Question

Fields Laboratories holds a valuable patent (No. 758-6002-1A) on a precipitator that prevents certain types of air pollution. Fields does not manufacture or sell the products and processes it develops. Instead, it conducts research and develops products and processes which it patents, and then assigns the patents to manufacturers on a royalty basis. Occasionally it sells a patent. The history of Fields patent number 758-6002-1A is as follows. Date Activity Cost 2008–2009 Research conducted to develop precipitator $382,000 Jan. 2010 Design and construction of a prototype 85,400 March 2010 Testing of models 57,400 Jan. 2011 Fees paid engineers and lawyers to prepare patent application; patent granted June 30, 2011 66,300 Nov. 2012 Engineering activity necessary to advance the design of the precipitator to the manufacturing stage 95,000 Dec. 2013 Legal fees paid to successfully defend precipitator patent 57,400 April 2014 Research aimed at modifying the design of the patented precipitator 58,400 July 2018 Legal fees paid in unsuccessful patent infringement suit against a competitor 36,000 Fields assumed a useful life of 17 years when it received the initial precipitator patent. On January 1, 2016, it revised its useful life estimate downward to 5 remaining years. Amortization is computed for a full year if the cost is incurred prior to July 1, and no amortization for the year if the cost is incurred after June 30. The company’s year ends December 31. Compute the carrying value of patent No. 758-6002-1A on each of the following dates: (a) December 31, 2011 $ (b) December 31, 2015 $ (c) December 31, 2018 $

Answer 1

1

(a) Compute the carrying value of patent No. 758-6002-1A on December 31, 2011.

Costs to obtain patent Jan. 2011		$66,300
2011 amortization ($66,300 / 17 years)		3,900
Carrying value, 12/31/11		$62,400

All costs incurred prior to January 2011 are related to research and development activities and were expensed as incurred in accordance with GAAP.

___________________________________________________________________

(b)

Compute the carrying value of patent No. 758-6002-1A on December 31, 2015.

Carrying value of patent, Jan. 1, 2012		$62,400
Amortization 2012	3,900
Amortization 2013	3,900	(7,800)
		54,600
Legal fees to defend patent Dec. 2013		57,400
Carrying value, Dec. 31, 2013		112,000
Amortization 2014	8,000
Amortization 2015	8,000	(16,000)
Carrying value, Dec. 31, 2015		$96,000

The costs incurred in 2012 and 2014 are related to research and development activities and are expensed as incurred.

_______________________________________________________

(c)

Compute the carrying value of patent No. 758-6002-1A on December 31, 201.

Carrying value Jan 1, 201		$96,000
Amortization 2016 ($96,000 / 5 years)	$19,200
Amortization 2017	19,200
Amortization 2018	19,200	(57,600)
Carrying value, Dec 31, 2018		$38,400

The legal costs in 2018 were expensed because the suit was unsuccessful.