VYCOR MEDICAL INC - 10-K filing on 2014-04-07

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES *Lease* The Company leases approximately 10,000 sq. ft. located at 6401 Congress Ave., Suite 140, Boca Raton, FL 33487 from Catexor Limited Partnership for a gross rent of $14,260 plus sales tax per month. The term of the lease is 5 years and 6 months terminating July, 2017. The Company’s subsidiaries in Germany and the UK occupy properties on short term lease agreements. Rent expense for the year ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $182,197 and $190,023 respectively *Potential German tax liability* In June 2012 the Company’s German subsidiary received a preliminary assessment for Magdeburg City trade tax of approximately €75,000 (approximately $94,000). This assessment is for the 2010 fiscal year and relates to the Company’s acquisition of the assets of the former NovaVision, Inc. An initial assessment for corporate tax for the same period has been preliminarily reduced to zero. The Company has not accepted this trade tax assessment and is in discussion with the relevant tax authorities with a view to its reduction. To the extent that this assessment, a higher or a reduced amount, is ultimately confirmed by the tax authorities, the Company believes it has a very strong claim against certain professional advisors which would offset the liability in full. Accordingly, the Company has made no provision for this liability for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012). *Potential China Patent Infringement* The Company was made aware in 2012 that a competitor had been granted a patent for related technology, and appeared to be entering the market with products that infringe the Company’s own issued patent. Following investigation, the Company has taken steps to initiate an invalidation of the competitor’s patent and enforce its patent rights; in March 2014 the Ptent Re-examination Board issued an Examination Decision invalidating all the claims of the competitor’s patent. The competitor has the right of appeal but the Company will contest any such appeal. The Company has also been made aware that a second competitor has filed a patent application for related technology and also may be producing a product that potentially infringes the Company’s patent, and is in the early stages of evaluation and has yet to determine what, if any actions to take in this instance, however as a general rule the Company intends to take all necessary action to protect its patent portfolio. As with all patent infringement actions, there is some risk that the accused infringer will not be found to infringe the claims, and an additional risk that the accused infringer will successfully challenge the validity of the asserted claims.

Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]

10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Lease

The Company leases approximately 10,000 sq. ft. located at 6401 Congress Ave., Suite 140, Boca Raton, FL 33487 from Catexor Limited Partnership for a gross rent of $14,260 plus sales tax per month. The term of the lease is 5 years and 6 months terminating July, 2017. The Company’s subsidiaries in Germany and the UK occupy properties on short term lease agreements. Rent expense for the year ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $182,197 and $190,023 respectively

Potential German tax liability

In June 2012 the Company’s German subsidiary received a preliminary assessment for Magdeburg City trade tax of approximately €75,000 (approximately $94,000). This assessment is for the 2010 fiscal year and relates to the Company’s acquisition of the assets of the former NovaVision, Inc. An initial assessment for corporate tax for the same period has been preliminarily reduced to zero. The Company has not accepted this trade tax assessment and is in discussion with the relevant tax authorities with a view to its reduction. To the extent that this assessment, a higher or a reduced amount, is ultimately confirmed by the tax authorities, the Company believes it has a very strong claim against certain professional advisors which would offset the liability in full. Accordingly, the Company has made no provision for this liability for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012).

Potential China Patent Infringement

The Company was made aware in 2012 that a competitor had been granted a patent for related technology, and appeared to be entering the market with products that infringe the Company’s own issued patent. Following investigation, the Company has taken steps to initiate an invalidation of the competitor’s patent and enforce its patent rights; in March 2014 the Ptent Re-examination Board issued an Examination Decision invalidating all the claims of the competitor’s patent. The competitor has the right of appeal but the Company will contest any such appeal. The Company has also been made aware that a second competitor has filed a patent application for related technology and also may be producing a product that potentially infringes the Company’s patent, and is in the early stages of evaluation and has yet to determine what, if any actions to take in this instance, however as a general rule the Company intends to take all necessary action to protect its patent portfolio. As with all patent infringement actions, there is some risk that the accused infringer will not be found to infringe the claims, and an additional risk that the accused infringer will successfully challenge the validity of the asserted claims.