Digimarc CORP - Quarter Report: 2014 June (Form 10-Q)

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2014

OR

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File Number: 001-34108

DIGIMARC CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

9405 SW Gemini Drive, Beaverton, Oregon 97008

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(503) 469-4800

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨     No  x

As of July 22, 2014, there were 7,577,230 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, outstanding.

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

DIGIMARC CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

(UNAUDITED)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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DIGIMARC CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(UNAUDITED)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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DIGIMARC CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In thousands, except share data)

(UNAUDITED)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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DIGIMARC CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(UNAUDITED)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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DIGIMARC CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

(UNAUDITED)

1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Business

Digimarc Corporation (“Digimarc” or the “Company”), an Oregon corporation, enables governments and enterprises around the world to give digital identities to media and objects that computers can sense and recognize and to which they can react. The Company’s technology provides the means to infuse persistent digital information, “Digimarc IDs,” perceptible only to computers and digital devices, into all forms of media content. The unique digital identifier placed in media generally persists with it regardless of the distribution path and whether it is copied, manipulated or converted to a different format, and does not affect the quality of the content or the enjoyment or other traditional uses of it. The Company’s technology permits computers and digital devices to quickly and reliably identify all forms of media content.

Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

The Company has adhered to the accounting policies set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 in preparing the accompanying interim consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared from the Company’s records without audit and, in management’s opinion, include all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to fairly reflect the financial condition and the results of operations for the periods presented. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (the “U.S.”) have been condensed or omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

These interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, which was filed with the SEC on February 21, 2014. The results of operations for the interim periods presented in these consolidated financial statements are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full-year.

Reclassifications

Certain prior period amounts in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes thereto have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. These reclassifications had no material effect on the results of operations or financial position for any period presented.

Goodwill

The Company tests goodwill for impairment annually in June and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Such reviews assess the fair value of the Company’s assets compared to their carrying value. The Company operates as a single reporting unit. The Company estimated the fair value of its single reporting unit using a market approach, which takes into account the Company’s market capitalization plus an estimated control premium.

In connection with the Company’s annual impairment test of goodwill as of June 30, 2014 and 2013, it was concluded that there was no impairment as the estimated fair value of the Company’s reporting unit substantially exceeded the carrying value.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).” ASU No 2014-09 provides specific guidance to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The amendments in this update are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is not permitted. The amendments in this update permit the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company has not yet selected a transition method and is currently assessing the potential impact of this standard on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company.

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2. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments, which include cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other accrued liabilities approximate their carrying values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The Company records marketable securities at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.

The Company’s fair value hierarchy for its cash equivalents and marketable securities as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, was as follows:

The fair value maturities of the Company’s cash equivalents and marketable securities as of June 30, 2014 are as follows:

The Company considers all highly liquid marketable securities with original maturities of 90 days or less at the date of acquisition to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents include money market funds and certificates of deposit totaling $2,688 and $2,443 at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. Cash equivalents are carried at cost or amortized cost, which approximates fair value.

3. Acquisition of Attributor Corporation (“Attributor”)

The Company accounted for the acquisition of Attributor in December 2012 using the acquisition method of accounting. Under the acquisition method of accounting, the total purchase price was allocated to the tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values.

The Company recorded a $190 liability in the preliminary purchase price allocation reflecting the estimated fair value of the contingent merger consideration on the acquisition date. At March 31, 2013, the Company determined that the estimated fair value of the contingent merger consideration was $0 based on the Company’s most recent projections and therefore reversed the liability. The reversal of the $190 liability was reflected as a reduction in general and administrative expense within the consolidated statements of operations for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013. The contingency period ended on December 31, 2013 with $0 contingent merger consideration being earned.

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4. Revenue Recognition

The Company derives its revenue primarily from development services, subscriptions and licensing of its patent portfolio:

Revenue is recognized in accordance with ASC 605 “Revenue Recognition” and ASC 985 “Software” when the following four criteria are met:

Some customer arrangements encompass multiple deliverables, such as patent licenses, professional services, software subscriptions, and maintenance fees. For arrangements that include multiple deliverables, the Company identifies separate units of accounting at inception based on the consensus reached under ASC 605-25 “Multiple-Element Arrangements,” which provides that revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables should be divided into separate units of accounting if certain criteria are met. The Company applies ASC 985 to software deliverables when relevant. The consideration for the arrangement under ASC 605-25 is allocated to the separate units of accounting using the relative selling price method.

The relative selling price method allocates the consideration based on the Company’s specific assumptions rather than assumptions of a marketplace participant, and any discount in the arrangement proportionally to each deliverable on the basis of each deliverable’s selling price.

Applicable revenue recognition criteria is considered separately for each separate unit of accounting as follows:

Deferred revenue consists of billings in advance for professional services, licenses and subscriptions for which revenue has not been earned.

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5. Segment Information

Geographic Information

The Company derives its revenue from a single reporting segment: media management solutions. Revenue is generated in this segment through licensing of intellectual property, subscriptions of various products and services, and the delivery of services pursuant to contracts with various customers. The Company markets its products in the U.S. and in non-U.S. countries through its sales and licensing personnel.

Revenue by geographic area, based upon the “bill-to” location, was as follows:

Major Customers

Customers who accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s revenue are as follows:

6. Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation includes expense charges for all stock-based awards to employees and directors. These awards include stock option grants and restricted stock awards.

Stock-based compensation expense related to internal legal labor is capitalized to patent costs based on direct labor hours charged to capitalized patent costs.

Determining Fair Value

Stock Options

Valuation and Amortization Method. The Company estimates the fair value of stock options granted using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. The Company amortizes the fair value of all awards on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods, which are generally the vesting periods.

Expected Life. The expected life of awards granted represents the period of time that they are expected to be outstanding. The Company determines the expected life based on historical experience with similar awards, giving consideration to the contractual terms, vesting schedules and pre-vesting and post-vesting forfeitures. Stock options granted generally vest over three to four years for employee grants and one to two years for director grants, and have contractual terms of ten years.

Expected Volatility. The Company estimates the volatility of its common stock at the date of grant based on the historical volatility of its common stock based on historical prices over the most recent period commensurate with the expected life of the award.

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Risk-Free Interest Rate. The Company determines the risk-free interest rate using current U.S. treasury yields for bonds with a maturity commensurate with the expected life of the award.

Expected Dividend Yield. The expected dividend yield is derived by the Company’s expected annual dividend rate over the expected term divided by the fair value of the Company’s common stock at the grant date.

There were no stock options granted during the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.

The Company records stock-based compensation expense for stock option awards only for those awards that are expected to vest.

Restricted Stock

The fair value of restricted stock awarded is based on the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant (measurement date), and is recognized over the vesting period using the straight-line method.

The Company records stock-based compensation expense for restricted stock awards only for those awards that are expected to vest.

Stock-based Compensation Expense

The following table sets forth total unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested stock-based awards granted under all equity compensation plans, including stock options and restricted stock:

Total unrecognized compensation costs will be adjusted for any future changes in estimated forfeitures.

The Company expects to recognize the total unrecognized compensation costs as of June 30, 2014 for stock options and restricted stock over weighted average periods through June 2018 as follows:

Stock Option Activity

As of June 30, 2014, under all of the Company’s stock-based compensation plans, equity awards to purchase an additional 607,794 shares were authorized for future grants under the plans. The Company issues new shares upon option exercises.

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The following table reconciles the outstanding balance of stock options:

The aggregate intrinsic value is based on the closing price of $32.60 per share of Digimarc common stock on June 30, 2014, which would have been received by the optionees had all of the options with exercise prices less than $32.60 per share been exercised on that date.

Restricted Stock Activity

The following table reconciles the unvested balance of restricted stock:

7. Earnings Per Common Share

The Company calculates basic and diluted earnings per common share in accordance with ASC 260 “Earnings Per Share,” using the two-class method because the Company’s unvested restricted stock is a participating security since these awards contain non-forfeitable rights to receive dividends. Under the two-class method, earnings are allocated to each class of common stock and participating security as if all of the net earnings for the period had been distributed.

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Basic earnings per common share excludes dilution and is calculated by dividing earnings to common shares by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated by dividing earnings to common shares by the weighted-average number of common shares, as adjusted for the potentially dilutive effect of stock options. The following table reconciles earnings (loss) per common share for the three- and six-months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013:

There were 240,559 and 218,639 common stock equivalents related to stock options that were anti-dilutive and excluded from diluted earnings per common share calculations for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2014, respectively, as the Company incurred a net loss during the periods.

There were 215,000 common stock equivalents related to stock options that were anti-dilutive and excluded from diluted earnings per common share calculations for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 as their exercise prices were higher than the average market price of the underlying common stock for the period.

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8. Trade Accounts Receivable

Trade Accounts Receivable

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount.

Allowance for doubtful accounts

The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Company’s existing trade accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience and current information. The Company reviews its allowance for doubtful accounts monthly. Account balances are charged against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote.

Unpaid deferred revenue

The unpaid deferred revenue that is included in trade accounts receivable is billed in accordance with the provisions of the contracts with the Company’s customers. Unpaid deferred revenue from the Company’s cash-basis customers is not included in trade accounts receivable nor deferred revenue.

Major customers

Customers who accounted for 10% or more of trade accounts receivable, net are as follows:

9. Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Repairs and maintenance are charged to expense when incurred.

Depreciation on property and equipment is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally two to seven years. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful life or the lease term.

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10. Intangibles

Intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.

Amortization of capitalized patent costs associated with the application and award of patents in the U.S. and various other countries are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the patents as determined at award date, which varies depending on the pendency period of the application, generally approximating seventeen years.

Amortization of intangible assets acquired is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets.

11. Joint Ventures and Related Party Transactions

In March 2012, Digimarc and Nielsen decided to reduce the investments in their two joint ventures, TVaura LLC (in which Digimarc holds a 51% ownership interest) and TVaura Mobile LLC (in which Digimarc holds a 49% ownership interest), to minimal levels while assessing alternative approaches to achieving each of their goals in the emerging market opportunity of synchronized second screen television. Payment of all expenses incurred after the suspension of operations of each joint venture is unconditionally the responsibility of the majority owner, which expenses for TVaura LLC, if any, will be paid by Digimarc. As of June 30, 2014, both Digimarc and Nielsen continued to assess the market opportunities of each of the joint ventures.

Summarized financial information for the joint ventures has not been provided as the disclosures are immaterial to the Company’s filing given the operations of the joint ventures continue to be suspended. The joint ventures had no revenue or expenses for the three- and six-months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013. The Company’s investment in each joint venture was $0 as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

12. Income Taxes

The provision (benefit) for income taxes for the six-months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 reflects current taxes, deferred taxes, and withholding taxes in certain foreign jurisdictions. The effective tax rate for the six-months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 was 40% and 48%, respectively. The valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets as of June 30, 2014 was $472, an increase of $101 from $371 as of December 31, 2013.

13. Commitments and Contingencies

Certain of the Company’s product license and services agreements include an indemnification provision for claims from third parties relating to the Company’s intellectual property. Such indemnification provisions are accounted for in accordance with ASC 450 “Contingencies.” To date, there have been no claims made under such indemnification provisions.

The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Attributor, is a defendant in a patent infringement lawsuit brought by Blue Spike, LLC (E.D. Texas, Civil Action No: 6:12-cv-540). The case was brought against Attributor in August 2012.

Blue Spike asserted infringement by Attributor of four patents. Attributor filed an answer denying that it has infringed any valid claim of the patents in suit, and asserting specified defenses, including non-infringement and invalidity. The court has consolidated the cases that Blue Spike has brought against over ninety defendants into one case, Civil Action No. 6:12-cv-00499. A schedule for the case has recently been set and trial is scheduled for October 2015. The estimated range of loss is not material.

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The Company is subject from time to time to other legal proceedings and claims arising in the ordinary course of business.

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The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains forward-looking statements relating to future events or the future financial performance of Digimarc, which involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Please see the discussion regarding forward-looking statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q under the caption “Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.”

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Readers are also urged to carefully review and consider the disclosures made in Part II, Item 1A (Risk Factors) of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 21, 2014 (the “2013 Annual Report”) and in the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our 2013 Annual Report, and other reports and filings made with the SEC.

Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to “Digimarc,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Digimarc Corporation.

All dollar amounts are in thousands except per share amounts or unless otherwise noted. Percentages within the following tables may not foot due to rounding.

Digimarc Discover and Digimarc Guardian (pending) are registered trademarks of Digimarc Corporation. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q also includes trademarks and trade names owned by other parties, and all other such trademarks and trade names mentioned in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are the property of their respective owners.

Overview

Digimarc Corporation enables governments and enterprises around the world to give digital identities to media and objects that computers can sense and recognize and to which they can react. Our technology provides the means to infuse persistent digital information, “Digimarc IDs,” perceptible only to computers and digital devices, into all forms of media content. The unique digital identifier placed in media generally persists with it regardless of the distribution path and whether it is copied, manipulated or converted to a different format, and does not affect the quality of the content or the enjoyment or other traditional uses of it. Our technology permits computers and digital devices to quickly identify relevant data from vast amounts of media content.

Our technologies, and those of our licensees, span numerous applications across a wide range of media content, enabling our customers and those of our partners to:

At the core of our intellectual property is a signal processing innovation known as “digital watermarking,” which allows imperceptible digital information to be embedded in all forms of digitally designed, produced or distributed media content and some physical objects, including photographs, movies, music, television, personal identification documents, financial instruments, industrial parts and product packages. The digital information can be detected and read by a wide range of computers, mobile phones and other digital devices.

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Our technology allows our customers to provide persistent digital identities for any media content that is digitally processed at some point during its lifecycle. The technology can be applied to printed materials, video, audio, and images. The inclusion of these digital signals enables a wide range of improvements in security and media management, and new business models for distribution and consumption of media content. Over the years our technology and intellectual property portfolios have grown to encompass many related technologies.

We provide solutions directly and through our licensees. Our proprietary technology has proven to be a powerful element of document security, giving rise to our long-term relationship with a consortium of central banks, which we refer to as the Central Banks, and many leading companies in the information technology industry. We and our licensees have successfully propagated the use of our technology in music, movies, television broadcasts, images and printed materials. Digimarc IDs have been used in these applications to improve media rights and asset management, reduce piracy and counterfeiting losses, improve marketing programs, permit more efficient and effective distribution of valuable media content and enhance consumer entertainment and commercial experiences.

Digimarc IDs are easily embedded into all forms of media and are imperceptible to human senses, but quickly detected by computers, networks or other digital devices like smartphones. Unlike traditional barcodes and tags, our solution does not require publishers to give up valuable space in magazines and newspapers; nor does it impact the overall layout or aesthetics of the publication. Our Digimarc Discover™ platform delivers a range of rich media experiences to its readers on their smartphones across multiple media including print, audio, video and packaging. Unique to the Digimarc Discover platform is its ability to use various content identification technologies as needed, including our patented technology.

As part of the Digimarc Discover platform, we recently introduced Digimarc Barcodes, which contain the same type of information found in traditional product UPC codes, but is invisibly repeated multiple times over the entire packaging. We have partnered with Datalogic, a global leader in Automatic Data Capture and Industrial Automation markets and producer of barcode readers, who has enabled its new Magellan^TM 9800i multi-plane imaging scanner to detect and process Digimarc Barcodes. Digimarc Barcodes can also connect mobile-enabled consumers directly from packaging to engaging mobile experiences such as additional product information, special offers, recommendations, reviews, social networks and more.

Our patent portfolio contains a number of innovations in digital watermarking, pattern recognition (sometimes referred to as “fingerprinting”), digital rights management and related fields. To protect our significant efforts in creating our technology, we have implemented an extensive intellectual property protection program that relies on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws, and nondisclosure agreements and other contracts. As a result, we believe we have one of the world’s most extensive patent portfolios in digital watermarking and related fields, with more than 1,250 U.S. and foreign patents and pending patent applications as of June 30, 2014. We continue to develop and broaden our portfolio of patented technology in the fields of media identification and management technology and related applications and systems. We devote significant resources to developing and protecting our inventions and continuously seek to identify and evaluate potential licensees for our patents. The patents in our portfolio have a life of approximately 20 years from invention date, and up to 17 years after the patent has been granted.

As part of our intellectual property marketing and patent monetization efforts, our key objectives in building relationships with potential customers and partners are to:

For a discussion of activities and costs related to our research and development, read the section titled “Research, development and engineering.”

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Detailed information on our critical accounting policies and estimates are set forth in our 2013 Annual Report in Part II, Item 7 thereof (“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”), under the caption “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates,” which is incorporated by reference into this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

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Results of Operations

The following table presents statements of operations data for the periods indicated as a percentage of total revenue. Unless otherwise indicated, all references in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations to the three- and six-month periods relate to the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2014 and all changes discussed with respect to such period reflect changes compared to the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013.

Summary

During 2013, we increased the level of investment in our product development and sales growth initiatives, primarily through hiring additional engineering and sales personnel. These initiatives include developing and marketing Digimarc Discover, the Digimarc Barcode and other aspects of our Intuitive Computing Platform as well as further developing our retained patent assets and exploring strategic opportunities in the mobile payments market. We expect to maintain a similar level of investment for these initiatives in the second half of 2014 as made during the first half of 2014.

Total revenue for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2014, compared to the corresponding three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013, decreased 46% to $5.7 million and 38% to $12.9 million, respectively, primarily due to the end of the quarterly license fee payments from Intellectual Ventures (“IV”) in the second quarter of 2013 and the end of the quarterly license fee payments from The Nielsen Company (“Nielsen”) in the first quarter of 2014.

Total operating expenses for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2014, compared to the corresponding three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013, increased 17% to $8.2 million and 23% to $16.5 million, respectively, reflecting the increased level of investment in our ongoing product development and sales growth initiatives.

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Revenue