property and to market existing
intellectual property. Most of these companies have significantly both greater resources that we have and industry contacts which place
them in a better position to generate new business. Further, our financial position, our lack of executive personnel and our inability
to generate revenue from our portfolio can be used against us by our competitors. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in obtaining
intellectual property rights to new developing technologies.
As intellectual property enforcement litigation
becomes more prevalent, it may become more difficult for us to voluntarily license our intellectual property . We believe that the
more prevalent intellectual property enforcement actions become, the more difficult it will be for us to voluntarily license our intellectual
property rights, and we generally have not been successful in negotiating licenses without litigation. As a result, we may need to increase
the number of our intellectual property enforcement actions to cause infringing companies to license the intellectual property or pay
damages for lost royalties.
Weak global economic conditions may cause potential
licensees to delay entering into licensing agreements, which could prolong our litigation and adversely affect our financial condition
and operating results . Our business depends significantly on strong economic conditions that would encourage potential licensees to
enter into license agreements for our intellectual property rights. The United States and world economies have recently experienced weak
economic conditions and the recent Russian invasion in Ukraine has exacerbated these conditions, including those resulting from inflation
and supply chain line issues. Uncertainty about global economic conditions poses a risk as businesses may postpone spending in response
to tighter credit, negative financial news and declines in income or asset values. Even if economic conditions improve, the uncertainty
of the economy could have a material adverse effect on the willingness of parties that we believe are infringing on our assets to enter
into settlements or other revenue generating agreements voluntarily.
If we are unable to adequately protect our
intellectual property, we may not be able to monetize our intellectual property effectively . Our ability to monetize our intellectual
property depends in part upon the strength of the intellectual property and intellectual property rights that we own or may hereafter
acquire in our technologies, brands and content and our ability to protect such intellectual property rights. We rely on a combination
of patent and intellectual property laws and agreements to establish and protect our patent, intellectual property and other proprietary
rights. The efforts we take to protect our patents, intellectual property and other proprietary rights may not be sufficient or effective
at stopping unauthorized use of our patents, intellectual property and other proprietary rights. In addition, effective trademark, patent,
copyright and trade secret protection may not be available or cost-effective in every country in which we have rights. There may be instances
where we are not able to protect or utilize our patent and other intellectual property in a manner that maximizes competitive advantage.
If we are unable to protect our patent assets and intellectual property and other proprietary rights from unauthorized use, the value
of those assets may be reduced, which could negatively impact our business. Our inability to obtain appropriate protections for our intellectual
property may also allow competitors to enter our markets and produce or sell the same or similar products as those covered by our intellectual
property rights. In addition, protecting our intellectual property and intellectual property rights is expensive and diverts our critical
and limited managerial resources. Although we have obtained financing to commence litigation, we are not likely to be able to obtain financing
to defend actions against us claiming that our intellectual property infringes upon the intellectual property rights of others. If any
of the foregoing were to occur, or if we are otherwise unable to protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights, our business
and financial results could be impaired. Commencing legal proceedings to enforce our intellectual property rights is burdensome and expensive.
In addition, our intellectual property rights could be at risk if we are unsuccessful in, or cannot afford to pursue, those proceedings.
We also rely on trade secrets and contract law to protect some of our intellectual property rights. We will enter into confidentiality
and invention agreements with our employees and consultants. Nevertheless, these agreements may not be honored and they may not effectively
protect our right to our un-patented trade secrets and know-how. Moreover, others may independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary
information and techniques or otherwise gain access to our trade secrets and know-how.
16
Risks Relating to our Common Stock
If our stock price falls below $0.01 per share,
our common stock may be delisted from OTCQB . On May 23, 2022, we received notice from OTC Markets Group, that, because the bid price
for our common stock had closed below $0.01 per share for more than 30 consecutive days, we no longer met the Standards for Continued
Eligibility under the OTCQB listing standards and, if this deficiency is not met by August 21, 2022, our stock would be removed from the
OTCQB marketplace, in which event our common stock would be traded on the OTC Pink market. Our registration rights agreement with QFL
provides that, in the event of a failure to comply with certain covenants, which includes the failure of our common stock to be traded
on the OTCQB, in addition to any other remedies available to QFL, we are to pay to QFL an amount in cash equal to 2.0% of the aggregate
value of QFL’s Registrable Securities, as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement, whether or not included in such registration
statement, on each of the following dates: (i) the initial day of a maintenance failure; (ii) on the 30th day after the date of such a
failure and (iii) every 30th day thereafter (prorated for periods totaling less than 30 days) until such failure is cured. In July 2022,
we amended our certificate of incorporation to effect a one-for-100 reverse split of our common stock. We subsequently received advice
from OTC Markets Group that the deficiency had been cured. We cannot assure you that we will continue to meet the requirements for continued
listing on the OTCQB, including the maintenance of a bid price of at least $0.01 per share, or that if we fail to meet this maintenance
requirement, that we will be able to take any action to regain compliance.
There is a limited market for our common stock,
which may make it difficult for you to sell your stock . Our common stock trades on the OTCQB market under the symbol “QPRC.”
The OTCQB market is not a national securities exchange and does not provide the benefits to stockholders which a national exchange provides.
Furthermore, according to the OTC Markets website, the OTCQB “is for early-stage and developing U.S. and international companies.
To be eligible, companies must be current in their reporting and undergo an annual verification and management certification process.
Companies must meet $0.01 bid test and may not be in bankruptcy.” There is a limited trading market for our common stock and our
common stock has frequently traded for less than $0.20 per share. Accordingly, there can be no assurance as to the liquidity of any market
that may develop for our common stock, the ability of holders of our common stock to sell their shares of our common stock, or the prices
at which holders may be able to sell our common stock. Further, because of the thin float, the reported bid and asked prices may have
little relationship to the price you would pay if you wanted to buy shares or the price you would receive if you wanted to sell shares.
Because our common stock is a penny stock,
you may have difficulty selling our common stock in the secondary trading market . Our common stock fits the definition of a penny
stock and therefore is subject to the rules adopted by the SEC regulating broker-dealer practices in connection with transactions in penny
stocks. The SEC rules may have the effect of reducing trading activity in our common stock making it more difficult for investors to purchase
and sell their shares. The SEC’s rules require a broker or dealer proposing to effect a transaction in a penny stock to deliver
the customer a risk disclosure document that provides certain information prescribed by the SEC, including, but not limited to, the nature
and level of risks in the penny stock market. The broker or dealer must also disclose the aggregate amount of any compensation received
or receivable by him in connection with such transaction prior to consummating the transaction. In addition, the SEC’s rules also
require a broker or dealer to make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and
receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction before completion of the transaction. The existence of the SEC’s
rules may result in a lower trading volume of our common stock and lower trading prices. Further, some broker-dealers will not process
transactions in penny stocks or stocks that are not listed on a stock exchange which will make it difficult for you to purchase or sell
our common stock.
Our need to restate our audited financial statements
for 2023 reflects a material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting and may have an adverse effect on our business.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain
effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. Our disclosure controls and internal controls
over financial reporting are not effective. During the preparation of our financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2024,
on April 30, 2024, our chief executive officer determined that the litigation and licensing expenses for the quarter and year ended December
31, 2023 was understated by $1,371,109 as a result of the failure to recognize legal fees incurred during the fourth quarter of 2023 in
connection with the settlement of litigation during the fourth quarter of 2023. As a result, our gross margin, income from operations,
income before income taxes and net income were overstated by $1,371,109 resulting in restated net income for the year ended December 31,
2023 of $2,278,473, or $0.43 per share. We had previously reported net income of $3,649,582, or $0.68 per share, and we restated our financial
statements for the year ended December 31, 2023. As a result of the restatement, we may be subject to regulatory or other claims and actions,
including a reluctance of potential litigation financing sources to provide us with financing which may have a material effect on our
business and financial condition.
17
Our lack of internal controls over financial
reporting and our restatement of our 2023 financial statements may affect the market for and price of our common stock . Our disclosure
controls and our internal controls over financial reporting are not effective because of material weaknesses, which were the root cause
for the error resulting in the restatement of our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023. Since we became engaged in
the intellectual property management business in 2008, we have not had the financial resources or personnel to develop or implement systems
that would provide us with the necessary information on a timely basis so as to be able to implement financial controls. Our continued
poor financial condition together with the fact that we have one full time employee, who is both our chief executive officer and our acting
chief financial officer, makes it difficult for us to implement a system of internal controls over financial reporting, and we cannot
assure you that we will be able to develop and implement the necessary controls. The absence of internal controls over financial reporting
may inhibit investors from purchasing our shares and may make it more difficult for us to raise debt or equity financing.
Our lack of a full-time chief financial officer
has impacted our ability to develop financial controls, which could affect the market price for our common stock . We do not have a
full-time chief financial officer. At present, our chief executive officer, who does not have an accounting background, is also our acting
chief financial officer. We do not anticipate that we will be able to hire a qualified chief financial officer unless our financial condition
improves significantly. The lack of an experienced chief financial officer, together with our lack of internal controls, may affect the
market price of and the market price for our common stock and impair our ability to raise money through and to enter into agreements with
owners of intellectual property rights.
Our stock price may be volatile and your investment
in our common stock could suffer a decline in value . As of the date of this annual report, there has been limited trading activity
in our common stock. There can be no assurance that any significant market will ever develop in our common stock. Because of the low public
float and the absence of any significant trading volume, the reported prices may not reflect the price at which you would be able to sell
shares if you want to sell any shares you own or buy shares if you wish to buy share. Further, stocks with a low public float may be more
subject to manipulation than a stock that has a significant public float. The price may fluctuate significantly in response to a number
of factors, many of which are beyond our control. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following, in addition to the risks
described above and general market and economic conditions:
●
our low stock price, which may result in a modest dollar purchase or sale of our common stock having a disproportionately large effect on the stock price;
●
the market’s perception as to our ability to generate positive cash flow or earnings from our intellectual property portfolios;
● changes
in our, or if any securities analysts follow our stock, which is not likely because of our stock price and volume and history of losses,
the securities analysts’ estimate of our financial performance;
●
our ability or perceived ability to obtain necessary financing for operations and for the monetization of our intellectual property rights;
●
the market’s perception of the effects of legislation or court decisions on our business;
●
the market’s perception that a defendant may obtain a judgement against a subsidiary and foreclose on the intellectual property of the subsidiary, which may result in a default under our agreements with QFL and QF3 and, even if a default is not claimed, QF3 may not provide financing for us;
●
the results or anticipated results of litigation by or against us;
●
the anticipated or actual results of our operations;
●
events or conditions relating to the enforcement of intellectual property rights generally;
●
changes in market valuations of other intellectual property marketing companies;
●
any discrepancy between anticipated or projected results and actual results of our operations;
●
the market’s perception or our ability to continue to make our filings with the SEC in a timely manner;
●
actions by third parties to either sell or purchase stock in quantities which would have a significant effect on our stock price; and
●
other matters not within our control.
18
Raising funds by issuing equity or convertible
debt securities could dilute the value of the common stock and impose restrictions on our working capital . If we were to raise additional
capital by issuing equity securities, either alone or in connection with a non-equity financing, the value of the then outstanding common
stock could decline. If the additional equity securities were issued at a per share price less than the per share value of the outstanding
shares, which is customary in the private placement of equity securities, the holders of the outstanding shares would suffer a dilution
in value with the issuance of such additional shares. Because of the low price of our stock and our working capital deficiency, the dilution
to our stockholders could be significant. We may have difficulty in raising funds through the sale of debt securities because of both
our financial position, the lack of any collateral on which a lender may place a value, and the absence of any history of significant
monetizing of our intellectual property rights. If we are able to raise funds from the sale of debt securities, the lenders may impose
restrictions on our operations and may impair our working capital as we service any such debt obligations.
Because we have a classified board of directors,
it may be more difficult for a third-party to obtain control of us . As a result of the approval by our stockholders of our amended
and restated certificate of incorporation, our board of directors is a classified board, which means that at each annual meeting, the
stockholder will vote for only one-third of the board. A classified board of directors may make it more difficult for a third-party to
gain control of us which may affect the opportunity of our stockholders to receive any potential benefit which could be available from
a third-party seeking to obtain control over us.
We do not intend to pay any cash dividends
in the foreseeable future . We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock and do not intend to pay cash dividends on our
common stock in the foreseeable future.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 1C. CYBERSECURITY
Risk Management
We face significant and persistent cybersecurity
risks due to the need to protect both our business generally, including our proprietary information and proprietary information of others,
our negotiations with both funding sources and potential sellers of intellectual property and the need to protect the confidentiality
of information concerning our personnel and others with whom we conduct business. As a company that owns and seeks to enforce intellectual
property rights, we face threats from bad actors who seek to disrupt the business of companies that seek to monetize intellectual property
rights by commencing litigation as well as others who are engaging in malicious activities for profit, to make a political point or for
no particular reason other than creating disruption. Disclosure of certain information as a result of a cybersecurity breach may result
is a breach of privacy laws. The substantial level of harm that could occur to us were we to suffer impacts of a material cybersecurity
incident requires us to maintain robust governance and oversight of these risks and to implement mechanisms, controls, technologies, and
processes designed to help us assess, identify, and manage these risks.
19
While we have not, as of the date of this annual
report, experienced a cybersecurity threat or incident, we cannot assure you that we will not experience such an incident in the future.
Any cybersecurity incidents, whether or not successful, could result in our incurring additional costs related to, for example, rebuilding
our internal systems, implementing additional threat protection measures, responding to regulatory inquiries or actions, paying damages
or making payments to obtain access to our computer systems, or taking other remedial steps with respect to third parties, as well as
incurring significant reputational harm. In addition, these threats are constantly evolving and the bad actors are becoming increasingly
sophisticated, thereby increasing the difficulty of successfully defending against them or implementing adequate preventative measures.
We seek to detect and investigate unauthorized attempts and attacks against our network and to prevent their occurrence and recurrence
where practicable through changes or updates to our internal processes and tools and changes or updates to our products and services;
however, we remain potentially vulnerable to known or unknown threats. In some instances, we and the law firms that represent us in litigation
can be unaware of a threat or incident or its magnitude and effects. Further, there are increasing regulation requirements regarding responses
to cybersecurity incidents, including reporting to regulators, which could subject us to additional liability and reputational harm.
Governance
We apply NIST 800-53, which is a standardized
risk management framework for managing and securing our information system. The first step in system authorization is system categorization.
This step creates the baseline security controls, depending on the infrastructure and data type. Different data types require different
levels of security. Examples of information types may be health care data, banking information or client data. In addition to data types,
how and where data is stored is also a consideration when developing security controls. We have applied recommended security controls
to match system categorization. For us, our data would be classified as company confidential. We do not store protected health information,
personal identifiable information, which is information which permits the identity of an individual to whom the information applies to
be reasonably inferred, or client financial information. For storage and processing of data, we use third party storage. We have reviewed
the security of the third party systems as well as the security of law firms that we retain to enforce our intellectual property rights,
and we believe that they comply with our standards. However, we cannot assure you that the steps we have taken will be sufficient.
Our chief technical officer , Timothy Scahill,
is responsible for our cybersecurity protection. Mr. Scahill is an ISC2 Certified Information System Security Professional.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
We do not own or lease any real property.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
None
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.
Not Applicable
20
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S
COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.
Market Information
Our common stock trades on the OTCQB market under
the symbol QPRC. Any over-the-counter market quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and
may not necessarily represent actual transactions.
Stockholders of Record
As of March 15, 2025, we had 408 record holders
of our common stock.
Transfer Agent
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company,
One State Street, 30th floor, New York, New York 10004-1561 is the transfer agent for our common stock.
Dividends
We have not paid any cash dividends to date and
do not anticipate or contemplate paying dividends in the foreseeable future. It is the present intention of management to utilize all
available funds for the development of our business.
Securities Authorized for Issuance
under Equity Compensation Agreements
The following table gives information concerning
common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options granted to certain officers, directors and consultants under their respective
individual compensation agreements with us as of December 31, 2024.
Equity Compensation Agreements Information
Plan category
Number of
securities to
be issued
upon
exercise of
outstanding
options,
warrants
and rights
(#)
Weighted
average
exercise price
of outstanding
options,
warrants, and
rights
($)
Number of
securities
remaining
available for
future
issuance
under equity
compensation
plans
(excluding
outstanding
options and
warrants)
(#)
As of December 31, 2024
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
—
$ —
—
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
1,500,000
3.00
1,760,000
Total
1,500,000
$ 3.00
1,760,000
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
We did not sell any unregistered securities during
the year ended December 31, 2024.
ITEM 6. [RESERVED]
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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of financial
condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated audited financial statements and related notes
included elsewhere in this report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions.
See “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors.” Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated
in the forward-looking statements.
Overview
Our principal operations include the development,
acquisition, licensing and enforcement of intellectual property rights that are either owned or controlled by us or one of our wholly
owned subsidiaries. We currently own, control or manage twenty-two intellectual property portfolios, of which we are currently seeking
or may seek monetization with respect to six, which principally consist of patent rights. As part of our intellectual property asset management
activities and in the ordinary course of our business, it has been necessary for either us or the intellectual property owner who we represent
to initiate, and it is likely to continue to be necessary to initiate patent infringement lawsuits and engage in patent infringement litigation.
We anticipate that our primary source of revenue will come from the grant of licenses to use our intellectual property, including licenses
granted as part of the settlement of patent infringement lawsuits.
Market and Economic Conditions
Macroeconomic trends may result in adverse impacts
on our business, and we continue to monitor these potential impacts, including potential economic recession, the effects of tariffs by
the United States and counter-tariffs by other countries; changes in the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy, as well as geopolitical
risks, including the Ukraine-Russia war and the potential resolution of the war and its effect on Europe; the continuing war between Israel
and Hamas and any further intensification of hostilities with others, including Iran and Hezbollah. We cannot predict the timing,
strength, or duration of any future economic slowdown or any subsequent recovery generally, or in any industry. A significant downturn
in economic conditions may adversely affect the intellectual property licensing market including the financial condition of financing
sources and the willingness of potential financing sources to provide funding for our litigation; a law firms’ ability and willingness
to provide us with legal services on acceptable contingent fee terms; and the financial condition and prospects of defendants and potential
defendants, which could make it less likely that they would be willing to settle our claim.
Further, to the extent that holders of intellectual
property rights consider these and other macroeconomic factors, they may be reluctant to sell intellectual property to us on terms which
are acceptable to us, if at all.
We seek to generate revenue from patent licensing
fees from the licensing of our intellectual property, primarily from litigation relating to enforcement of our intellectual property rights.
All of the revenue for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was from patent licensing fees, of which approximately 84% and 100%,
respectively, was paid to the patent seller, funding sources and legal counsel pursuant to our agreements with patent sellers, funding
sources and legal counsel.
Because of the nature of our business transactions
to date, we recognize revenues from licensing upon execution of a license agreement following settlement of litigation and not over the
life of the patent. Thus, we would recognize revenue when we receive the license fee or settlement payment. Although we would prefer to
develop portfolios of intellectual property rights that provide us a continuing stream of revenue, to date we have not been successful
in doing so, and we do not anticipate that we will be able to generate any significant revenue from licenses that provide a continuing
stream of revenue. Thus, to the extent that we continue to generate cash from single payment licenses, our revenue can, and is likely
to, vary significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year and the net income we generated in 2023 may prove to be an aberration.
Our gross profit from license fees reflects the payment of any royalties due in connection with our license.
22
It has been necessary to commence litigation in
order to obtain a recovery for past infringement of, or to license the use of, our intellectual property rights. Intellectual property
litigation is very expensive, with no certainty of any recovery. To the extent possible we seek to engage counsel on a contingent fee
or partial contingent fee basis, which significantly reduces our litigation cost, but which also reduces the value of the recovery to
us. We do not have the resources to enable us to fund the cost of litigation. Because we cannot fund litigation ourselves, we need to
enter into an agreement with a third-party funding source. Our agreements with the funding sources typically provide that the funding
source pays the litigation costs and that the funding source receives a percentage of the recovery, thus reducing our recovery in connection
with any settlement of the litigation. In view of our limited cash and our working capital deficiency, we are not able to institute any
monetization program that may require litigation unless we engage counsel on a fully contingent basis or we obtain funding from third
party funding sources. In these cases, counsel may be afforded a greater participation in the recovery and the third party that funds
the litigation would be entitled to participate in any recovery. To the extent that we have agreements with counsel and/or litigation
funding sources pursuant to which payments made to them represent a portion of the gross recovery, and such payment is contingent upon
a recovery, our revenue from litigation reflects the gross recovery from litigation as licensing fees, and payments to counsel and/or
litigation funding sources are reflected as cost of revenue.
Agreements with QF3, QFL and Intelligent Partners
On March 12, 2023, we entered into a funding agreement
with QF3.
Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement with QF3, QF3
agreed to make available to us a financing facility of: (a) up to $25,000,000 for the acquisition of mutually agreed patent rights that
we intend to monetize, of which no amounts have been received as of December 31, 2023; (b) up to $4,334,000 for operating expenses,
of which the we have requested and received $4,334,000 as of December 31, 2024; and (iii) $3,300,000 to fund the cash payment portion
of the purchase price of a patent portfolio acquired from Tower. In return we transferred to QF3 a right to receive a portion of net proceeds
generated from the monetization of those patents. We used $3,300,000 proceeds from the QF3 financing as the cash payment portion of the
purchase price of a portfolio acquired from Tower. Our obligations to QF3 are secured by the proceeds from the patents acquired with their
funding, the patents and all general intangibles now or hereafter arising from or related to the foregoing and the proceeds and products
of the foregoing.
On February 22, 2021, we entered into a funding agreement with QFL
which was amended and restated on May 2, 2024 to terminate QFL’s funding obligation, and a restructure agreement with Intelligent
Partners.
Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement with QFL, QFL
made available to us a total of $6,402,000, consisting of (a) $2,653,000 for the acquisition of mutually agreed patent rights that we
intended to monetize; (b) $2,000,000 for operating expenses; and (iii) $1,750,000 to fund the cash payment portion of the restructure
of our obligations to Intelligent Partners. In return we transferred to QFL a right to receive a portion of net proceeds generated from
the monetization of those patents. During the year ended December 31, 2024 we repaid the full outstanding principal balance of $1,525,502.
No further advances are to be made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. We also granted QFL a ten-year warrant to purchase a total of up
to 962,463 shares of our common stock, with an exercise price of $0.54 per share which may be exercised through February 18, 2031 on a
cash or cashless basis, subject to certain limitations on exercisability. The warrant also contains certain minimum ownership percentage
antidilution rights pursuant to which the aggregate number of shares of common stock purchasable upon the initial exercise of the Warrant
shall not be less than 10% of the aggregate number of outstanding shares of our capital stock (determined on a fully diluted basis). A
portion of any gain from sale of the shares, net of taxes and costs of exercise, realized prior to the completion of all monetization
activities shall be credited against the total return due to QFL pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. We also agreed to take all commercially
reasonable steps necessary to regain compliance with the OTCQB eligibility standards as soon as practicable, but in no event later than
12 months from the closing date, and we regained compliance on May 7, 2021. We granted QFL registration rights with respect to the common
stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants. We also granted QFL certain board observation rights. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement,
all of the net proceeds from the monetization of the intellectual property acquired with funds from QFL are paid directly to QFL. After
QFL has received a negotiated rate of return, we and QFL share net proceeds equally until QFL achieves its investment return, as defined
in the agreement. Thereafter, we retain 100% of all net proceeds. Except in an Event of Default, as defined therein, all payments by us
to QFL pursuant to the Purchase Agreement are non-recourse and shall be paid only if and after net proceeds from monetization of the patent
rights owned or acquire by us are received, or to be received.
23
Contemporaneously with the execution of the agreements
with QFL, we entered into a restructure agreement with Intelligent Partners to eliminate any obligations we had with respect to the outstanding
notes and the securities purchase agreement. As part of the restructure of our agreements with Intelligent Partners, we amended the existing
MPAs and granted Intelligent Partners certain rights in the monetization proceeds from any new intellectual property we acquire. Under
these MPAs, Intelligent Partners receives a 60% interest in the proceeds from our intellectual property owned by the eight Subsidiary
Guarantors. Intelligent Partners also participates in the monetization proceeds from new intellectual property that we acquire until the
total payments under all the monetization participation agreements equal $2,805,000, as follows: for net proceeds between $0 and $1,000,000,
Intelligent Partners receives 10% of the net proceeds realized from new patents, except that if, in any calendar quarter, net proceeds
realized by us exceed $1,000,000, Intelligent Partners’ entitlement for that quarter only shall increase to 30% on the portion of
net proceeds in excess of $1,000,000 but less than $3,000,000. If in the same calendar quarter, net proceeds exceed $3,000,000, Intelligent
Partners’ entitlement for that quarter only shall increase to 50% on the portion of net proceeds in excess of $3,000,000. The payments
with respect to the new patents terminate once total payments to Intelligent Partners under all monetization participation agreements
reach $2,805,000. The payments to Intellectual Partners with respect new patents are payable from the proceeds which are allocated to
us under the QFL and QF3 agreements, which start after QFL and QF3 have received a negotiated rate of return.
Current Litigation and Settlements
In July 2022, STX brought a patent infringement suit in the U.S. District
for the Eastern District of Texas against FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation et al. . As of December 31, 2023, the matter against FUJIFILM
was resolved and revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 includes revenue from the settlement.
In November 2021, TLL brought patent infringement
suits in the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Texas against Trend Micro Incorporated. In March 2022, Trend Micro, Inc. filed
a complaint against TLL in the U.S. District for the Western District of Texas seeking declaratory judgement of non-infringement of the
patents in suit. In February 2022, TLL brought patent infringement suits in the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Texas against
Checkpoint Software Technologies Ltd. and Palo Alto Networks, Inc. In March 2022, TLL voluntarily dismissed, without prejudice, the action
against Palo Alto Networks, Inc. In March 2022, Palo Alto Networks, Inc. filed a complaint against TLL and the Company in the U.S. District
for the Southern District of New York seeking declaratory judgement of non-infringement of the patents in suit. In May 2022, Trend Micro
Inc. filed a motion with the Panel on Multidistrict Litigation seeking to have the pending actions consolidated into a centralized multidistrict
litigation for pretrial proceedings. In August 2022, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated all actions in the U.S.
District for the Eastern District of Texas. In October 2022, TLL brought patent infringement suits in the U.S. District for the Eastern
District of Texas against Fortinet, Inc., Crowdstrike, Inc. et.al., and Musarubra US, LLC. The actions against Trend Micro Incorporated,
Checkpoint Software Technologies Ltd, Palo Alto Networks, Inc. and Crowdstrike, Inc. were resolved in 2023 and our revenue for the year
ended December 31, 2023 includes revenue from the related settlements. In February 2024, TLL brought patent infringement suits in the
U.S. District for the Eastern District of Texas against Sonicwall, Inc. The actions against Fortinet, Inc., Musarubra US LLC, and Sonicwall
Inc. have been resolved and revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024 includes revenue from the related settlements.
In November 2021, MML brought patent infringement
suits in the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Texas against ZTE Corporation and Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corp.,
Ltd. In November 2022, MML brought patent infringement suits in the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Texas against Samsung Electronics
Co., Ltd. et al and TCL Technology Group Corporation et al. In June 2022, MML and AI agreed to amend the Purchase Agreement to add two
additional patent families for an additional $92,000. We requested and received a capital advance from QFL in the amount of $92,000, which
we used to make payment to AI in August 2022 pursuant to the amendment to the Purchase Agreement. The actions against ZTE Corporation
and Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd. were resolved in 2023 and revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 includes
revenue from the related settlements. The actions against Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Et al were resolved in 2024 and revenue for the
year ended December 31, 2024 includes revenue from the related settlement.
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In May 2022, Tyche brought patent infringement
suits in the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Texas against MediaTek Inc., Realtek Semiconductor Corporation, Texas Instruments
Incorporated, Infineon Technologies AG and STMicroelectronics NV et. al. As of December 31, 2023, all actions have been resolved
and revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 includes revenue from the settlements.
In September 2023, Deepwell brought a patent
infringement suit in the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Texas against MediaTek Inc. The action against MediaTek, Inc. has been
resolved and revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024 includes revenue from the related settlement.
In February 2024, Harbor Island Dynamic brought
a patent infringement suit in the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Texas against Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al. (“Samsung”).
In August 2024, Harbor Island Dynamic brought a patent infringement suit in the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Texas against
NXP Semiconductors NV et. al. In September 2024, Samsung filed four petitions with the patent trial an appeal board for inter partes review
of the Harbor Island Dynamic patents asserted against Samsung These actions are pending.
Results of Operations
The years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
Year Ended
December 31,
2024
2023
Revenues (patent licensing fees)
$ 2,795,000
$ 13,152,500
Cost of revenue (litigation and licensing expenses)
1,844,089
6,905,705
Selling, general and administrative expenses
2,797,380
2,740,554
(Loss) income from operations
(1,846,469 )
3,506,241
Other income (expense)
Change in fair market value of warrant liability
164,679
(136,381 )
Interest expense
(689,861 )
(1,061,387 )
Total other income (expense)
(525,182 )
(1,197,768 )
(Loss) income before income tax
(2,371,651 )
2,308,473
Income tax expense
(100,000 )
(30,000 )
Net (loss) income
$ (2,471,651 )
$ 2,278,473
We generated revenues of $2,795,000 for the year
ended December 31, 2024 as compared to approximately $13,152,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023. Our revenue for the year ended
December 31, 2024 was generated from licenses pursuant to the settlement of patent infringement lawsuits in the TLL, Deepwell, and
Multimodal Media portfolios. Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023 was generated from licenses pursuant to the settlement of patent
infringement lawsuits in the Tyche, STX, MML and TLL portfolios. Cost of revenue for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was approximately
$1,844,000 and $6,906,000, respectively. The decrease in cost of revenues is primarily due to decreased litigation and licensing expenses
associated with contingent fees incurred in generating revenues resulting from a lower level of revenues in 2024. The timing and amount
of our revenue is dependent upon the results of litigation seeking to enforce our intellectual property rights, and we cannot predict
when or whether we will have a recovery and how much of the recovery will be received by us after payments to legal counsel, to our funding
sources, to inventors/former patent owners and to Intelligent Partners who have an interest in our share of the recovery from certain
patent portfolios after deducting payments due to counsel and the litigation funding source.
25
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased by approximately $57,000, or approximately 2%, compared to the year ended December 31,
2023. The increase is primarily due to an increase in compensation and retirement expense as well as increases and travel costs, office
supplies and advertising. These increases were offset by decreases in patent amortization and professional fees. Our principal operating
expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 were compensation expenses of approximately $994,000, amortization of intangible assets
of approximately $636,000 and professional fees of approximately $541,000. Our principal operating expenses for the year ended December
31, 2023 were compensation expenses of approximately $660,000, amortization of intangible assets of approximately $787,000 and professional
fees of approximately $696,000.
Other income and expense for the year ended December
31, 2024 included a gain on change in fair value of warrant liability of approximately $165,000. We realized a loss on change in fair
value of warrant liability of approximately $136,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023. The fair value of the warrant liability is
affected by the price of our common stock, so the liability increases as the stock price goes up, resulting in an expense, and decreases
as the stock price goes down resulting in income from change in warrant liability. Other expense also reflects interest expense of approximately
$690,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024 and approximately $1,061,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in interest
expense reflects the accrued interest payable on the principal amount of QFL and QF3 facilities.
We incurred income tax expense of $100,000 and
$30,000 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
As a result of the foregoing, we realized net
loss of approximately $2,472,000, or ($0.46) per share (basic and diluted), for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to net income
of approximately $2,278,000, or $0.43 per share (basic and diluted), for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
At December 31, 2024, we had current assets
of approximately $502,000, and current liabilities of approximately $12,038,000. Our current liabilities include funding liabilities of
approximately $7,634,000 payable to QF3, a non-interest bearing total monetization proceeds obligation (the “TMPO”) to Intelligent
Partners in the amount of approximately $2,797,000 under the Restructure Agreement, both of which are only payable from money generated
from the monetization of intellectual property, loans payable of approximately $138,000, accounts payable and accrued liabilities of approximately
$156,000, warrant liability of approximately $117,000, and accrued interest of approximately $1,196,000. As of December 31, 2024, we have
an accumulated deficit of $26,382,672 and a negative working capital of approximately $11,536,000. Other than salary and pension benefits
to our chief executive officer, we do not contemplate any other material operating expense requiring cash in the near future other than
normal general and administrative expenses and legal fees, including expenses relating to our status as a public company filing reports
with the SEC.
The following table shows the summary cash flows
for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
For the Year Ended
December 31,
2024
2023
Cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities
$ (390,340 )
$ 1,930,585
Cash flows used in investing activities
-
(3,330,000 )
Cash flows from financing activities
308,879
1,872,298
Net (decrease) increase in cash
(81,461 )
472,883
Cash at beginning of year
563,484
90,601
Cash at end of year
$ 482,023
$ 563,484
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For the year ended December 31, 2024, cash
flows used in operating activities primarily reflects the net loss of $2,471,651, increased by a reduction in accounts receivable of $3,007,044
and amortization of intangible assets of $636,353, offset by a decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $1,518,662. For
the year ended December 31, 2023, cash flows provided by operating activities primarily reflects net income of $2,278,473, reduced by
an increase accounts receivable of $3,015,295, offset by amortization of intangible assets of $786,552 and an increase in accounts payable
and accrued liabilities of $1,526,153.
During the year ended December 31, 2024 there
were no cash flows from investing activities. During the year ended December 31, 2023, investing activities consisted of $3,330,000 to
fund the cash payment portion of the purchase of a patent portfolio from Tower.
Cash flows provided by financing activities for
the year ended December 31, 2024 were approximately $309,000 representing approximately $1,834,000 from funding by QF3, offset by
payment of a funding liability of approximately $1,526,000 to QFL. Cash flows provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31,
2023 were $6,000,000 from funding advances by QFL and QF3 offset by a payment of a funding liability of approximately $4,128,000 representing
payments of funding liability to QFL.
We cannot assure you that we will be successful
in generating future revenues, in obtaining any third-party funding in connection with any of our intellectual property portfolios or
operating expenses or that we will receive any of the proceeds of any litigation settlements after making all required payments to counsel
and funding sources and payments to Intelligent Partners, operating expenses, debt or equity financing or that and debt or equity financing
will be available on terms acceptable to us. We have no credit facilities. Although our agreement with QF3 provides for QF3 to provide
us with funding to acquire intellectual property rights, subject to QF3's approval, it does not provide for financing the litigation necessary
for the monetization of the intellectual property rights. We do not have any credit facilities or any arrangements for us to finance the
litigation necessary to monetize our intellectual property rights other than contingent fee arrangements with counsel with respect to
our pending litigation. If we do not secure contingent representation or obtain litigation financing, we may be unable to monetize our
intellectual property.
We cannot predict the success of any pending or
future litigation. Typically, our agreements with the funding sources provide that the funding sources will participate in any recovery
which is generated. We believe that our financial condition, our history of losses and negative cash flow from operations, and our low
stock price make it difficult for us to raise funds in the debt or equity markets.
As noted below, there is a substantial doubt about
our ability to continue as a going concern.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition
and results of operations is based upon our financial statements that have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates. We base our estimates on historical
experience and on other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form our basis for
making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results
may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Management believes the following critical accounting
policies affect the significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements.
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Intangible Assets
Intangible assets consist of patents which are
amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives or statutory lives whichever is shorter and are reviewed for
impairment upon any triggering event that may give rise to the assets ultimate recoverability as prescribed under the guidance related
to impairment of long-lived assets. Costs incurred to acquire patents, including legal costs, are also capitalized as long-lived assets
and amortized on a straight-line basis with the associated patent.
Patents include the cost of patents or patent
rights (collectively “patents”) acquired from third-parties or acquired in connection with business combinations. Patent acquisition
costs are allocated equally across the patents in force at the time of acquisition. Patent acquisition costs are amortized utilizing the
straight-line method over their remaining economic useful lives, ranging from one to ten years. Certain patent application and prosecution
costs incurred to secure additional patent claims that, based on management’s estimates, are deemed to be recoverable, are capitalized
and amortized over the remaining estimated economic useful life of the related patent portfolio.
Warrant Liability
We reflect a warrant liability with respect to
warrants for which the number of shares underlying the warrants is not fixed until the date of the initial exercise. The amount of the
liability is determined at the end of each fiscal period by using a Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value. The
period to period change in the amount of warrant liability is reflected as a gain or loss in warrant liability and is included under other
income (expense).
Stock-Based Compensation
We account for stock-based compensation for employees
and non-employees pursuant to ASC 718, “Compensation — Stock Compensation,” which prescribes accounting and reporting
standards for all stock-based payment transactions. Transactions include incurring liabilities, or issuing or offering to issue shares,
options and other equity instruments. Stock-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, are recognized as
compensation expense in the financial statements based on their fair values estimated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. That
expense is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide services in exchange for the award, known as the
requisite service period (usually the vesting period).
Revenue Recognition
Patent Licensing Fees
The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with
ASC Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”. Revenue is recognized when control of the promised goods or services
is transferred to customers at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for
those goods or services. Under Topic 606, revenue is recognized when there is a contract which has commercial substance which is approved
by both parties and identifies the rights of the parties and the payment terms.
For the periods presented, revenue contracts executed
by the Company primarily provided for the payment of contractually determined, one-time, paid-up license fees in consideration for the
grant of certain intellectual property rights for patented technologies owned or controlled by the Company’s operating subsidiaries
as part of the settlement of litigation commenced by the Company’s subsidiaries. Intellectual property rights granted included the
following, as applicable: (i) the grant of a non-exclusive, retroactive and future license to manufacture and/or sell products covered
by patented technologies, (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 were perpetual in nature, extending until the legal expiration date of
the related patents. The individual intellectual property rights are not accounted for as separate performance obligations, as (a) the
nature of the promise, within the context of the contract, is to transfer combined items to which the promised intellectual property rights
are inputs and (b) the Company’s promise to transfer each individual intellectual property right described above to the customer
is not separately identifiable from other promises to transfer intellectual property rights in the contract.
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Since the intellectual property rights are not
individually distinct, the Company combined each individual IP right in the contract into a bundle of IP rights that is distinct, and
accounted for all of the intellectual property rights promised in the contract as a single performance obligation. The intellectual property
rights granted were “functional IP rights” that have significant standalone functionality. The Company’s subsequent
activities do not substantively change that functionality and do not significantly affect the utility of the IP to which the licensee
has rights. The Company’s subsidiaries have no further obligation with respect to the grant of intellectual property rights, including
no express or implied obligation to maintain or upgrade the technology, or provide future support or services. The contracts provide for
the grant (i.e., transfer of control) of the licenses, covenants-not-to-sue, releases, and other significant deliverables upon execution
of the contract. Licensees legally obtain control of the intellectual property rights upon execution of the contract. As such, the earnings
process is complete and revenue is recognized upon the execution of the contract, when collectability is probable and all other revenue
recognition criteria have been met. Revenue contracts generally provide for payment of contractual amounts within 30 to 90 days of execution
of the contract. Contractual payments made by licensees are generally non-refundable. The Company does not have any significant payment
terms, as payment is received shortly after goods are delivered or services are provided, therefore there is no significant financing
component or consideration payable to the customer in these transactions.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2 of the Consolidated Financial
Statements in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this report.
Going Concern
We have an accumulated deficit of approximately
$26,382,000 and negative working capital of approximately $11,536,000 as of December 31, 2024. Due to our history of losses, which
are continuing, our working capital deficiency, the uncertainty of future revenue, our obligations to QF3 and Intelligent Partners, our
low stock price and the absence of an active trading market in our common stock and our failure to have effective internal controls over
financial reporting, as reflected in the restatement of our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023, our ability to
raise funds in the equity market or from lenders is severely impaired. These conditions, as well as any adverse consequences which would
result if we fail to meet the continued listing requirements of the OTCQB, raise substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a
going concern. Our revenue is generated exclusively from license fees generated from litigation seeking damages for infringement of our
intellectual property rights. Although we may seek to raise funds and to obtain third-party funding for litigation to enforce its intellectual
property rights, the availability of such funds is uncertain. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result
from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have not entered into any other financial guarantees
or other commitments to guarantee the payment obligations of any third parties. We have not entered into any derivative contracts that
are indexed to our shares and classified as stockholder’s equity or that are not reflected in our consolidated financial statements.
Furthermore, we do not have any retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity that serves as credit,
liquidity or market risk support to such entity.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are a smaller reporting company as defined
by Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are not required to provide the information under this item.
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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The financial statements start on Page F-1.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING
AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not Applicable.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Management’s Conclusions Regarding Effectiveness
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness
of our “disclosure controls and procedures” (“Disclosure Controls”), as defined by Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as of December 31, 2024, the end of the period covered
by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Disclosure Controls evaluation was done under the supervision and with the participation of management,
including our chief executive officer and acting chief financial officer, who is the same person and our sole full-time employee. There
are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure
controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. Based upon this evaluation, our chief
executive officer and acting chief financial officer concluded that, due to our limited internal audit function and our very limited staff,
our disclosure controls were not effective as of December 31, 2024, such that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports
filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified
in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to the chief executive officer and acting chief financial officer,
as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.
Management’s Report on Internal Control
over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing
and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange
Act. Our management is also required to assess and report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting in accordance
with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Section 404”). Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024. In making this assessment, we used the criteria set forth by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control - Integrated Framework. During our assessment of the effectiveness
of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, management identified material weaknesses related to (i) our internal
audit functions (ii) inadequate levels of review of the financial statements and (iii) a lack of segregation of duties within accounting
functions. Therefore, our internal controls over financial reporting were not effective as of December 31, 2024.
Management has determined that our internal controls
contain material weaknesses due to the absence of segregation of duties, as well as lack of qualified accounting personnel and excessive
reliance on third-party consultants for accounting, financial reporting and related activities. The material weaknesses were a root cause
of our need to restate our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023. The lack of any separation of duties, with the same
person, who is our only full time employee, serving as both chief executive officer and acting chief financial officer, and who does not
have an accounting background, makes it unlikely that we will be able to implement effective internal controls over financial reporting
in the near future.
30
Due to our size and nature, segregation of all
conflicting duties is not possible. However, to the extent possible, we plan to implement procedures to assure that the initiation of
transactions, the custody of assets and the recording of transactions will be performed by separate individuals if and when we have sufficient
income to enable us to hire such individuals, and we cannot give any assurance that we will be able to hire such personnel. Since we became
engaged in the intellectual property management business in 2008, we have not had the financial resources to develop or implement systems
that would provide us with the necessary information on a timely basis so as to be able to implement financial controls. Our financial
condition makes it difficult for us to implement a system of internal controls over financial reporting.
Unless we generate significantly greater revenues
on an ongoing basis and employ accounting personnel, it is doubtful that we will be able implement any system which provides us with any
degree of internal controls over financial reporting.
A material weakness (within the meaning of PCAOB
Auditing Standard No. 5) is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there
is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected
on a timely basis. A significant deficiency is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting
that is less severe than a material weakness, yet important enough to merit attention by those responsible for oversight of our financial
reporting.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal
control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods
are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the
policies and procedures may deteriorate.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial
Reporting
During the period ended December 31, 2024, there
was no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that
has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None .
ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT
INSPECTIONS.
Not applicable.
31
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The following table presents information with
respect to our officers and directors:
Name
Age
Position(s)
Jon C. Scahill
48
Chief executive officer, president, acting chief financial officer, secretary and director
Timothy J. Scahill
57
Chief technology officer and director
Dr. William Ryall Carroll
49
Director
Ryan T. Logue
44
Director
Our board of directors has three classes of directors
– Class I directors, Class II directors and Class III directors. On July 27, 2022, the Company held its 2022 annual meeting of stockholders.
At the meeting, the stockholders voted on the election of two Class I directors, one Class II director and one Class III director.
Jon C. Scahill, a Class I director, has been president
and chief executive officer since January 2014 and a director since 2007. He was appointed secretary in April 2014. He also served as
president and chief operating officer from May 2007 to December 2013. From December 2006 to May 2007, Mr. Scahill was founder and managing
director of the Urban-Rigney Group, LLC, a private consultancy specializing in new business/new venture development, operations optimization,
and strategic analysis. Prior to launching his consultancy business, Mr. Scahill held numerous positions in sales and marketing, technical
management, and product development in the consumer products/flexible packaging arena. Mr. Scahill holds a B.S. in chemical engineering
from the University of Rochester, an MBA in finance, strategy and operations from Rochester’s Simon Graduate School of Business
and a JD from Pace Law School. Mr. Scahill is admitted to practice in New York, Florida and the District of Columbia, and he is a registered
patent attorney admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Timothy J. Scahill, a Class II director, has a
director since October 2014 and our chief technology officer since 2007. As chief technology officer, Mr. Scahill is responsible for our
cybersecurity protection. Mr. Scahill is also currently a managing partner of Managed Services Team LLC, an IT services provider. Prior
to Managed Services Team, he was president of Layer 8 Group, Inc. from August 2005 to December 2012, at which time Layer 8 merged with
Structured Technologies Inc. to form Managed Services Team LLC. In his roles he has taken the responsibility for business strategy, acquisition,
execution, as well as financial management. His entrepreneurial acumen and proven record of successful management with sole discretionary
responsibility, demonstrate the scope of his capability and his value to delivering results. He serves on the boards of the Upstate New
York Technology Council, is an investor in Greater Rochester Enterprise, Pariemus Rochester and also serves on the Corporate Advisory
Board for Habitat for Humanity. He is a member of Greater Rochester Enterprise and CEO Roundtable Chair.
Dr. William Ryall Carroll, a Class III director,
has been a director since October 2014. Dr. Carroll has been associate professor and chairman of the marketing department at St. John’s
University College of Business since July 2014. From September 2008 until June 2014, Dr. Carroll was an assistant professor in the marketing
department of St. John’s University College of Business. Dr. Carroll is founder, chief executive officer and owner of Raiserve Inc.,
a web-based platform for monetizing non-profit programmatic work in the area of service formed in October 2014. Dr. Carroll’s research
focuses on consumer behavior and behavioral decision theory. Dr. Carroll’s work has been published in top academic journals including
the Journal of Advertising, Marketing Letters, as well in books such as Psycholinguistic Phenomena in Marketing Communications. In addition
to his research Dr. Carroll has taught Marketing at the executive, graduate and undergraduate level across in the United States, Europe
and Asia. Prior to pursuing his academic career, Dr. Carroll held various marketing positions at NOP Worldwide Marketing Research Company
and Ralston Purina Company. Dr. Carroll earned his BA in Economics from the University of Rochester, his MS in Marketing Research from
the University of Texas in Arlington, and his PhD from City University of New York – Baruch College.
32
Ryan T. Logue, a Class I director, is an investment
advisory representative Lincoln Investment, a position he has held since 2019. Prior to joining Lincoln Investment, he spent 16 years
with Morgan Stanley in the private wealth management department. Mr. Logue has spent the majority of his career focused on investing in
both public and private opportunities department. Mr. Logue graduated with a BA from Colgate University and an MBA from Columbia University
and has previously served on the board of the Columbia Alumni Association of Fairfield County.
Timothy J. Scahill and Jon C. Scahill are first
cousins.
Director Independence
Dr. Carroll and Mr. Logue are “independent”
directors based on the definition of independence in the listing standards of the NYSE.
Code of Ethics
We have not yet adopted a code of ethics that
applies to our principal executive officers, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing
similar functions, since we have been focusing our efforts on developing our business. We expect to adopt a code as we develop our business.
Committees of the Board of Directors
We do not have any committees of our board of
directors.
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, requires executive officers and directors of issuers whose securities are registered pursuant to the Securities Exchange
Act and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities to file with the SEC initial statements of beneficial
ownership, reports of changes in ownership and annual reports concerning their ownership of the our common stock and other equity securities,
on Form 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Because our common stock is not registered pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act, our officers, directors
and 10% stockholders are not required to make such filings.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following summary compensation table sets
forth information concerning compensation for services rendered in all capacities during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, earned
by or paid to our executive officers.
Name & Principal Position
Year
Salary
Bonus
Awards
Stock
Awards
Options/
Warrant
Awards
Non-Equity
Plan
Compensation
Nonqualified
Deferred
Earnings
All Other
Compensation
(1)
Total
Jon C. Scahill,
CEO and President
2024
$ 600,000
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ 69,000
$ 669,000
2023
$ 600,000
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ 66,000
$ 666,000
Timothy J. Scahill
2024
$ 60,000
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ 6,900
$ 66,900
Chief Technology Officer
2023
$ 60,000
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ —
$ 6,600
$ 66,600
(1) Represents the payments made by
the Company under the SEP IRA.
33
Employment Agreements
Pursuant to the restated employment agreement,
dated November 30, 2014, we agreed to employ Jon C. Scahill as president and chief executive officer for a term of three years, commencing
January 1, 2014, and continuing on a year-to-year basis unless terminated by either party on not less than 90 days’ notice prior
to the expiration of the initial term or any one-year extension. The agreement provides for an annual salary of $252,000, which may be
increased, but not decreased, by the board or the compensation committee. In March 2023, the board of directors increased Mr. Scahill’s
annual salary to $600,000, effective January 1, 2023. Mr. Scahill is entitled to a bonus if we meet or exceed performance criteria established
by the compensation committee, or by the board in the absence of a compensation committee. In August 2016, the board of directors approved
annual bonus compensation to Mr. Scahill equal to 30% of the amount by which our consolidated income before income taxes exceeds $500,000,
but, if we are subject to the limitation on deductibility of executive compensation pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
Code, the bonus cannot exceed the amount which would be deductible pursuant to Section 162(m). Mr. Scahill is also eligible to participate
in any executive incentive plans which we may adopt. Pursuant to the agreement, we issued to Mr. Scahill warrants to purchase 600,000
shares, representing the warrants that had been previously covered in his prior employment agreement, but which had never been issued,
and we issued to Mr. Scahill a restricted stock grant for 300,000 shares which vested on January 15, 2015. In the event that we terminate
Mr. Scahill’s employment other than for cause or as a result of his death or disability, we will pay him severance equal to his
salary for the balance of the term and, if he received a bonus for the previous year, an amount equal to that bonus, as well as continuation
of his insurance benefits. Mr. Scahill also waived accrued compensation of $1,167,705, representing his accrued salary for periods prior
to January 1, 2014. The restated employment agreement also includes mutual general releases between Mr. Scahill and us. In March 2020,
the Company adopted a SEP IRA plan for its employees. Mr. Scahill is our only employee covered by the plan.
Pension Benefits
In March 2020, we adopted a SEP IRA plan for our
employees pursuant to which we deposit into a SEP IRA account of each of our participating employees a percentage of the employee’s
compensation, subject to statutory limitations on the amount of the contribution all as set forth in the IRS Form 5305-SEP presented to
and reviewed by the directors of this Corporation. For the year ending December 31, 2024 the percentage was set at 12%. Our Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Technology Officer, who are our only employees, are covered by the plan.
2017 Equity Incentive Plan
On November 10, 2017, the board of directors adopted
the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) pursuant to which 1,500,000 shares of common stock may be issued. In February
2021, the board amended the Plan to increase the number of shares subject to the plan to 5,000,000. The plan provides for the grant of
non-qualified options, stock grants and other equity-based incentives to employees, including officers, directors and consultants. This
summary of the Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the plan, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to this annual report.
The Company’s chairman of the board holds outstanding options
to purchase 600,000 shares which options expire February 22, 2031. An option to purchase 200,000 shares of common stock at an exercise
price of $1.00 per share is currently exercisable. An options to purchase 200,000 shares of common stock at $3.00 per share becomes exercisable
on the first day on which we file with the SEC a Form 10-K or Form 10-Q which reports stockholders’ equity of at least $5,000,000,
and an options to purchase 200,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $5.00 per share becomes exercisable on the date on which
our common stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange. We did not recognize an option expense
with respect to these options during the year ended December 31, 2024 or 2023.
34
Pursuant to consulting agreements, we granted options to purchase a
total of 900,000 shares of common stock which expire on February 21, 2031. Option to purchase 300,000 shares of common stock at $1.00
per share, 100,000 shares at $3.00 per share and 100,000 shares at $5.00 per share are currently exercisable. Option to purchase 200,000
shares at an exercise price of $3.00 per share, become exercisable on the first day on which we file with the SEC a Form 10-K or Form
10-Q which reports stockholders’ equity of at least $5,000,000 and options to purchase 200,000 shares at an exercise price of $5.00
per share become exercisable on the date on which the common stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock
Exchange. The Company recognized option expense of approximately $6,000 and $49,000 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively,
with respect to these options.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table sets forth information as
to the outstanding equity awards granted to and held by the officers named in the Summary Compensation Table as of December 31, 2024.
Option awards
Name
Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options (#)
exercisable
Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options (#)
unexercisable
Equity
incentive
plan
awards:
Number pf
securities
underlying
unexercised
unearned
options (#)
Option
exercise
price ($)
Option
expiration
date
Jon Scahill
200,000
-
-
$ 1.00
2/22/2031
200,000 (1)
3.00
2/22/2031
200,000 (2)
5.00
2/22/2031
(1) This option becomes exercisable
on the first day on which we file a Form 10-K or Form 10-Q which reflects stockholders’ equity of at least $5,000,000.
(2) This option becomes exercisable
on the date on which the common stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange.
Directors’ Compensation
We do not have any agreements or formal plan for
compensating our directors for their service in their capacity as directors, although our board has, and may in the future, award stock
grants or options to purchase shares of common stock to our directors. None of our directors received compensation during 2024.
35
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The following table provides information as to
shares of common stock beneficially owned as of March 15, 2025 by:
●
Each director;
●
Each current officer named in the summary compensation table;
●
Each person owning of record or known by us, based on information provided to us by the persons named below, at least 5% of our common stock; and
●
All directors and officers as a group.
For purposes of the following table, “beneficial
ownership” means the sole or shared power to vote, or to direct the voting of, a security, or sole or shared investment power with
respect to a security, or any combination thereof, and the right to acquire such power (for example, through the exercise of warrants
granted by us) within 60 days of March 15, 2025.
Name and Address (1) of Beneficial Owner
Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership
% of Class
Jon C. Scahill (2)
1,600,000
28.9 %
Andrew C. Fitton (3)
1,174,074
22.0 %
Intelligent Partners, LLC (4)
500,000
8.6 %
Michael R. Carper (5)
788,889
14.8 %
Dr. William Ryall Carroll
154,846
2.9 %
Timothy J. Scahill
151,050
2.8 %
Ryan T. Logue
54,976
1.0 %
All officers and directors as a group (four individuals)
1,960,873
35.4 %
(1)
The address of Jon C. Scahill, Dr. Carroll, Timothy J. Scahill and Ryan T. Logue is c/o Quest Patent Research Corporation, 411 Theodore Fremd Ave., Suite 206S, Rye, New York 10580-1411.
(2)
Represents (a) 1,400,000 shares owned by Mr. Scahill and (b) 200,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr. Scahill.
(3)
Represents (a) 674,074 shares owned by Mr. Fitton and (b) 500,000 shares issuable upon exercise of an option held by Intelligent Partners. The address for Mr. Fitton and Intelligent Partners is 300 Bowie St., Apt. 2803 Austin, TX 78703.
(4)
Represents 500,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options held by Intelligent Partners. Andrew C. Fitton and Michael R. Carper, as the members of Intelligent Partners, have the joint right to vote and dispose of the shares owned by Intelligent Partners. The address for Mr. Carper is 13218 Tamayo Drive Austin, TX 78729.
(5)
Represents (a) 288,889 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Carper and (b) 500,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of an option held by Intelligent Partners.
36
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED
TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Related Transactions
Reference is made to the discussion of our agreements
with Intelligent Partners, Mr. Fitton and Mr. Carper under “Item 1. Business – Agreements with Intelligent Partners.”
During 2023, we contracted with a law firm more
than 10 percent owned by the chief executive officer. The firm is engaged as counsel in connection with general corporate matters, diligence
and maintenance of our patent portfolio. In connection with the engagement, we recorded sales, general and administrative expenses of
approximately $131,000 and $50,000 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
During 2024 and 2023, we contracted with a law
firm more than 10% owned, but not controlled, by the father-in-law of the chief executive officer. The firm is engaged on a contingent
fee basis and serves as escrow agent in connection with monetization of our patents in matters where the firm is serving as counsel to
us. In connection with the engagement, we recorded litigation and licensing expenses of approximately $1,163,000 and $5,316,000 for the
years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Since the services are on a contingent fee basis, no fees are incurred unless there
is a recovery. In prior periods, we engaged a firm at which the father-in-law of the chief executive was formerly a partner. Because his
interest in the prior firm was less than 10%, the prior firm was not considered a related party in prior periods.
Director Independence
Dr. Carroll and Mr. Logue are “independent”
directors based on the definition of independence in the listing standards of the NYSE.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The following table sets forth the fees billed
by our independent accountants, Rosenberg Rich Baker Berman P.A. (“RRBB”) for 2024 and 2023 for the categories of services
indicated.
Fiscal Year
Ended
December 31,
2024
2023
Audit fees – RRBB
$ 100,000
$ 100,000
Audit – related fees
—
—
Tax fees
—
—
Audit fees consist of fees related to professional
services rendered in connection with the audit of our annual financial statements and the review of our quarterly financial statements.
Our policy is to pre-approve all audit and permissible
non-audit services performed by the independent accountants. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services
and other services. Since we do not have an audit committee, the pre-approval is made by the board of directors. Our board approved all
services that our independent accountants provided to us in the past two fiscal years.
38
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS
Exhibit No.
Description
3.1
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company.(5)
3.2
Bylaws of the Company. (3)
10.1
Restated Employment Agreement dated as of November 30, 2014 between the Company and Jon C. Scahill. (1)
10.2
Restricted Stock Grant dated October 30, 2014 between the Company and Jon C. Scahill. (1)
10.3
Form of warrant issued to former officers and directors. (1)
10.4
Form of warrant issued to Mr. Jon C. Scahill. (1)
10.5
Indemnification agreement, dated December 8, 2014 between the Company and Jon C. Scahill. (4)
10.6
Indemnification agreement, dated December 8, 2014 between the Company and Timothy J. Scahill. (4)
10.7
Indemnification agreement, dated December 8, 2014 between the Company and Dr. William Ryall Carroll. (4)
10.8
Indemnification agreement, dated February 19, 2021 between the Company and Ryan T. Logue (10)
10.9
Patent Sale Agreement, effective July 8, 2015 between Intellectual Ventures Assets 16 LLC and the Company.(2)
10.10
2017 Equity Incentive Plan(6)
10.11
Purchase Agreement dated February 19, 2021 among the Company and QPRC Finance LLC (7) †
10.12
Ex. A to Purchase Agreement – Security Agreement dated February 19, 2021 among the Company and QPRC Finance LLC. (7)†
10.13
Ex. B to Purchase Agreement – Subsidiary Continuing Guaranty Agreement dated February 19, 2021 among Quest Licensing Corporation, Mariner IC Inc., Semcon IP Inc., IC Kinetics Inc., Quest NetTech Corporation, CXT Systems, Inc., M-Red Inc., Audio Messaging Inc. and QPRC Finance LLC. (7)
10.14
Ex. C to Purchase Agreement – Subsidiary Patent Proceeds Security Agreement dated February 19, 2021 among the Company, Quest Licensing Corporation, Mariner IC Inc., Semcon IP Inc., IC Kinetics Inc., Quest NetTech Corporation, CXT Systems, Inc., M-Red Inc., Audio Messaging Inc. and QPRC Finance LLC. (7)
10.15
Ex. D to Purchase Agreement – Warrant Issuance Agreement dated February 19, 2021 among the Company and QPRC Finance LLC. (7)
10.16
Ex. E to Purchase Agreement – Board Observation Rights Agreement dated February 19, 2021 among the Company and QPRC Finance LLC. (7)
10.17
Registration Rights Agreement – dated February 19, 2021 among the Company and QPRC Finance LLC. (7)
10.18
Form of Warrant – dated February 19, 2021 among the Company and QPRC Finance LLC (7)
10.19
Restructure Agreement dated February 19, 2021 among the Company, Quest Licensing Corporation, Mariner IC Inc., Semcon IP Inc., IC Kinetics Inc., Quest NetTech Corporation, CXT Systems, Inc., M-Red Inc., Audio Messaging Inc. Intelligent Partners LLC, Andrew Fitton and Michael Carper. (7)
10.20
Ex. A to Restructure Agreement - Stock Purchase Agreement dated February 19, 2021 among the Company, Intelligent Partners LLC, Andrew Fitton and Michael Carper. (7)
10.21
Ex. B to Restructure Agreement - Option Grant dated February 19, 2021 among the Company and Intelligent Partners LLC. (7)
10.22
Ex. C to Restructure Agreement - Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement dated February 19, 2021 among the Company and Intelligent Partners LLC. (7)
10.23
Ex. D to Restructure Agreement - Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement dated February 19, 2021 among the Company, Intelligent Partners LLC, Andrew Fitton and Michael Carper. (7)
10.24
Ex. E to Restructure Agreement - Board Observation Agreement dated February 19, 2021 among the Company and Intelligent Partners LLC. (7)
10.25
Ex. F to Restructure Agreement - Amended and Restated MPA-CP dated February 19, 2021 among the Company, Quest Licensing Corporation, Mariner IC Inc., Semcon IP Inc., IC Kinetics Inc., Quest NetTech Corporation and Intelligent Partners LLC. (7)
10.26
Ex. G to Restructure Agreement - Amended and Restated MPA-CXT dated February 19, 2021 among CXT Systems, Inc. and Intelligent Partners LLC. (7)
39
10.27
Ex. H to Restructure Agreement - Monetization Proceeds Agreement dated February 19, 2021 among M-RED Inc. and Intelligent Partners LLC. (7)
10.28
Ex. I to Restructure Agreement - Monetization Proceeds Agreement dated February 19, 2021 among Audio Messaging Inc. and Intelligent Partners LLC. (7)
10.29
Ex. J to Restructure Agreement - Amended and Restated 2015 Patent Proceeds Security Agreement dated February 19, 2021 among the Company, Quest Licensing Corporation, Mariner IC Inc., Semcon IP Inc., IC Kinetics Inc., Quest NetTech Corporation, CXT Systems, Inc., M-Red Inc., Audio Messaging Inc. and Intelligent Partners LLC. (7)
10.30
Ex. K to Restructure Agreement - MPA-NA dated February 19, 2021 among the Company and Intelligent Partners LLC. (7)
10.31
Ex. L to Restructure Agreement - MPA-NA Security Interest Agreement dated February 19, 2021 among the Company and Intelligent Partners LLC. (7)
10.32
Form of Consulting Agreement (8)
10.33
Form of Restricted Stock Agreement (8)
10.34
Form of Option Agreement (8)
10.35
Purchase Agreement dated March 12, 2023 among the Company and QPRC Finance III LLC (9) †
10.36
Amended and Restated Prepaid Forward Purchase Agreement among the Company, certain subsidiaries and QPRC Finance LLC (11)
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Acting Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.(11).
32.1
Section 1350 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer.(11).
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).
(1)
Incorporated by reference to the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, which was filed by the Company on December 15, 2014.
(2)
Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K, which was filed with the SEC on October 28, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference.
(3)
Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2013, which was filed with the SEC on April 10, 2015.
(4)
Filed as exhibit to Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, which was filed with the SEC on February 3, 2016, and incorporated herein by reference.
(5)
Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K, which was filed with the SEC on January 26, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference.
(6)
Incorporated by reference to the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, which was filed by the Company on April 2, 2018.
(7)
Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K, which was filed with the SEC on February 24, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference.
(8)
Incorporated by reference to the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which was filed by the Company on April 15, 2021.
(9)
Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K, which was filed with the SEC on March 16, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference.
(10)
Incorporated by reference to the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 which was filed on March 31, 2023.
(11)
Filed herewith.
†
Certain confidential information has been deleted from this Exhibit.
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
Not applicable.
40
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: March 26, 2025
QUEST PATENT RESEARCH CORPORATION
By:
/s/ Jon C. Scahill
Jon C. Scahill
Chief Executive Officer and
Acting Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and
on the dates indicated. Each person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes Jon C. Scahill as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact
and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities
to sign any and all amendments to this report, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Jon C. Scahill
Director, Chief Executive Officer,
March 26, 2025
Jon C. Scahill
Acting Chief Financial Officer, and President
(Principal Executive, Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/ Timothy J. Scahill
Director
March 26, 2025
Timothy J. Scahill
/s/ Dr. William Ryall Carroll
Director
March 26, 2025
Dr. William Ryall Carroll
/s/ Ryan T. Logue
Director
March 26, 2025
Ryan T. Logue
41
QUEST PATENT RESEARCH CORPORATION
DECEMBER 31, 2024
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ( Rosenberg Rich Baker Berman P.A . - PCAOB ID: 89 ) F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 F-4
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-7
F- 1
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and
Stockholders of Quest Patent Research Corporation
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated
balance sheets of Quest Patent Research Corporation and its subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the related
consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, consolidated statement of changes in stockholders’ deficit, and cash
flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion,
the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December,
2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America.
Substantial Doubt about the Company’s
Ability to Continue as a Going Concern
The accompanying consolidated financial statements
have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements,
the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and has a net capital deficiency that raises substantial doubt about its ability
to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 2. The consolidated financial
statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. Our opinion is not modified with respect
to that matter.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial
statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United
States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and
the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the
standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged
to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding
of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess
the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond
to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.
Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating
the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below
are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated
to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and
(2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter
in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit
matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate. We determined
that there were no critical audit matters.
/s/ Rosenberg Rich Baker Berman, P.A.
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2021.
Somerset, New Jersey
March 26, 2025
F- 2
QUEST PATENT RESEARCH CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31,
2024
2023
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 482,023
$ 563,484
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $ 0 and $ 0 , respectively
8,251
3,015,295
Other current assets
12,011
28,121
Total current assets
502,285
3,606,900
Patents, net of accumulated amortization of $ 3,048,750 and $ 2,412,397 , respectively
3,038,250
3,674,603
Total assets
$ 3,540,535
$ 7,281,503
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities ($ 11,041 and $ 1,378,154 due to related parties, respectively)
156,033
1,674,690
Loans payable
138,000
138,000
Funding liability
7,634,381
7,325,502
Loan payable - related party
2,796,500
2,796,500
Warrant liability
117,130
281,809
Accrued interest
1,196,317
1,096,985
Total current liabilities
12,038,361
13,313,486
Non-current liabilities
Loan payable – SBA
150,000
150,000
Purchase price of patents
53,665
53,665
Total liabilities
12,242,026
13,517,151
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Stockholders’ deficit:
Preferred stock, par value $ 0.00003 per share - authorized 10,000,000 shares - no shares issued and outstanding
—
—
Common stock, par value $ 0.00003 per share; authorized 30,000,000 at December 31, 2024 and 2023; 5,331,973 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2024 and 2023
160
160
Additional paid-in capital
17,680,793
17,674,985
Accumulated deficit
( 26,382,672 )
( 23,911,021 )
Total Quest Patent Research Corporation stockholders’ deficit
( 8,701,719 )
( 6,235,876 )
Non-controlling interest in subsidiary
228
228
Total stockholders’ deficit
( 8,701,491 )
( 6,235,648 )
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit
$ 3,540,535
$ 7,281,503
See the accompanying notes to the consolidated
financial statements.
F- 3
QUEST PATENT RESEARCH CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Year Ended December 31,
2024
2023
Revenues
Patent licensing fees
$ 2,795,000
$ 13,152,500
Cost of revenue
Litigation and licensing expenses
1,844,089
6,905,705
Gross margin
950,911
6,246,795
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses
2,797,380
2,740,554
Total operating expenses
2,797,380
2,740,554
(Loss) income from operations
( 1,846,469 )
3,506,241
Other income (expense)
Change in fair market value of warrant liability
164,679
( 136,381 )
Interest expense
( 689,861 )
( 1,061,387 )
Total other income (expense)
( 525,182 )
( 1,197,768 )
(Loss) income before income tax
( 2,371,651 )
2,308,473
Income tax expense
( 100,000 )
( 30,000 )
Net (loss) income
$ ( 2,471,651 )
$ 2,278,473
(Loss) income per share - basic and diluted
$ ( 0.46 )
$ 0.43
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted
5,331,973
5,331,973
See the accompanying notes to the consolidated
financial statements.
F- 4
QUEST PATENT RESEARCH CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’
DEFICIT
Additional
Non-
controlling
Total
Common Stock
Paid-In
Accumulated
Interest in
Stockholders’
Shares
Amount
Capital
Deficit
Subsidiaries
Deficit
Balances as of December 31, 2022
5,331,973
$ 160
$ 17,626,279
$ ( 26,189,494 )
$ 228
$ ( 8,562,827 )
Stock-based compensation
—
—
48,706
—
—
48,706
Net income
—
—
—
2,278,473
—
2,278,473
Balances as of December 31, 2023
5,331,973
160
17,674,985
( 23,911,021 )
228
( 6,235,648 )
Stock-based compensation
—
—
5,808
—
—
5,808
Net loss
—
—
—
( 2,471,651 )
—
( 2,471,651 )
Balances as of December 31, 2024
5,331,973
$ 160
$ 17,680,793
$ ( 26,382,672 )
$ 228
$ ( 8,701,491 )
See the accompanying notes to the consolidated
financial statements.
F- 5
QUEST PATENT RESEARCH CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Year Ended December 31,
2024
2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income
$ ( 2,471,651 )
$ 2,278,473
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Change in fair market value of warrant liability
( 164,679 )
136,381
Stock-based compensation
5,808
48,706
Amortization of intangible assets
636,353
786,552
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
3,007,044
( 3,015,295 )
Accrued interest
99,337
192,415
Other current assets
16,110
( 22,800 )
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
( 1,518,662 )
1,526,153
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
( 390,340 )
1,930,585
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of intangible assets
—
( 3,330,000 )
Net cash used in investing activities
—
( 3,330,000 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from funding liability
1,834,381
6,000,000
Payment of funding liability
( 1,525,502 )
( 4,127,702 )
Net cash provided by financing activities
308,879
1,872,298
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
( 81,461 )
472,883
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
563,484
90,601
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
$ 482,023
$ 563,484
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Interest added to principal
$ 5,640
$ 5,625
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for:
Income taxes
$ 100,000
$ 30,000
Interest
$ 486,320
$ 969,930
F- 6
QUEST PATENT RESEARCH CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
The Company is a Delaware corporation, incorporated
on July 17, 1987 and has been engaged in the intellectual property monetization business since 2008.
As used herein, “we”, “us”,
“our”, the “Company” refer to Quest Patent Research Corporation and its wholly and majority-owned and controlled
operating subsidiaries unless the context indicates otherwise. All intellectual property acquisition, development, licensing and enforcement
activities are conducted by the Company’s wholly and majority-owned and controlled operating subsidiaries.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principles of Consolidation and Financial Statement
Presentation
The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“US GAAP”) and present the consolidated financial statements of the Company
and its wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries, a number of which are inactive, as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.
The consolidated financial statements include
the accounts and operations of:
Quest Patent Research Corporation
(“The Company”)
Digital IP Advisors Inc. (“DIPA”)
(wholly owned) (formerly Quest Licensing Corporation (NY)) (inactive)
Quest Licensing Corporation
(DE) (“QLC”) (wholly owned) (inactive)
Quest Packaging Solutions
Corporation ( 90 % owned) (inactive)
Quest Nettech Corporation
(“NetTech”) ( 65 % owned) (inactive)
Semcon IP, Inc. (“Semcon”)
(wholly owned) (inactive)
Mariner IC, Inc. (“Mariner”)
(wholly owned) (inactive)
IC Kinetics, Inc. (“IC”)
(wholly owned) (inactive)
CXT Systems, Inc. (“CXT”)
(wholly owned) (inactive)
Photonic Imaging Solutions
Inc. (“PIS”) (wholly owned) (inactive)
M-Red Inc. (“M-Red”)
(wholly owned) (inactive)
Audio Messaging Inc. (“AMI”)
(wholly owned) (inactive)
Peregrin Licensing LLC (“PLL”)
(wholly owned) (inactive)
Taasera Licensing LLC (“TLL”)
(wholly owned)
Soundstreak Texas LLC (“STX”)
(wholly owned) (inactive)
Multimodal Media LLC (“MML”)
(wholly owned)
LS Cloud Storage Technologies,
LLC (“LSC”) (wholly owned) (inactive)
Tyche Licensing LLC (“Tyche”)
(wholly owned) (inactive)
Deepwell IP LLC (“DIP”)
(wholly owned) (inactive)
EDI Licensing LLC (“EDI”)
(wholly owned)
Koyo Licensing LLC (“Koyo”)
(wholly owned)
Harbor Island Dynamic LLC
(“HID”) (wholly owned)
Flash Uplink LLC (“FUL”)
(wholly owned)
MR Licensing LLC (“MRL”)
(wholly owned)
Significant intercompany transactions and balances
have been eliminated in consolidation.
The non-controlling interests are presented in
the audited consolidated balance sheets, separately from equity attributable to the shareholders of the Company. During the years ended
December 31, 2024 and 2023, none of the Company’s net income or loss was attributable to non-controlling interests.
F- 7
Use of Estimates
In preparing financial statements in conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, management is required to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the
financial statements and revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturity
dates of three months or less when purchased, to be cash equivalents. The Company had no cash equivalents as of December 31, 2024
and 2023.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable, which generally relate to
licensed sales, are presented on the balance sheet net of estimated uncollectible amounts. The Company records an allowance for estimated
uncollectible accounts in an amount approximating anticipated losses. Individual uncollectible accounts are written off against the allowance
when collection of the individual accounts appears doubtful. The Company did not record an allowance for credit losses at December 31,
2024 and 2023.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets consist of patents which are
amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives or statutory lives whichever is shorter and are reviewed for
impairment upon any triggering event that may give rise to the assets ultimate recoverability as prescribed under the guidance related
to impairment of long-lived assets. Costs incurred to acquire patents, including legal costs, are also capitalized as long-lived assets
and amortized on a straight-line basis with the associated patent.
Patents include the cost of patents or patent
rights (collectively “patents”) acquired from third-parties or acquired in connection with business combinations. Patent acquisition
costs are allocated equally across the patents in force at the time of acquisition. Patent acquisition costs are amortized utilizing the
straight-line method over their remaining economic useful lives, ranging from one to ten years . Certain patent application and prosecution
costs incurred to secure additional patent claims that, based on management’s estimates, are deemed to be recoverable, are capitalized
and amortized over the remaining estimated economic useful life of the related patent portfolio.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets, including intangible assets
with a finite life, are reviewed for impairment in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 360, “Property,
Plant, and Equipment” whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable
through the estimated undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the assets. Whenever any such
impairment exists, an impairment loss will be recognized for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value. In the event
that management decides to no longer allocate resources to a patent portfolio, an impairment loss equal to the remaining carrying value
of the asset is recorded.
There were no impairments of long-lived assets
for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
Warrant Liability
The Company reflects a warrant liability with
respect to warrants for which the number of shares underlying the warrants is not fixed until the date of the initial exercise. The amount
of the liability is determined at the end of each fiscal period and the period-to-period change in the amount of warrant liability is
reflected as a gain or loss in warrant liability and is included under other income (expense) in the accompanying consolidated statements
of operations.
F- 8
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair value is defined as the exchange price that
would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset
or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. A fair value hierarchy is used which requires
an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. See Note 5 for
information about our warrant liability.
The fair value hierarchy based on the three levels
of inputs that may be used to measure fair value are as follows:
Level 1 – Quoted
prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 – Observable inputs
other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated
by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3 – Unobservable
inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are financial instruments whose values are determined using pricing
models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires
significant judgment or estimation.
The carrying value reflected in the consolidated
balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses and short-term borrowings approximate
fair value due to the short-term nature of these items. The carrying value of long-term debt approximates fair value since the related
rates of interest approximate current market rates. The fair value of warrant liabilities are classified as Level 3 in the fair value
hierarchy.
Commitments and Contingencies
In connection with the investment in certain patents
and patent rights, certain of the Company’s operating subsidiaries may execute related agreements which grant to the inventors and/or
former owners of the respective patents or patent rights, the right to receive a percentage of future net revenues (as defined in the
respective agreements) generated as a result of licensing and otherwise enforcing the respective patents or patent portfolios.
The Company’s operating subsidiaries may
retain the services of law firms that specialize in patent licensing and enforcement and patent law in connection with its licensing and
enforcement activities. These law firms may be retained on a contingent fee basis whereby such law firms are paid a percentage of any
negotiated fees, settlements or judgments awarded.
The Company’s operating subsidiaries may
engage with funding sources that provide financing for patent licensing and enforcement. These litigation finance firms may be engaged
on a non-recourse basis whereby the litigation finance firms are paid from any settlement in accordance with a payment schedule set forth
in the agreement for providing funding for legal fees and out of pocket expenses incurred as a result of the licensing and enforcement
activities.
F- 9
The economic terms of the inventor agreements,
operating agreements, contingent legal fee arrangements and litigation financing agreements associated with the patent portfolios owned
or controlled by the Company’s operating subsidiaries, if any, including royalty rates, contingent fee rates and other terms, vary
across the patent portfolios owned or controlled by such operating subsidiaries and are included in cost of revenues as litigation and
licensing expenses. Inventor/former owner royalties, payments to non-controlling interests, contingent legal fees expenses and litigation
finance expenses fluctuate period to period, based on the amount of revenues recognized each period, the terms and conditions of revenue
agreements executed each period and the mix of specific patent portfolios with varying economic terms and obligations generating revenues
each period. Inventor/former owner royalties, contingent legal fees expenses and litigation finance expenses will continue to fluctuate
and may continue to vary significantly period to period, based primarily on these factors.
Revenue Recognition
Patent Licensing Fees
The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with
ASC Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”. Revenue is recognized when control of the promised goods or services
is transferred to customers at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for
those goods or services. Under Topic 606, revenue is recognized when there is a contract which has commercial substance which is approved
by both parties and identifies the rights of the parties and the payment terms.
For the periods presented, revenue contracts executed
by the Company primarily provided for the payment of contractually determined, one-time, paid-up license fees in consideration for the
grant of certain intellectual property rights for patented technologies owned or controlled by the Company’s operating subsidiaries
as part of the settlement of litigation commenced by the Company’s subsidiaries. Intellectual property rights granted included the
following, as applicable: (i) the grant of a non-exclusive, retroactive and future license to manufacture and/or sell products covered
by patented technologies, (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 were perpetual in nature, extending until the legal expiration date of
the related patents. The individual intellectual property rights are not accounted for as separate performance obligations, as (a) the
nature of the promise, within the context of the contract, is to transfer combined items to which the promised intellectual property rights
are inputs and (b) the Company’s promise to transfer each individual intellectual property right described above to the customer
is not separately identifiable from other promises to transfer intellectual property rights in the contract.
Since the acquired intellectual property rights
are not individually distinct, the Company combined each individual IP right in the contract into a bundle of IP rights that is distinct,
and accounted for all of the intellectual property rights promised in the contract as a single performance obligation. The intellectual
property rights granted were “functional IP rights” that have significant standalone functionality. The Company’s subsequent
activities do not substantively change that functionality and do not significantly affect the utility of the IP to which the licensee
has rights. The Company’s subsidiaries have no further obligation with respect to the grant of intellectual property rights, including
no express or implied obligation to maintain or upgrade the technology, or provide future support or services. The contracts provide for
the grant (i.e., transfer of control) of the licenses, covenants-not-to-sue, releases, and other significant deliverables upon execution
of the contract. Licensees legally obtain control of the intellectual property rights upon execution of the contract. As such, the earnings
process is complete and revenue is recognized upon the execution of the contract, when collectability is probable and all other revenue
recognition criteria have been met. Revenue contracts generally provide for payment of contractual amounts within 30 to 90 days of execution
of the contract. Contractual payments made by licensees are generally non-refundable. The Company does not have any significant payment
terms, as payment is received shortly after goods are delivered or services are provided, therefore there is no significant financing
component or consideration payable to the customer in these transactions.
The Company’s revenue for the years ended
December 31, 2024 and 2023 was generated from licenses pursuant to the settlement of patent infringement lawsuits..
Cost of Revenues
Cost of revenues mainly includes expenses incurred
in connection with our patent enforcement activities, such as legal fees, consulting costs, patent maintenance, royalty fees for acquired
patents and other related expenses. Cost of revenue does not include expenses related to product development, patent amortization, integration
or support, as these are included in general and administrative expenses.
F- 10
Inventor Royalties, Litigation Funding Fees
and Contingent Legal Expenses.
In connection with the investment in or acquisition
of certain patents and patent rights, certain of the Company’s operating subsidiaries may grant the inventors and/or former owners
of the respective patents or patent rights the right to receive a percentage of future net revenues (as defined in the respective agreements)
generated as a result of licensing and otherwise enforcing the respective patents or patent portfolios.
The Company’s operating subsidiaries may
retain the services of law firms that specialize in patent licensing and enforcement and patent law in connection with their licensing
and enforcement activities. These law firms may be retained on a contingent fee basis whereby such law firms are paid a percentage of
any negotiated fees, settlements or judgments awarded.
The Company’s operating subsidiaries may
engage with funding sources that specialize in providing financing for patent licensing and enforcement. These litigation finance firms
may be engaged on a non-recourse basis whereby such litigation finance firms are paid a percentage of any negotiated fees, settlements
or judgments awarded in exchange for providing funding for legal fees and out of pocket expenses incurred as a result of the licensing
and enforcement activities.
The economic terms of the inventor agreements,
operating agreements, contingent legal fee arrangements and litigation financing agreements associated with the patent portfolios owned
or controlled by the Company’s operating subsidiaries, if any, including royalty rates, contingent fee rates and other terms, vary
across the patent portfolios owned or controlled by such operating subsidiaries. Inventor/former owner royalties, payments to non-controlling
interests, contingent legal fees expenses and litigation finance expenses fluctuate period to period, based on the amount of revenues
recognized each period, the terms and conditions of revenue agreements executed each period and the mix of specific patent portfolios
with varying economic terms and obligations generating revenues each period. Inventor/former owner royalties, contingent legal fees expenses
and litigation finance expenses will continue to fluctuate and may continue to vary significantly period to period, based primarily on
these factors.
Income Taxes
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are
recognized for the expected future income tax consequences of events that have been included in the consolidated financial statements
or income tax returns. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial statement
and tax bases of assets and liabilities using tax rates in effect for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse.
In evaluating the ultimate realization of deferred
income tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that the deferred income tax assets will be realized. Management
establishes a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the deferred income tax assets will not be utilized.
The ultimate realization of deferred income tax assets is dependent on the generation of future taxable income, which must occur prior
to the expiration of the net operating loss carryforwards.
The Company also follows the guidance related
to accounting for income tax uncertainties. In accounting for uncertainty in income taxes, the Company recognizes the financial statement
benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following
an audit. For tax positions meeting the more likely than not threshold, the amount recognized in the consolidated financial statements
is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 % likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority.
No liability for unrecognized tax benefits was recorded as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.
F- 11
Stock-Based Compensation
We account for stock-based compensation for employees
and non-employees pursuant to ASC 718, “Compensation — Stock Compensation,” which prescribes accounting and reporting
standards for all stock-based payment transactions. Transactions include incurring liabilities, or issuing or offering to issue shares,
options and other equity instruments. Stock-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, are recognized as
compensation expense in the financial statements based on their fair values estimated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. That
expense is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide services in exchange for the award, known as the
requisite service period (usually the vesting period).
Concentration of Credit Risk
The Company maintains its cash in bank deposit
accounts, which at times, may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any such losses in these accounts.
Net (Loss) Income Per Share
The Company calculates net (loss) income per share
by dividing income or losses allocated to the Company’s stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding
for the period. Diluted weighted average shares is computed using basic weighted average shares plus any potentially dilutive securities
outstanding during the period using the treasury-stock-type method and the if-converted method, except when their effect is anti-dilutive.
Because the Company incurred losses for the year ended December 31, 2024, potentially dilutive securities would be anti-dilutive, and
therefore, the diluted net loss per share is the same as the basic net loss per share.. Potentially dilutive securities are out of the
money and therefore excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2023. The Company’s
potentially dilutive securities include 962,463 potential shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants granted to QPRC Finance
LLC (“QFL”) in connection with the Purchase Agreement, described in Note 4, 500,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise
of stock options granted to Intelligent Partners, LLC (“Intelligent Partners”) in connection with the Restructure Agreement
described in Note 4 and 700,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options granted to officers and consultants. See
Notes 4, 5 and 6.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting
Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic
280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”), which requires all public entities, including
public entities with a single reportable segment, to provide in interim and annual periods one or more measures of segment profit or loss
used by the chief operating decision maker to allocate resources and assess performance. Additionally, the standard requires disclosures
of significant segment expenses and other segment items as well as incremental qualitative disclosures.
The Company adopted ASU 2023-07 effective December
31, 2024, on a retrospective basis. The adoption of 2023-07 did not change the way that the Company identifies its reportable segments
and, as a result, did not have a material impact on the Company’s segment-related disclosures. Refer to Note 10 for further information
on the Company’s reportable segment.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income
Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”), which requires enhanced income tax disclosures,
including specific categories and disaggregation of information in the effective tax rate reconciliation, disaggregated information related
to income taxes paid, income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense or benefit, and income tax expense or benefit
from continuing operations. The requirements of the ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early
adoption permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of this pronouncement on our related disclosures.
F- 12
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income
Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement
Expenses (“ASU 2024-03”), which requires disclosure about the types of costs and expenses included in certain expense
captions presented on the income statement. The new disclosure requirements are effective for the Company’s annual periods beginning
after December 15, 2026, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently
in the process of evaluating the impact of this pronouncement on our related disclosures.
Going Concern
The Company has an accumulated deficit of $ 26,382,672 and negative
working capital of approximately $ 11,536,076 as of December 31, 2024. The Company has a history of losses, including a loss of $ 2.5
million on revenues of $ 2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, and the Company can give no assurance that it will generate
income in the future. Because of the Company’s history of losses, its working capital deficiency, the uncertainty of future revenue,
the Company’s obligations to QF3 and Intelligent Partners, the Company’s low stock price and the absence of an active trading
market in its common stock and the failure of the Company to have effective internal controls over financial reporting, as reflected in
the restatement of its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023, the ability of the Company to raise funds in the equity
market or from lenders is severely impaired. These conditions, as well as any adverse consequences which would result if the Company fails
to meet the continued listing requirements of the OTCQB , raise substantial doubt as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going
concern. The Company’s revenue is generated exclusively from license fees generated from litigation seeking damages for infringement
of the Company’s intellectual property rights. Although the Company may seek to raise funds and to obtain third-party funding for
litigation to enforce its intellectual property rights, the availability of such funds is uncertain. The financial statements do not include
any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
3. INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Intangible assets include patents purchased and
are recorded at their acquisition cost. Intangible assets consisted of the following:
December 31,
2024 2023
Patents $ 6,087,000 $ 6,087,000
Disposal —
—
Subtotal 6,087,000 6,087,000
Less: accumulated amortization ( 3,048,750 ) ( 2,412,397 )
Net value of intangible assets $ 3,038,250 $ 3,674,603
Weighted Average Amortization Period (Years) 4.87 5.47
Intangible assets are comprised of patents with
estimated useful lives. The intangible assets at December 31, 2024 represent:
● patents acquired in October 2021 from AI for a purchase price of $ 550,000 pursuant to which the Company retains an amount equal to the purchase price plus any fees incurred out of net proceeds, as defined in the agreement, after which AI is entitled to a percentage of further net proceeds realized, if any; the useful lives of the patents, at the date of acquisition, was approximately 11 years.
● patents acquired in July 2022 via assignment from AI for a purchase price of $ 92,000 , the useful lives of the patents, at the date of purchase, was approximately 2 - 4 years.
● patents acquired July 2022 pursuant to an agreement with Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP and Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company for a purchase price of $ 350,000 . The useful lives of the patents, at the date of purchase, was approximately 2 - 9 years.
● patents acquired March 2023 from Tower for a purchase price of $ 3,300,000 pursuant to which the Company retains an amount equal to the purchase price plus a negotiated return and any fees out of net proceeds, as defined in the agreement, after which Tower in entitled to a percentage of further net proceeds realized, if any. The useful lives of the patents, at the date of purchase, was approximately 5 - 15 years.
● patents acquired in August 2023 pursuant to an agreement with Koji Yoden for a purchase price of $ 30,000 . The useful lives of the patents, at the date of purchase, was approximately 9 - 10 years.
F- 13
The Company amortizes the costs of intangible
assets over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis. Costs incurred to acquire patents, including legal costs, are also
capitalized as long-lived assets and amortized on a straight-line basis with the associated patent.
The Company assesses intangible assets for any
impairment to the carrying values. As of December 31, 2024, management concluded that there was no impairment to the intangible assets.
Amortization expense for patents was approximately
$ 636,000 and $ 787,000 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Amortization expense is included in selling, general
and administration expenses in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. Future amortization of intangible assets is as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2025
540,589
2026
500,064
2027
464,786
2028
397,345
Thereafter
1,135,465
Total
$ 3,038,250
4. SHORT-TERM DEBT AND LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Short-Term Debt
Loans Payable
The loans payable represents demand loans made
by former officers and directors, who are third parties and stockholders, whose holdings were insignificant, at December 31, 2024
and 2023, in the amount of $ 138,000 . The loans which bear interest at 10 % per annum, and are payable on demand. Accrued interest on these
loans at December 31, 2024 and 2023 was approximately $ 324,000 and $ 310,000 , respectively.
Funding Liabilities
The following table shows the Company’s funding liabilities to
QFL and QF3 at December 31, 2024 and 2023:
December 31,
2024
2023
Funding liability – QFL
$ -
$ 1,525,502
Funding liability – QF3
7,634,381
5,800,000
Funding liabilities
$ 7,634,381
$ 7,325,502
F- 14
Funding Liabilities - QFL
The QFL funding liability at December 31, 2023
of $ 1,525,502 represented the principal amount of the Company’s obligations to QFL pursuant to a purchase agreement (“Purchase
Agreement”) dated February 22, 2021 and amended and restated on May 2, 2024, between the Company and QFL, as described below. As
of December 31, 2024, the Company had made total repayments in the amount of approximately $ 6,402,000 since February 22, 2021 and the
full outstanding principal balance has been repaid. The obligation to QFL had no repayment term since payment was due solely from a portion
of net proceeds generated from the monetization of the Company’s intellectual property and has been classified as a current liability
as of December 31, 2023. Accrued interest related to this funding liability as of December 31, 2023 was approximately $ 478,000 .
The Company did not request an operating capital
advance from QFL during the year ended December 31, 2024 and no further advances are to be made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. During
the year ended December 31, 2023 the Company requested and received from QFL an operating capital advance in the amount of $ 200,000 .
Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement with QFL, QFL made available to
the Company a total of $ 6,402,000 , consisting of (a) $ 2,653,000 for the acquisition of mutually agreed patent rights that we intended
to monetize; (b) $ 2,000,000 for operating expenses; and (iii) $ 1,750,000 to fund the cash payment portion of the restructure of our obligations
to Intelligent Partners. In return the Company transferred to QFL a right to receive a portion of net proceeds generated from the monetization
of those patents. The Company also granted QFL a ten-year warrant to purchase a total of up to 962,463 shares of our common stock, with
an exercise price of $ 0.54 per share (Note 5), and, pursuant to a registration rights agreement, the Company granted QFL certain registration
rights to the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrant. The covenants in the registration rights agreement include
a continued listing on the OTCQB. In 2022, the bid price for the Company’s common stock had closed below $ 0.01 per share for more
than 30 consecutive days, as a result of which the Company did not meet the Standards for Continued Eligibility under the OTC listing
standards. Although the Company has regained compliance, in the event that in the future the Company fails to be in compliance or otherwise
breaches the covenants in the agreements with QFL, the Company may have significant financial obligations to QLF. A portion of any gain
from sale of the shares, net of taxes and costs of exercise, realized prior to the completion of all monetization activities shall be
credited against the total return due to QFL pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. The Company also granted QFL certain board observation
rights. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, all of the net proceeds from the monetization of the intellectual property acquired with funds
from QFL are paid directly to QFL. After QFL has received a negotiated rate of return, the Company and QFL share net proceeds equally
until QFL achieves its investment return, as defined in the agreement. Thereafter, the Company retains 100 % of all net proceeds. Except
in an Event of Default, as defined therein, all payments by the Company to QFL pursuant to the Purchase Agreement are non-recourse and
shall be paid only if and after net proceeds from monetization of the patent rights owned or acquire by us are received, or to be received.
Contemporaneously with the execution of the agreements
with QFL, the Company entered into a Restructure Agreement with Intelligent Partners to eliminate any obligations the Company had with
respect to the outstanding notes and the securities purchase agreement. As part of the restructure of the Company’s agreements with
Intelligent Partners, the Company amended the existing MPAs and granted Intelligent Partners certain rights in the monetization proceeds
from any new intellectual property we acquire. Under these MPAs, Intelligent Partners receives a 60 % interest in the proceeds from our
intellectual property owned by the eight Subsidiary Guarantors. Intelligent Partners also participates in the monetization proceeds from
new intellectual property that we acquire until the total payments under all the monetization participation agreements equal $ 2,805,000 ,
as follows: for net proceeds between $ 0 and $ 1,000,000 , Intelligent Partners receives 10 % of the net proceeds realized from new patents,
except that if, in any calendar quarter, net proceeds realized by us exceed $ 1,000,000 , Intelligent Partners’ entitlement for that
quarter only increases to 30 % on the portion of net proceeds in excess of $ 1,000,000 but less than $ 3,000,000 . If in the same calendar
quarter, net proceeds exceed $ 3,000,000 , Intelligent Partners’ entitlement for that quarter only shall increase to 50 % on the portion
of net proceeds in excess of $ 3,000,000 . The payments with respect to the new patents terminate once total payments to Intelligent Partners
under all monetization participation agreements reach $ 2,805,000 . The payments to Intellectual Partners with respect new patents are payable
from the proceeds which are allocated to us under the QFL and QF3 agreements, which start after QFL and QF3 have received a negotiated
rate of return.
F- 15
Funding Liabilities - QF3
The QF3 funding liabilities at December 31,
2024 and 2023 of $ 7,634,381 and $ 5,800,000 , respectively, represents the principal amount of the Company’s obligations to QF3 pursuant
to a purchase agreement (“QF3 Purchase Agreement”) dated March 12, 2023 between the Company and QF3, as described below. As
of December 31, 2024, the Company has made no repayments on this funding liability. The obligation to QF3 has no repayment term since
the payment is due from net proceeds generated from the monetization of the Company’s intellectual property and has been classified
as a current liability as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. Accrued interest related to this funding liability as of December 31,
2024 and 2023, was approximately $ 865,000 and $ 299,000 , respectively.
On March 12, 2023, the Company and HID, entered
into a series of agreements, all dated March 12, 2023, with QF3, a non-affiliated party, including a prepaid forward purchase agreement
(the “Purchase Agreement QF3”), a security agreement (the “QF3 Security Agreement”), a patent security agreement
(the “QF3 Patent Security Agreement” together with the QF3 Security Agreement, the QF3 Patent Security Agreement, and the
QF3 Purchase Agreement, the “QF3 Investment Documents”):
(i) Pursuant to the QF3 Purchase Agreement, QF3 agreed to make
available to the Company a financing facility of: (a) up to $ 4,334,000 for operating expenses, of which the Company has requested and
received $ 4,334,000 as of December 31, 2024; (b) $ 3,300,000 to fund the cash payment portion of the purchase of a patent portfolio
from Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (“Tower”); and (c) up to an additional $ 25,000,000 for the acquisition of mutually agreed patent
rights that the Company intends to monetize, of which no amounts have been requested or received as of December 31, 2024. In return,
the Company transferred to QF3 a right to receive a portion of net proceeds generated from the monetization of those patents.
(ii) On March 17, 2023, the Company used $ 3,300,000 of proceeds
from the QF3 financing as the cash payment portion of the purchase of a seven-patent portfolio from Tower (the “HID Portfolio”).
(iii) Pursuant to the QF3 Security Agreement and QF3 Patent Security
Agreement, payment of the Company’s obligations under the QF3 Purchase Agreement with QF3 are secured by (a) the value of anything
received from the monetization of the intellectual property rights covered by the Security Agreement; (b) the patents (as defined in
the Security Agreement); (c) all general intangibles now or hereafter arising from or related to the foregoing (a) and (b); and (d) proceeds
(including, without limitation, cash proceeds and insurance proceeds) and products of the foregoing (a)-(c).
In connection with the agreements with QF3, the
Company, HID and the Subsidiary Guarantors entered into an intercreditor agreement with QF3 and Intelligent Partners which sets forth
the priority of QF3 in the collateral under the Investment Documents.
Loan Payable Related Party
The loan payable – related party at December 31,
2024 and 2023 represents the current amount of a non-interest bearing total monetization proceeds obligation (the “TMPO”)
due to Intelligent Partners of $ 2,769,500 at December 31, 2024 and 2023, pursuant to an original agreement dated February 22, 2021. The
Restructure Agreement provided for the payment to Intelligent Partners of $ 1,750,000 from the proceeds from the Company’s agreements
with QFL. As part of the restructure of the Company’s agreements with Intelligent Partners, the Company amended the existing MPAs
and granted Intelligent Partners certain rights in the monetization proceeds from any new intellectual property the Company acquires,
as described above. Under these MPAs, Intelligent Partners participates in the monetization proceeds the Company receives with respect
to new patents after QFL and QF3 have received a negotiated rate of return.
Because of the beneficial ownership percentage
of its principals, Intelligent Partners is treated as a related party.
F- 16
Long-Term Liabilities
Loan Payable – SBA
The loans payable – SBA balance at December 31,
2024 and 2023 of $ 150,000 represents the total amount due under a secured Economic Injury Disaster Loan from the U.S. Small Business Association
(“SBA”) in the aggregate amount of $ 150,000 , pursuant to Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act as part of the COVID-19 relief
effort. The Company’s obligations on the loan are set forth in the Company’s note dated May 14, 2020 which matures on May
14, 2050 and bears interest at a rate of 3.75 % per annum, payable monthly commencing on November 14, 2022. The Note may be prepaid by
the Company at any time prior to maturity with no prepayment penalties. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had not made any principal
payments on the loan payable. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company incurred $ 5,640 of interest expense and has accrued
interest of approximately $ 7,800 at December 31, 2024.
Purchase Price of Patents
The purchase price of patents balance at December 31,
2024 and 2023 of $ 53,665 represents:
The non-current portion of our obligations under
the unsecured non-recourse funding agreement with a third-party funder entered into in May 2020 whereby the third-party agreed to provide
acquisition funding in the amount of $ 95,000 for the Company’s acquisition of the audio messaging portfolio. Under the funding agreement,
the third-party funder is entitled to a priority return of funds advanced from net proceeds, as defined, recovered until the funder has
received $ 53,665 . The Company did not make any payments with respect to this obligation in 2024 or 2023. The Company has no other obligation
to the third-party and has no liability to the funder in the event that the Company does not generate sufficient net proceeds. Pursuant
to ASC 470, the Company recorded this monetization obligation as debt and the difference between the purchase price and total obligation
as a discount to the debt and fully expensed to interest during the period.
5. WARRANT LIABILITY
On February 22, 2021, the Company issued warrants
to purchase 962,463 shares of common stock to QFL (see Note 4) in connection with its funding agreement. If on the date of initial exercise
the aggregate number of warrant shares purchasable upon exercise of the warrant would yield less than an amount equal to 10 % of the aggregate
number of outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company (determined on a fully diluted basis), then the number of warrant shares
shall be increased to an amount equal to 10 % of the aggregate number of outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company (determined
on a fully diluted basis), and therefore the number of shares underlying the warrants is not fixed until the date of the initial exercise.
As such, the warrant issued to QFL requires classification as a liability pursuant to ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity
and is valued at its fair value as of the grant date and re-measured at each balance sheet date with the period-to-period change in the
fair market value of the warrant liability reflected as a gain or loss in warrant liability and included under other income (expense).
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the aggregate
fair value of the outstanding warrant liability was approximately $ 117,000 and $ 282,000 , respectively.
The Company estimated the fair value of the warrant
liability using the Black-Scholes option pricing model using the following key assumptions as of December 31, 2024 and 2023:
As of December 31,
2024
2023
Volatility
383
%
395
%
Exercise price
$
0.54
$
0.54
Risk-free interest rate
1.37
%
1.37
%
Expected dividends
—
%
—
%
Expected term
6.1
7.1
F- 17
The following schedule summarizes the valuation
of financial instruments at fair value in the balance sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:
Fair Value Measurements as of
December 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Liabilities
Warrant liability
—
—
117,130
—
—
281,809
Total liabilities
$ —
$ —
$ 117,130
$ —
$ —
$ 281,809
The following table sets forth a reconciliation
of changes in the fair value of warrant liabilities classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy:
Fair Value
Balance at December 31, 2022
$ 145,428
Loss on subsequent measurement
136,381
Balance at December 31, 2023
281,809
Gain on subsequent measurement
( 164,679 )
Balance at December 31, 2024
$ 117,130
6. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
2017 Equity Incentive Plan
Under the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”)
the Company can issue up to 5,000,000 shares of common stock pursuant to non-qualified stock options, restricted stock grants and other
equity-based incentives. At December 31, 2024, 1,760,000 shares are available under the plan.
Issuance of Common Stock and Options
Issuances to Intelligent Partners
On February 22, 2021, pursuant to the Restructure
Agreement (Note 4), Intelligent Partners and its controlling members (Fitton and Carper) agreed to extinguish the notes and Transferred
Note, and terminate or amend and restate the SPA and Transaction Documents and the Company: (i) issued to Fitton and Carper, as holders
of the Transferred Note, pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement a total of 462,963 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $ 0.54
per share, which purchase price was paid by the conversion and in full satisfaction of the Company’s obligation under the Transferred
Note and is included in the calculation of the repurchase price of the debt; and (ii) granted Intelligent Partners, pursuant to the Option
Grant, an option to purchase a total of 500,000 shares of common stock, with an exercise price of $ 0.54 per share which vested immediately
and may be exercised through September 30, 2025. The Company valued the purchase option at approximately $ 598,000 using the Black-Scholes
pricing model. The Company granted Intelligent Partners, Fitton and Carper certain registration rights with respect to (i) the 500,000
shares currently owned by Fitton and Carper; (ii) the 462,963 Conversion Shares issued to Fitton and Carper, and (iii) the 500,000 shares
of common stock issuable upon exercise of the option. Commencing six months from the closing date, if the shares owned by Fitton, Carper
and Intelligent Partners cannot be sold pursuant to a registration statement and cannot be sold pursuant to Rule 144 without the Company
being in compliance with the current public information requirements of Rule 144, if the Company is not in compliance with the current
public information requirements, the Company is required to pay damages to Intelligent Partners.
F- 18
Option Grants Pursuant to Consulting Agreements
Pursuant to a consulting agreement, the Company granted options to
purchase a total of 900,000 shares of common stock of which options to purchase a total of 900,000 shares of common stock which expire
on February 21, 2031. Option to purchase 300,000 shares of common stock at $ 1.00 per share, 100,000 shares at $ 3.00 per share and 100,000
shares at $ 5.00 per share are currently exercisable. Option to purchase 200,000 shares at an exercise price of $ 3.00 per share, become
exercisable on the first day on which the Company files with the SEC a Form 10-K or Form 10-Q which reports stockholders’ equity
of at least $ 5,000,000 and options to purchase 200,000 shares at an exercise price of $ 5.00 per share become exercisable on the date on
which the Common Stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange.
The Company recognized option expense of approximately
$ 6,000 and $ 49,000 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, with respect to these options.
Option Grants to the Chief Executive Officer
The Company’s chairman of the board holds an outstanding options
to purchase 600,000 shares which options expire February 22, 2031. An option to purchase 200,000 shares of common stock at an exercise
price of $ 1.00 per share is currently exercisable. An options to purchase 200,000 shares of common stock at $ 3.00 becomes exercisable
on the first day on which the Company files with the SEC a Form 10-K or Form 10-Q which reports stockholders’ equity of at least
$ 5,000,000 , and an options to purchase 200,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $ 5.00 per share becomes exercisable on the
date on which the Common Stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange. The Company did not recognize
an option expense with respect to these options during the year ended December 31, 2024 or 2023.
A summary of the status of the Company’s
stock options and changes is set forth below:
Number of Options (#) Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price ($) Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value ($) Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (Years)
Balance - December 31, 2022 2,000,000 2.39 1.20 6.80
Granted —
—
—
—
Exercised —
—
—
—
Expired —
—
—
—
Cancelled —
—
—
—
Balance - December 31, 2023 2,000,000 2.39 1.20 5.80
Granted —
—
—
—
Exercised —
—
—
—
Expired —
—
—
—
Cancelled —
—
—
—
Balance - December 31, 2024 2,000,000 2.39 1.20 4.80
Options exercisable at end of period 1,200,000 1.31 1.20 3.95
The outstanding options do not have an intrinsic
value as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.
As of December 31, 2024, there was approximately
$ 960,000 of unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested stock option awards that is expected to be recognized over a weighted
average expected term of approximately 6.23 years.
F- 19
Issuance of Warrants
A summary of the status of the Company’s
warrants and changes is set forth below:
Number of
Warrants (#) Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price ($) Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (Years)
Balance - December 31, 2022 962,463 0.54 8.15
Granted —
—
—
Exercised —
—
—
Expired —
—
—
Cancelled —
—
—
Balance - December 31, 2023 962,463 0.54 7.14
Granted —
—
—
Exercised —
—
—
Expired —
—
—
Cancelled —
—
—
Balance - December 31, 2024 962,463 0.54 6.14
The warrants contain certain minimum ownership
percentage antidilution rights pursuant to which the aggregate number of shares of common stock purchasable upon the initial exercise
of the warrant shall not be less than 10 % of the aggregate number of outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company (determined on
a fully diluted basis). The outstanding warrants do not have an intrinsic value as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.
7. NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST
The following table reconciles equity attributable
to the non-controlling interest related to Quest Packaging Solutions Corporation.
December 31,
2024
2023
Balance, beginning of year
$ 228
$ 228
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest
—
—
Balance, end of year
$ 228
$ 228
8. INCOME TAXES
The Company uses the liability method, where deferred
tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying
amounts of assets and liabilities for financial and income tax reporting purposes. As of December 31, 2024, the Company has approximately
$ 10,583,000 of net operating loss (“NOL”) carry forwards which will begin to expire in 2035. Net operating loss carryovers
may be subject to a limitation on their usage in future periods if the Company experiences a change in ownership as defined in Internal
Revenue Code Section 382.
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax
assets, Company’s management considers whether it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the Company’s deferred
tax assets will be realized. The Company’s management considers all available evidence, both positive and negative, in making this
assessment. Due to the Company’s history of generating losses in recent years, and the lack of objectively verifiable evidence that
it will be able to generate taxable income in future years, the Company’s management has determined that a valuation allowance against
the Company’s deferred tax assets is necessary. The change in the valuation allowance for the year ended December 31, 2024 is $ 413,104
and is recorded as a component of income tax expense.
F- 20
The Company’s deferred tax assets consist
of the following:
December 31,
2024
2023
Net operating loss carry forward
$ 2,492,309
$ 2,059,621
Intangible assets
4,907
25,712
Stock-Based Compensation
176,387
175,167
Foreign Tax Credit
30,000
30,000
Valuation allowance
( 2,703,603 )
( 2,290,500 )
Balance, end of year
$ —
$ —
Tax expense consisted primarily of the following:
December 31,
2024
2023
Federal
$ —
$ —
State
—
—
Foreign
100,000
30,000
Deferred
—
—
Total
$ 100,000
$ 30,000
The reconciliation between the effective tax rate
on loss before income taxes and the statutory rate for the year ended December 31, 2024 is as follows:
Tax
Percentage
Book loss before taxes
$ ( 498,047 )
21.00 %
State taxes, net
—
—
Foreign taxes, net
79,000
( 3.33 )%
Meals and entertainment
6,318
( 0.27 )%
Warrant income
( 34,583 )
1.46 %
Interest expense
118,904
( 5.01 )%
Change in valuation allowance
413,104
( 17.42 )%
Change in estimate for prior year taxes
15,304
( 0.65 )%
Total
$ 100,000
Effective tax rate
( 4.22 )%
The reconciliation between the effective tax rate
on loss before income taxes and the statutory rate for the year ended December 31, 2023 is as follows:
Tax
Percentage
Book income before taxes
$ 484,650
21.00 %
State taxes, net
—
—
Meals and entertainment
1,369
0.06 %
Warrant expense
28,640
1.24 %
Interest expense
240,013
10.40 %
Change in valuation allowance
( 585,185 )
( 25.36 )%
Change in estimate for prior year taxes
( 139,487 )
( 6.04 )%
Total
$ 30,000
Effective tax rate
1.30 %
F- 21
As of December 31, 2024, the Company’s
management believes that it has adequately provided for its tax-related liabilities, and that no liability for unrecognized tax benefits
is necessary. No significant change in the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits is expected within the next twelve months. The Company
recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits (if any) in tax expenses, as applicable. At December 31,
2024 and 2023, the Company had no accrual for the payment of interest and penalties.
The statute of limitations for assessment of income
taxes is open for tax years ending December 31, 2021 and later.
9. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
During 2023, the Company contracted with a law
firm more than 10 percent owned by the chief executive officer. The firm is engaged as counsel in connection with general corporate matters,
diligence and maintenance of the Company’s patent portfolio. In connection with the engagement, the Company recorded patent service
costs of approximately $ 139,000 and $ 50,000 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and these were recorded as part
of sales, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of December 31, 2024, approximately
$ 11,000 of such costs were payable to the related party.
During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company
contracted with a law firm more than 10 percent owned, but not controlled, by the father-in-law of the chief executive officer. The firm
is engaged on a contingent fee basis and serves as escrow agent in connection with monetization of the Company’s patents in matters
where the firm is serving as counsel to the Company. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the cost of these services was approximately
$ 1,163,000 and $ 5,316,000 , respectively, and these are included in litigation and licensing expenses, in the Consolidated Statements of
Operations. As of December 31, 2023, approximately $ 1,379,000 of such costs were payable to the related party. There were no amounts payable
to this related party at December 31, 2024 since the services are on a contingent fee basis and no fees are incurred unless there is a
recovery.
See Note 6 with respect to an option held by the
chief executive officer.
10. SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Company manages its business activities on
a consolidated basis and operates as a single reporting segment: Intellectual Property Management. The Company derives all of its revenue
from the licensing of its patents resulting from litigation commenced by the Company. The accounting policies of the Intellectual Property
Management segment are the same as described in Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.
The Company’s Chief Executive Officer is
the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”). The CODM uses Net Income, as reported on the Consolidated Statements of Operations,
in evaluating performance of the Intellectual Property Management segment and determining how to allocate resources of the Company as
a whole, including investing in future patent portfolios.
Significant expenses within income (loss) from
operations, as well as within net income, include litigation and licensing expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses,
which are each presented separately on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. Other segment items within net (loss) income
include change in fair value of warrant liability, interest expense, net, and income tax expense.
F- 22
11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Employment Agreements
Pursuant to a restated employment agreement, dated
November 30, 2014, with the Company’s president and chief executive officer, the Company agreed to employ him as president and chief
executive officer for a term of three years, commencing January 1, 2014, and continuing on a year-to-year basis unless terminated by either
party on not less than 90 days’ notice prior to the expiration of the initial term or any one-year extension. The agreement provides
for an initial annual salary of $ 252,000 , which may be increased, but not decreased, by the board or the compensation committee, which
was increased to $ 600,000 , effective January 1, 2023. The chief executive officer is entitled to a bonus if the Company meets or exceeds
performance criteria established by the compensation committee. In August 2016, the Company’s board of directors approved annual
bonus compensation equal to 30 % of the amount by which the Company’s consolidated income before income taxes exceeds $ 500,000 , but,
if the Company is subject to the limitation on deductibility of executive compensation pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
Code, the bonus cannot exceed the amount which would be deductible pursuant to Section 162(m). The chief executive’s bonus for 2024
and 2023 was approximately $ 334,000 , respectively. The chief executive officer is also eligible to participate in any executive incentive
plans which the Company may adopt.
SEP IRA Plan
Pursuant to the SEP IRA plan adopted by the Company
in March 2020, the Company deposited into a SEP IRA account of each of its participating employees a percentage of the employee’s
compensation, subject to statutory limitations on the amount of the contribution all as set forth in the IRS Form 5305-SEP. For the years
ending December 31, 2024 and 2023, the percentage was set at 12 % and 11 %, respectively. The Company’s chief executive officer
and chief technology officer are the only participants and during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, $ 69,000 and $ 66,000
was deposited into the chief executive officer’s SEP IRA account, respectively and $ 14,000 and $ 6,600 was deposited into the chief
technology officer’s SEP IRA account, respectively.
Inventor Royalties, Contingent Litigation Funding
Fees and Contingent Legal Expenses
In connection with the investment in certain patents
and patent rights, certain of the Company’s operating subsidiaries executed agreements which grant to the former owners of the respective
patents or patent rights, the right to receive inventor royalties based on future net revenues (as defined in the respective agreements)
generated as a result of licensing and otherwise enforcing the respective patents or patent portfolios.
The Company’s operating subsidiaries may
engage third-party funding sources to provide funding for patent licensing and enforcement. The agreements with the third-party funding
sources may provide that the funding source receive a portion of any negotiated fees, settlements or judgments. In certain instances,
these third-party funding sources are entitled to receive a significant percentage of any proceeds realized until the third-party funder
has recouped agreed upon amounts based on formulas set forth in the underlying funding agreement, which may reduce or delay and proceeds
due to the Company.
The Company’s operating subsidiaries may
retain the services of law firms in connection with their licensing and enforcement activities. These law firms may be retained on a contingent
fee basis whereby the law firms are paid on a scaled percentage of any negotiated fees, settlements or judgments awarded based on how
and when the fees, settlements or judgments are obtained.
Depending on the amount of any recovery, it is
possible that all the proceeds from a specific settlement may be paid to the funding source and legal counsel.
The economic terms of the inventor agreements,
funding agreements and contingent legal fee arrangements associated with the patent portfolios owned or controlled by the Company’s
operating subsidiaries, if any, including royalty rates, proceeds sharing rates, contingent fee rates and other terms, vary across the
patent portfolios owned or controlled by the operating subsidiaries. Inventor royalties, payments to noncontrolling interests, payments
to third-party funding providers and contingent legal fees expenses fluctuate period to period, based on the amount of revenues recognized
each period, the terms and conditions of revenue agreements executed each period and the mix of specific patent portfolios with varying
economic terms and obligations generating revenues each period. Inventor royalties, payments to third-party funding sources and contingent
legal fees expenses will continue to fluctuate and may continue to vary significantly period to period, based primarily on these factors.
F- 23
Patent Enforcement and Other Litigation
Certain of the Company’s operating subsidiaries
are engaged in litigation to enforce their patents and patent rights. In connection with these patent enforcement actions, it is possible
that a defendant may request and/or a court may rule that an operating subsidiary has violated statutory authority, regulatory authority,
federal rules, local court rules, or governing standards relating to the substantive or procedural aspects of such enforcement actions.
In such event, a court may issue monetary sanctions against the Company or its operating subsidiaries or award attorney’s fees and/or
expenses to a defendant(s), which could be material, and if required to be paid by the Company or its operating subsidiaries, could materially
impair the Company’s operating results and financial position and could result in a default under the Company’s obligations
to QF3. Since the operating subsidiaries do not have any assets other than the patents, and the Company does not have any available financial
resources to pay any judgment which a defendant may obtain against a subsidiary, such a judgment may result in the bankruptcy of the subsidiary
and/or the loss of the patents, which are the subsidiaries’ only assets.
F-24
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.