NOTE 10 —Commitments and Contingencies

Royalty payments—The Company is required to pay per unit royalties to wireless essential patent holders and other providers of integrated technologies on mobile devices delivered, which, in aggregate, amount to less than 5% of net revenues associated with each unit, and expire in 2021 and 2023. Royalty expense for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 was $451 and $411, respectively, which are included in cost of revenues on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

General litigation—The Company is involved in lawsuits, claims, investigation, and proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company records a provision for a liability when management believes that it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company reviews these provisions at least quarterly and adjusts them to reflect the impact of negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of legal counsel, and other information and events pertaining to a particular case.

Based on its experience, the Company believes that any settled amounts is not a meaningful indicator of the Company’s potential liability pertaining to litigation matters. The Company believes that it has valid defenses with respect to legal matters pending against it. Nevertheless, it is possible that cash flows or results of operations could be materially affected in any particular period by the unfavorable resolution of one or more of these contingencies.

Indemnification—Under the terms of its agreements with wireless carriers and other partners, the Company has agreed to provide indemnification for intellectual property infringement claims related to Company’s product sold by them to their end customers. From time to time, the Company receives notices from these wireless carriers and other partners of a claim for infringement of intellectual property rights potentially related to their products. These infringement claims have been settled, dismissed, have not been further pursued by the customers, or are pending for further action by the Company.  

Contingent severance obligations—The Company has agreements in place with certain key employees guaranteeing severance payments under certain circumstances. Generally, in the event of termination by the Company without cause, termination due to death or disability, or resignation for good reason, the Company is obligated to the pay the employees: (i) any time before a Change in Control, amounts up to $1,057 or (ii) if at any time within 12 months of a Change in Control, amounts up to $1,407. In addition, in the event of termination by the Company with cause, the Company is obligated to pay the employees up to $88. The Company is obligated to pay one of the employees $140 if the Company has not been acquired or undertaken an Initial Public Offering at an equity valuation in excess of $125,000 at the time of one the events as defined above. As of March 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018, no accrual has been recorded.