Example 12 – Licenses
Facts: A designer of jeans has a worldwide recognized brand. A global manufacturer of dolls contracts with the designer for the right to use its brand name on the dolls’ clothes. The terms of the agreement provide the doll manufacturer with rights to use the brand name on the dolls’ clothes for two years. The designer will receive $1 million upfront and 12% of all proceeds from the sales of the dolls that include branded jeans. The doll manufacturer will provide updated sales estimates on a quarterly basis and actual sales data on a monthly basis. When does the designer recognize revenue?
Discussion: The license is a distinct performance obligation and is a right to access IP transferred over time. There is a reasonable expectation that the designer will undertake activities that will significantly affect the brand name to which the doll manufacturer has rights and the doll manufacturer is directly exposed to any positive or negative effects of the jeans’ brand throughout the license period.
The upfront payment of $1 million is recognized as the performance obligation is satisfied, which is over time. The variable consideration to be received by the designer depends on the level of sales of dolls and is a sales-based royalty arrangement. Therefore, this component of the consideration is excluded from the transaction price until the sales have occurred.