As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 9, 2018

Registration Statement No. 333-198498


333-__________

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DCD.C. 20549

FORM S-3/A

Amendment No. 1
S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Spherix Incorporated

SPHERIX INCORPORATED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware000-0557652-0849320
(State or other jurisdiction of(Primary Standard Industrial(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)(I.R.S. Employer Classification Code Number)Identification No.)Number)
6430 Rockledge Drive, Suite 503
Bethesda, MD 20877
(703) 992-9260

One Rockefeller Plaza

New York, NY 10020

(212) 745-1374

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Anthony Hayes

Chief Executive Officer

Spherix Incorporated

6430 Rockledge Drive, Suite 503
Bethesda, MD 20877
Telephone (703) 992-9260
(Name,

One Rockefeller PlazaNew York, NY 10020(212) 745-1374

 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

With copies

Please send a copy of all communications to:

Theodore J. Ghorra,

Robert Charron, Esq.

Nixon Peabody

Sarah Williams, Esq.

Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP

437 Madison

1345 Avenue

of the Americas

New York, New York 10022

Telephone: 10105-0302

(212) 940-3000

370-1300

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

Registration Statement. 

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. [ ]

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  [X]


If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]


If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. [ ]

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of large“large accelerated filer,, “accelerated filer” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and smaller reporting company“emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer [ ]Accelerated filer [ ]
Non-accelerated filer [ ]
(do(Do not check if smaller
reporting company)
Smaller reporting company [X]☒  
Emerging growth company ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

Title of Each Class of
Securities to be Registered
 
Amount to be
Registered(1)
 
Proposed
Maximum Offering Price
Per Share
 
Proposed
Maximum Aggregate
Offering
Price
 
Amount of Registration
Fee(2)(3)
 
Common Stock, $.0001 par value per share
           
Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share
           
Warrants
           
Units
           
TOTAL
     
$
30,000,000
 
$
3,864.00
(2)(3) *

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of Each Class
of Securities
to be Registered (1)


Amount to be

Registered (2) (3)

Proposed
Maximum Aggregate
Offering Price
per Security (2) (3)
Proposed
Maximum Aggregate
Offering Price (2) (3)
Amount of
Registration Fee (4)
Common Stock, par value $.0001 per  share
Preferred Stock, par value $.0001 per share
Purchase Contracts (5)
Warrants to Purchase common stock, Preferred Stock or other Securities (6)
Subscription Rights to Purchase common stock or Preferred Stock    
Depositary Shares    
Debt Securities (which may be senior or subordinated, convertible or non-convertible, secured or unsecured)    
Units (7)
TOTAL---$30,000,000$3,735

(1)
Securities registered hereunder may be sold separately, together or as units with other securities registered hereunder.
(2)Not specified as to each class of securities to be registered pursuant to Form S-3 General Instruction II.D.
(3)The Registrant is registering an indeterminate aggregate principal amount and number of securities of each identified class of securities up to a proposed aggregate offering price of $30,000,000, which may be offered from time to time in unspecified numbers and at indeterminate prices, and as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, repurchase, exchange, or exercise of any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions.  In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “Securities Act”), the shares being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of shares of common stock and preferred stock as may be issuable with respect to the shares being registered hereunder as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.There are also being registered hereunder an indeterminate amount of our securities as shall be issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any securities that provide for that issuance.
(2)Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act based on the proposed maximum aggregate offering price of all securities listed.
(3)(4)
The amount of the registration fee has beenis calculated in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act. PursuantAct of 1933, as amended.
(5)Includes purchase contracts issuable upon conversion or exchange of securities registered hereunder to Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act,extent any such securities are by their terms convertible into or exchangeable for purchase contracts.  Each purchase contract obligates the Registrant hereby offsetsregistrant to sell, and the total registration fee due under this Registration Statement by the amountholder thereof to purchase, an indeterminate number of debt securities, shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock or other securities registered hereunder.
(6)Warrants may represent rights to purchase debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities registered hereunder.
(7)Each Unit consists of any combination of two or more of the filing fee associated with the unsold primary securities from the Registrant’s Form S-3 Registration Statement, filed by the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 17, 2014 and declared effective on May 16, 2014 (File No 333-195346), registering primary securities to be sold by the Registrant for a maximum aggregate offering price of $30,000,000 (the “Prior Registration Statement”). Of that amount, the Registrant sold securities for an aggregate offering price of $20,225,000, leaving a balance of unsold securities with an aggregate offering price of $9,775,000. The associated filing fee of $1,259.02 for such unsold securities, calculated under Rule 457(o), is hereby used to offset the current registration fee due. Accordingly, the full amount of the $3,864.00 registration fee currently due for this Registration Statement is being paid by offset against the balance of the fee paid for the Prior Registration Statement and the payment by the Registrant of $2,604.98.
  *Previously paid.registered hereby.

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment thatwhich specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.




The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell thesethe securities or accept an offer to buy these securities until the Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, declares our registration statementof which this prospectus is a part, is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 9, 2018

Prospectus 

SPHERIX INCORPORATED

 
PROSPECTUS

SPHERIX INCORPORATED
$30,000,000
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Warrants
Units

$30,000,000

COMMON STOCK

PREFERRED STOCK

PURCHASE CONTRACTS

WARRANTS

SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

DEPOSITARY SHARES

DEBT SECURITIES

UNITS

common stock;
preferred stock;
purchase contracts;
warrants to purchase our securities;
subscription rights to purchase any of the foregoing securities;
depositary shares;
secured or unsecured debt securities consisting of notes, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness which may be senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities or subordinated debt securities, each of which may be convertible into equity securities; or
units comprised of, or other combinations of, the foregoing securities.

We may offer and sell from time to timethese securities separately or together, in one or more offerings, any combination of securities that we describeseries or classes and in this prospectus having an aggregate initial offering price of up to $30,000,000. We may also offer common stock or preferred stock upon exercise of warrants;amounts, at prices and common stock upon conversion of preferred stock or any combination thereof.

We will provide specificon terms of these offerings and securitiesdescribed in one or more supplementsofferings.  We may offer securities through underwriting syndicates managed or co-managed by one or more underwriters or dealers, through agents or directly to purchasers.  The prospectus supplement for each offering of securities will describe in detail the plan of distribution for that offering.  For general information about the distribution of securities offered, please see “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus.  

Each time our securities are offered, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing more specific information about the particular offering and attach it to this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. The accompanying prospectus supplement, and any documents incorporated by reference,supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read thisThis prospectus the accompanyingmay not be used to offer or sell securities without a prospectus supplement any documents incorporated by reference and any related free writing prospectus carefully before buying anywhich includes a description of the securities being offered.

method and terms of this offering.

Our common stock is tradedquoted on The NASDAQthe Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SPEX.” On September 12, 2014, theThe last reported sale price of our common stock on The NASDAQ Capital Market on January 8, 2018 was $1.20 .$1.36 per share. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to any listing, if any, on The NASDAQ Capital Market or any other securities market or other exchange covered by the applicable prospectus supplement.

The shares of common stock offered by us may be sold directly by us, through dealers or agents designated from time to time, to or through underwriters or dealers or through a combination of these methods on a continuous or delayed basis. See “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus. We may also describe the plan of distribution for any particular offering of our securities in a prospectus supplement. If any agents, underwriters or dealers are involved in the sale of any securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, we will disclose their names and the nature of our arrangements with them in a prospectus supplement. The net proceeds we expect to receive from any such sale will also be included in a prospectus supplement.
          At the time we sell securities pursuant to this prospectus, the amount of such securities plus the amount of any securities we have sold during the prior 12 months in reliance on Instruction I.B.6. of Form S-3 may not exceed the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates is $8,428,883 based on 6,234,898 shares of outstanding common stock, of which 6,197,708 shares are held by non-affiliates, and a per share price of $1.36 which was the closing sale price of our common stock as of a day duringquoted on the 60 days immediately preceding such sale as computed in accordance with such instruction.  BasedNASDAQ Capital Market on this limitation, we would not be eligible to sell any securities pursuant to this prospectus as ofJanuary 8, 2018. During the 12 calendar month period that ends on, and includes, the date of this prospectus.  This limitation would cease to apply if the aggregate market valueprospectus, we have not offered and sold any of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates weresecurities pursuant to exceed $75 million asGeneral Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3.

If we decide to seek a listing of any day.


CONCURRENT OFFERINGS

On January 24, 2014, our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-192737) was declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the resale of 2,302,615preferred stock, purchase contracts, warrants, subscriptions rights, depositary shares, of our common stock, including 1,236,130 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of outstanding shares of our Series D-1 Convertible Preferred Stock. Sales of common stockdebt securities or units offered by the selling stockholders pursuant to the Prospectus filed on January 28, 2014,this prospectus, the related Prospectus Supplement filed on February 19, 2014, and the Post-Effective Amendment on Form S-3, filed on April 9, 2014 and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 11, 2014, or the potential of such sales, could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.




February 3, 2014, we filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-193729) and amended such registration statement on April 9, 2014 and May 1, 2014, with respect to the resale of 7,777,829 shares of our common stock, consisting of (i) 635,949 shares of common stock, (ii) 156,250 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series F-1 Convertible Preferred Stock, (iii) 4,590,430 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of outstanding shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock, and (iv) 2,395,200 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series I Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock. Upon being declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the sale of such 7,777,829 shares by the selling stockholders, or the potential of such sales, could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

On May 16, 2014, our Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-195346) was declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to (a) the resale of 1,778,409 shares of our common stock, including 592,794 shares of common stock underlying warrants, and (b) the primary sale, in one or more offerings, of any combination of securities described in the prospectus included in the registration statement having an aggregate initial offering price of up to $30,000,000. Sales of common stock by the selling stockholders pursuant to the prospectus included in such registration statement or in a prospectus supplement will disclose the exchange or market on which the potential of such sales, couldsecurities will be listed, if any, or where we have made an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock. We sold 10,000,000 shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock (which shares were later converted to shares of common stock) and issued an additional 125,000 shares of common stock pursuant to such registration statement. The resale of such publicly tradable shares of our common stock, or the potential of such sales, could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.application for listing, if any.

Investing in our securities involves variouscertain risks. See “Risk Factors” containedbeginning on page 6 and the risk factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated by reference herein, for more information on these risks. Additional risks will be describedas well as in any other recently filed quarterly or current reports and, if any, in the relatedrelevant prospectus supplements undersupplement.  We urge you to carefully read this prospectus and the heading “Risk Factors”. You should review that sectionaccompanying prospectus supplement, together with the documents we incorporate by reference, describing the terms of the related prospectus supplements for a discussion of matters that investors in ourthese securities should consider.

before investing.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.prospectus.  Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectusProspectus is September 15, 2014 .


___________, 2018. 


TABLETABLE OF CONTENTS

 Page
About This Prospectus1
1
2
3
16
2
Prospectus Summary3
6
Use of Proceeds
16
7
Plan of Distribution8
17
10
Forms of Securities22
18
25
27
28
31
24
Experts24
31
31
24
32
24



ABOUTABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, (the “SEC”) usingor SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under thethis shelf registration process, we may offer and sell, either individually or in combination, in one or more offerings, any combination of the securities described in this prospectus, in one or more offerings,for total gross proceeds of up to a maximum aggregate initial offering price of $30,000,000.

This prospectus only provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we selloffer securities described in theunder this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement to this prospectus that will contain more specific information about the terms of that offering, including the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities offered.offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. To the extent there is a conflict betweenany of the information contained in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, you should rely on the informationor in the accompanying prospectus supplement, provideddocuments that if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date—for example, a documentwe have incorporated by reference ininto this prospectus.

We urge you to read carefully this prospectus, or any accompanyingapplicable prospectus supplement—the statement in the later-dated document modifies or supersedes the earlier statement. You should carefully read both this prospectussupplement and any accompanying prospectus supplement or otherfree writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, materials, together with the additional information incorporated herein by reference as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.“Incorporation of Documents by Reference,

before investing in any of the securities being offered. You should rely only on the information contained in, or incorporated by reference ininto, this prospectus accompanying prospectus supplements and any relatedapplicable prospectus supplement, along with the information contained in any free writing prospectus.prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus.
This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby, but only under circumstances and any accompanying prospectus supplement, free writing prospectus or other offering materialsin jurisdictions where it is lawful to do not contain all of theso.

The information included in the registration statement as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information, we refer you to the registration statement on Form S-3, of which this prospectus is a part, including its exhibits. We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and, therefore, file reports and other information with the SEC. Statements contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, free writing prospectus or other offering materials about the provisions or contents of any agreement or other document are only summaries. If SEC rules require that any agreement or document be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, you should refer to that agreement or document for its complete contents.

Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made under it implies that there has been no change in our affairs or that the information in this prospectus is correct as of any date after the date of this prospectus. You should assume that the informationappearing in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document and that any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, any accompanyingapplicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, or any sale of a security.
In

This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the section entitled “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

This prospectus contains, or incorporates by reference, trademarks, tradenames, service marks and service names of Spherix Incorporated.



CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein may contain forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.  All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein, including statements regarding future events, our future financial performance, business strategy, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. We have attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including “anticipates,” “believes,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “should,” or “will” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Although we do not make forward looking statements unless we believe we have a reasonable basis for doing so, we cannot guarantee their accuracy. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the risks outlined under “Risk Factors” or elsewhere in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, which may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Moreover, we operate in a highly regulated, very competitive, and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all risk factors, nor can we address the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short term and long term business operations, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in this prospectus, and in particular, the risks discussed below and under the heading “Risk Factors” and those discussed in other documents we file with the SEC. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 and notes incorporated by reference herein. We undertake no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this prospectus may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statement.

    You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement, each of which applies only as of the date of this prospectus. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this prospectus to conform our statements to actual results or changed expectations.

    Any forward-looking statement you read in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, operating results, growth strategy and liquidity. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because such statements speak only as to the date when made. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future, except as otherwise required by applicable law. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our reports on Forms 10-Q, 8-K and 10-K filed with the SEC. You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all risk factors. Consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.


PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus.  This summary does not contain all the information that you should consider before investing in our Company.  You should carefully read the entire prospectus, including all documents incorporated by reference herein. In particular, attention should be directed to our “Risk Factors,” “Information With Respect to the Company,”  “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the financial statements and related notes thereto contained herein or otherwise incorporated by reference hereto, before making an investment decision.

As used herein, and any amendment or supplement hereto, unless otherwise specified or the context requires otherwise, we use the terms “Spherix,indicated, ”we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” “we,” “us”or “Spherix” means Spherix Incorporated and “our”its wholly-owned subsidiaries.  Unless otherwise indicated, all references in this prospectus to “dollars” or “$” refer to Spherix Incorporated.


-1-

US dollars.

Table of ContentsBusiness Overview



OUR BUSINESS

Overview

Spherix Incorporated (“we” oris a technology development company committed to the “Company”) is an intellectual property companyfostering of innovative ideas. To that ownsend, we own patented and unpatented intellectual property. We wereproperty in the technology sphere. Spherix Incorporated was formed in 1967 as a scientific research company and for much of our history pursued drug development, including through Phase III clinical studies, which were largely discontinued in 2012.  ThroughIn 2012 and 2013, we shifted our acquisitionsfocus to being a firm that owns, develops, acquires and monetizes intellectual property assets. Such monetization includes, but is not limited to, acquiring IP from patent holders in order to maximize the value of approximately 108the patent holdings by conducting and managing a licensing campaign, commercializing the IP, or through the settlement and litigation of patents.  We intend to generate revenues and related cash flows from the granting of intellectual property rights for the use of patented technologies that we own, that we manage for others, or that others manage on our behalf by agreement. To date, we have generated minimal revenues and no assurance can be provided that our business model will be successful.

In July 2013, we acquired 7 patents and patent applicationsin the field of mobile communications from Rockstar Consortium US LP (“Rockstar”) and.  This acquisition of several hundred patents issuedrepresented the first transaction believed to Harris Corporation as a result of our acquisition of North South Holdings Inc. (“North South”), we have expanded our activities in wireless communications and telecommunication sectors including antenna technology, Wi-Fi, base station functionality, and cellular.


Our activities generally include the acquisition and development of patents through internal or external research and development. In addition, we seek to acquire existing rights to intellectual property through the acquisition of already issued patents and pending patent applications, both in the United States and abroad. We may alone, or in conjunction with others, develop products and processes associated with our intellectual property and license our intellectual property to others seeking to develop products or processes or whose products or processes infringe our intellectual property rights through legal processes. Using our patented technologies, we employ strategies seeking to permit us to derive value from licensing, commercialization, settlement and litigation from our patents. We will continue to seek to obtain patents from inventors and patent owners to monetize patent portfolios.

On December 31, 2013, we acquired 101 patents and patent applications from Rockstar. The patents had been developed by Nortel Networks (“Nortel”) and acquiredcompleted by Rockstar following Nortel’s bankruptcy in 2011.with any publicly traded company. Rockstar was launched in 2011 as an intellectual property licensing company and managesto manage a patent portfolio related to Nortel’sthe pre-bankruptcy technology and businesses.businesses of Nortel Networks (“Nortel”).  Rockstar was formed and is owned by Apple, Inc. (“Apple”), Microsoft Corporation, (“Microsoft”), Sony Corporation, (“Sony”), Blackberry Limited (“Blackberry”) and LM Ericsson Telephone CompanyCompany. 

In September 2013, we acquired North South Holdings, Inc. (“Ericsson”North South”). and its 222 patents in the fields of wireless communications, satellite, solar, and radio frequency and 2 patents in the field of pharmaceutical distribution. The 222 patents were developed by Harris Corporation, a leader in defense communications and electronics and acquired by North South prior to our acquisition of North South.

In December 2013, we acquired an additional 101 patents and patent applications from Rockstar in consideration for approximately $60 million of our securities consisting of common stock and preferred stock.  The patents had been developed by Nortel and acquired by Rockstar following Nortel’s bankruptcy in 2011.  The December 2013 acquisition includesincluded patents covering internet access and video and data transmission, among other things.  ManyWe believe that many of the acquiredthese Nortel/Rockstar patents are believed to be standard essential patents, meaning they potentially cover various industry standards in wide use (although there is no assurance that a court or third-party would agree with such description).

During August 2013,

Since our shift in focus to an intellectual property monetization platform, we acquired 222 patents in the fields of wireless communications, satellite, solar, and radio frequency and 2 patents in the field of pharmaceutical distribution from North South. The 222 patents had been developed by Harris Corporation, a leader in defense communications and electronics, and were acquired by North South prior to our acquisition of North South.

During July 2013, we acquired 7 patents in the field of mobile communications from Rockstar. This acquisition represented the first transaction believed to have been completed by Rockstar withnot generated any publicly traded company.
We presently have active lawsuits pending against AT&T, Uniden, VTech, T-Mobile, CISCO Systems, Inc., Juniper Networks, Huawei, and Verizon and intend to bring additional lawsuits during 2014.
significant revenues.  We have incurred losses from operations for the years ended December 31, 20132016 and 2012.2015 of $8.6 million and $52.0 million, respectively. Our net lossincome attributable to common stockholders was $18approximately $25.0 million, including $31.5 million of deemed capital contribution on extinguishment of preferred stock for the year ended December 31, 2013 and $19.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014.2016.  Our accumulated deficit was $53.3 million at December 31, 2013 and $72.8 million at June 30, 2014. Our loss from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2012 was $2.9 million and our net loss was $3.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2012. Our accumulated deficit was $35.3$141.7 million at December 31, 2012.2016.  

On November 23, 2015, we and RPX Corporation (“RPX”) entered into a Patent License Agreement (the “RPX License Agreement”) under which the Company granted RPX the right to sublicense various patent license rights to certain RPX clients. The consideration to the Company included: (i) the transfer to the Company for cancellation of its remaining outstanding Series I Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series I Preferred Stock”) then held by RPX, as to which a $5,000,000 mandatory redemption payment would have been due from the Company on or by December 31, 2015; (ii) the transfer to the Company for cancellation of 13%, or 57,076 shares, of its Series H Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series H Preferred Stock”) then held by RPX, having a total carrying amount of $4,765,846 at the time the stock was issued to Rockstar; (iii) cancellation of the only outstanding security interest on 101 of the Company’s patents and patent applications acquired from Rockstar that originated at Nortel, which security interest had previously been transferred to RPX by Rockstar (“RPX Security Interest”); and (iv) $300,000 in cash to the Company.

In consideration of the above, we granted RPX the rights to grant: (i) to Juniper Networks, Inc. (“Juniper”), a non-sublicensable, non-transferrable sublicense solely to use the six patents that had been asserted against Juniper by the Company (“Asserted Patents”); and (ii) to Apple, Blackberry, Cisco, Google, Huawei, Ericsson, Microsoft and Sony, to the extent those parties did not already have licenses to our patents, a non-sublicensable, non-transferrable sublicense to use our existing portfolio. Prior to our ownership of the patents originating at Nortel, each of Apple, Blackberry, Ericsson, Microsoft and Sony had previously been granted full licenses to those patents. In addition, we separately granted Huawei a license with respect to Huawei’s network routers and switches. We also granted RPX the rights to grant Cisco and Google a sublicense under patents transferred to us through November 23, 2017. We have since dismissed our then-existing litigations against Cisco and Juniper and Cisco requested dismissal of its two petitions requesting inter partes re-examination (“IPR”) of certain of our patents at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.


Further, we agreed, until May 23, 2016 (the “Standstill Period”) that: (a) we and RPX would engage in good faith negotiations for the grant of additional license rights to RPX’s other members in exchange for additional consideration to us; (b) we would not divest, transfer, or exclusively license any of our current patents; (c) neither RPX nor any RPX affiliate would challenge, or knowingly and intentionally assist others in challenging, the validity, enforceability, or patentability of any of our patents in any court or administrative agency having jurisdiction to consider the issue; and (d) we would not bring an action against current RPX clients for patent infringement.

Following the Standstill Period, as a result of the release of the RPX Security Interest, the patents may be leveraged, divested, transferred or exclusively licensed in a manner that is beneficial to us and our stockholders. We retained the right to bring claims under the patents at any time against other parties who are not licensees or beneficiaries under the RPX License. We also retained rights, following the Standstill Period, to bring claims under the patents against current RPX clients who did not become licensees or beneficiaries during the Standstill Period and, with respect to Juniper, under all of the patents other than the six Asserted Patents.

In March 2016, we entered into an agreement (which was subsequently amended in April and May 2016) with Equitable IP Corporation (“Equitable”) to facilitate the monetization of our patents (the “Monetization Agreement”). Pursuant to the Monetization Agreement, the Company is working together with Equitable to further develop and revise our ongoing litigation plan. See Note 4 to the Company’s audited financial statements for additional details surrounding the Monetization Agreement.

On May 23, 2016, we and RPX, entered into a second, separate Patent License Agreement (the “Second RPX License”) under which we granted RPX the right to sublicense various patent rights only to current RPX clients (as of May 23, 2016). In exchange for the rights we granted under the Second RPX License, we received the following consideration: (i) a cash payment made to us in May 2016 in the amount of $4,355,000; and (ii) cancellation of the remaining 381,967 shares of our outstanding Series H Convertible Preferred Stock currently held by RPX, having a total carrying amount of $31,894,244 at the time the stock was issued to Rockstar.

In consideration of the above, we granted RPX the rights to grant to its current clients: (i) a fully paid portfolio license, to the extent such parties did not already have licenses to the Company’s patents; (ii) a covenant-not-to-sue current RPX clients for supply of chipsets; (iii) a standstill of litigation involving any patents acquired in the next five years.

In connection with the Second RPX License, we also granted to Alcatel-Lucent a license to the portfolio acquired from North South.

Under a separate agreement between us and RPX, we granted RPX the ability to grant to VTech Telecommunications Ltd. (“VTech”) a sublicense for a fully paid portfolio license in exchange for an additional $20,000 in cash consideration.

The license granted under the terms of the RPX License described herein does not extend to entities/companies that are not clients of RPX and provide chipsets or other hardware to current RPX clients.

In January of 2017, we settled our patent litigation against Uniden Corporation and Uniden America Corporation (collectively “Uniden”) and granted Uniden a license limited to the patents we originally asserted against Uniden and VTech, including U.S. Patent Nos. 5,581,599 (the “599 Patent”); 5,752,195; 5,892,814; 6,614,899; and 6,965,614. On July 25, 2017, after full briefing and oral argument, the Federal Circuit issued an order affirming the PTAB’s decision relating to the ‘599 Patent.

Recent Developments

On June 30, 2017, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Hoth Therapeutics, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“Hoth”), for the purchase of an aggregate of 6,800,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 (the “Shares”), of Hoth, for a purchase price of $675,000. As of June 30, 2017, Hoth had a total of 17,000,000 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. Hoth is a development stage biopharmaceutical company focused on unique targeted therapeutics for patients suffering from indications such as atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema. Hoth’s primary asset is a sublicense agreement with Chelexa Biosciences, Inc. (“Chelexa”) pursuant to which Chelexa has granted Hoth an exclusive sublicense to use its BioLexa products for the treatment of eczema. Hoth intends to develop BioLexa’s applications in the aesthetic dermatology field to help treat and reduce post-procedure infections, accelerate healing and improve clinical outcomes for patients undergoing procedures. Hoth will be implementing FDA testing procedures for BioLexa. In addition to the Purchase Agreement, the Company and Hoth entered into a Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which Hoth is obligated to register for resale on a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, all of the shares, no later than June 30, 2018. Further, the Company, Hoth and Hoth’s existing shareholders have entered into a Shareholders Agreement, pursuant to which Spherix shall have a right to appoint one director to the board of directors of Hoth for so long as the Company holds at least 10% of the issued and outstanding common stock of Hoth.

On July 18, 2017, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. with respect to the issuance and sale of an aggregate of 1,250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, in a firm commitment underwritten public offering which closed on July 24, 2017. Each share was sold for a price of $2.00 for aggregate gross proceeds of $2,500,000, with net proceeds of approximately $2.1 million, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions (equivalent to 8% of gross proceeds) and estimated offering expenses.


Corporate Information


We were incorporated in Delaware in 1967.

Our principal executive office isoffices are located at 6430 Rockledge Drive, Suite 503, Bethesda, MD 20877. OurOne Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020, our telephone number is (703) 992-9260(212) 745-1374, and our Internet website address is www.spherix.com. The information on our website is not a part of, and should not be construed as beingor incorporated by reference into,in, this prospectus.


prospectus supplement.


RISK FACTORSFACTORS

An investment

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk and should be considered only by those persons who are ablerisk.  Before deciding whether to afford a loss of their entire investment. There are important factors that could causeinvest in our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement. In particular,securities, you should carefully consider the numerous risks outlined below. Those risk factors we describe in any prospectus supplement and in any related free writing prospectus for a specific offering of securities, as well as those incorporated by reference into this prospectus or such prospectus supplement.  You should also carefully consider other information contained and incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, including our financial statements and the related notes thereto incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The risks and uncertainties described in the applicable prospectus supplement and our other filings with the SEC incorporated by reference herein are not exhaustive.the only ones we face. Additional risks we areand uncertainties not presently aware ofknown to us or that we currently believe areconsider immaterial may also impairadversely affect us. If any of the described risks occur, our business, operations. Our businessfinancial condition or results of operations could be harmed by any of these risks. The trading pricematerially harmed. In such case, the value of our common stocksecurities could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment. In assessing these risks, you should also refer to the other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including our financial statements and related notes.

Risks Related to Our Business
Because we have a limited operating history to evaluate our company, the likelihood of our success must be considered in light of the problems, expenses, difficulties, complications and delays frequently encountered by an early-stage company.
Since we have a limited operating history in our current business of patent licensing and monetization, it will make it difficult for investors and securities analysts to evaluate our business and prospects. You must consider our prospects in light of the risks, expenses and difficulties we face as an early stage company with a limited operating history. Investors should evaluate an investment in our company in light of the uncertainties encountered by early-stage companies in an intensely competitive industry and in which the potential licenses and/or defendants from which the Company seeks to obtain recoveries are largely well capitalized companies with resources (financial and otherwise) significantly greater than the Company’s. There can be no assurance that our efforts will be successful or that we will be able to become profitable.


We continue to incur operating losses and concluded that our internal control over financial reporting and our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2013 and June 30, 2014, respectively.

We have incurred losses from operations in prior years, including 2013. Our net loss for the year ended December 31, 2013 and for the six months ended June 30, 2014 was $18 million and $19.5 million, respectively. The Company’s accumulated deficit was $53.3 million at December 31, 2013 and $72.8 million at June 30, 2014. We may not achieve profitable operations.

Our assessment, testing and evaluation of the design and operating effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting resulted in our conclusion that, as of December 31, 2013, our internal control over financial reporting was not effective, due to the Company’s lack of segregation of duties, and difficulty in applying complex accounting principles, including fair value of derivatives, options and warrants as well as stock based compensation accounting. We can provide no assurance as to conclusions of management with respect to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting in the future.

With respect to the quarter ended June 30, 2014, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operations of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon this evaluation and our conclusion that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2013, our management concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of June 30, 2014.

Because we expect to need additional capital to fund our growing operations, we may not be able to obtain sufficient capital and may be forced to limit the scope of our operations.
We expect that as our business continues to grow we will need additional working capital. If adequate additional debt and/or equity financing is not available on reasonable terms or at all, we may not be able to continue to expand our business, and we will have to modify our business plans accordingly. These factors would have a material and adverse effect on our future operating results and our financial condition.
If we reach a point where we are unable to raise needed additional funds to continue as a going concern, we will be forced to cease our activities and dissolve the Company. In such an event, we will need to satisfy various creditors and other claimants, severance, lease termination and other dissolution-related obligations.
The focus of our business is to monetize intellectual property, including through licensing and enforcement. We may not be able to successfully monetize the patents which we acquire and thus may fail to realize all of the anticipated benefits of such acquisition.
We acquired our patents and patent applications during 2013 in three transactions which significantly changed the focus of our business and operations. We currently own several hundred patent assets and although we may seek to commercialize and develop products, alone or with others, there is no assurance that we will be able to successfully commercialize or develop products and such commercialization and development is not a core focus of our business. There is significant risk involved in connection with our activities in which we acquire and seek to monetize the patent portfolios that we acquired from Rockstar and North South. Our new business would commonly be referred to as an NPE model (or “non-practicing entity”) since we do not currently commercialize or develop products under the recently acquired patents. We have no prior experience as an NPE. The acquisition of the patents and an NPE business model could fail to produce anticipated benefits, or could have other adverse effects that we do not currently foresee. Failure to successfully monetize our patent assets or to operate an NPE business may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In addition, the acquisition of patent portfolios is subject to a number of risks, including, but not limited to the following:
There is a significant time lag between acquiring a patent portfolio and recognizing revenue from those patent assets. During that time lag, material costs are likely to be incurred that would have a negative effect on our results of operations, cash flows and financial position; and
The integration of a patent portfolio will be a time consuming and expensive process that may disrupt our operations. If our integration efforts are not successful, our results of operations could be harmed. In addition, we may not achieve anticipated synergies or other benefits from such acquisition.
Therefore, there is no assurance that the monetization of the patent portfolios we acquire will be successful, will occur timely or in a timeframe that is capable of prediction or will generate enough revenue to recoup our investment.
We will be initially reliant exclusively on the patent assets we acquired from North South and Rockstar. If we are unable to commercialize, license or otherwise monetize such assets and generate revenue and profit through those assets or by other means, there is a significant risk that our business will fail.
If our efforts to generate revenue from our patent portfolios acquired from Rockstar and North South fail, we will have incurred significant losses. We may not seek and may be unable to acquire additional assets and therefore may be wholly reliant on our present portfolios for revenue. If we are unable to generate revenue from our current assets and fail to acquire any additional assets, our business will likely fail.

In connection with our business, we may commence legal proceedings against certain companies whose size and resources could be substantially greater than ours; we expect such litigation to be time-consuming, lengthy and costly which may adversely affect our financial condition and our ability to survive or operate our business, even if the patents are valid and the cases we bring have merit.
To license or otherwise monetize our patent assets, we may be required to commence legal proceedings against certain large and well established and well capitalized companies. We may allege that such companies infringe on one or more of our patents. Our viability could be highly dependent on the outcome of this litigation, and there is a risk that we may be unable to achieve the results we desire from such litigation. The defendants in litigation brought by us are likely to be much larger than us and have substantially more resources than we do, which would make success of our litigation efforts subject to factors other than the validity of our patents or infringement claims asserted. The inability to successfully enforce our patents against larger more well capitalized companies would result in realization through settlement or election to not pursue certain infringers, or less value from our patents, and could result in substantially less revenue realized from infringements and lower settlement values.


We anticipate that legal proceedings against infringers of our patents may continue for several years and may require significant expenditures for legal fees and other expenses. Disputes regarding the assertion of patents and other intellectual property rights are highly complex and technical. In addition, courts and the laws are constantly changing in a manner that could make more costly the fees and expenses for pursuing infringers, and also could result in our assumption of legal fees of defendants if we are unsuccessful. Once initiated, we may be forced to litigate against others to enforce or defend our intellectual property rights or to determine the validity and scope of other parties’ proprietary rights. The defendants or other third parties involved in the lawsuits in which we are involved may allege defenses and/or file counterclaims in an effort to avoid or limit liability and damages for patent infringement. Potential defendants could challenge our patents and our actions by commencing actions seeking declaratory judgments declaring our patents invalid, not infringed, or for improper or unlawful activities. If such defenses or counterclaims are successful, they may preclude our ability to derive licensing revenue from the patents. A negative outcome of any such litigation, or one or more claims contained within any such litigation, could materially and adversely impact our business. Additionally, we anticipate that our legal fees and other expenses will be material and will negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations and may result in our inability to continue our business.

Parties who are alleged infringers of our patent rights may also challenge the validity of our patents in proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. These potential proceedings include ex parte reexaminations, inter partes review, or covered business method patent challenges. These proceedings could result in certain of our patent claims being invalidated. We would expend signification legal fees to defend against such actions.
We are the subject of litigation and, due to the nature of our business, may be the target of future legal proceedings that could have an adverse effect on our business and our ability to monetize our patents.
On January 17, 2014, an action was filed by several cable operators in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (No. 1:99-mc-09999) against Rockstar, Bockstar Technologies LLC, Constellation Technologies LLC and the Company (collectively, the “Defendants”). The complaint (the “Complaint”) was filed by Charter Communications, Inc., WideOpenWest Finance, LLC a/k/a WOW! Internet Cable & Phone, Knology, Inc., Cequel Communications, LLC d/b/a Suddenlink Communications and Cable one, Inc. (“Plaintiffs”). Plaintiffs are in the communications, cable and/or wireline industries and allege that Rockstar has accused the Plaintiffs of practicing various communication and networking technologies (including many well-established technical standards), related to those industries. The complaint states that in many instances such technical standards are designed into the equipment Plaintiffs purchase from vendors, and must be implemented to interoperate with other communications providers and their end user customers. Rockstar owns (and since December 31, 2013, we own) patents alleged to be infringed by Plaintiffs activities. The relief sought against us is principally for a declaratory judgment that Plaintiffs do not infringe the patents, requiring that the Plaintiffs be granted a patent license, that we have misused the patents and we and the other defendants have waived and are estopped from enforcing the patents in the marketplace, that we are liable to Plaintiffs for entering into an illegal conspiracy, and assessing corresponding damages, for direct and consequential damages, attorney’s fees and costs.
On June 11, 2014, the Company and the Plaintiffs filed a joint stipulation of dismissal in the action filed on January 17, 2014. As a result, the Plaintiffs’ allegations against the Company are dismissed without prejudice, with each party to bear its own costs. The Plaintiffs and the Company also agreed, with respect to all patents owned by the Company as of the date of the filing, to negotiate in good faith prior to bringing any action concerning these patents or bringing an action for infringement of these patents. The parties agreed that any further actions related to these patents will be brought solely in Delaware.
The Company may become subject to similar actions in the future which will be costly and time consuming to defend, the outcome of which are uncertain.

We may seek to internally develop additional new inventions and intellectual property, which would take time and be costly. Moreover, the failure to obtain or maintain intellectual property rights for such inventions would lead to the loss of our investments in such activities.
Part of our business may include the internal development of new inventions or intellectual property that we will seek to monetize. However, this aspect of our business would likely require significant capital and would take time to achieve. Such activities could also distract our management team from its present business initiatives, which could have a material and adverse effect on our business. There is also the risk that our initiatives in this regard would not yield any viable new inventions or technology, which would lead to a loss of our investments in time and resources in such activities.


In addition, even if we are able to internally develop new inventions, in order for those inventions to be viable and to compete effectively, we would need to develop and maintain, and we would heavily rely upon, a proprietary position with respect to such inventions and intellectual property. However, there are significant risks associated with any such intellectual property we may develop principally including the following:
patent applications we may file may not result in issued patents or may take longer than we expect to result in issued patents;
we may be subject to interference proceedings;
we may be subject to opposition proceedings in the U.S. or foreign countries;
any patents that are issued to us may not provide meaningful protection;
we may not be able to develop additional proprietary technologies that are patentable;
other companies may challenge patents issued to us;
other companies may have independently developed and/or patented (or may in the future independently develop and patent) similar or alternative technologies, or duplicate our technologies;
other companies may design around technologies we have developed; and
enforcement of our patents would be complex, uncertain and very expensive.
We cannot be certain that patents will be issued as a result of any future applications, or that any of our patents, once issued, will provide us with adequate protection from competing products. For example, issued patents may be circumvented or challenged, declared invalid or unenforceable, or narrowed in scope. In addition, since publication of discoveries in scientific or patent literature often lags behind actual discoveries, we cannot be certain that we will be the first to make our additional new inventions or to file patent applications covering those inventions. It is also possible that others may have or may obtain issued patents that could prevent us from commercializing our products or require us to obtain licenses requiring the payment of significant fees or royalties in order to enable us to conduct our business. As to those patents that we may license or otherwise monetize, our rights will depend on maintaining our obligations to the licensor under the applicable license agreement, and we may be unable to do so. Our failure to obtain or maintain intellectual property rights for our inventions would lead to the loss our business.
Moreover, patent application delays could cause delays in recognizing revenue from our internally generated patents and could cause us to miss opportunities to license patents before other competing technologies are developed or introduced into the market.
New legislation, regulations or court rulings related to enforcing patents could harm our new line of business and operating results.

If Congress, the United States Patent and Trademark Office or courts implement new legislation, regulations or rulings that impact the patent enforcement process or the rights of patent holders, these changes could negatively affect our business. For example, limitations on the ability to bring patent enforcement claims, limitations on potential liability for patent infringement, lower evidentiary standards for invalidating patents, increases in the cost to resolve patent disputes and other similar developments could negatively affect our ability to assert our patent or other intellectual property rights.
On September 16, 2011, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (the “Leahy-Smith Act”), was signed into law. The Leahy-Smith Act includes a number of significant changes to United States patent law. These changes include provisions that affect the way patent applications will be prosecuted and may also affect patent litigation. The U.S. Patent Office is currently developing regulations and procedures to govern administration of the Leahy-Smith Act, and many of the substantive changes to patent law associated with the Leahy-Smith Act recently became effective. Accordingly, it is too early to tell what, if any, impact the Leahy-Smith Act will have on the operation of our business. However, the Leahy-Smith Act and its implementation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our issued patents, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
On February 27, 2013, US Representatives DeFazio and Chaffetz introduced HR845. In general, the bill known as the SHIELD Act (“Saving High-tech Innovators from Egregious Legal Disputes”), seeks to assess legal fee liability to plaintiffs in patent infringement actions for defendant costs. In the event that the bill becomes law, the potential obligation to pay the legal fees of defendants in patent disputes could have a material adverse effect on our business or financial condition.


On June 4, 2013, the Obama Administration issued executive orders and legislative recommendations. The legislative measures recommended by the Obama Administration include requiring patentees and patent applicants to disclose the “Real Party-in-Interest”, giving district courts more discretion to award attorney’s fees to the prevailing party, requiring public filing of demand letters such that they are accessible to the public, and protecting consumers against liability for a product being used off-the shelf and solely for its intended use.
The executive orders require the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the “USPTO”) to make rules to require the disclosure of the Real Party-in-Interest by requiring patent applicants and owners to regularly update ownership information when they are involved in proceedings before the USPTO (e.g. specifying the “ultimate parent entity”) and requiring the USPTO to train its examiners to better scrutinize functional claims to prevent allowing overly broad claims.
On December 5, 2013, the United States House of Representatives passed a patent reform titled the “Innovation Act” by a vote of 325-91. Representative Bob Goodlatte, with bipartisan support, introduced the Innovation Act on October 23, 2013. The Innovation Act, as passed by the House, has a number of major changes. Some of the changes include a heightened pleading requirement for the filing of patent infringement claims. It requires a particularized statement with detailed specificity regarding how each asserted claim term corresponds to the functionality of each accused instrumentality. The Innovation Act, as passed by the House, also includes fee-shifting provisions which provide that, unless the non-prevailing party of a patent infringement litigation positions were objectively reasonable, such non-prevailing party would have to pay the attorney’s fees of the prevailing party.
The Innovation Act also calls for discovery to be limited until after claim construction. The patent infringement plaintiff must also disclose anyone with a financial interest in either the asserted patent or the patentee and must disclose the ultimate parent entity. When a manufacturer and its customers are sued at the same time, the suit against the customer would be stayed as long as the customer agrees to be bound by the results of the case.
On November 18, 2013, the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), with bipartisan support, introduced the Patent Transparency and Improvements Act of 2013 (the “Transparency Act”) in the United States Senate. The Transparency Act had many provisions that were similar to the provisions of the Innovation Act. On May 21, 2014, Senator Leahy issued a statement that he was removing the patent bill from the Senate Judiciary Committee agenda because there is not sufficient support. Senator Leahy noted further that if the stakeholders are able to reach a more targeted agreement that focuses on the problem of patent trolls, there will be a path for passage this year and that he would bring such a bill immediately to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
On April 29, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court relaxed the standard for fee shifting in patent infringement cases. Section 285 of the Patent Act provides that attorneys’ fees may be awarded to a prevailing party in a patent infringement case in “exceptional cases.”
In Octane Fitness, LLC v. Icon Health & Fitness, Inc., the Supreme Court overturned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit decisions limiting the meaning of “exceptional cases.” The U.S. Supreme Court held that an exceptional case “is simply one that stands out from others with respect to the substantive strength of a party’s litigation position” or “the unreasonable manner in which the case was litigated.” The U.S. Supreme Court also rejected the “clear and convincing evidence” standard for making this inquiry. The Court held that the standard should a “preponderance of the evidence.”
In Highmark Inc. v. Allcare Health Mgmt. Sys., Inc., the U.S. Supreme Court held that a district court’s grant of attorneys’ fees is reviewable by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit only for “abuse of discretion” by the district court instead of the de novo standard that gave no deference to the district court.
These pair of decisions lowered the threshold for obtaining attorneys’ fees in patent infringement cases and increased the level of deference given to a district court’s fee-shifting determination.
These two cases will make it much easier for district courts to shift a prevailing party’s attorneys’ fees to a non-prevailing party if the district court believes that the case was weak or conducted in an abusive manner. Defendants that get sued for patent infringement by non-practicing entities may elect to fight rather than settle the case because these U.S. Supreme Court decisions make it much easier for defendants to get attorneys’ fees.
On June 19, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank International in which the Court addressed the question of whether patents related to software are patent eligible subject matter. The Supreme Court did not rule that patents related to software were per se invalid or that software-related inventions were unpatentable. The Supreme Court outlined a test that the courts and the USPTO must apply in determining whether software-related inventions qualify as patent eligible subject matter. We must now wait and see how the federal district courts and the USPTO will apply this ruling. The test outlined by the Supreme Court could potentially affect the value of some of the patents we hold.
It is impossible to determine the extent of the impact of any new laws, regulations or initiatives that may be proposed, or whether any of the proposals will become enacted as laws in their current or modified forms. Compliance with any new or existing laws or regulations could be difficult and expensive, affect the manner in which we conduct our business and negatively impact our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

Our acquisitions of patent assets may be time consuming, complex and costly, which could adversely affect our operating results.
Acquisitions of patent or other intellectual property assets are critical to our business plan, are often time consuming, complex and costly to consummate. We may elect to not pursue any additional patents while we focus our efforts on monetizing our existing assets. We may utilize many different transaction structures in our acquisitions and the terms of such acquisition agreements tend to be heavily negotiated. As a result, we expect to incur significant operating expenses and will likely be required to raise capital during the negotiations even if the acquisition is ultimately not consummated, if we determine to acquire additional patents or other assets. Even if we are able to acquire particular patent assets, there is no guarantee that we will generate sufficient revenue related to those patent assets to offset the acquisition costs. While we will seek to conduct confirmatory due diligence on the patent assets we are considering for acquisition, we may acquire patent assets from a seller who does not have complete analysis of infringements or claims, have proper title or ownership to those assets, or otherwise provides us with flawed ownership rights, including invalid or unenforceable assets. In those cases, we may be required to spend significant resources to defend our interest in the patent assets and, if we are not successful, our acquisition may be worthless, in which case we could lose part or all of our investment in the assets.
We may also identify patent or other intellectual property assets that cost more than we are prepared to spend with our own capital resources. We may incur significant costs to organize and negotiate a structured acquisition that does not ultimately result in an acquisition of any patent assets or, if consummated, proves to be unprofitable for us. Acquisitions involving issuance of our securities could be dilutive to existing stockholders and could be at prices lower than those prices reflected in the trading markets. These higher costs could adversely affect our operating results and, if we incur losses, the value of our securities will decline.

In addition, we may acquire patents and technologies that are in the early stages of adoption. Demand for some of these technologies will likely be untested and may be subject to fluctuation based upon the rate at which our licensees or others adopt our patents and technologies in their products and services. As a result, there can be no assurance as to whether technologies we acquire or develop will have value that can be realized through licensing or other activities.
We have ongoing financial obligations to Rockstar under the terms of the December 2013 acquisition. Our failure to comply with our obligations to Rockstar could have a material adverse effect on the value of our assets, our financial performance and our ability to sustain operations.
In connection with our agreement to acquire Rockstar patents entered on December 31, 2013, the Company and Rockstar entered into a series of agreements which require us to redeem $20 million of stated value of Series I Convertible Preferred Stock in $5 million increments on each of the 6, 12, 18 and 24 months anniversary of the purchase. We presently have inadequate cash to fund all of such payments. In the event that such payments are not timely made, Rockstar may employ certain remedies, including the imposition of interest at a rate of 15% per annum from the closing date on unpaid and unconverted amounts due and after the 12 month anniversary can reduce the redemption obligations through sale or recovery of patents in the acquisition at a value equal to unconverted amounts due which have been pledged as collateral for such obligations. Rockstar has filed a UCC-1 covering our redemption obligations and the right to foreclose on the collateral. The redemption obligation is also required to be satisfied in the event that we engage in certain capital raising transactions (among other instances, where such transactions result in net proceeds to us in excess of $7.5 million) and from recoveries on other assets. The obligation to utilize capital from financings and from other sources or the loss of patents to Rockstar upon a default could adversely impact our liquidity and financial position.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2014, we redeemed 84,219 shares of Series I Preferred Stock. In accordance with this redemption, we paid Rockstar $14.1 million. This payment fully satisfied the redemption payments that were due on June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2014 and satisfied $4.1 million of the $5.0 million redemption payment due on June 30, 2015.


In certain acquisitions of patent assets, we may seek to defer payment or finance a portion of the acquisition price. This approach may put us at a competitive disadvantage and could result in harm to our business.
We have limited capital and may seek to negotiate acquisitions of patent or other intellectual property assets where we can defer payments or finance a portion of the acquisition price. These types of debt financing or deferred payment arrangements may not be as attractive to sellers of patent assets as receiving the full purchase price for those assets in cash at the closing of the acquisition, and, as a result, we might not compete effectively against other companies in the market for acquiring patent assets, many of whom have greater cash resources than we have. We may also finance our activities by issuance of debt which could require interest and amortization payments which we may not have the ability to repay, in which case we could be in default under the terms of loan agreements. We may pledge our assets as collateral and if we are in default under our agreements, we could lose our assets through foreclosure or similar processes or become insolvent or bankrupt in which case investors could lose their entire investment.

Any failure to maintain or protect our patent assets or other intellectual property rights could significantly impair our return on investment from such assets and harm our brand, our business and our operating results.
Our ability to operate our new line of business and compete in the intellectual property market largely depends on the superiority, uniqueness and value of our acquired patent assets and other intellectual property. To protect our proprietary rights, we will rely on a combination of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws, confidentiality agreements with our employees and third parties, and protective contractual provisions. No assurances can be given that any of the measures we undertake to protect and maintain our assets will have any measure of success.
We will be required to spend significant time and resources to maintain the effectiveness of our assets by paying maintenance fees and making filings with the USPTO. We may acquire patent assets, including patent applications, which require us to spend resources to prosecute the applications with the USPTO prior to issuance of patents. Further, there is a material risk that patent related claims (such as, for example, infringement claims (and/or claims for indemnification resulting therefrom), unenforceability claims, or invalidity claims) will be asserted or prosecuted against us, and such assertions or prosecutions could materially and adversely affect our business. Regardless of whether any such claims are valid or can be successfully asserted, defending such claims could cause us to incur significant costs and could divert resources away from our other activities.
Despite our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights, any of the following or similar occurrences may reduce the value of our intellectual property:
our applications for patents, trademarks and copyrights may not be granted and, if granted, may be challenged or invalidated;
issued trademarks, copyrights, or patents may not provide us with any competitive advantages when compared to potentially infringing other properties;
our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights may not be effective in preventing misappropriation of our technology; or
our efforts may not prevent the development and design by others of products or technologies similar to or competitive with, or superior to those we acquire and/or prosecute.
Moreover, we may not be able to effectively protect our intellectual property rights in certain foreign countries where we may do business or enforce our patents against infringers in foreign countries. If we fail to maintain, defend or prosecute our patent assets properly, the value of those assets would be reduced or eliminated, and our business would be harmed.

Weak global economic conditions may cause infringing parties to delay entering into licensing agreements, which could prolong our litigation and adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.
Our business plan depends significantly on worldwide economic conditions, and the United States and world economies have recently experienced weak economic conditions. Uncertainty about global economic conditions poses a risk as businesses may postpone spending in response to tighter credit, negative financial news and declines in income or asset values. This response could have a material negative effect on the willingness of parties infringing on our assets to enter into licensing or other revenue generating agreements voluntarily. Entering into such agreements is critical to our business plan, and our failure to do so could cause material harm to our business.


If we are not able to protect our intellectual property from unauthorized use, it could diminish the value of our products and services, weaken our competitive position and reduce our revenue.
Our success depends in large part on our intellectual property ownership. In addition, we believe that our trade secrets and non patented technology may be key to identifying and differentiating our products and services from those of our competitors. We may be required to spend significant resources to monitor and police our intellectual property rights. If we fail to successfully enforce our intellectual property rights, the value of our products and services could be diminished and our competitive position may suffer.
We rely on a combination of copyright, trademark and trade secret laws, confidentiality procedures and licensing arrangements to establish and protect our proprietary rights. Third-parties could copy or otherwise obtain and use our property without authorization or develop similar information and property independently, which may infringe upon our proprietary rights. We may not be able to detect infringement and may lose competitive position in the market before we do so, including situations which may damage our ability to succeed in licensing negotiations or legal proceedings such as patent infringement cases we may bring. In addition, competitors may design around our technologies or develop competing technologies. Intellectual property protection may also be unavailable or limited in some foreign countries.
If we are forced to resort to legal proceedings to enforce our intellectual property rights, the proceedings could be burdensome and expensive. In addition, our proprietary rights could be at risk if we are unsuccessful in, or cannot afford to pursue, those proceedings. We will also rely on trade secrets and contract law to protect some of our proprietary technology. We will enter into confidentiality and invention agreements with inventors, employees and consultants and common interest agreements with parties associated with our litigation efforts. Nevertheless, these agreements may not be honored and they may not effectively protect our right to our privileged, confidential or proprietary information or our patented or un-patented trade secrets and know-how. Others may independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and techniques or otherwise gain access to our trade secrets and know-how.
We face evolving regulation of corporate governance and public disclosure that may result in additional expenses and continuing uncertainty.
Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, SEC regulations and NASDAQ Stock Market LLC rules are creating uncertainty for public companies. We are presently evaluating and monitoring developments with respect to new and proposed rules and cannot predict or estimate the amount of the additional costs we may incur or the timing of these costs. For example, compliance with the internal control requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act has to date required the commitment of significant resources to document and test the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting. These new or changed laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. We are committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance and public disclosure. As a result, we intend to invest the resources necessary to comply with evolving laws, regulations and standards, and this investment may result in increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities. If our efforts to comply with new or changed laws, regulations and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing bodies, due to ambiguities related to practice or otherwise, regulatory authorities may initiate legal proceedings against us, which could be costly and time-consuming, and our reputation and business may be harmed.


If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud and our business may be harmed and our stock price may be adversely impacted.
Effective internal controls over financial reporting are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and to effectively prevent fraud. Any inability to provide reliable financial reports or to prevent fraud could harm our business. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires management to evaluate and assess the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. In order to continue to comply with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we are required to continuously evaluate and, where appropriate, enhance our policies, procedures and internal controls. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls over financial reporting, we could be subject to litigation or regulatory scrutiny and investors could lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports. We cannot assure you that in the future we will be able to fully comply with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act or that management will conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective. If we fail to fully comply with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, our business may be harmed and our stock price may decline.
Our assessment, testing and evaluation of the design and operating effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting resulted in our conclusion that, as of December 31, 2013, our internal control over financial reporting was not effective, due to the Company’s lack of segregation of duties, and difficulty in applying complex accounting principles, including fair value of derivatives, options and warrants as well as stock based compensation accounting. We can provide no assurance as to conclusions of management with respect to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting in the future.

With respect to the quarter ended June 30, 2014, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operations of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon this evaluation and our conclusion that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2013, our management concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of June 30, 2014.

If we make acquisitions, it could divert management’s attention, cause ownership dilution to our shareholders and be difficult to integrate.
Following our acquisition of North South in September 2013, we have grown rapidly and we expect to continue to evaluate and consider future acquisitions. Acquisitions generally involve significant risks, including difficulties in the assimilation of the assets, services and technologies we acquire or industry overlay on which the patent assets read, diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns, overvaluation of the acquired assets, and the acceptance of the acquired assets and/or claims. Acquisitions may not be successful, which can have a number of adverse effects upon us including adverse financial effects and may seriously disrupt our management’s time. The integration of acquired assets may place a significant burden on management and our internal resources. The diversion of management attention and any difficulties encountered in the integration process could harm our business.

If we fail to manage our existing assets and patent inventory and third party relationships (such as attorneys and experts) effectively, our revenue and profits could decline and should we fail to acquire additional revenues from license fees, our growth could be impeded.
Our success depends in part on our ability to manage our existing portfolios of patent assets and manage our third party data relationships necessary to monetize our assets effectively. Our attorneys and experts are not bound by long-term contracts that ensure us a consistent access to expertise necessary to enforce our patents, which is crucial to our ability to generate license revenues and prosecute infringers. In addition, attorneys and experts can change the cost of the services they provide, such as contingent fees that we are required to pay, and our arrangements often required an increasing percentage of recoveries to be devoted to attorney’s fees depending on the length of time or stage of the case prior to settlement or recovery, reducing the residual amount available to us following conclusion of a case. If an attorney, seller, inventor or expert decides not to provide needed assistance in connection with a case, or provides assistance to prospective licensees or defendants, we may not be able to timely replace this expertise with that from other sources or prevent such assistance to others from damaging our claims and prospects for recovery or licensing thus resulting in potentially lost cases, opportunities, or revenues and potentially diminishing the value of our patent assets. The ability to utilize attorneys, sellers’ personnel, inventors or experts will depend on various factors, some of which are beyond our control.


Our independent registered public accounting firm has expressed doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, which may hinder our ability to obtain future financing.
In their report dated March 31, 2014, our independent registered public accountants stated that our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013 were prepared assuming that we would continue as a going concern. Our ability to continue as a going concern, which may hinder our ability to obtain future financing, is an issue raised as a result of recurring losses from operations. We continue to experience net operating losses. Our ability to continue as a going concern is subject to our ability to generate a profit and/or obtain necessary funding from outside sources, including obtaining additional funding from the sale of our securities, increasing sales or obtaining loans and grants from various financial institutions where possible. Our continued net operating losses increase the difficulty in meeting such goals and there can be no assurances that such methods will prove successful.

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock
Our share price may be volatile and there may not be an active trading market for our common stock.
There can be no assurance that the market price of our common stock will not decline below its present market price or that there will be an active trading market for our common stock. The market prices of technology or technology related companies have been and are likely to continue to be highly volatile. Fluctuations in our operating results and general market conditions for technology or technology related stocks could have a significant impact on the volatility of our common stock price. We have experienced significant volatility in the price of our common stock. From January 1, 2011 through September 12 , 2014, the share price of our common stock (on a split-adjusted basis) has ranged from a high of $218.00 to a low of $1.17 . The reason for the volatility in our stock is not well understood and may continue. Factors that may have contributed to such volatility include, but are not limited to:
developments regarding regulatory filings;
our funding requirements and the terms of our financing arrangements;
technological innovations;
introduction of new technologies by us or our competitors;
material changes in existing litigation;
changes in the enforceability or other matters surrounding our patent portfolios;
government regulations and laws;
developments in patent or other proprietary rights;
the number of shares issued and outstanding;
the number of shares trading on an average trading day;
announcements regarding other participants in the technology and technology related industries, including our competitors; and
market speculation regarding any of the foregoing.
Our common stock may be delisted from The NASDAQ Capital Market if we fail to comply with continued listing standards.
Our common stock is currently traded on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “SPEX.” If we fail to meet any of the continued listing standards of The NASDAQ Capital Market, our common stock could be delisted from The NASDAQ Capital Market. These continued listing standards include specifically enumerated criteria, such as:
a $1.00 minimum closing bid price;
stockholders’ equity of $2.5 million;
500,000 shares of publicly-held common stock with a market value of at least $1 million;
300 round-lot stockholders; and
compliance with NASDAQ’s corporate governance requirements, as well as additional or more stringent criteria that may be applied in the exercise of NASDAQ’s discretionary authority.
Prior to our entering into our new line of business, we had several instances of NASDAQ deficiencies.


On April 20, 2012, the Company received a deficiency notice from NASDAQ regarding the bid price of our common stock. Following a 1 for 20 reverse stock split, on October 8, 2012, NASDAQ provided confirmation to us that we regained compliance with Marketplace Rule 5550(a)(2) since the closing bid price of its common stock had traded at $1.00 per share or greater for at least ten (10) consecutive business days. This was the second time the Company employed a reverse stock split to avoid NASDAQ delisting.

On September 25, 2012, the Company received written notification from NASDAQ advising that the minimum number of publicly held shares of our common stock had fallen below the minimum 500,000 shares required for continued listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market pursuant to NASDAQ Rule 5550(a)(4). As a result of our November 2012 private placement transaction, the Company was advised by NASDAQ that it regained compliance with Rule 5550(a)(4).
On December 31, 2012, our total stockholders’ equity was $854,000, and was below the $2.5 million listing standard required by NASDAQ. In March 2013, we exchanged warrants issued in November 2012 for Series C Preferred Stock, effectively increasing total stockholders’ equity to approximately $2.8 million.

If we fail to comply with NASDAQ’s continued listing standards, we may be delisted and our common stock will trade, if at all, only on the over-the-counter market, such as the OTC Bulletin Board or OTCQX market, and then only if one or more registered broker-dealer market makers comply with quotation requirements. In addition, delisting of our common stock could depress our stock price, substantially limit liquidity of our common stock and materially adversely affect our ability to raise capital on terms acceptable to us, or at all.
We could fail in future financing efforts or be delisted from The NASDAQ Capital Market if we fail to receive stockholder approval when needed.
We are required under the NASDAQ rules to obtain stockholder approval for any issuance of additional equity securities that would comprise more than 20% of the total shares of our common stock outstanding before the issuance of such securities sold at a discount to the greater of book or market value in an offering that is not deemed to be a “public offering” by NASDAQ. Funding of our operations and acquisitions of assets may require issuance of additional equity securities that would comprise more than 20% of the total shares of our common stock outstanding, but we might not be successful in obtaining the required stockholder approval for such an issuance. If we are unable to obtain financing due to stockholder approval difficulties, such failure may have a material adverse effect on our ability to continue operations.
Our shares of common stock are thinly traded and, as a result, stockholders may be unable to sell at or near ask prices, or at all, if they need to sell shares to raise money or otherwise desire to liquidate their shares.
Our common stock has been “thinly-traded” meaning that the number of persons interested in purchasing our common stock at or near ask prices at any given time may be relatively small or non-existent. This situation is attributable to a number of factors, including the fact that we are a small company that is relatively unknown to stock analysts, stock brokers, institutional investors and others in the investment community that generate or influence sales volume, and that even if we came to the attention of such persons, they tend to be risk-averse and would be reluctant to follow an unproven company such as ours or purchase or recommend the purchase of our shares until such time as we become more seasoned and viable. In addition, we believe that due to the limited number of shares of our common stock outstanding, an options market has not been established for our common stock, limiting the ability of market participants to hedge or otherwise undertake trading strategies available for larger companies with broader shareholder bases which prevents institutions and others from acquiring or trading in our securities. Consequently, there may be periods of several days or more when trading activity in our shares is minimal or non-existent, as compared to a seasoned issuer which has a large and steady volume of trading activity that will generally support continuous sales without an adverse effect on share price. We cannot give stockholders any assurance that a broader or more active public trading market for our common shares will develop or be sustained, or that current trading levels will be sustained.
Dividends on our common stock are not likely.
We do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Investors must look solely to the potential for appreciation in the market price of the shares of our common stock to obtain a return on their investment.


Because of the Rights Agreement and “Anti-Takeover” provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, a third party may be discouraged from making a takeover offer that could be beneficial to our stockholders.
Effective as of January 24, 2013, we adopted a new shareholder rights plan. The effect of this rights plan and of certain provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws, and the anti-takeover provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, could delay or prevent a third party from acquiring us or replacing members of our Board of Directors, or make more costly any attempt to acquire control of the Company, even if the acquisition or the Board designees would be beneficial to our stockholders. These factors could also reduce the price that certain investors might be willing to pay for shares of the common stock and result in the market price being lower than it would be without these provisions.
In addition, defendants in actions seeking to enforce our patents may seek to influence our Board of Directors and stockholders by acquiring positions in the Company to force consideration of settlement or licensing proposals that may be less desirable than other outcomes such as litigation with respect to our monetization or patent enforcement activities. The effect of such influences on our Company or our corporate governance could reduce the value of our monetization activities and have an adverse affect on the value of our assets. The effect of Anti-Takeover provisions could impact the ability of prospective defendants to obtain influence in the Company or representation on the Board of Directors or acquire a significant ownership position and such result may have an adverse effect on the Company and the value of its securities.
If we cannot manage our growth effectively, we may not establish or maintain profitability.
Businesses which grow rapidly often have difficulty managing their growth. If our business continues to grow as rapidly as it has since September 2013 and as we anticipate, we will need to expand our management by recruiting and employing experienced executives and key employees capable of providing the necessary support.
We cannot assure you that our management will be able to manage our growth effectively or successfully. Our failure to meet these challenges could cause us to continue to lose money, which will reduce our stock price.

It may be difficult to predict our financial performance because our quarterly operating results may fluctuate.
Our revenues, operating results and valuations of certain assets and liabilities may vary significantly from quarter to quarter due to a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. You should not rely on period-to-period comparisons of our results of operations as an indication of our future performance. Our results of operations may fall below the expectations of market analysts and our own forecasts. If this happens, the market price of our common stock may fall significantly. The factors that may affect our quarterly operating results include the following:

fluctuations in results of our enforcement and licensing activities or outcome of cases;
fluctuations in duration of judicial processes and time to completion of cases;
the timing and amount of expenses incurred to negotiate with licensees and obtain settlements from infringers;
the impact of our anticipated need for personnel and expected substantial increase in headcount;
fluctuations in the receptiveness of courts and juries to significant damages awards in patent infringement cases and speed to trial in the jurisdictions in which our cases may be brought and the accepted royalty rates attributable to damages analysis for patent cases generally, including the royalty rates for industry standard patents which we may own or acquire;
worsening economic conditions which cause revenues or profits attributable to infringer sales of products or services to decline;
changes in the regulatory environment, including regulation of NPE activities or patenting practices , that may negatively impact our or infringers practices;
the timing and amount of expenses associated with litigation, regulatory investigations or restructuring activities, including settlement costs and regulatory penalties assessed related to government enforcement actions;
Any changes we make in our Critical Accounting Estimates described in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of our periodic reports;

the adoption of new accounting pronouncements, or new interpretations of existing accounting pronouncements, that impact the manner in which we account for, measure or disclose our results of operations, financial position or other financial measures; and
costs related to acquisitions of technologies or businesses.

If we fail to retain our key personnel, we may not be able to achieve our anticipated level of growth and our business could suffer.
Our future depends, in part, on our ability to attract and retain key personnel and the continued contributions of our executive officers, each of whom may be difficult to replace. In particular, Anthony Hayes, our Chief Executive Officer, is important to the management of our business and operations and the development of our strategic direction. The loss of the services of any such individual and the process to replace any key personnel would involve significant time and expense and may significantly delay or prevent the achievement of our business objectives.
Our largest shareholders can exert significant control over our business and affairs and may have actual or potential interests that may depart from those of our other shareholders.
Our largest outside stockholders own a substantial percentage of our outstanding voting capital. The interests of such persons may differ from the interests of other stockholders. There can be no assurance that our significant stockholders will, in future matters submitted for stockholder approval, vote in favor of such matter, even if such matters are recommended for approval by management or are in the best interest of stockholders, generally. As a result, in addition to their positions with us, such persons will have the ability to vote their significant holdings in favor of proposals presented to our stockholders for approval, including proposals to:
elect or defeat the election of our directors;
amend or prevent amendment of our certificate of incorporation or bylaws;
effect or prevent a merger, sale of assets or other corporate transaction; and
control the outcome of any other matter submitted to the shareholders for vote.

In addition, such holder’s stock ownership may discourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us, which in turn could reduce our stock price or prevent our stockholders from realizing a premium over our stock price. Our significant stockholders could also utilize their significant ownership interest to seek to influence management and decisions of the Company.
Because an increasing amount of our outstanding shares may become freely tradable, sales of these shares could cause the market price of our common stock to drop significantly, even if our business is performing well.
As of September 12, 2014, we had outstanding 28,599,467 shares of common stock, of which our directors and executive officers own 23,224 shares which are subject to the limitations of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Of these shares, 10,000,000 represent shares of common stock issued upon the conversion of the Series J Preferred Stock on June 2, 2014, which shares were issued in an offering registered under the Securities Act and are generally freely tradable.

In general, Rule 144 provides that any non-affiliate of ours, who has held restricted common stock for at least six-months, is entitled to sell their restricted stock freely, provided that we are then current in our filings with the SEC.


An affiliate of the Company may sell after six months with the following restrictions:
we are current in our filings,
certain manner of sale provisions,
filing of Form 144, and
volume limitations limiting the sale of shares within any three-month period to a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of 1% of the total number of outstanding shares or, the average weekly trading volume during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice of sale.
Because almost all of our outstanding shares are freely tradable (subject to certain restrictions imposed by lockup agreements executed by the holders thereof) and the shares held by our affiliates may be freely sold (subject to the Rule 144 limitations), sales of these shares could cause the market price of our common stock to drop significantly, even if our business is performing well.

DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include those that express plans, anticipation, intent, contingency, goals, targets or future development and/or otherwise are not statements of historical fact. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and projections about future events and they are subject to risks and uncertainties known and unknown that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements.
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology, such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “should”, “could” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. Accordingly, these statements involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in them. Any forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed throughout this prospectus.
You should read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents that we reference herein and therein and have filed as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is part, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus or such prospectus supplement only. Because the risk factors referred to above, as well as the risk factors referred to on page 4 of this prospectus and incorporated herein by reference, could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict which factors will arise. In addition, we cannot assess the impact of each factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. We qualify all of the information presented in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, and particularly our forward-looking statements, by these cautionary statements.
USE OF PROCEEDSPROCEEDS
Except as

Unless otherwise providedindicated in the applicablea prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from these sales for working capital and general corporate purposes, which includes, without limitation, investing in or acquiring companies that are synergistic with or complimentary to our technologies, licensing activities related to our current and future product candidates and working capital, the saledevelopment of emerging technologies, investing in or acquiring companies that are developing emerging technologies, licensing activities, or the acquisition of other businesses. The amounts and timing of these expenditures will depend on numerous factors, including the development of our current business initiatives.


PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities from time to time to or through underwriters or dealers, through agents, or directly to one or more purchasers.  A distribution of the securities offered by this prospectus may also be effected through the issuance of derivative securities, including without limitation, warrants, rights to purchase and subscriptions.  In addition, the manner in which we may sell some or all of the securities covered by this prospectus includes, without limitation, through:

a block trade in which a broker-dealer will attempt to sell as agent, but may position or resell a portion of the block, as principal, in order to facilitate the transaction;
purchases by a broker-dealer, as principal, and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; or
ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker solicits purchasers.

A prospectus supplement or supplements with respect to each series of securities will describe the terms of the offering, including, to the extent applicable:

the terms of the offering;
the name or names of the underwriters or agents and the amounts of securities underwritten or purchased by each of them, if any;
the public offering price or purchase price of the securities or other consideration therefor, and the proceeds to be received by us from the sale;
any delayed delivery requirements;
any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us;
any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation
any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers; and
any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed.

The offer and sale of the securities described in this prospectus by us, the underwriters or the third parties described above may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions, including privately negotiated transactions, either:

at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;
in an “at the market” offering within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act;
at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or
at negotiated prices.

Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement will be underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement.

Underwriters and Agents; Direct Sales

If underwriters are used in a sale, they will acquire the offered securities for general corporate purposes, whichtheir own account and may resell the offered securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale.  We may offer the securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate.

Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement.  Subject to certain conditions, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement, other than securities covered by any over-allotment option. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may change from time to time. We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe in the prospectus supplement, naming the underwriter, the nature of any such relationship.

We may sell securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities, and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, our agent will act on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

We may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers by certain types of institutional investors to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future.  We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in the prospectus supplement.

Dealers

We may sell the offered securities to dealers as principals. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public either at varying prices to be determined by the dealer or at a fixed offering price agreed to with us at the time of resale.


Institutional Purchasers

We may authorize agents, dealers or underwriters to solicit certain institutional investors to purchase offered securities on a delayed delivery basis pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified future date. The applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, as the case may be, will provide the details of any such arrangement, including the offering price and commissions payable on the solicitations.

We will enter into such delayed contracts only with institutional purchasers that we approve. These institutions may include working capital, capital expenditures, researchcommercial and development expenditures, regulatory affairs expenditures, acquisitionssavings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions.

Indemnification; Other Relationships

We may provide agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms with indemnification against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may make with respect to these liabilities. Agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms, and their affiliates, may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of new intellectual properties, technologiesbusiness.  This includes commercial banking and investments, monetizationinvestment banking transactions.

Market-Making; Stabilization and Other Transactions

There is currently no market for any of the offered securities, other than our patentscommon stock, which is quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market.  If the offered securities are traded after their initial issuance, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price, depending upon prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities and other factors. While it is possible that an underwriter could inform us that it intends to make a market in the repayment, refinancing, redemptionoffered securities, such underwriter would not be obligated to do so, and any such market-making could be discontinued at any time without notice. Therefore, no assurance can be given as to whether an active trading market will develop for the offered securities.  We have no current plans for listing of the debt securities, preferred stock, warrants or repurchase of future indebtednesssubscription rights on any securities exchange or capital stock.

The intended application of proceeds from the sale ofquotation system; any such listing with respect to any particular offering ofdebt securities, using this prospectuspreferred stock, warrants or subscription rights will be described in the accompanyingapplicable prospectus supplement relating to such offering. The precise amountor other offering materials, as the case may be.

Any underwriter may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and timingpenalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the applicationoffering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum price. Syndicate-covering or other short-covering transactions involve purchases of these proceeds will depend on our funding requirements and the availability and costssecurities, either through exercise of other funds.


THE SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER
Wethe securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may offerdiscontinue any of the following securities from timeactivities at any time.

Any underwriters or agents that are qualified market makers on the Nasdaq Capital Market may engage in passive market making transactions in our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act, during the business day prior to time:


·shares of our common stock;
·shares of our preferred stock;
·warrants to purchase shares of our preferred stock or common stock; or
·any combination of our common stock, preferred stock, or warrants.
When we use the term “securities”pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales of our common stock. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in this prospectus, we mean anyexcess of the highest independent bid for such security; if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded. Passive market making may stabilize the market price of the securities weat a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market and, if commenced, may offer withbe discontinued at any time.

Fees and Commissions

If 5% or more of the net proceeds of any offering of securities made under this prospectus unless we say otherwise. will be received by a FINRA member participating in the offering or affiliates or associated persons of such FINRA member, the offering will be conducted in accordance with FINRA Rule 5121.


DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

General

This prospectus including the following summary, describes the general terms that may apply to the securities; the specific terms of any particular securities that we may offer will be described in a separate supplement to this prospectus.

Common Stock. We may offer shares of our commoncapital stock. Our common stockThe following description is traded on The NASDAQ Capital Market undernot complete and may not contain all the symbol “SPEX.”
Preferred Stock. We mayinformation you should consider before investing in our capital stock. For a more detailed description of these securities, you should read the applicable provisions of Delaware law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, referred to herein as our certificate of incorporation, and our amended and restated bylaws, referred to herein as our bylaws. When we offer our preferred stock in one or more series. For anyto sell a particular series we offer, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific designation; the aggregate number of shares offered; the rate and periods, or manner of calculating the rate and periods, for dividends, if any; the stated value and liquidation preference amount, if any; the voting rights, if any; the terms on which the series will be convertible into or exchangeable for otherthese securities, or property, if any; the redemption terms, if any; and any other specific terms.
Warrants. We may offer warrants to purchase our common stock and preferred stock. For any particular warrants we offer, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the underlying security; the expiration date; the exercise price or the manner of determining the exercise price; the amount and kind, or the manner of determining the amount and kind, of any security to be delivered by us upon exercise; and any other specific terms. We may issue the warrants under warrant agreements between us and one or more warrant agents.
Units. We may offer units comprised of our common stock, preferred stock and warrants in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit.

This prospectus contains a summary of the general terms of the various securities that we may offer. The prospectus supplement relating to any particular securities offered will describe the specific terms of the series in a supplement to this prospectus. Accordingly, for a description of the terms of any series of securities, which may be in additionyou must refer to or different fromboth the general terms summarizedprospectus supplement relating to that series and the description of the securities described in this prospectus. BecauseTo the summaryextent the information contained in this prospectus and in any accompanyingthe prospectus supplement does not contain all ofdiffers from this summary description, you should rely on the information that youin the prospectus supplement.

The total number of shares of capital stock we are authorized to issue is 150,000,000 shares, of which (a) 100,000,000 are common stock and (b) 50,000,000 are preferred stock.

We, directly or through agents, dealers or underwriters designated from time to time, may find useful, you should readoffer, issue and sell, together or separately, up to $30,000,000 in the documents relatingaggregate of:

common stock;
preferred stock;
purchase contracts;
warrants to purchase our securities;
subscription rights to purchase our securities;
depositary shares;
secured or unsecured debt securities consisting of notes, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness which may be senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities or subordinated debt securities, each of which may be convertible into equity securities; or
units comprised of, or other combinations of, the foregoing securities.

We may issue the debt securities as exchangeable for or convertible into shares of common stock, preferred stock or other securities that are described inmay be sold by us pursuant to this prospectus or in any accompanyingcombination of the foregoing. The preferred stock may also be exchangeable for and/or convertible into shares of common stock, another series of preferred stock or other securities that may be sold by us pursuant to this prospectus supplement. Please read “Where You Can Find More Information”or any combination of the foregoing.  When a particular series of securities is offered, a supplement to find out how you can obtain a copy of those documents.


The accompanyingthis prospectus supplement will also containbe delivered with this prospectus, which will set forth the terms of a giventhe offering the initial offering price and our net proceeds. Where applicable, a prospectus supplement will also describe any material United States federal income tax consequences relating to the securities offered and indicate whether the securities offered are or will be quoted or listed on any quotation system or securities exchange.
This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
General
The following description of common stock and preferred stock, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the common stock and preferred stock and is not complete. For the complete terms of our common stock and preferred stock, please refer to our offered securities.

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation which may be further amended from time to time, any certificates of designation for our preferred stock, and our amended and restated bylaws, as amended from time to time. The Delaware General Corporation Law (“DCGL) may also affect the terms of these securities.

On April 24, 2014, we filed an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, which was previously approved by our stockholders at our annual meeting held on February 6, 2014.

The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, among other things, increasesincreased our authorized number of shares of common stock and preferred stock to 200,000,000 shares from 50,000,000 shares and to 50,000,000 shares from 5,000,000 shares, respectively. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation also requires us to indemnify our directors, officer and agents and advance expenses to such persons to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.
shares.

Additionally, on April 23, 2014, we filed a Certificate of Elimination with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware eliminating our Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, Series E Convertible Preferred Stock and Series F Convertible Preferred Stock and returning them to authorized but undesignated shares of our preferred stock. None

On March 4, 2016, the Company implemented a reverse stock split with a ratio of 1-for-19. The par value and other terms of the foregoing series of preferredcommon stock were outstanding. On November 26, 2013, we issued an aggregatenot affected by the reverse stock split. In addition, the amendment to the Company’s certificate of 304,250 sharesincorporation that effected the reverse stock split simultaneously reduced the number of Series F-1 Convertible Preferred Stock in exchange for 304,250 shares of Series F Preferred Stock, which shares were convertible into 304,250 shares of common stock. All shares of Series F-1 Convertible Preferred Stock have been converted into common stock, and no shares of Series F-1 Convertible Preferred Stock remain outstanding. On June 2, 2014, we issued 10,000,000 shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, which shares were convertible into a total of 10,000,000 shares of common stock. All shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock have been converted into common stock, and no shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock remain outstanding.

Our authorized capital stock consists of 200,000,000 shares of common stock $0.0001 par value, and 50,000,000 sharesfrom 200,000,000 to 100,000,000.

Common Stock

As of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value. The authorized and unissuedJanuary 8, 2018, there were 6,234,910 shares of common stock issued and the authorized and undesignated6,234,898 shares of common stock outstanding, held of record by approximately 121 stockholders. Subject to preferential rights with respect to any outstanding preferred stock, all outstanding shares of common stock are available for issuance without further action by our stockholders, unless such action is required by applicable law orof the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded. If the approval of our stockholders is not so required, our board of directors may determine not to seek stockholder approval.

Common Stock

same class and have equal rights and attributes.

Subject to the rights of the preferred stock, holders of common stock are entitled to receive such dividends as are declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends. We presently intend to retain any earnings to fund the development of our business. Accordingly, we do not anticipate paying any dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. Any future determination as to declaration and payment of dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors.


In the event of the liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, each outstanding share of our common stock will be entitled to share equally in any of our assets remaining after payment of or provision for our debts and other liabilities.


Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on matters to be voted upon by stockholders. There is no cumulative voting for the election of directors, which means that the holders of shares entitled to exercise more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting rights in the election of directors are able to elect all of the directors.



Holders of common stock have no preemptive rights to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares of common stock or other obligations convertible into shares of common stock which we may issue after the date of this prospectus.


All of the outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. Holders of our common stock are not liable for further calls or assessments.

The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may designate in the future.


Preferred Stock

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is VStock Transfer, LLC, with an address at 18 Lafayette Place, Woodmere, NY 11598.

Listing

Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “SPEX”. We have not applied to list our common stock on any other exchange or quotation system.

Limitations on Directors’ Liability

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions indemnifying our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.

In addition, as permitted by Delaware law, our certificate of incorporation provides that no director will be liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of the director’s fiduciary duty as a director. The effect of this provision is to restrict our rights and the rights of our stockholders in derivative suits to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of the director’s fiduciary duty as a director, except that a director will be personally liable for:

any breach of his or her duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

acts or omissions not in good faith which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

the payment of dividends or the redemption or purchase of stock in violation of Delaware law; or

any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

This provision does not affect a director’s liability under the federal securities laws.

To the extent that our directors, officers and controlling persons are indemnified under the provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or Delaware law against liabilities arising under the Securities Act, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, our Shareholder Rights Plan, and Delaware Law that May Have an Anti-Takeover Effect

Certain provisions set forth in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation authorizes 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Our board of directors is authorized, without further stockholder action, to establish various series of such preferred stock from time to timeShareholder Rights Plan, and to determine the rights, preferences and privileges of any unissued series including, among other matters, any dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences, sinking fund terms, the number of shares constituting any such series, and the description thereof and to issue any such shares. Although there is no current intent to do so, our board of directors may, without stockholder approval, issue shares of an additional class or series of preferred stock with voting and conversion rights which could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of the common stock.


One of the effects of the preferred stock may be to enable the board of directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and thereby to protect the continuity of the management.

We will fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the preferred stock of each series in the certificate of designation relating to that series. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, the certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering. This description will include the terms of such preferred stock, including but not limited to, any or all of the following, as required:
·the title and stated value;

·the number of shares we are offering;

·the liquidation preference per share;

·the purchase price;

·the dividend rate, period and payment date and method of calculation for dividends;

·whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate;

·any contractual limitations on our ability to declare, set aside or pay any dividends;

·the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any;

·the provisions for a sinking fund, if any;

·the provisions for redemption or repurchase, if applicable, and any restrictions on our ability to exercise those redemption and repurchase rights;

·any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market;

·whether the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock, and, if applicable, the conversion price, or how it will be calculated, and the conversion period;

·whether the preferred stock will be exchangeable into debt securities, and, if applicable, the exchange price, or how it will be calculated, and the exchange period;

·voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock;

·preemptive rights, if any;

·restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any;

·whether interests in the preferred stock will be represented by depositary shares;

·a discussion of any material or special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock;

·the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs;

·any limitations on issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; and

·any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the preferred stock.
If we issue shares of preferred stock under this prospectus, after receipt of payment therefor, the shares will be fully paid and non-assessable.
The Delaware General Corporation Law provides that the holders of preferred stock will have the right to vote separately as a class on any proposal involving fundamental changes in the rights of holders of that preferred stock. This right is in addition to any voting rights provided for in the applicable certificate of designation.
Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our common stock. Preferred stock could be issued quickly with terms designed to delay or prevent a change in control of our Company or make removal of management more difficult. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stocklaw could have the effect of decreasing the market pricediscouraging potential acquisition proposals or making a tender offer or delaying or preventing a change in control, including changes a stockholder might consider favorable. Such provisions may also prevent or frustrate attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our management.

Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

In particular, our common stock.

certificate of incorporation and bylaws, among other things:

authorize our board of directors to issue, without further action by the stockholders, up to 50,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock;
provide that stockholders must provide advance notice to nominate persons for election to our board of directors or submit proposals for consideration at stockholder meetings;


Series A Preferred Stock

Our board of directors has designated 500,000 shares of our preferred stock as Series A Participating Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Stock”).

specify that special meetings of our stockholders can be called only by our board of directors or by any officer instructed by the board of directors to a call a special meeting;
provide that vacancies on the board of directors may be filled by a majority of directors in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director; and
provide the board of directors with the ability to alter the bylaws without stockholder approval.

Shareholder Rights Plan

On January 1, 2013, and as amended and restated on June 9, 2017, we adopted a stockholder rights plan in which rights to purchase shares of Series A Preferred Stock were distributed as a dividend at the rate of one right for each share of common stock. The rights are designed to guard against partial tender offers and other abusive and coercive tactics that might be used in an attempt to gain control of Spherix or to deprive our stockholders of their interest in the long-term value of Spherix. These rights seek to achieve these goals by forcing a potential acquirer to negotiate with our board of directors (or go to court to try to force the Board of Directors to redeem the rights), because only the Board of Directors can redeem the rights and allow the potential acquirer to acquire our shares without suffering very significant dilution. However, these rights also could deter or prevent transactions that stockholders deem to be in their interests, and could reduce the price that investors or an acquirer might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock.

Each right entitles the registered holder to purchase one nineteen-hundredth of a share (a “Unit”) of our Series A Preferred Stock. Each Unit of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to an aggregate dividend of 100 times the dividend declared per share of common stock. In the event of liquidation, the holders of the Units of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to an aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per share of common stock. Each Unit of Series A Preferred Stock will have 100 votes, voting together with the common stock. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which shares of common stock are exchanged, each Unit of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 100 times the amount received per share of common stock. These rights are protected by customary anti-dilution provisions.

The rights will be exercisable only if a person or group acquires ten percent (10%) or more of our common stock (subject to certain exceptions stated in the plan) or announces a tender offer the consummation of which would result in ownership by a person or group of ten percent (10%) or more of our common stock. Our board of directors may redeem the rights at a price of $0.001 per right. The stockholder rights plan provides that the rights will expire at the close of business on December 31, 2020 unless the expiration date is extended or unless the rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company.

Delaware Takeover Statute

Section 203 of the DGCL prohibits a Delaware corporation that is a public company from engaging in any “business combination” (as defined below) with any “interested stockholder” (defined generally as an entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with such entity or person) for a period of three years following the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

before such date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;
upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding those shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers and by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or
on or subsequent to such date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

Section 203 of the DCGL defines “business combination” to include:

any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;
any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder;
subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder;
any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or
the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.



-20-

TablePreferred Stock

Our amended and restated certificate of Contentsincorporation empowers our board of directors, without action by our shareholders, to issue up to 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock from time to time in one or more series, which preferred stock may be offered by this prospectus and supplements thereto.

The Delaware General Corporation Law provides that the holders of preferred stock will have the right to vote separately as a class on any proposal involving fundamental changes in the rights of holders of that preferred stock. This right is in addition to any voting rights provided for in the applicable certificate of designation.

We will fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the preferred stock of each series in the certificate of designation relating to that series. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering before the issuance of the related series of preferred stock. This description will include any or all of the following, as required:

the title and stated value;

the number of shares we are offering;

the liquidation preference per share;

the purchase price;

the dividend rate, period and payment date and method of calculation for dividends;

whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate;

any contractual limitations on our ability to declare, set aside or pay any dividends;

the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any;

the provisions for a sinking fund, if any;

the provisions for redemption or repurchase, if applicable, and any restrictions on our ability to exercise those redemption and repurchase rights;

any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market;

whether the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock, and, if applicable, the conversion price, or how it will be calculated, and the conversion period;

whether the preferred stock will be exchangeable into debt securities, and, if applicable, the exchange price, or how it will be calculated, and the exchange period;

voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock;

preemptive rights, if any;

restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any;

whether interests in the preferred stock will be represented by depositary shares;

a discussion of any material or special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock;

the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs;

any limitations on issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; and

any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the preferred stock.

If we issue shares of preferred stock under this prospectus, after receipt of payment therefor, the shares will be fully paid and non-assessable.


Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our common stock. Preferred stock could be issued quickly with terms designed to delay or prevent a change in control of our Company or make removal of management more difficult. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock.

Existing Preferred Stock


The Company had designated separate series of its capital stock as of September 30, 2017, December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 as summarized below:

  Number of Shares Issued
and Outstanding as of
      
  September 30, 2017  December 31, 
2016
  

December 31,

2015

  Par Value  Conversion Ratio
Series “A”          $0.0001  N/A
Series “C”           0.0001  0.05:1
Series “D”  4,725   4,725   4,725   0.0001  0.53:1
Series “D-1”  834   834   834   0.0001  0.53:1
Series “F-1”           0.0001  0.05:1
Series “H”        381,967   0.0001  0.53:1
Series “I”           0.0001  1.05:1
Series “J”           0.0001  0.05:1
Series “K”        1,240   0.0001  263.16:1

On April 23, 2014, the Company filed a Certificate of Elimination with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware eliminating its Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, Series E Convertible Preferred Stock and Series F Convertible Preferred Stock and returning them to authorized but undesignated shares of preferred stock. No shares of the foregoing series of preferred stock are outstanding as of the date hereof.

The Company previously designated, authorized and issued shares of Series C Preferred Stock, Series F-1 Preferred Stock, Series H Preferred Stock, Series I Preferred Stock and Series J Preferred Stock that have since been converted into shares of the Company’s common stock or have been cancelled and are no longer outstanding.

Series A Preferred Stock

Our board of directors has designated 500,000 shares of our preferred stock as Series A Participating Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Stock”).

On January 1, 2013, and as amended and restated on June 9, 2017, we adopted a stockholder rights plan in which rights to purchase shares of Series A Preferred Stock were distributed as a dividend at the rate of one right for each share of common stock. The rights are designed to guard against partial tender offers and other abusive and coercive tactics that might be used in an attempt to gain control of Spherix or to deprive our stockholders of their interest in the long-term value of Spherix. These rights seek to achieve these goals by forcing a potential acquirer to negotiate with our board of directors (or go to court to try to force the Board of Directors to redeem the rights), because only the Board of Directors can redeem the rights and allow the potential acquirer to acquire our shares without suffering very significant dilution. However, these rights also could deter or prevent transactions that stockholders deem to be in their interests, and could reduce the price that investors or an acquirer might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock.

Each right entitles the registered holder to purchase one one-hundredth of a share (a “Unit”) of our Series A Preferred Stock. Each Unit of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to an aggregate dividend of 100 times the dividend declared per share of common stock. In the event of liquidation, the holders of the Units of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to an aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per share of common stock. Each Unit of Series A Preferred Stock will have 100 votes, voting together with the common stock. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which shares of common stock are exchanged, each Unit of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 100 times the amount received per share of common stock. These rights are protected by customary anti-dilution provisions.


The rights will be exercisable only if a person or group acquires ten percent (10%) or more of our common stock (subject to certain exceptions stated in the plan) or announces a tender offer the consummation of which would result in ownership by a person or group of ten percent (10%) or more of our common stock. Our board of directors may redeem the rights at a price of $0.001 per right. The rights will expire at the close of business on December 31, 20172020 unless the expiration date is extended or unless the rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company.

Series C Convertible Preferred Stock

On March 6, 2013, the Company and certain investors that participated in the November 2012 private placement transaction, entered into separate Warrant Exchange Agreements pursuant to which the investors exchanged common stock purchase warrants acquired in the private placement transaction for shares of our Series C Convertible Preferred Stock. Each share of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible into one (1) share of common stock at the option of the holder. The Series C Convertible Preferred Stock was established on March 5, 2013 by the filing in the State of Delaware of a Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock.
The exchanged Warrants were issued in November 2012 for an aggregate of 483,657 shares of common stock. The warrants were exercisable through November 7, 2017 at an exercise price of $6.53 per share.
Pursuant to the Warrant Exchange Agreements, the investors received in exchange for their warrants an aggregate of 229,337 shares of the Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, each of which is convertible into one (1) share of common stock. This is the same number of shares of common stock that would have been issued upon a “cashless exercise” of the exchanged warrants, as permitted by the terms of the warrants, based on the one-day volume weighted average price of our common stock on February 28, 2013 of $12.6439 as reported by Bloomberg. We have agreed to register the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series C Convertible Preferred Stock on the same basis as the shares of common stock issued in the November 2012 private placement transaction.

As of September 12, 2014 , one share30, 2017, December 2016, and December 2015, no shares of Series CA Preferred Stock waswere issued and outstanding.

14 


Series D Convertible Preferred Stock

On April 2, 2013, we entered into

In connection with the Merger Agreement with Nuta, North South and the shareholders of North South, as amended on August 30, 2013. On September 10, 2013, we consummated the Merger. At the closing of the Merger, an aggregate of 491 issued and outstanding sharesacquisition of North South’s common stock were converted intopatent portfolio in September 2013, the right to receive an aggregate of 1,203,153 shares of common stock and 500 shares of North South’s Series A Preferred Stock and 107 shares of North South’s Series B Preferred StockCompany issued and outstanding were converted into the right to receive an aggregate of 1,379,685 shares of our newly designatedits Series D Convertible Preferred Stock.



North South.  Each share of Series D Preferred Stock has a stated value of $0.0001 per share and is convertible into ten (10) sharesten-nineteenths of a share of common stock.  Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of ourthe Company’s business, each holder of Series D Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, for each share of Series D Preferred Stock held, a preferential amount in cash equal to the greater of (i) the Stated Valuestated value or (ii) the amount the holder would receive as a holder of the Company’s common stock on an “as converted” basis.  Each holder of Series D Preferred Stock shall be entitled to vote on all matters submitted to ourits stockholders and shall be entitled to such number of votes equal to the number of shares of common stock such shares of Series D Preferred Stock are convertible into at such time, taking into account the beneficial ownership limitations set forth in the governing Certificate of Designation and the Conversion Limitconversion limitations described below.  At no time may shares of Series D Preferred Stock be converted if such conversion would cause the holder to hold in excess of 4.99% of our issued and outstanding common stock, subject to an increase in such limitation up to 9.99% of the issued and outstanding common stock on 61 days’ written notice to us.the Company.  The conversion ratio of the Series D Preferred Stock is subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits, stock dividends, splits and fundamental transactions.

Additionally, subject to the beneficial ownership limitations described above, holders of Series D Preferred Stock may not convert such shares in excess of the “Conversion Limit”. The “Conversion Limit” is defined as that numbercombination of shares of common stock as shall equal 15% (the “Volume Percentage”) of the greater of (i) the trading volume of our common stock on such conversion date or (ii) the average trading volume of our common stock for ten trading days immediately prior to such conversion date. If our common stock trades at a price of at least $12.00 per share on the conversion date, then the Volume Percentage for purposes of the foregoing calculation shall equal 20%. Notwithstanding the foregoing, holders of the Series D Preferred Stock may convert such shares without regard to the aforementioned conversion limit if our common stock trades at a minimum price of $15.00 per share on the conversion date.
and similar recapitalization transactions.

As of September 12, 2014 ,30, 2017, December 2016, and December 2015, 4,725 shares of Series D Preferred Stock wereremained issued and outstanding.

Series D-1 Convertible Preferred Stock

Our

The Company’s Series D-1 Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series D-1 Preferred Stock”) was established on November 22, 2013. Each share of Series D-1 Preferred Stock has a stated value of $0.0001 per share and is convertible into ten (10) sharesten-nineteenths of a share of common stock.  Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of ourthe Company’s business, each holder of Series D-1 Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, for each share of Series D-1 Preferred Stock held, a preferential amount in cash equal to the greater of (i) the stated value or (ii) the amount the holder would receive as a holder of the Company’s common stock on an “as converted” basis.  Each holder of Series D-1 Preferred Stock shall be entitled to vote on all matters submitted to ourthe Company’s stockholders and shall be entitled to such number of votes equal to the number of shares of common stock such shares of Series D-1 Preferred Stock are convertible into at such time, taking into account the beneficial ownership limitations set forth in the governing Certificate of Designation.  At no time may shares of Series D-1 Preferred Stock be converted if such conversion would cause the holder to hold in excess of 9.99% of our issued and outstanding common stock. The conversion ratio of the Series DD-1 Preferred Stock is subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits, stock dividends, splitscombination of shares and fundamentalsimilar recapitalization transactions.  The Company commenced an exchange with holders of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock pursuant to which the holders of ourthe Company’s outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock acquired in the Merger could exchange such shares for shares of ourthe Company’s Series D-1 Preferred Stock on a one-for-one basis.


As of September 12, 2014,30, 2017, December 2016, and December 2015, 834 shares of Series D-1 Preferred Stock wereremained issued and outstanding.

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Table of ContentsPurchase Contracts


Series H Preferred Stock
On December 31, 2013, we designated 459,043 shares of preferred stock as Series H Preferred Stock. On December 31, 2013, we issued approximately $38.3 million of Series H Preferred Stock (or 459,043 shares)

We may issue purchase contracts, representing contracts obligating holders to Rockstar. Each share of Series H Preferred Stock is convertible into ten (10) sharespurchase from us, and us to sell to the holders, a specific or varying number of common stock, and has a stated value of $83.50. The conversion ratio is subject to adjustment in the event ofpreferred stock, splits, stock dividends,warrants, depositary shares, debt securities, warrants or any combination of sharesthe above, at a future date or dates. Alternatively, the purchase contracts may obligate us to purchase from holders, and similar recapitalization transactions. We are prohibited from effecting the conversion of the Series H Preferred Stockobligate holders to the extent that, assell to us, a result of such conversion, the holder beneficially owns more than 4.99% (which may be increased to 9.99% and subsequently to 19.99%, each upon 61 days’ written notice), in the aggregate, of our issued and outstanding sharesspecific or varying number of common stock, calculated immediately after giving effectpreferred stock, warrants, depositary shares, debt securities, or any combination of the above. The price of the securities and other property subject to the issuance of shares of common stock upon the conversion of the Series H Preferred Stock. Holders of the Series H Preferred Stock shall be entitled to vote on all matters submitted to our stockholders and shall be entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of shares of common stock into which the shares of Series H Preferred Stock are convertible, subject to applicable beneficial ownership limitations. The Series H Preferred Stock provides a liquidation preference of $83.50 per share.

The shares of Series H Preferred Stock are not immediately convertible and do not possess any voting rights until such time as we have obtained stockholder approval of the issuance, pursuant to NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635. On April 16, 2014, we obtained the required shareholder approval pursuant to NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635 and, as a result, all outstanding shares of Series H Preferred Stock are convertible and possess voting rights in accordance with its terms.

As of September 12, 2014 , 439,043 shares of Series H Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding.
Series I Preferred Stock
On December 31, 2013, we designated 119,760 shares of preferred stock as Series I Preferred Stock. On December 31, 2013, we issued approximately $20 million (or 119,760 shares) of Series I Preferred Stock to Rockstar. Each share of Series I Preferred Stock is convertible into twenty (20) shares of our common stock and has a stated value of $167. The conversion ratio is subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits, stock dividends, combination of shares and similar recapitalization transactions. We are prohibited from effecting the conversion of the Series I Preferred Stock to the extent that, as a result of such conversion, the holder beneficially owns more than 4.99% (whichpurchase contracts may be increased to 9.99% and subsequently to 19.99%, each upon 61 days’ written notice), infixed at the aggregate, of ourtime the purchase contracts are issued and outstanding shares of common stock calculated immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of common stock upon the conversion of the Series I Preferred Stock. Holders of the Series I Preferred Stock shallor may be entitled to vote on all matters submitted to our stockholders and shall be entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of shares of common stock into which the shares of Series I Preferred Stock are convertible, subject to applicable beneficial ownership limitations. The Series I Preferred stock provides for a liquidation preference of $167 per share.

The Series I Preferred Stock has a mandatory redemption date of December 31, 2015 as to 100% of the Series I Preferred Stock then outstanding and partial mandatory redemptions prior thereto, requiring a minimum of 25% of the total number of shares of Series I Preferred Stock issued to be redeemed (less the amount of any conversions occurring prior thereto) on or prior to each of June 30, 2014, December 31, 2014, June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2015 (each, a “Partial Redemption Date” and each payment, a “Redemption Payment”). On each Partial Redemption Date, we are required to pay Rockstar a Redemption Payment equal to the lesser of (i) such number of shares of Series I Preferred Stock as have a stated value of $5,000,000; or (ii) such number of shares of Series I Preferred Stock as shall, together with all voluntary and mandatory redemptions and conversions to common stock occurring prior to the applicable Partial Redemption Date, have a stated value of $5,000,000; or (iii) the remaining shares of Series I Preferred Stock issued and outstanding if such shares have a stated value of less than $5,000,000, in an amount of cash equal to its stated value plus all accrued but unpaid dividends, distributions and interest thereon, unless Rockstar, in its sole discretion, elects to waive such Redemption Payment or convert such shares (or a portion thereof) into common stock. No interest or dividends are payable on the Series I Preferred Stock unless we fail to make the first $5,000,000 Partial Redemption Payment due June 30, 2014, then interest shall accrue on the outstanding stated value of all outstanding shares of Series I Preferred Stock at a rate of fifteen (15%) per annum from January 1, 2014. Our obligations to pay the Redemption Payments and any interest payments in connection therewith are secured pursuant to the terms of a Security Agreement under which the Rockstar Patents serve as collateral security. No action can be taken under the Security Agreement unless we have failed to make a second redemption payment of $5,000,000 due December 31, 2014. The Security Agreement contains additional usual and customary “Events of Default” (as such term is defined in the Intellectual Property Security Agreement) under which Rockstar can take action, including a saledetermined by reference to a third party or reduction of secured amounts via transfer of the Rockstar Patents to Rockstar.

Additionally, in the event we consummate a Fundamental Transaction (as defined in the Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series I Convertible Preferred Stock), we are required to redeem such portion of the outstanding shares of Series I Preferred Stock as shall equal (i) 50% of the net proceeds of the Fundamental Transaction after deduction of the amount of net proceeds required to leave us with cash and cash equivalents on hand of $5,000,000 and up until the net proceeds leave us with cash and cash equivalents on hand of $7,500,000 and (ii) 100% of the net proceeds of the Fundamental Transaction thereafter.

The shares of Series I Preferred Stock are not immediately convertible and do not possess any voting rights until such time as we have obtained stockholder approval of the issuance, pursuant to NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635. On April 16, 2014, we obtained the required shareholder approval pursuant to NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635 and, as a result, all outstanding shares of Series I Convertible Preferred Stock are convertible and possess voting rights in accordance with its terms.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2014, we redeemed 84,219 shares of Series I Preferred Stock. In accordance with this redemption, we paid Rockstar $14.1 million. This payment fully satisfied the Redemption Payments due on June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2014 and satisfied $4.1 million of the $5.0 million Redemption Payment due on June 30, 2015. As of September 12, 2014, 35,541 shares of Series I Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Equity Stock Transfer, with an address at 110 Greene Street, Suite 403, New York, NY 10012.

Listing

Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “SPEX”. We have not applied to list our common stock on any other exchange or quotation system.
Limitations on Directors’ Liability

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions indemnifying our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.

In addition, as permitted by Delaware law, our certificate of incorporation provides that no director will be liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of the director’s fiduciary duty as a director. The effect of this provision is to restrict our rights and the rights of our stockholders in derivative suits to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of the director’s fiduciary duty as a director, except that a director will be personally liable for:
any breach of his or her duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;
acts or omissions not in good faith which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
the payment of dividends or the redemption or purchase of stock in violation of Delaware law; or
any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
This provision does not affect a director’s liability under the federal securities laws.

To the extent that our directors, officers and controlling persons are indemnified under the provisions contained in our certificate of incorporation or Delaware law against liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is therefore unenforceable.
Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, our Shareholder Rights Plan, and Delaware Law that May Have an Anti-Takeover Effect

Certain provisionsspecific formula set forth in our Amendedthe purchase contracts. The purchase contracts may be issued separately or as a part of a unit that consists of (a) a purchase contract and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, our Shareholder Rights Plan, and Delaware law could have the effect of discouraging potential acquisition proposals or making a tender offer or delaying or preventing a change in control, including changes a stockholder might consider favorable. Such provisions may also prevent or frustrate attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our management.

Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

In particular, our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, among other things:

·authorize our board of directors to issue, without further action by the stockholders, up to 50,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock;
·provide that stockholders must provide advance notice to nominate persons for election to our board of directors or submit proposals for consideration at stockholder meetings;
·specify that special meetings of our stockholders can be called only by our board of directors or by any officer instructed by the board of directors to a call a special meeting;
·provide that vacancies on the board of directors may be filled by a majority of directors in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director; and
·provide the board of directors with the ability to alter the bylaws without stockholder approval.
Shareholder Rights Plan

The terms of our Shareholder Rights Plan are discussed above under the heading “Description of Capital Stock—Preferred Stock—Series A Preferred” on page 20.

Delaware Takeover Statute
Section 203 of the DGCL prohibits a Delaware corporation that is a public company from engaging in any “business combination” (as defined below) with any “interested stockholder” (defined generally as an entity or person beneficially owning 15%(b) one or more of the outstanding voting stockother securities that may be sold by us pursuant to this prospectus or any combination of the corporationforegoing, which may secure the holders’ obligations to purchase the securities under the purchase contract. The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders or require the holders to make periodic payments to us. These payments may be unsecured or prefunded and may be paid on a current or on a deferred basis. The purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the contracts in a manner specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, forms of the purchase contracts and purchase contract agreement, if any. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any entity or person affiliated with such entity or person) for a periodpurchase contracts in respect of three years followingwhich this prospectus is being delivered, including, to the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

extent applicable, the following:

before such date,whether the boardpurchase contracts obligate the holder or us to purchase or sell, or both purchase and sell, the securities subject to purchase under the purchase contract, and the nature and amount of directorseach of those securities, or the method of determining those amounts;

whether the purchase contracts are to be prepaid or not;

whether the purchase contracts are to be settled by delivery, or by reference or linkage to the value, performance or level of the corporation approved eithersecurities subject to purchase under the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;purchase contract;


upon consummationany acceleration, cancellation, termination or other provisions relating to the settlement of the transaction that resulted inpurchase contracts; and

whether the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding those shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers and by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the planpurchase contracts will be tenderedissued in a tenderfully registered or exchange offer; or
on or subsequent to such date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.global form.

Section 203 of the DCGL defines “business combination” to include:

any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;
any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder;
subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder;
any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or
the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.
Disclosure of SEC Position on Indemnification for Securities Act Liabilities

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted for directors, officers and persons controlling us, we understand that it is the SEC’s opinion that such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and may therefore be unenforceable.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTSWarrants

We may issue warrants forto purchase our securities or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the purchasevalue, rate or price of common stock and/or preferred stock in one or more series. Wespecified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing. Warrants may issue warrantsbe issued independently or together with common stock and/any other securities that may be sold by us pursuant to this prospectus or preferred stock,any combination of the foregoing and the warrants may be attached to, or separate from, thesesuch securities.

We will evidence To the extent warrants that we issue are to be publicly-traded, each series of such warrants by warrant certificates that we may issuewill be issued under a separate agreement. warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent.

We may enter intowill file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, forms of the warrant and warrant agreement, with a warrant agent. Each warrant agent may be a bank that we select which has its principal office in the United States and a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. We may also choose to act as our own warrant agent. We will indicate the name and address of any such warrant agent in the applicableif any. The prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of warrants.

Weany warrants that we may offer will describe incontain the applicable prospectus supplement thespecific terms of the serieswarrants and a description of warrants, including, but not limited to:

the material provisions of the applicable warrant agreement, if any. These terms may include the following:

·the offering price and aggregate numbertitle of warrants offered;the warrants;

·the currencyprice or prices at which the warrants will be issued;

the designation, amount and terms of the securities or other rights for which the warrants may be purchased;are exercisable;

·if applicable, the designation and terms of the other securities, if any, with which the warrants are to be issued and the number of warrants issued with each such securityother security;

the aggregate number of warrants;

any provisions for adjustment of the number or each principal amount of such security;securities receivable upon exercise of the warrants or the exercise price of the warrants;


·the price or prices at which the securities or other rights purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased;

if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities or other rights purchasable upon exercise of the warrants will be separately transferable;

·in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise;

·the warrant agreement under which the warrants will be issued;

·the effecta discussion of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business onmaterial U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the warrant agreement and the warrants;

·anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any;

·the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants;

·any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;

·the datesdate on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence, and expire or, if the warrants are not continuously exercisable during that period, the specific date or dates on which the warrantsright will be exercisable;expire;

·the manner in which the warrant agreement andmaximum or minimum number of warrants that may be modified;exercised at any time;

·the identities of the warrant agentinformation with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; and any calculation or other agent for the warrants;

·federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants;

·theany other terms of the securities issuable uponwarrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants;

·any securities exchange or quotation system on which the warrants or any securities deliverable upon exercise of the warrants may be listed; and

·any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants.

Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the right to receive dividends, if any, or, payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any.


Exercise of Warrants
Warrants.Each warrant will entitle the holder of warrants to purchase the amount of securities that we specifyor other rights, at the exercise price stated or determinable in the prospectus supplement for the warrants. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date shown in the applicable prospectus supplement, atunless otherwise specified in such prospectus supplement. After the exercise price that we describeclose of business on the expiration date, if applicable, unexercised warrants will become void. Warrants may be exercised in the manner described in the applicable prospectus supplement. UnlessWhen the warrant holder makes the payment and properly completes and signs the warrant certificate at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent, if any, or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we otherwise specifywill, as soon as possible, forward the securities or other rights that the warrant holder has purchased. If the warrant holder exercises less than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate, we will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining warrants.

Existing Warrants

A summary of warrant activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 is presented below:

   Warrants  Weighted Average Exercise Price  Total Intrinsic Value  Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life
(in years)
 
Outstanding as of December 31, 2016   1,250,311  $9.21  $   3.91 
    Expired   (557)            
Outstanding as of September 30, 2017   1,249,754  $8.98       3.17 
Exercisable as of September 30, 2017   1,249,754  $8.98  $   3.17 


Subscription Rights

We may issue rights to purchase our securities. The rights may or may not be transferable by the persons purchasing or receiving the rights. In connection with any rights offering, we may enter into a standby underwriting or other arrangement with one or more underwriters or other persons pursuant to which such underwriters or other persons would purchase any offered securities remaining unsubscribed for after such rights offering. In connection with a rights offering to holders of our capital stock a prospectus supplement will be distributed to such holders on the record date for receiving rights in the rights offering set by us.

We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, forms of the subscription rights, standby underwriting agreement or other agreements, if any. The prospectus supplement relating to any rights that we offer will include specific terms relating to the offering, including, among other matters:

the date of determining the security holders entitled to the rights distribution;

the aggregate number of rights issued and the aggregate amount of securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights;

the exercise price;

the conditions to completion of the rights offering;

the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the rights will expire; and

any applicable federal income tax considerations.

Each right would entitle the holder of the rights to purchase the principal amount of securities at the exercise price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrantssupplement. Rights may exercise the warrantsbe exercised at any time up to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Timethe close of business on the expiration date that we set forthfor the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised warrantsrights will become void.

Holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants by delivering the warrant certificate representing the warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required amount to the warrant agent in immediately available funds,rights as provideddescribed in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth on the reverse side of the warrant certificate, and in the applicable prospectus supplement, the information that the holder of the warrant will be required to deliver to the warrant agent.

Until the warrant is properly exercised, no holder of any warrant will be entitled to any rights of a holder of the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrant.

Upon receipt of the required payment and the warrantrights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrantrights agent, if any, or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will, issue and deliveras soon as practicable, forward the securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights. If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such exercise.methods, including pursuant to standby underwriting arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Depositary Shares

General.  We may offer fractional shares of preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we decide to offer fractional shares of our preferred stock, we will issue receipts for depositary shares. Each depositary share will represent a fraction of a share of a particular series of our preferred stock, and the applicable prospectus supplement will indicate that fraction. The shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a deposit agreement between us and a depositary that is a bank or trust company that meets certain requirements and is selected by us. The depositary will be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each owner of a depositary share will be entitled to all of the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary share. The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of our preferred stock in accordance with the terms of the offering. We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, forms of the deposit agreement, form of certificate of designation of underlying preferred stock, form of depositary receipts and any other related agreements.

Dividends and Other Distributions.   The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received by it in respect of the preferred stock to the record holders of depositary shares relating to such preferred shares in proportion to the numbers of depositary shares held on the relevant record date.

In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute securities or property received by it to the record holders of depositary shares in proportion to the numbers of depositary shares held on the relevant record date, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution. In that case, the depositary may make the distribution by such method as it deems equitable and practicable. One such possible method is for the depositary to sell the securities or property and then distribute the net proceeds from the sale as provided in the case of a cash distribution.


Redemption of Depositary Shares.   Whenever we redeem the preferred stock, the depositary will redeem a number of depositary shares representing the same number of shares of preferred stock so redeemed. If fewer than all of the warrantsdepositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot, pro rata or by any other equitable method as the depositary may determine.

Voting of Underlying Shares.  Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of our preferred stock of any series are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in the notice of the meeting to the record holders of the depositary shares relating to that series of preferred stock. Each record holder of the depositary shares on the record date will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, then wenumber of shares of preferred stock underlying the holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will issue a new warrant certificateendeavor, to the extent it is practical to do so, to vote the number of whole shares of preferred stock underlying such depositary shares in accordance with such instructions. We will agree to take all action that the depositary may deem reasonably necessary in order to enable the depositary to do so. To the extent the depositary does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares relating to such preferred shares, it will abstain from voting such shares of preferred stock.

Withdrawal of Shares. Upon surrender of depositary receipts representing any number of whole shares at the depositary’s office, unless the related depositary shares previously have been called for redemption, the remaining amountholder of warrants. If we so indicatethe depositary shares evidenced by the depositary receipts will be entitled to delivery of the number of whole shares of the related series of preferred stock and all money and other property, if any, underlying such depositary shares. However, once such an exchange is made, the preferred stock cannot thereafter be re-deposited in exchange for depositary shares. Holders of depositary shares will be entitled to receive whole shares of the related series of preferred stock on the basis set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, holderssupplement. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares representing more than the number of whole shares of preferred stock of the warrants may surrender securities as all or partrelated series to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to the holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares.

Amendment and Termination of Depositary Agreement.   The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the exercise price for warrants.

Enforceability of Rights By Holders of Warrants
Any warrant agent will act solely as our agent underapplicable depositary agreement may at any time be amended by agreement between us and the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trustdepositary. We may, with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agentdepositary, amend the depositary agreement from time to time in any manner that we desire. However, if the amendment would materially and adversely alter the rights of the existing holders of depositary shares, the amendment would need to be approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding.

The depositary agreement may be terminated by us or the holderdepositary if:

all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed; or

there has been a final distribution in respect of the shares of preferred stock of the applicable series in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and such distribution has been made to the holders of depositary receipts.

Resignation and Removal of Depositary.   The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so. We may remove a depositary at any time. Any resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of appointment.

Charges of Depositary.   We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of any other warrant, enforcedepositary arrangements. We will pay all charges of each depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred shares of any series, the initial issuance of the depositary shares, any redemption of such preferred shares and any withdrawals of such preferred shares by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exerciseholders of its warrants in accordance with their terms.

Warrant Agreement Will Not Be Qualified Under Trust Indenture Act
No warrant agreement will be qualified as an indenture, and no warrant agentdepositary shares. Holders of depositary shares will be required to qualify as a trustee, underpay any other transfer taxes.

Notices.   Each depositary will forward to the Trust Indenture Act. Therefore, holders of warrants issued under a warrant agreement will not have the protectionapplicable depositary shares all notices, reports and communications from us which are delivered to such depositary and which we are required to furnish the holders of the Trust Indenture Act with respectpreferred stock represented by such depositary shares.

Miscellaneous. The depositary agreement may contain provisions that limit our liability and the liability of the depositary to their warrants.

Calculation Agent
Calculations relatingthe holders of depositary shares. Both the depositary and we are also entitled to warrantsan indemnity from the holders of the depositary shares prior to bringing, or defending against, any legal proceeding. We or any depositary may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or information provided by persons presenting preferred shares for deposit, holders of depositary shares or other persons believed by us to be madecompetent and on documents believed by a calculation agent, an institutionus or them to be genuine.

Debt Securities

As used in this prospectus, the term “debt securities” means the debentures, notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness that we may appointissue from time to time. The debt securities will either be senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt or subordinated debt securities. We may also issue convertible debt securities. Debt securities may be issued under an indenture (which we refer to herein as our agent foran Indenture), which are contracts entered into between us and a trustee to be named therein. The Indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this purpose. prospectus forms a part. We may issue debt securities and incur additional indebtedness other than through the offering of debt securities pursuant to this prospectus. It is likely that convertible debt securities will not be issued under an Indenture.


The prospectus supplement fordebt securities may be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a particular warrantsecured or unsecured senior or subordinated basis by one or more guarantors, if any. The obligations of any guarantor under its guarantee will namebe limited as necessary to prevent that guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law. In the institutionevent that any series of debt securities will be subordinated to other indebtedness that we have appointed, if applicable, to act asoutstanding or may incur, the calculation agent for that warrant asterms of the original issue date for that warrant. We may appoint a different institution to serve as calculation agent from time to time after the original issue date without the consent or notification of the holders.

The calculation agent’s determination of any amount of money payable or securities deliverable with respect to a warrantsubordination will be final and bindingset forth in the absence of manifest error.

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
prospectus supplement relating to the subordinated debt securities.

We may issue units comprised of one or more of the otherdebt securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe:
·the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;
·any unit agreement under which the units will be issued;
·any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units; and
·whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any units. The preceding description and any description of units in the applicable prospectus supplement does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the unit agreement and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements relating to such units.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus from time to time in one or more transactions, includingseries, in each case with the same or various maturities, at par or at a discount. Unless indicated in a prospectus supplement, we may issue additional debt securities of a particular series without limitation:
·directly to one or more purchasers;
·through agents;
·to or through underwriters, brokers or dealers;
·throughthe consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series outstanding at the time of the issuance. Any such additional debt securities, together with all other outstanding debt securities of that series, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the applicable Indenture and will be equal in ranking.

Should an Indenture relate to unsecured indebtedness, in the event of a bankruptcy or other liquidation event involving a combination of any of these methods.

A distribution of assets to satisfy our outstanding indebtedness or an event of default under a loan agreement relating to secured indebtedness of our company or its subsidiaries, the securities offered by thisholders of such secured indebtedness, if any, would be entitled to receive payment of principal and interest prior to payments on the unsecured indebtedness issued under an Indenture.

Each prospectus may also be effected throughsupplement will describe the issuanceterms relating to the specific series of derivative securities, including without limitation, warrants, subscriptions, exchangeable securities, forward delivery contracts and the writing of options.

In addition, the manner in which we may selldebt securities. These terms will include some or all of the securities covered by this prospectus, include, without limitation, through:
following:

 ·the title of debt securities and whether the debt securities are senior or subordinated;

any limit on the aggregate principal amount of debt securities of such series;

the percentage of the principal amount at which the debt securities of any series will be issued;

the ability to issue additional debt securities of the same series;

the purchase price for the debt securities and the denominations of the debt securities;

the specific designation of the series of debt securities being offered;

the maturity date or dates of the debt securities and the date or dates upon which the debt securities are payable and the rate or rates at which the debt securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, which may be fixed or variable, or the method by which such rate shall be determined;

the basis for calculating interest;

the date or dates from which any interest will accrue or the method by which such date or dates will be determined;

the duration of any deferral period, including the period during which interest payment periods may be extended;

whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the debt securities may be determined with reference to any index, formula or other method, such as one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices, and the manner of determining the amount of such payments;

the dates on which we will pay interest on the debt securities and the regular record date for determining who is entitled to the interest payable on any interest payment date;

the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the debt securities will be payable, where any securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange or conversion, as applicable, and notices and demands may be delivered to or upon us pursuant to the applicable Indenture;

the rate or rates of amortization of the debt securities;

any terms for the attachment to the debt securities of warrants, options or other rights to purchase or sell our securities;

if the debt securities will be secured by any collateral and, if so, a block tradegeneral description of the collateral and the terms and provisions of such collateral security, pledge or other agreements;

if we possess the option to do so, the periods within which and the prices at which we may redeem the debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to optional redemption provisions, and the other terms and conditions of any such provisions;


our obligation or discretion, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase debt securities by making periodic payments to a sinking fund or through an analogous provision or at the option of holders of the debt securities, and the period or periods within which and the price or prices at which we will redeem, repay or purchase the debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation, and the other terms and conditions of such obligation;

the terms and conditions, if any, regarding the option or mandatory conversion or exchange of debt securities;

the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any debt securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part at our option and, if other than by a board resolution, the manner in which any election by us to redeem the debt securities shall be evidenced;

any restriction or condition on the transferability of the debt securities of a broker-dealer will attempt to sell as agent, but may positionparticular series;

the portion, or resell amethods of determining the portion, of the block, as principal amount of the debt securities which we must pay upon the acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities in order to facilitate the transaction;
·purchases by a broker-dealer, as principal, and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;
·ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker solicits purchasers; or
·privately negotiated transactions.connection with any event of default;
We may also enter into hedging transactions. For example, we may:

 ·enter into transactions withthe currency or currencies in which the debt securities will be denominated and in which principal, any premium and any interest will or may be payable or a broker-dealerdescription of any units based on or affiliate thereofrelating to a currency or currencies in connection with which such broker-dealer or affiliatethe debt securities will engage in short salesbe denominated;

provisions, if any, granting special rights to holders of the common shares pursuantdebt securities upon the occurrence of specified events;

any deletions from, modifications of or additions to this prospectus,the events of default or our covenants with respect to the applicable series of debt securities, and whether or not such events of default or covenants are consistent with those contained in the applicable Indenture;

any limitation on our ability to incur debt, redeem stock, sell our assets or other restrictions;

the application, if any, of the terms of the applicable Indenture relating to defeasance and covenant defeasance (which terms are described below) to the debt securities;

what subordination provisions will apply to the debt securities;

the terms, if any, upon which case such broker-dealerthe holders may convert or affiliate may use common shares received from us, asexchange the debt securities into or for our securities or property;

whether we are issuing the debt securities in whole or in part in global form;

any change in the right of the trustee or the requisite holders of debt securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable because of an event of default;

the depositary for global or certificated debt securities, if any;

any material federal income tax consequences applicable to close out its short positions;the debt securities, including any debt securities denominated and made payable, as described in the prospectus supplements, in foreign currencies, or units based on or related to foreign currencies;

 
·enter into option or other types of transactions that require us to deliver common shares to a broker-dealer or an affiliate thereof, who will then resell or transfer the common shares under this prospectus; or
 
·loanany right we may have to satisfy, discharge and defease our obligations under the debt securities, or pledge the common shares to a broker-dealerterminate or an affiliate thereof, who may sell the loaned shareseliminate restrictive covenants or in an eventevents of default in the caseIndentures, by depositing money or U.S. government obligations with the trustee of a pledge, sell the pledged shares pursuant to this prospectus.Indentures;
In addition, we may enter into derivative or hedging transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. In connection with such a transaction, the third parties may sell securities covered by and pursuant to this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be. If so, the third party may use securities borrowed from us or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out any related short positions. We may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be.
A prospectus supplement with respect to each offering of securities will state the terms of the offering of the securities, including:

 ·the name or names of any underwriterstrustees, depositories, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars or other agents with respect to the debt securities;

to whom any interest on any debt security shall be payable, if other than the person in whose name the security is registered, on the record date for such interest, the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global debt security will be paid;

if the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities is to be payable in one or more currencies or currency units other than as stated, the currency, currencies or currency units in which it shall be paid and the periods within and terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amounts of securities underwritten or purchased by each of them, if any;
payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);


 ·the public offering price or purchase price of the securities and the net proceeds to be received by us from the sale;
 
·the portion of the principal amount of any delayed delivery arrangements;
·any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation;
·any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paiddebt securities which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities pursuant to dealers; and
·any securities exchange or markets on which the securities may be listed.applicable Indenture;


The offer and sale of the securities described in this prospectus by us, the underwriters or the third parties described above may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions, including privately negotiated transactions, either:

 ·if the principal amount payable at a fixed pricethe stated maturity of any debt security of the series will not be determinable as of any one or prices,more dates prior to the stated maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such debt securities as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any maturity other than the stated maturity or which shall be deemed to be outstanding as of any date prior to the stated maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined); and

any other specific terms of the debt securities, including any modifications to the events of default under the debt securities and any other terms which may be changed;
·at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;
·at prices related to the prevailing market prices;required by or
·at negotiated prices. advisable under applicable laws or regulations.
General
Any public offering price and any discounts, commissions, concessions or other items constituting compensation allowed or reallowed or paid to underwriters, dealers, agents or remarketing firms may be changed from time to time. Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms that participate in the distribution of the offered securities may be “underwriters” as defined in the Securities Act. Any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profits they receive on the resale of the offered securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We will identify any underwriters, agents or dealers and describe their commissions, fees or discounts

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, or pricing supplement, aswe do not anticipate the casedebt securities will be listed on any securities exchange. Holders of the debt securities may be.

Underwriters and Agents
If underwriters are used in a sale, they will acquire the offeredpresent registered debt securities for their own account. The underwritersexchange or transfer in the manner described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as limited by the applicable Indenture, we will provide these services without charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with the exchange or transfer.

Debt securities may resell the offered securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions. These sales may be madebear interest at a fixed public offering pricerate or prices, whicha variable rate as specified in the prospectus supplement. In addition, if specified in the prospectus supplement, we may be changed, at market prices prevailingsell debt securities bearing no interest or interest a t a rate that at the time of issuance is below the sale, at prices related to such prevailing market pricerate, or at negotiated prices.a discount below their stated principal amount. We may offer the securities to the public through an underwriting syndicate or through a single underwriter. The underwriters in any particular offering will be mentioneddescribe in the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the caseany special federal income tax considerations applicable to these discounted debt securities.

We may be.

Unless otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering ofissue debt securities the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the offered securities will be subject to certain conditions contained in an underwriting agreement that we will enter into with the underwriters atprincipal amount payable on any principal payment date, or the timeamount of the saleinterest payable on any interest payment date, to them. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities of the series offered if any of the securities are purchased, unless otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering of securities. Any initial offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed, reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
We may designate agents to sell the offered securities. Unless otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering of securities, the agents will agree to use their best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment. We may also sell the offered securitiesdetermined by referring to one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accountscurrency exchange rates, commodity prices, equity indices or as agents for us. These firms will remarketother factors. Holders of such debt securities may receive a principal amount on any principal payment date, or interest payments on any interest payment date, that are greater or less than the offered securitiesamount of principal or interest otherwise payable on such dates, depending upon purchasing them in accordance with a redemptionthe value on such dates of applicable currency, commodity, equity index or repayment pursuant to the terms of the offered securities. A prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be will identify any remarketing firm and will describe the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and its compensation.

In connection with offerings made through underwriters or agents, we may enter into agreements with such underwriters or agents pursuant to which they will receive our outstanding securities in consideration for the securities being offered to the public for cash. In connection with these arrangements, the underwriters or agents may also sell securities covered by this prospectus to hedge their positions in these outstanding securities, including in short sale transactions. If so, the underwriters or agents may use the securities received from us under these arrangements to close out any related open borrowings of securities.
Dealers
We may sell the offered securities to dealers as principals. We may negotiate and pay dealers’ commissions, discounts or concessions for their services. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public either at varying prices to be determined by the dealer or at a fixed offering price agreed to with us at the time of resale. Dealers engaged by us may allow other dealers to participate in resales.
Direct Sales
We may choose to sell the offered securities directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved.

Institutional Purchasers
We may authorize agents, dealers or underwriters to solicit certain institutional investors to purchase offered securities on a delayed delivery basis pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified future date.factors. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information as to how we will determine the amount of principal or pricing supplement,interest payable on any date, as well as the casecurrencies, commodities, equity indices or other factors to which the amount payable on that date relates and certain additional tax considerations.

 Units

We may issue units consisting of any combination of the other types of securities offered under this prospectus in one or more series. We may evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we may issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into unit agreements with a unit agent. Each unit agent, if any, may be will provide the details of any such arrangement, including the offering price and commissions payable on the solicitations.

a bank or trust company that we select. We will enter into such delayed contracts only with institutional purchasersindicate the name and address of the unit agent, if any, in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of units. Specific unit agreements, if any, will contain additional important terms and provisions. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report that we approve. These institutions may include commercialfile with the SEC, the form of unit and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions.
Indemnification; Other Relationships
We may have agreements with agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firmsthe form of each unit agreement, if any, relating to indemnify them againstunits offered under this prospectus.

If we offer any units, certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms, and their affiliates, may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary courseterms of business. This includes commercial banking and investment banking transactions.

Market-Making, Stabilization and Other Transactions
There is currently no market for anythat series of the offered securities, other than our common stock which is listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market. If the offered securities are traded after their initial issuance, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price, depending upon prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities and other factors. While it is possible that an underwriter could inform us that it intends to make a market in the offered securities, such underwriter would not be obligated to do so, and any such market-making could be discontinued at any time without notice. Therefore, no assurance can be given as to whether an active trading market will develop for the offered securities. We have no current plans for listing of the preferred stock or warrants on any securities exchange or quotation system; any such listing with respect to any particular preferred stock or warrantsunits will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following, as applicable

the title of the series of units;

identification and description of the separate constituent securities comprising the units;

the price or prices at which the units will be issued;

the date, if any, on and after which the constituent securities comprising the units will be separately transferable;

a discussion of certain United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and

any other material terms of the units and their constituent securities.

FORMS OF SECURITIES

Each security may be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or pricing supplement,by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of securities. Certificated securities in definitive form and global securities will be issued in registered form. Definitive securities name you or your nominee as the caseowner of the security, and in order to transfer or exchange these securities or to receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, you or your nominee must physically deliver the securities to the trustee, registrar, paying agent or other agent, as applicable. Global securities name a depositary or its nominee as the owner of the debt securities, warrants or units represented by these global securities. The depositary maintains a computerized system that will reflect each investor’s beneficial ownership of the securities through an account maintained by the investor with its broker/dealer, bank, trust company or other representative, as we explain more fully below.

Registered Global Securities

We may be.

In connection with any offering of common stock,issue the underwriters may purchase and sell common stocksecurities in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, syndicate covering transactionsform of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and stabilizing transactions. Short sales involve syndicate salesregistered in the name of common stockthat depositary or nominee. In those cases, one or more registered global securities will be issued in excessa denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the number of shares to be purchased by the underwriters in the offering, which creates a short position. “Covered” short sales are sales of shares made in anaggregate principal or face amount up to the number of shares represented by the underwriters’ over-allotment option. In determining the source of shares to close out the covered syndicate short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the over-allotment option. Transactions to close out the covered syndicate short involve either purchases of the common stock in the open market after the distribution has been completed or the exercise of the over-allotment option. The underwriters may also make “naked” short sales of shares in excess of the over-allotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing common stock in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the shares in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of bids for or purchases of shares in the open market while the offering is in progress for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities.
In connection with any offering, the underwriters may also engage in penalty bids. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may cause the price of the securities to be higher thanrepresented by registered global securities. Unless and until it wouldis exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the registered global security, the nominees of the depositary or any successors of the depositary or those nominees.

The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any securities to be represented by a registered global security will be described in the absenceprospectus supplement relating to those securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depositary or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the transactions.securities beneficially owned by the participants. Any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The underwriterslaws of some states may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.

So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a registered global security, that depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement.

Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security will not be entitled to have the securities represented by the registered global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the securities under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for that registered global security and, if they commencethat person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

Payments to holders with respect to securities represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the registered global security. None of the Company, the trustees, the warrant agents, the unit agents or any other agent of the Company, agent of the trustees, the warrant agents or unit agents will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.

We expect that the depositary for any of the securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, interest or other payment or distribution to holders of that registered global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security held through participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of those participants.


If the depositary for any of these transactions, discontinue themsecurities represented by a registered global security is at any time.time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security that had been held by the depositary. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the relevant trustee, warrant agent, unit agent or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depositary’s instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global security that had been held by the depositary.


LEGAL MATTERSMATTERS

The validity of

Unless otherwise indicated in the issuanceapplicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities offered herebyby this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Nixon PeabodyEllenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, New York, New York.

  If legal matters in connection with offerings made by this prospectus are passed on by counsel for the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, that counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTSEXPERTS

The audited consolidated financial statements of Spherix Incorporated and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2013 and for the year thenyears ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 have been incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of Marcum LLP, which includes an explanatory paragraph as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, an independent registered public accounting firm, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing in giving said report.

The audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2012 incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MOREADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This prospectus constitutes a part of a registration statement on Form S-3 filed under the Securities Act. As permitted by the SEC’s rules, this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, which form a part of the registration statement, do not contain all the information that is included in the registration statement. You will find additional information about us in the registration statement. Any statements made in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement concerning legal documents are not necessarily complete and you should read the documents that are filed as exhibits to the registration statement or otherwise filed with the SEC for a more complete understanding of the document or matter.

We file annual, quarterlyquarter and currentperiodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC.Securities and Exchange Commission using the Commission’s EDGAR system. You may read, without charge,inspect these documents and copy the documents we fileinformation from them at the SEC’sCommission’s offices at public reference rooms in Washington, D.C.room at 100 F Street, NE, Room 1580, Washington, DCD.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The Commission maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the Commission. The address of such site is http//www.sec.gov.

INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

We are “incorporating by reference” in this prospectus certain documents we file with the SEC, which means that we can request copiesdisclose important information to you by referring you to those documents.  The information in the documents incorporated by reference is considered to be part of thesethis prospectus. Statements contained in documents by writing tothat we file with the SEC and paying a fee for the copying cost. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for furtherthat are incorporated by reference in this prospectus will automatically update and supersede information on the publiccontained in this prospectus, including information in previously filed documents or reports that have been incorporated by reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also availablein this prospectus, to the public at no costextent the new information differs from or is inconsistent with the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.



INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
old information.  We incorporate by referencehave filed or may file the filedfollowing documents listed below, except as superseded, supplemented or modified by this prospectus, and any future filings we will make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d)and they are incorporated herein by reference as of the Exchange Act:
their respective dates of filing.

our1.Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013;2016, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2017;
our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013;
2.ourOur Quarterly ReportReports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periodquarters ended March 31, 2014;
our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended2017, June 30, 2014;2017 September 30, 2017, as filed with the SEC on May 12, 2017, August 11, 2017 and November 14, 2017, respectively;
our3.Our Current ReportReports on Form 8-K filed on January 2, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 6, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 9, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 14, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 24, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 27, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filedwith the SEC on February 3, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 7, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 10, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 12, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 20, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on9, 2017, March 7, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 17, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 27, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 27, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 31, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 2, 2014 (excluding Item 7.01 thereof and Exhibit 99.1 furnished therewith);
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 16, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 18, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 21, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 25, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 5, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 15, 2014 (excluding Item 7.01 thereof and Exhibit 99.1 furnished therewith);
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 27, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 29, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 29, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on June 2, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 3, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 4, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 5, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 11, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on2017, June 12, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 12, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 13, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 17, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on2017, June 20, 2014;
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on2017, July 10, 2014;
our Preliminary Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 7, 20143, 2017, July 24, 2017, October 25, 2017 and amended on March 24, 2014;
our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 28, 2014;December 13, 2017; and
4.The description of ourcertain capital stock that is contained in our Registration Statement 8-A filed on Form 8-A,January 30, 2013, as amended on June 12, 2017 and as it may further be amended from time to time.

All documents that we filed with the SEC on January 30, 2013.




We also incorporate by reference all additional documents that we file with the SEC under the terms of Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are made after the initial filing date of this registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We are not, however, incorporating, in each case, any documents or information that we are deemed to furnish and not file in accordance with SEC rules. The reports and other documents that we file after the date of this prospectus pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, orand 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this registration statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this registration statement that indicates that all securities offered under this prospectus have been sold, or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, will update, supplementbe deemed to be incorporated in this registration statement by reference and supersedeto be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus shall be deemed modified, superseded or replaced for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, or in any subsequently filed document that also is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus, modifies, supersedes or replaces such statement. Any statement so modified, superseded or replaced shall not be deemed, except as so modified, superseded or replaced, to constitute a part of this prospectus. None of the information that we disclose under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K or any corresponding information, either furnished under Item 9.01 or included as an exhibit therein, that we may from time to time furnish to the SEC will be incorporated by reference into, or otherwise included in, this prospectus, except as otherwise expressly set forth in the relevant document. Subject to the foregoing, all information appearing in this prospectus is qualified in its entirety by the information appearing in the documents incorporated by reference.

You may requests, orally or in writing, a copy of these documents, which will be provided to you at no cost (other than exhibits, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporate by reference), by contacting Anthony Hayes, c/o Spherix Corporation, at Spherix Incorporated , at One Rockefeller Plaza, 11th Fl., New York, NY 10020. Our telephone number is (212) 745-1374. Information about us is also available at our website athttp://www.spherix.com. However, the information in our website is not a part of this prospectus. You may requestprospectus and obtain a copy of any of the filingsis not incorporated herein by reference, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address or phone number:

reference. 


Spherix Incorporated
6430 Rockledge Drive
Suite 503
Bethesda, MD 20817
Attn.: Chief Executive Officer
Tel: (703) 992-9260
www.spherix.com

PART

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

Distribution.

The Company is paying all expenses of the offering.  The following table sets forth all expenses payableto be paid by the Company in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered.registrant. All the amounts shown are estimates except for the SEC registration fee:

SEC registration fee
 
$
3,864.00
 
Transfer agent’s fees and expenses
 
$
 
*
Legal fees and expenses
 
$
 
*
Printing fees and expenses
 
$
 
*
Accounting fees and expenses
 
$
 
*
Miscellaneous fees and expenses
 
$
 
*
     
Total
 
$
 
*
fee. 

SEC registration fee$3,735
Printing*
Legal fees and expenses$50,000
Accounting fees and expenses$3,800
Trustees’ Fees and Expenses*
Warrant Agent Fees and Expenses*
Miscellaneous*
Total$57,535

*Estimated expensesThese fees are not presently known.calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. The foregoing setsapplicable prospectus supplement will set forth the general categoriesestimated amount of expenses that we anticipate we will incurof any offering of securities.

Item 15.   Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Under Section 145 of the DGCL, a corporation may indemnify its directors, officers, employees and agents and its former directors, officers, employees and agents and those who serve, at the corporation’s request, in such capacities with another enterprise, against expenses (including attorney’s fees), as well as judgments, fines and settlements, actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the offeringdefense of securities under this registration statement. An estimate of the aggregate expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being offered will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Item 15. Indemnification of Officers and Directors
Section 145 of the DCGL provides, in general, that a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, as we are, may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than a derivativean action by or in the right of the corporation) in which they or any of them were or are made parties or are threatened to be made parties by reason of the facttheir serving or having served in such capacity. The DGCL provides, however, that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such personmust have acted in good faith and in a manner such personhe or she reasonably believed to be in or(or not opposed toto) the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to anyin the case of a criminal action, or proceeding,such person must have had no reasonable cause to believe such person’shis or her conduct was unlawful. In addition, the case of a derivative action, a Delaware corporation may indemnify any such person against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such personDGCL does not permit indemnification in connection with the defense or settlement of suchan action or suit if such person actedby or in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interestsright of the corporation, except that no indemnification will be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to whichwhere such person will havehas been adjudged liable to be liablethe corporation for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his/her duty to the corporation, unless, and only to the extent that, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or any othera court in which such action was brought determines that such person is fairly and reasonably is entitled to indemnity for such expenses.
Ourcosts the court deems proper in light of liability adjudication. Indemnity is mandatory to the extent a claim, issue or matter has been successfully defended.

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL (relating to unlawful payment of dividends and unlawful stock purchase or redemption) or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Article XIII of the bylaws of the Company contains provisions which are designed to provide mandatory indemnification of directors and officers of the Company to the full extent permitted by law, as now in effect or later amended. The bylaws further provide that, we will indemnify our directors, officers, employeesif and agents to the extent and in the manner permittedrequired by the provisionsDGCL, an advance payment of expenses to a director or officer of the DCGL, as amended from timeCompany that is entitled to time, subjectindemnification will only be made upon delivery to any permissible expansionthe Company of an undertaking, by or limitation of such indemnification, as may be set forth in any stockholders’ or directors’ resolution or by contract. Any repeal or modification of these provisions approved by our stockholders will be prospective only and will not adversely affect any limitation on the liability of any of our directors or officers existing as of the time of such repeal or modification.

We are also permitted to apply for insurance on behalf of anythe director or officer, employee or other agent for liability arising out of his actions, whether orto repay all amounts so advanced if it is ultimately determined that such director is not the DCGL would permitentitled to indemnification.

Item 16. ExhibitsExhibits.

The following exhibits are filed with this Registration Statement.

The agreements included or incorporated by reference as exhibits to this registration statement contain representations and warranties by each of the parties to the applicable agreement. These representations and warranties were made solely for the benefit of the other parties to the applicable agreement and (i) were not intended to be treated as categorical statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties if those statements prove to be inaccurate; (ii) may have been qualified in such agreement by disclosures that were made to the other party in connection with the negotiation of the applicable agreement; (iii) may apply contract standards of “materiality” that are different from “materiality” under the applicable securities laws; and (iv) were made only as of the date of the applicable agreement or such other date or dates as may be specified in the agreement.

The undersigned registrant acknowledges that, notwithstanding the inclusion of the foregoing cautionary statements, it is responsible for considering whether additional specific disclosures of material information regarding material contractual provisions are required to make the statements in this registration statement not misleading.

II-1 

a)Exhibit Exhibits
Exhibit No.Description
1.1
Number
Form
Description of Underwriting Agreement**Document
  
3.1
1.1
Amended and Restated
Form of Underwriting Agreement** 
4.1Form of Certificate of IncorporationDesignation of Spherix Incorporated, filed on April 24, 2014 (incorporated by referencePreferred Stock**
4.2Form of Stock Purchase Contract** 
4.3Form of Warrant Agreement and Form of Warrant Certificate** 
4.4Form of Subscription Rights Agreement and Form Subscription Rights Certificate**
4.5Form of Indenture*
4.6Form of Note**
4.7Form of Debt Securities**
5.1Opinion of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP*
12.1Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Current ReportFixed Charges**
23.1Consent of Marcum LLP*
23.2Consent of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)*
24.1Power of Attorney (included in Part II of this Registration Statement)*
25.1Statement of Eligibility of trustee on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 25, 2014)T-1**+
  
3.2
Certificate of Elimination of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, Series E Convertible Preferred Stock, and Series F Convertible Preferred Stock of Spherix Incorporated, dated April 22, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 25, 2014)
 
4.1
Form of Specimen Stock Certificate Representing Common Stock**
4.2
Form of Warrant and Warrant Agreement for Common Stock**
4.3
Form of Warrant and Warrant Agreement for Preferred Stock**
4.4
Form of Unit**
4.5
Form of Certificate of Designations, Rights and Preferences of Preferred Stock**
5.1
Opinion of Nixon Peabody LLP*
23.1
Consent of Grant Thornton LLP*
23.2
Consent of Marcum LLP*
23.3
Consent of Nixon Peabody LLP (including in Exhibit 5.1)*
24.1
Power of Attorney (included on signature page of this Form S-3) (previously filed)

*Filed herewith.
**To the extentIf applicable, to be filed by an amendment or as an exhibit to a document filed underreport pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and incorporated by reference herein.
+To be filed pursuant to Rule 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Item 17.   Undertakings

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) Undertakings.

(a)The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1)To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i)          to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
Act of 1933;

(ii)      Toto reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of thisthe registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in thisthe registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of the securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii)          Toto include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in thisthe registration statement or any material change to such information in thisthe registration statement;

provided ,however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are incorporated by reference in thisthe registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of thisthe registration statement;

statement.

(2)          That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3)          To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.


(4)          That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i)          Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of thisthe registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

II-2 


(ii)         Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of the Securities Act prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.


(5)           That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i)          Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii)         Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii)        The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv)        Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(6) That,

(b)           The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to sectionSection 13(a) or sectionSection 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.


(7) That, insofar

(c)           The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering.

(d)           Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


(e)           The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

SIGNATURES

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statementregistration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Bethesda,New York, State of Maryland,New York on September 15, 2014 .

this 9th day of January, 2018.

 SPHERIX INCORPORATED
   
 By:/s/ Anthony Hayes
  Anthony Hayes
  
Director and Chief Executive Officer,
( Director, and Principal Executive Officer)
By:/s/ Richard Cohen
Richard Cohen
Chief FinancialAccounting Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Anthony Hayes their true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for them and in their name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments including post-effective amendments to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact or their substitute, each acting alone, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

NamePositionDate
/s/ Anthony Hayes Chief Executive Officer, Director, and DirectorPrincipal Accounting Officer September 15, 2014January 9, 2018
 
Anthony Hayes (Principal Executive Officer)   
     
/s/ Richard CohenRobert J. Vander Zanden Chief Financial OfficerDirector and Chairman of the Board September 15, 2014January 9, 2018
Richard Cohen(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
     
Robert J. Vander Zanden Chairman of the Board
Jeffrey BallabonDirector
Douglas T. BrownDirector
Edward M. KarrDirector
Alexander PoltorakDirector   
     
/s/ Tim S. Ledwick DirectorJanuary 9, 2018
 By: /s/Anthony Hayes  As Attorney-in-Fact  September 15, 2014 
 Anthony HayesTim S. Ledwick    
     
/s/ Eric WeisblumDirectorJanuary 9, 2018
Eric Weisblum