InterDigital Inc (IDCC)

[olddog967]

LTE: "How do we know that they're not?"

Agent payments were previously reported in SEC required financial statements. As noted below from the 2019 10-K annual report there were no such costs incurred in 2018, 2017. or 2016.

"Deferred Charges
Direct costs of obtaining a contract or fulfilling a contract in a transaction that results in the deferral of revenue may be either expensed as incurred or capitalized, depending on certain criteria. (SNIP)

For example, from time to time, we use sales agents to assist us in our licensing and/or patent sale activities. In such cases, we may pay a commission. The commission rate varies from agreement to agreement. Commissions are normally paid shortly after our receipt of cash payments associated with the patent license or patent sale agreements. We defer recognition of commission expense and amortize these expenses in proportion to our recognition of the related revenue. Commission expense is included within the "Patent administration and licensing" line of our consolidated statements of income and was immaterial for the years presented. There were no new direct contract costs incurred during 2018, 2017 or 2016."