Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

BUSINESS AND FUNDING

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BUSINESS AND FUNDING
6 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation, Business Description and Accounting Policies [Text Block]
1.
BUSINESS AND FUNDING

Description of Business

As used herein, “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” or “ITUS” means ITUS Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.  The primary operations of the Company involve the development, acquisition and licensing of emerging technologies.

Over the past several quarters, our revenue has been derived from technology licensing, and the sale of patented technologies, including in connection with the settlement of litigation. In addition to these activities, we may make investments in companies with emerging technologies, acquire companies with emerging technologies, acquire or license emerging technologies for development within our subsidiary companies, and create and capitalize subsidiary companies for the purpose of developing and commercializing technologies that we create. While we expect to continue to generate revenue from licensing, we may also derive revenue from products and services sold and provided by companies in which we make investments, and technologies that we acquire, develop or create.

The Company currently owns or controls technologies in three primary areas: thin- film displays, encrypted communications, and advanced materials applications. We are continuing our licensing programs in connection with our patented encrypted communications, and advanced materials applications technologies, and have resumed our Nano field emission display development program. The Company is looking to invest its resources in other emerging technology areas.

Funding and Management’s Plans

During the six months ended April 30, 2015, cash generated from operating activities was approximately $2,874,000. Net cash provided by investing activities was approximately $45,000, which reflected proceeds from the sale or maturity of certificates of deposit totaling $2,500,000 and disbursement of $2,400,000 for the purchase of certificates of deposit and approximately $55,000 for the purchase of property and equipment.  Cash used in financing activities of $200,000 was for the repurchase of 800,000 shares of our common stock and cancellation warrants to purchase 400,000 shares of our common stock. As a result, our cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments at April 30, 2015 increased by approximately $2,619,000 to approximately $8,480,000 from approximately $5,861,000 at the end of fiscal year 2014.

Based on currently available information as of May 22, 2015, we believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and expected cash flows from patent licensing and enforcement, and other potential sources of cash flows will be sufficient to enable us to continue our business activities for at least 12 months.  However, our projections of future cash needs and cash flows may differ from actual results.  If current cash on hand, cash equivalents, short term investments and cash that may be generated from our business operations are insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements or if we elect to purchase assets or a business for cash, we may seek to sell equity securities or obtain loans from various financial institutions where possible.  The sale of additional equity securities or convertible debt could result in dilution to our stockholders.  We can give no assurance that we will generate sufficient cash flows in the future to satisfy our liquidity requirements or sustain future operations, or that other sources of funding, such as sales of equity or debt, would be available, if needed, on favorable terms or at all.  If we cannot obtain such funding if needed or if we cannot sufficiently reduce operating expenses, we would need to curtail or cease some or all of our operations. 

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 8-03 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles in annual financial statements have been omitted or condensed. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended October 31, 2014, as reported by us in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on January 29, 2015. The October 31, 2014 consolidated balance sheet data was derived from the audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments of a normal recurring nature which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of our financial position as of April 30, 2015, and results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods represented. The results of operations for the three and six months ended April 30, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year.

Revenue Recognition 

Revenue is recognized when (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) all obligations have been substantially performed pursuant to the terms of the arrangement, (iii) amounts are fixed or determinable, and (iv) the collectability of amounts is reasonably assured.

Patent Licensing

Our past revenue arrangements have provided for the payment of contractually determined fees in consideration for the grant of certain intellectual property rights for patented technologies owned or controlled by our operating subsidiaries.  These rights typically include some combination of the following:  (i) the grant of a non-exclusive, retroactive and future license to manufacture and/or sell products covered by patented technologies owned or controlled by our operating subsidiaries, (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 have been perpetual in nature, extending until the expiration of the related patents.  Pursuant to the terms of these agreements, our operating subsidiaries had no further obligations.  As such, the earnings process was complete and revenue has been recognized upon the execution of the agreement, when collectability was reasonably assured, and when all other revenue recognition criteria had been met.

Intangible Assets

Our only identifiable intangible assets are patents and patent rights. We capitalize patent and patent rights acquisition costs and amortize the cost over the estimated economic useful life. Patent acquisition costs capitalized during the six months ended April 30, 2015 and 2014, was approximately $-0- and $3,036,000, respectively. We did not capitalize any patent acquisition costs during the three months ended April 30, 2015 and 2014. We recorded patent amortization expense of approximately $163,000 and $152,000 during the six months ended April 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and approximately $81,000 and $81,000 during the three months ended April 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.