Edgar Filing: Digimarc CORP

DEF 14A

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. )

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DIGIMARC CORPORATION

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(Name of person(s) filing proxy statement, if other than the registrant)

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DIGIMARC CORPORATION

9405 S.W. Gemini Drive

Beaverton, Oregon 97008

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON APRIL 30, 2018

To the Shareholders of Digimarc Corporation:

Notice is hereby given that the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Digimarc Corporation, an Oregon corporation (“Digimarc” or “the Company”), will be held on April 30, 2018, at the headquarters of Digimarc Corporation, 9405 S.W. Gemini Drive, Beaverton, Oregon 97008, at 11:00 a.m., local time. The purposes of the Annual Meeting will be:

1.	Election of Directors. To elect six directors for a term of one year (Proposal No. 1);

2.	Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as Digimarc’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2018 (Proposal No. 2);

3.	Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation. To approve, by nonbinding vote, the compensation paid to our executive officers (Proposal No. 3);

4.	Approval of the Digimarc Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan. To approve the Digimarc Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan (Proposal No. 4);

5.	Other Business. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the proxy statement accompanying this Notice. The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 1, 2018 as the record date for determining the shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting.

We are making our proxy materials available to our shareholders over the Internet. You may read, print and download our annual report and proxy statement at the Investor Relations section of our website at www.digimarc.com/investors. On or about March 21, 2018, we will mail our shareholders a notice containing instructions on how to access our 2018 proxy statement and 2017 annual report to shareholders via the Internet and vote online. The notice also provides instruction on how you can request a paper copy of these documents if you desire, and how you can enroll in e-delivery to receive future annual meeting materials electronically.

Whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting in person, we urge you to vote your shares as directed in the proxy card for the Annual Meeting as promptly as possible to ensure your representation and the presence of a quorum at the Annual Meeting. If you subsequently decide to attend the Annual Meeting to vote your shares in person, you may still do so. Your proxy is revocable in accordance with the procedures set forth in the proxy statement.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

LOGO

Robert P. Chamness

Secretary

Beaverton, Oregon

March 21, 2018

DIGIMARC CORPORATION

PROXY STATEMENT FOR 2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

General Information

The Board of Directors of Digimarc Corporation, an Oregon corporation (“Digimarc,” “we” or “our”), is soliciting proxies to be used at the annual meeting of shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held on April 30, 2018, at 11:00 a.m., local time, at our headquarters, located at 9405 S.W. Gemini Drive, Beaverton, Oregon 97008, and any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting. Notice of, and electronic access to, this proxy statement, the form of proxy and our 2017 annual report to shareholders are first being provided to shareholders on or about March 21, 2018. The shares represented by the proxies received, properly marked, dated, executed and not revoked will be voted at the Annual Meeting by the proxy holders designated on the proxy.

The Board has fixed the close of business on March 1, 2018 as the record date (the “Record Date”) for determining the shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. As of the close of business on the Record Date, 11,849,849 shares of our common stock, $0.001 par value per share, were outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

Each outstanding share of common stock on the Record Date is entitled to one vote on all matters. There must be a quorum for the Annual Meeting to be held. The required quorum for the Annual Meeting is a majority of the shares outstanding, present either in person or by proxy. Our Inspector of Elections will tabulate votes cast by proxy or in person at the Annual Meeting.

Internet Availability of Proxy Materials

Pursuant to rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), we are providing access to our proxy materials over the Internet. Accordingly, we are sending a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) to our shareholders of record and beneficial owners. All shareholders will have the ability to access the proxy materials on the website referred to in the Notice or request to receive a printed set of the proxy materials. Instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the Internet or to request a printed copy may be found in the Notice. In addition, shareholders may request to receive proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically by email on an ongoing basis. Choosing to receive your future proxy materials by email will save us the cost of printing and mailing documents to you. If you choose to receive future proxy materials by email, you will receive an email next year with instructions containing a link to those materials and a link to the proxy voting site. Your election to receive proxy materials by email will remain in effect until you terminate it.

Our proxy materials include this proxy statement and our annual report to shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2017, which includes our Form 10-K and audited financial statements. If you requested a printed version of our proxy materials, these materials also include the proxy card for the Annual Meeting.

How to Vote

Shares held directly in your name as the shareholder of record may be voted in person at the annual meeting. If you choose to do so, please bring your proxy card or proof of identification. Even if you plan to attend the annual meeting, we recommend that you vote your shares in advance as described below so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the annual meeting.

Shares held in street name may be voted in person by you only if you obtain a signed proxy from the record holder giving you the right to vote the shares.

If you hold shares directly as the shareholder of record, you may vote your shares by following the instructions set forth on the proxy card. If you hold shares beneficially in street name, you may vote your shares by following the instructions set forth in the notice provided by your broker, bank, trust, or other holder of record. In most cases, you may be permitted to submit your voting instructions by mail, by telephone, or via the Internet by following the instructions in the proxy card. You may access your proxy materials and proxy card online by accessing the www.proxyvote.com website and entering your 12-digit control number found on the notice that you received. The voting procedures are designed to comply with Oregon law, to authenticate the shareholder’s identity and to allow shareholders to vote their shares and confirm that their voting instructions have been properly recorded.

Revocability of Proxy

You may change your proxy instructions at any time prior to the vote at the annual meeting. You may accomplish this by entering a new vote by Internet, by telephone, by delivering a written notice of revocation to the corporate secretary of Digimarc, by submitting a new proxy card or new voting instruction card bearing a later date (which automatically revokes the earlier proxy instructions) or by attending the annual meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the annual meeting will not cause your previously granted proxy to be revoked unless you specifically so request. If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you must obtain a legal proxy from your broker or other nominee authorizing you to vote your shares at the annual meeting.

Any written notice revoking a proxy should be sent to Digimarc Corporation, Attention: Robert P. Chamness, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary, 9405 SW Gemini Drive, Beaverton, Oregon 97008, or hand-delivered to the Secretary at or before the vote at the annual meeting.

Solicitation

Digimarc will bear the cost of soliciting proxies. Besides this solicitation by mail, our directors, officers and other employees may solicit proxies. These persons will not receive any additional compensation for assisting in the solicitation. We will also request brokerage firms, nominees, custodians and fiduciaries to forward proxy materials to the beneficial owners. We will reimburse these persons and our transfer agent for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in forwarding these materials.

Vote Required: Treatment of Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes

Abstentions are shares that abstain from voting on a particular matter. Broker non-votes occur when shares are held in “street name” by brokers or nominees who indicate on their proxies that they did not receive voting instructions from the beneficial owner of the shares and do not have discretionary authority to vote those shares on a particular matter. Abstentions and broker non-votes count as being present for purposes of determining whether a quorum of shares is present at a meeting but are not counted for purposes of determining the number of votes cast for or against a proposal.

The following chart describes the proposals to be considered at the meeting, the vote required to elect directors and to adopt each other proposal, and the manner in which votes will be counted:


Proposal	Voting Options	Vote Required to Adopt the Proposal	Effect of Abstentions	Effect of Broker Non-Votes
Election of directors	For or withhold on each nominee.	Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shares entitled to vote in the election. The six candidates who receive the greatest number of votes will be elected directors.	Not counted as votes cast and therefore no effect.	Not counted as votes cast and therefore no effect.

Ratification of selection of KPMG LLP	For, against, or abstain.	The votes cast in favor of the proposal exceed the votes cast opposing the proposal.	Not counted as votes cast and therefore no effect.	Brokers have discretion to vote.

Advisory vote to approve executive compensation	For, against, or abstain.	The votes cast in favor of the proposal exceed the votes cast opposing the proposal.	Not counted as votes cast and therefore no effect.	Not counted as votes cast and therefore no effect.

Approval of the Digimarc Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan	For, against, or abstain.	The votes cast in favor of the proposal exceed the votes cast opposing the proposal.	Not counted as votes cast and therefore no effect.	Not counted as votes cast and therefore no effect.

Principal Executive Offices of Digimarc

Our principal executive offices are located at 9405 S.W. Gemini Drive, Beaverton, Oregon 97008.

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

(Proposal No. 1)

Our bylaws authorize the number of directors to be set by resolution of the Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors has fixed the number of directors at six. Six directors are to be elected by the holders of common stock at the Annual Meeting. These directors will each serve a one-year term that will expire at the 2019 annual meeting of shareholders, or until a successor has been elected and qualified. The proxy holders named in the accompanying proxy or their substitutes will vote the proxy at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting for the election of the six nominees as directors unless the shareholder of record instructs that their authority to vote is withheld. Shares held through a broker or other nominee who is a New York Stock Exchange member organization will only be voted in favor of the director nominees if the shareholder provides specific voting instructions to the broker or other nominee to vote the shares in favor of that proposal.

Following is information about our Board of Directors’ nominees for election as a director as of March 1, 2018. There are no arrangements or understandings between any director and any other person pursuant to which the director is or was to be selected as a director, or pursuant to which the director receives compensation from any third party for service as a director. There is no family relationship between any director and any executive officer of Digimarc.


Director Nominees	Age		Director Since
Bruce Davis		65		2008
Gary DeStefano		61		2016
Richard L. King		68		2015
James T. Richardson		70		2008
Andrew J. Walter		49		2016
Bernard Whitney		61		2008

The Board of Directors believes that our current directors provide the diversity of experience and skills necessary for a well-functioning board. All of our directors have substantial senior executive level experience. The Board of Directors values highly the ability of individual directors to contribute to a constructive board environment and the board believes that the current board members perform in such a manner. Set forth below is a more complete description of each director’s background, professional experiences, qualifications and skills.

Bruce Davis was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors and named our Chief Executive Officer on June 18, 2008. He served the former Digimarc Corporation, our former parent company, (“Old Digimarc”) as its Chief Executive Officer since 2001 and a director since December 1997, as its chairman of the Board of Directors since May 2002, and as its President from December 1997 through May 2001. Mr. Davis received a B.S. in accounting and psychology and an M.A. in criminal justice from the State University of New York at Albany, and a J.D. from Columbia University.

Mr. Davis brings strategic, operational and transactional expertise to the Board of Directors. He has broad technological and market knowledge, establishes the strategic direction for the Company, has over 20 years of Digimarc executive leadership experience, has been an architect of the Company’s intellectual property portfolio, and had about 25 years of broad-based entrepreneurial, start-up, legal and CEO experience prior to joining Digimarc. For more information on Mr. Davis’s background and experience, please see the biographical information posted on our website at www.digimarc.com on the Company, Executive Officers page.

Gary DeStefano was elected to our Board of Directors in October 2016. Mr. DeStefano serves as a member of the Governance and Nominating Committee and as the Chair of the Compensation Committee. Mr. DeStefano has 25 years of senior management experience at Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE), a global footwear and apparel

company, which included serving as Nike’s President of Global Operations for seven years until 2013. Mr. DeStefano has served on a number of public and private boards, including on the Board of Directors of Umpqua Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: UMPQ); the Board of Regents and the University Relations and Academic Affairs committee of the University of Portland; and the Board of Directors of the Nike Foundation. Mr. DeStefano received a B.S. from the University of New Hampshire and an M.B.A. from Southern New Hampshire University.

Mr. DeStefano brings strategic, international, operational and transactional expertise to the Board of Directors. Prior to joining our Board, as Nike’s President of Global Operations, Mr. Stefano was instrumental in delivering record growth and overseeing all business related activities across 190 countries worldwide with responsibility for approximately 80 percent of the profit and loss for Nike Inc. Throughout his Nike career, Mr. DeStefano led several transformational initiatives, including the revival of Nike’s premium high-end segment, reorganization of the Asia Pacific business during the 1996 Far East economic crisis, and standardization of Nike’s global order entry and sales force automation system.

Richard L. King was elected to our Board of Directors in May 2015, and has served as a member of the Compensation Committee since that time and Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee since 2016. Mr. King is a retired corporate executive with 46 years of experience in the retail food and drug industry. He has served as a consultant and as an Advisory Board Member of Encore Associates Inc. Mr. King also served as the Chief Executive Officer of TrueBlue, Inc. (formerly Labor Ready, Inc.), from May 2000 to October 2001. He began his career with Albertson’s, Inc., a retail and grocery company, where he held several senior level management positions, including as its President and Chief Operating Officer from February 1996 to June 1999. As President and Chief Operating Officer of Albertson’s, Mr. King was responsible for a $16 billion operation with nearly 1,000 stores and over 100,000 employees. Mr. King also served as a member of the Board of Directors of TrueBlue, Inc. (NYSE: TBI), a provider of staffing and workforce management solutions, from May 2000 to October 2001, Albertsons, Inc. from February 1996 to June 1999, and TJ International, Inc., an engineered lumber manufacturing company, from May 1996 to January 2000. He has also served as a member of the Monsanto Advisory Board and as a director of a number of private and non-profit entities and associations, including the Western Association of Food Chains. Mr. King received a B.S. degree in Business from Utah State University. He is a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program.

Mr. King brings executive, management, financial, compensation, operations and industry expertise to the Board of Directors, particularly in the fields of the retail food and drug industries. His expertise includes effectively managing the process of change and creating successful business solutions to meet the needs of retailers, manufacturers and consumer packaged goods companies. In addition to his leadership roles at Albertsons and TrueBlue, Mr. King served in a variety of senior executive capacities for Associated Food Stores, including as President of Associated Fresh Market and Associated Retail Stores. Mr. King brings a wealth of relevant retail and business experience to our Board, and his expertise is well aligned with Digimarc’s key growth initiatives.

James T. Richardson was elected to our Board of Directors in July 2008, and has served as Lead Director since that time. Mr. Richardson serves as a member of the Audit Committee. Mr. Richardson has served as an officer and director of and consultant to companies in the high-technology sector. Mr. Richardson was a director (and former chairman of the board of directors and the former chairman of the Audit Committee) of FEI Company (Nasdaq: FEIC), a diversified scientific instruments company, until its sale in 2016. He previously served as a director and audit committee chair of Tripwire, Inc., a network security company, from 2003 to 2011; as a director of Epicor Software Corporation (Nasdaq: EPIC), a global business software company, from 2008 to 2010; and as a director of Plumtree Software, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLUM), an enterprise software company, from 2003 to 2005. Mr. Richardson received a B.A. in finance and accounting from Lewis and Clark College, an M.B.A. from the University of Portland, and a J.D. from Lewis and Clark Law School, and is a licensed C.P.A. and attorney in Oregon. Mr. Richardson is a Board Leadership Fellow certified by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD).

Mr. Richardson provides the local business community perspective, and brings public company operational, financial, legal and industry expertise to the Board of Directors, particularly in the high technology and financial areas. Prior to joining our Board, Mr. Richardson served as chief financial officer and chief administrative officer for five global technology companies ranging in size from $20 million to $300 million in annual revenue, including as senior vice president and chief financial officer at WebTrends Corporation, a website analytics company, senior vice president— corporate operations and chief financial officer at Network General Corporation, a developer of network management software, vice president finance and administration and chief financial officer at Logic Modeling Corp., a semiconductor software company, and vice president finance and administration and chief financial officer at Advanced Logic Research, Inc., a server and systems company. These experiences are particularly germane to the strategic and operational oversight, transactional and risk analysis, and legal and financial initiatives of the Company.

Andrew J. Walter was elected to our Board of Directors in October 2016. Mr. Walter serves as a member of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee. Mr. Walter has more than 25 years of operations, information technology and shared services experience, including his long tenure at The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG), a consumer goods company. Mr. Walter has served on a number of boards, including the GS1 US Board of Governors, an organization that develops and maintains global standards for business communication, as Chair for their technology committee. He is currently serving as Trustee and Vice Chair for the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Greater Cincinnati. Mr. Walter received his B.C.S. from the University of Cincinnati.

Mr. Walter brings strategic, international, operational and transactional expertise to the Board of Directors. Prior to joining our Board, Mr. Walter enjoyed a long tenure at P&G, where he most recently led their Global Business Services and IT Global Commercial Services and Delivery organization until August 2016, with more than 1,500 IT and multifunctional professionals and more than 5,000 partner resources. He has deep expertise in integration of emerging and core commercial technologies, supply chain management, sales and marketing, and consumer and business analytics.

Bernard Whitney was elected to our Board of Directors in July 2008, and has served as Chair of the Audit Committee since that time and also serves as a member of the Governance and Nominating Committee. Mr. Whitney is a retired corporate executive with 35 years of experience in the high technology and finance sectors. Since 2009, he has been a partner at FLG Partners LLC, a leading CFO and Board advisory firm in Palo Alto, California. He has also served as a director for a number of private and non-profit entities. He previously served as a director and audit committee chair of Plumtree Software, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLUM), an enterprise software company, from 2000 to 2005. Mr. Whitney received a B.S. in business administration, majoring in finance, from California State University Chico, and an M.B.A. from San Jose State University.

Mr. Whitney brings public company financial, operational and industry expertise to the Board of Directors, particularly in the high technology and financial areas. Prior to joining our Board, Mr. Whitney was vice president and chief financial officer of Handspring, Inc., a handheld computer and wireless communications manufacturer, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Sanmina Corporation, a high-end data communications and telecom manufacturer, vice president of finance and manufacturing operations and corporate controller of Network General Corporation, a developer of network management software, and served in a number of senior financial management positions at Conner Peripherals, Inc., a disk and tape drive manufacturer. These experiences are particularly germane to the financial performance, audit, reporting, internal control and risk assessment activities of the Company.

Determination of Independence

Our Board of Directors believes that maintaining a strong, independent group of directors is important for good governance, and all but one of our directors qualify as independent. The Board of Directors has determined that each of Messrs. King, Richardson, Whitney, DeStefano and Walter, collectively representing all outside

members and a majority of our Board of Directors, is “independent” as that term is defined by Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605. There were no undisclosed transactions, relationships or arrangements that are required to be disclosed involving any of the independent directors of Digimarc that were considered by the Board of Directors in connection with the determination of whether any particular director is independent.

Vote Required

If a quorum is present, the six candidates receiving the highest number of affirmative votes present or represented and voting on this proposal at the Annual Meeting will be elected to the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the election of each of the nominees named above.

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC

ACCOUNTING FIRM

(Proposal No. 2)

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has appointed KPMG LLP as Digimarc’s independent registered public accounting firm to audit our financial statements and internal control over financial reporting for the year ending December 31, 2018. Although ratification by shareholders is not required by law, the Board of Directors has determined that it is desirable to request ratification of this appointment by the shareholders. Notwithstanding its appointment, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may appoint a new independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if the Audit Committee believes that such a change would be in the best interests of Digimarc and its shareholders.

If the shareholders do not ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee will reconsider the appointment. A representative of KPMG LLP is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders and to make a statement if he or she desires to do so.

AUDIT FEES

The following table presents aggregate fees billed for audit and other professional services rendered by KPMG LLP for the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2017.


	Fiscal Year 2016		Fiscal Year 2017
Audit Fees(1)	$	450,700	$	463,762
Audit-Related Fees(2)	$	—	$	—
Tax Fees(3)	$	—	$	—
All Other Fees(4)	$	—	$	—

Total Fees	$	450,700	$	463,762

(1)

Audit Fees consist of fees for professional services rendered for the audit of our 2016 and 2017 annual financial statements, including the audit of internal control over financial reporting, and review of the interim consolidated financial statements included in quarterly reports and services that are normally provided by our independent auditors in connection with regulatory filings, including comfort letters and consents.

(2)	Audit-Related Fees consist of fees billed for assurance and related services rendered that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.” No such fees were incurred in 2016 or 2017.

(3)	Tax Fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for tax research and consulting services. No such fees were incurred in 2016 or 2017.

(4)	All Other Fees consist of fees related to licensee audits and similar activities. No such fees were incurred in 2016 or 2017.

Pre-Approval Policy. The Audit Committee pre-approves the Audit, Audit-Related, Tax and All Other services performed by the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee has adopted a policy for the pre-approval of services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm that is reviewed and updated from time to time. Under the policy, the term of any pre-approval is generally twelve months from the date of pre-approval. Pre-approval fee levels or budgeted amounts for all services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm and the specific services included within the pre-approvals are established annually by the Audit Committee and are reviewed as the Audit Committee deems appropriate. Any proposed services exceeding these levels, amounts, or type of services require specific pre-approval. No services

were provided by the independent auditors under the categories of “Audit-Related Fees”, “Tax Fees” or “All Other Fees.”

Vote Required

If a quorum is present, the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm will be ratified if the votes cast in favor of this proposal exceed the votes cast opposing this proposal.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the ratification of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2018.

ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

(Proposal No. 3)

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) enables Digimarc shareholders to vote to approve, on an advisory or non-binding basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement. This advisory vote on executive compensation is referred to as a “say-on-pay vote.” We will offer Digimarc shareholders a say-on-pay vote every year until the next required advisory vote on the frequency of the shareholder votes on executive compensation. Digimarc shareholders most recently approved the compensation of our named executive officers in 2017 with approximately 75% of the votes cast voting for the proposal.

We encourage shareholders to read the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Executive Compensation” sections of this proxy statement for a more detailed discussion of our compensation programs and policies, the compensation and governance-related actions taken in 2017 and the compensation awarded to our named executive officers.

Digimarc’s goal for its executive compensation program is to attract, retain, motivate and appropriately reward the Company’s executive officers, as well as to align the interests of the Company’s executive officers with those of Digimarc shareholders. Digimarc seeks to accomplish this goal in a way that rewards performance and is aligned with its shareholders’ long-term interests. It has chosen to utilize time-based restricted stock that vests over a four-year period, which provides an increasing return to executives to the extent that the market price of our common stock appreciates, thereby creating an incentive to increase shareholder value over a longer term. Digimarc believes that its executive compensation program, which emphasizes long-term equity awards, satisfies this goal and is strongly aligned with the long-term interests of its shareholders.

In determining whether to approve this proposal, we believe that shareholders should consider the following:

•

Independent Compensation Committee. Executive compensation is reviewed and established by a Compensation Committee of the Board consisting solely of independent directors. The Compensation Committee meets in executive session, without executive officers present, in determining annual named executive officer compensation. The Compensation Committee receives data, analysis and input from an independent compensation consultant that does not perform any additional services for Digimarc’s management.

•

2017 Compensation. In 2017, no cash incentive bonus was offered. Further, restricted stock awards granted in 2017 were consistent with prior years, except for the triannual CEO grant.

•

Long-Term Incentive Equity Awards. The restricted stock granted in 2017 will provide an increasing return to executives to the extent that the market price of our common stock appreciates, thereby creating an incentive to increase shareholder value over a longer term.

•

No Perquisites. Our general policy is not to provide perquisites or other personal benefits to our named executive officers, other than those benefits provided for all other employees.

•

Stock Ownership Guidelines. Our executive officers are subject to the stock ownership guidelines described in “Board of Directors-Stock Ownership Guidelines.” Under our policy, Executive Officers are expected to have a stock ownership interest as a means of insuring that there is an alignment of interest with the shareholders. The Company believes that it is appropriate for the Executive Officers to hold stock in the Company sufficient to meet that objective, but not at a level that might discourage a qualified officer from serving. Our Executive Officers currently hold between ~23,800 shares and 490,000 shares, which includes vested and outstanding stock options.

Digimarc believes the compensation program for the named executive officers is instrumental in helping Digimarc achieve its strategic objectives and long-term financial performance. The price of our common stock has increased significantly since we became an independent publicly traded company in October 2008.

Advisory Vote

Digimarc requests shareholder approval of the compensation of its named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to the SEC’s compensation disclosure rules (which disclosure includes the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables and the narrative disclosures that accompany the compensation tables).

Although this vote is advisory and non-binding on the Compensation Committee, the Board or the Company, the Board and the Compensation Committee, which is responsible for designing and administering Digimarc’s executive compensation program, value the opinions expressed by shareholders in their vote on this proposal and will continue to consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation policies and decisions for named executive officers.

Vote Required

If a quorum is present, the compensation of Digimarc’s named executive officers will be approved on a non-binding basis if the votes cast in favor of this proposal exceed the votes cast opposing this proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for the purpose of determining the presence or absence of a quorum, but will have no effect on the vote for Proposal No. 3.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the approval, on a non-binding basis, of the compensation of Digimarc’s named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC.

APPROVAL OF THE DIGIMARC CORPORATION 2018 INCENTIVE PLAN

(Proposal No. 4)

Our Board of Directors believes that the effective use of stock-based long-term incentive compensation is vital to our ability to achieve continued strong performance in the future by providing a direct link between the compensation of executives and key employees and long-term shareholder value creation. Accordingly, our Board of Directors is seeking shareholder approval of our new 2018 Incentive Plan, which we refer to as the 2018 Plan.

The Board of Directors recently adopted the 2018 Plan, upon recommendation of its Compensation Committee and subject to shareholder approval. If the 2018 Plan is approved by our shareholders, it will replace our 2008 Incentive Plan, which we refer to in this proposal as the 2008 Plan and in the text of the 2018 Plan as the Prior Plan, which will automatically terminate on July 18, 2018, at the end of its 10-year term, and no new awards will be granted under the 2008 Plan. If our shareholders do not approve the 2018 Plan, the 2008 Plan will remain available for new grants to the extent shares are available until the end of its term.

The 2018 Plan authorizes the issuance of 1,000,000 new shares of our common stock. In addition, up to 770,000 shares of our common stock currently reserved for issuance under the 2008 Plan will become available for issuance under the 2018 Plan to the extent such shares remain available for issuance under the 2008 Plan on the effective date of the 2018 Plan or are currently subject to awards outstanding under the 2008 Award that lapse, expire, terminate or are forfeited or surrendered in the future without having been fully exercised or without the issuance of all the shares subject to the award. Based on an estimated usage rate, we anticipate that with the additional 1,000,000 shares, the shares authorized for issuance under the 2018 Plan will be sufficient for the next three to five years, and shareholder approval for additional shares will be sought at that time.

In order to continue to have an appropriate supply of shares for equity incentives to recruit, hire and retain the talent required to successfully execute our business plans, our Board of Directors believes that we will need the additional 1,000,000 new shares to be available under the 2018 Plan. Although the additional 1,000,000 new shares to be available under the 2018 Plan will increase the potential dilution to shareholders, the Board of Directors believes our equity compensation plans are well-managed and that our total equity “overhang” will remain well within market norms with the addition of the new shares.

In considering this proposal, we emphasize for our shareholders that Digimarc uses stock as the sole basis of incentive compensation for its officers and employees, unlike our peers, who typically utilize both cash bonus incentive plans and stock incentive plans for compensation. Accordingly, Digimarc generally requires more stock than its peers to deliver the same level of compensation to its officers and employees. However, we believe that our approach better aligns the compensation of our officers and employees with the interests of our shareholders than do cash bonus programs, because additional value is only delivered if the performance of the officers and employees causes a meaningful appreciation in stock price.

Under applicable rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, we are required to obtain shareholder approval of the 2018 Plan. In addition, shareholder approval of the 2018 Plan is necessary to provide the Compensation Committee with the flexibility to grant incentive stock options if we elect to do so in the future to employees under the 2018 Plan. See “U.S. Federal Income Tax Information” below for more information about this issue.

A copy of the 2018 Plan is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix A. The summary description of the amendments to the 2018 Plan provided above and of the material terms of the 2018 Plan provided below are not intended to be a complete description of the 2018 Plan. See Appendix A for more detailed information.

Summary of the Terms of the 2018 Incentive Plan

Purpose. The purpose of the 2018 Plan is to enhance our long-term shareholder value by offering opportunities to selected individuals to participate in our growth and success, enabling us to attract and retain the services of well-qualified individuals.

Shares Available for Issuance. The 2018 Plan authorizes the issuance of up to 1,000,000 shares of common stock, plus any shares that remain available for issuance under the 2008 Plan on the effective date of the 2018 Plan. As of December 31, 2017, the fair market value of one share of common stock was $36.15. The shares authorized under the 2018 Plan are subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or similar event. Shares issued under the 2018 Plan consist of authorized and unissued shares. If an award granted under the 2018 Plan, or an outstanding award granted under the 2008 Plan, lapses, expires, terminates or is forfeited or surrendered without having been fully exercised or without the issuance of all the shares subject to the award, the shares covered by that award will again be available for use under the 2018 Plan. Shares that are (i) tendered by a participant or retained by us as payment for the purchase price of an award or to satisfy tax withholding obligations or (ii) covered by an award that is settled in cash, or in some manner that some or all of the shares covered by the award are not issued, will be available for issuance under the 2018 Plan. In addition, awards granted as substitute awards in connection with acquisition transactions will not reduce the number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2018 Plan. The maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of incentive stock options under the 2018 Plan is the total stated number of shares available for issuance under the 2018 Plan, subject to adjustments for stock dividends, stock splits, recapitalizations and other similar events.

Administration. The 2018 Plan is administered by our Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee, subject to the terms of the 2018 Plan, selects the individuals to receive awards, determines the terms and conditions of all awards and interprets the provisions of the 2018 Plan and any awards, notices or agreements executed or entered into under the 2018 Plan. The Compensation Committee’s decisions, determinations and interpretations are binding on all holders of awards granted under the 2018 Plan. Subject to the terms of the 2018 Plan, the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee may delegate administration of the 2018 Plan to one or more committees consisting of one or more members of the Board or to one or more officers within specific limits, including limits that no such officer may grant awards under the 2018 Plan to himself or herself, or to any person subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Eligibility. Our employees, non-employee directors, consultants, agents, advisors and independent contractors or those of our related companies are eligible to receive awards under the 2018 Plan. At December 31, 2017, approximately 200 employees and five non-employee directors were eligible to participate in the 2018 Plan.

Types of Awards.

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Stock Options. Both nonqualified and incentive stock options may be granted under the 2018 Plan. The Compensation Committee determines the exercise price for stock options, which may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant (except for awards granted as substitute awards in connection with acquisition transactions). The exercise price for stock options may be paid by an optionee in cash, through a broker-assisted cashless exercise, by delivery of previously owned shares or by such other consideration permitted by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee also establishes: (i) the vesting schedule for each option granted and the term of each option, which term cannot exceed ten years from the date of grant; and (ii) whether an option shall continue to be exercisable, and the terms and conditions of such exercise, following termination of service or employment.

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Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”). The Compensation Committee may grant SARs as a right in tandem with the number of shares underlying stock options granted under the 2018 Plan or on a stand-alone basis. SARs are the right to receive a payment per share of the SAR exercised in stock or in cash equal to the excess of the share’s fair market value on the date of exercise over its fair market value on the date the SAR was granted. Exercise of a SAR issued in tandem with a stock option will result in a reduction of the number of shares underlying the related stock option to the extent of the SAR exercise.

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Stock Awards, Restricted Stock and Stock Units. The Compensation Committee may grant awards of shares of common stock, or awards denominated in units of common stock, that are subject to repurchase or forfeiture restrictions. The repurchase or forfeiture restrictions may be based on continuous service with us

or a related company or on the achievement of specified performance criteria, as determined by the Compensation Committee. Until the lapse of any applicable restrictions, participants may not dispose of their restricted stock. The Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion, may waive any repurchase or forfeiture periods and any other terms, conditions or restrictions on restricted stock and stock units under such circumstances and subject to such terms and conditions as the Compensation Committee deems appropriate. Stock units may be paid in stock, cash or a combination of stock and cash.

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Performance Shares and Units. The Compensation Committee may grant performance shares, which are units valued by reference to shares of our common stock, and performance units, which are units valued by reference to property other than our common stock. Performance criteria relating to any performance share or performance unit award are determined by the Compensation Committee. Performance share or performance unit awards may be paid in stock, cash or other property or in any combination of cash, stock and other property, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee.

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Other Stock-Based or Cash-Based Awards. The Compensation Committee also is authorized to grant other incentives payable in cash or in shares of common stock, subject to its established terms and conditions.

Limitations on Awards. Subject to adjustments for stock dividends, stock splits, recapitalizations and other similar events, the 2018 Plan provides that during any calendar year period, no single participant may be granted awards, other than performance units, with respect to more than 750,000 shares of our common stock, except that we may make additional one time award grants for up to 1,000,000 shares of our common stock to newly hired or newly promoted individuals. The maximum dollar value payable with respect to performance units or other awards payable in cash in any one calendar year to a single participant is $2,500,000.

Change in Control. Unless otherwise determined at the time of grant of an award, if certain changes in control occur, awards granted under the 2018 Plan will become fully vested and no longer subject to forfeiture. A change in control is defined in the 2018 Plan as (i) an acquisition of 40% or more of our outstanding common stock or the voting power of then outstanding voting securities, except for certain related party transactions or acquisitions approved by the Board of Directors, or (ii) a change in the composition of the Board of Directors during any two-year period such that individuals who, as of the beginning of such two-year period, constituted the Board cease to constitute at least a majority of the Board. In the event of other types of company transactions, the awards under the 2018 Plan will become fully vested and no longer subject to forfeiture and the Compensation Committee may determine in its discretion if the award will be cashed out for a payment based on the consideration received by shareholders in the company transaction.

Performance-Based Compensation. The Compensation Committee may determine that awards under the 2018 Plan will be granted subject to the attainment of performance goals relating to one or a combination of business criteria. The Compensation Committee structures performance goals based on any of the following, or any combination, for us as a whole, or as any business unit, as reported or calculated by us: net earnings or net income (before or after taxes); earnings per share (basic or fully diluted); net sales growth or bookings growth; revenues; operating profit or income (including or excluding depreciation, amortization, extraordinary items, restructuring charges or other expenses); return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, net capital utilized, equity or sales); working capital; cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow or cash flow return on capital); earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation and/or amortization; gross or operating profit; cost control; strategic initiatives; market share; improvements in capital structure; productivity ratios; share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return); expense targets; margins; operating efficiency or margins; capital efficiency; strategic targets; economic profit; employee or customer satisfaction, services performance, subscriber, cash management or asset management metrics; working capital targets; cash value added; or market or economic value added. Such performance goals also may be based on the achievement of specified levels of Company performance (or performance of an applicable affiliate or business unit of Digimarc) under one or more of the business criteria described above relative to the performance of other corporations.

Transferability. Unless the Compensation Committee determines otherwise, and to the extent permitted by Section 422 of the Code, during a participant’s lifetime, awards may be exercised only by the participant and are not assignable or transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, except that a participant may designate a beneficiary to exercise an award or receive payment under an award after the participant’s death.

Adjustment of Shares. In the event of a stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar event, the Compensation Committee will make proportional adjustments in (i) the maximum number and kind of securities available for issuance under the 2018 Plan; (ii) the maximum number and kind of securities issuable as incentive stock options; (iii) the maximum number and kind of securities that may be made subject to awards to any participant; and (iii) the number and kind of securities that are subject to any outstanding award and the per share price of such securities, without any change in the aggregate price to be paid for such award.

Term, Termination and Amendment. The 2018 Plan will continue indefinitely, unless terminated by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee. The Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee may generally amend, suspend or terminate all or any portion of the 2018 Plan at any time, subject to shareholder approval to the extent required by applicable law, exchange rules or other regulatory requirements. The Compensation Committee generally may also amend outstanding awards under the 2018 Plan provided that such amendment does not reduce a participant’s rights under an award without his or her consent; provided that, the Board of Directors may amend the 2018 Plan or any outstanding award without the participant’s consent to the extent the Board of Directors deems necessary or advisable to comply with changes in applicable tax laws, securities laws, accounting rules and other applicable law, rules and regulations, or to ensure that an award is not subject to additional taxes, interest or penalties under Section 409A of the Code. In no event may the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee reduce the exercise price of outstanding options or stock appreciation rights or issue a new option upon exercise of an option under the 2018 Plan without shareholder approval.

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the 2018 Plan to us and to participants in the 2018 Plan who are subject to U.S. federal taxes. The summary is based on the Code, the U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, rulings and other guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service and judicial decisions as in effect as of the date of this proxy statement, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. The summary is not intended to be a complete analysis or discussion of all potential tax consequences that may be relevant or important to participants in the 2018 Plan, including U.S. gift or estate tax consequences or foreign, state or local tax consequences.

Incentive Stock Options. Although we have not granted incentive stock options to date under the 2018 Plan, and do not anticipate doing so in the immediate future, generally, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a participant will not recognize any income upon the grant or vesting of an incentive stock option under the 2018 Plan. If a participant exercises an incentive stock option during the participant’s employment as an employee or within three months after the participant’s employment as an employee ends (12 months in the case of permanent and total disability), the participant generally will not recognize income at the time of exercise for regular U.S. federal income tax purposes (although the participant generally will recognize income for alternative minimum tax purposes at that time as if the option were a nonqualified stock option). If a participant sells or exchanges the shares acquired upon exercise of an incentive stock option after the later of (a) one year from the date of exercise and (b) two years from the grant date of the option, the participant generally will recognize long-term capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount the participant received in the sale or exchange and the option exercise price. If a participant disposes of the shares that the participant receives upon exercise of an incentive stock option before the end of these holding periods, the disposition will constitute a disqualifying disposition, and the participant generally will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income in the year of the disposition equal to the excess, on the date of exercise of the option, of the fair market value of the shares received over the option exercise price (or generally, if less, the excess of the amount realized on the sale of the shares over the option exercise price), and the participant will recognize capital gain or loss, long-term or short-term, as the case may be, equal to the difference between (i) the amount the participant received and (ii) the

option exercise price increased by the amount of compensation income, if any, the participant recognized. Special rules apply if a participant uses already owned shares of our common stock to pay the option exercise price or if the shares of common stock that the participant receives upon exercise are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.

Nonqualified Stock Options. Generally, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a participant will not recognize any income upon the grant or vesting of a nonqualified stock option under the 2018 Plan with an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant and no additional deferral feature. Upon exercise of a nonqualified stock option, the participant generally will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the stock underlying the nonqualified stock option on the date of exercise over the option exercise price. Upon a sale of the shares acquired upon exercise of the nonqualified stock option, the participant generally will recognize short-term or long-term capital gain or loss, depending on how long the participant held the shares, equal to the difference between the amount received from the sale and the fair market value of the shares at the time of exercise of the nonqualified stock option. If a participant pays the option exercise price entirely in cash, the tax basis of the shares that the participant receives upon exercise generally will be equal to their fair market value on the exercise date (but not less than the option exercise price), and the shares’ holding period will begin on the day after the exercise date. Special rules apply if a participant uses already owned shares of our common stock to pay the option exercise price or if the shares of our common stock that the participant receives upon exercise are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. The same tax consequences described in this paragraph also apply to an incentive stock option that a participant exercises more than three months after the participant’s termination of employment as an employee (or more than 12 months after termination in the case of permanent and total disability).

Stock Appreciation Rights. A participant generally will not recognize taxable income upon the grant or vesting of a stock appreciation right with a grant price at least equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant and no additional deferral feature. Upon exercise of a stock appreciation right, a participant will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income equal to the difference between the fair market value of the underlying shares on the date of exercise and the grant price of the stock appreciation right.

Unrestricted Stock Awards. If a participant receives shares of stock under the 2018 Plan that are not subject to restrictions, the participant generally will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income at the time of receipt of the shares in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares at the time of grant minus the amount, if any, paid for the shares. The participant’s holding period for the shares will begin on the date that the participant receives the shares, and the participant’s tax basis in the shares will be the amount of ordinary income the participant recognizes plus the amount, if any, paid for the shares.

Restricted Stock Awards. Upon receipt of a restricted stock award, a participant generally will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income when the shares cease to be subject to restrictions in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares at such time over the amount, if any, paid for the shares. Instead of postponing the federal income tax consequences of a restricted stock award until the restrictions lapse, a participant may elect to recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income in the year of the award in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares at the time of receipt. This election is made under Section 83(b) of the Code. In general, a Section 83(b) election is made by filing a written notice with the Internal Revenue Service within 30 days of the date of grant of the restricted stock award for which the election is made and must meet certain technical requirements.

The tax treatment of a subsequent disposition of restricted stock will depend upon whether a participant has made a timely and proper Section 83(b) election. If a participant makes a timely and proper Section 83(b) election, when the participant sells the restricted shares, the participant generally will recognize short-term or long-term capital gain or loss, as the case may be, equal to the difference between the amount the participant receives from the sale and the tax basis of the shares sold. If no Section 83(b) election is made, any disposition after the

restriction lapses generally will result in short-term or long-term capital gain or loss, as the case may be, equal to the difference between the amount the participant received from the sale and the tax basis of the shares sold. The tax basis of the shares generally will be equal to the amount, if any, the participant paid for the shares plus the amount of taxable ordinary income recognized either at the time the restrictions lapsed or at the time of the 83(b) election, if an election was made. If a participant has to forfeit the shares to us (e.g., upon the participant’s termination prior to expiration of the restriction period), the participant may not claim a deduction for the amount of compensation income recognized as a result of making the Section 83(b) election, and the participant generally will have a capital loss equal to the amount, if any, paid for the shares.

Restricted Stock Units. A participant generally will not recognize income at the time a stock unit is granted. When any part of a stock unit is issued or paid, the participant generally will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income at the time of such issuance or payment in an amount equal to the then fair market value of any shares, cash or property the participant receives.

Performance Shares and Performance Units. A participant generally will not recognize income upon the grant of performance shares or performance units. Upon the distribution of cash, shares or other property to the participant pursuant to the terms of the performance shares or units, the participant generally will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income equal to the excess of the amount of cash or the fair market value of any property transferred to the participant over any amount paid by the participant with respect to the performance shares or units.

U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to Us. In the foregoing cases, we generally will be entitled to a deduction at the same time and in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the participant, subject to certain limitations on deductions for compensation contained in the Code.

Code Section 409A. We intend that awards granted under the 2018 Plan comply with, or otherwise be exempt from, Section 409A of the Code.

Other Information

A new plan benefits table for the 2018 Plan and the benefits or amounts that would have been received by or allocated to participants for the last completed fiscal year under the 2018 Plan if the 2018 Plan was then in effect, as described in the federal proxy rules, is not provided, because all awards made under the 2018 Plan will be made at the Committee’s discretion. Therefore, the benefits and amounts that will be received or allocated under the 2018 Plan are not determinable at this time. However, please refer to the description of restricted stock grants made to our non-employee directors in the last fiscal year under the heading “Director Compensation” and the description of stock option and restricted stock grants made to our executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table, as described under the heading “Narrative to Summary Compensation Table.”

Vote Required

The 2018 Incentive Plan will be approved if a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting and the votes cast in favor of this proposal exceed the votes cast opposing this proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for the purpose of determining the presence or absence of a quorum, but will have no effect on the vote for Proposal No. 4.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the approval of the 2018 Incentive Plan.

REPORT OF THE GOVERNANCE AND NOMINATING COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Governance and Nominating Committee reports as follows:

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors met seven times in 2017. Each director elected at the 2017 annual meeting of shareholders attended 100% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board of Directors and of any committee on which he served in 2017, except for Andy Walter, who attended six meetings, and Bill Miller, who attended only two meetings due to illness and passed away on December 24, 2017. We encourage but do not require director attendance at our annual meeting of shareholders. Because we have had between zero and two non-employee shareholders attend our annual meeting of shareholders over the past five years, none of the directors attended Digimarc’s annual meeting of shareholders held on May 1, 2017.

Board Leadership and Structure

Bruce Davis, our Chief Executive Officer, also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors. James Richardson, an independent director, has served as Lead Director of the Board of Directors since he was appointed to this position in July 2008. At the present time, the Board believes that Digimarc and its shareholders are best served by having the Chief Executive Officer also serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors. We have determined that this structure is appropriate in light of the relatively small size of our Company and corresponding size of our Board of Directors, the complexity of our business, and the skills and experiences of our Chief Executive Officer in the industry in which we operate. At the same time, the Board of Directors has been, and continues to be, a strong proponent of Board independence. As a result, Digimarc’s corporate governance structures and practices include several additional independent oversight mechanisms. Currently, all of our directors other than the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, including each member of the Board’s Audit, Compensation, and Governance and Nominating Committees, are independent directors under the Nasdaq listing rules.

The Board believes that Digimarc’s corporate governance principles and policies ensure that strong and independent directors will continue to effectively oversee Digimarc’s management and key issues related to long-range business plans, long-range strategic matters and risks, and integrity. The independent directors meet regularly in executive session chaired by the Lead Director without the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer or other management present. In addition to presiding over these executive sessions, the Lead Director serves as the principal liaison between the independent directors and management and consults with the Chairman of the Board of Directors regarding information to be sent to the Board of Directors, meeting agendas and meeting schedules. Furthermore, each director is encouraged to suggest items for the Board agenda, and to raise at any Board meeting subjects that are not on the agenda for that meeting. We believe that the independent Lead Director’s significant, clearly delineated duties and responsibilities are highly effective in providing oversight of management and direct accountability to shareholders. Finally, our corporate governance principles provide that the Board and all Board committees, including those whose members are exclusively independent directors, may seek financial, legal or other expert advice from a source independent of management, with funding provided by Digimarc.

The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

Digimarc’s management is responsible for identifying, assessing and managing the material risks facing Digimarc. The Board of Directors has historically performed an important role in the review and oversight of risks, and generally oversees Digimarc’s risk management practices and processes, with a strong emphasis on financial and entity level controls. The Board has delegated primary oversight of the management of (i) financial and accounting risks to the Audit Committee, (ii) compensation risk to the Compensation Committee and (iii) governance and compliance risk related to personnel, ethics, related-party transactions, conflicts of interests,

litigation and other entity level risks to the Governance and Nominating committee. Each of these committees reviews these specific risk areas on a quarterly basis and routinely reports to the Board regarding the committee’s oversight duties and findings.

To permit the Board and its committees to perform their respective risk oversight roles, individual members of management who supervise Digimarc’s risk management report directly to the Board or the relevant committee of the Board responsible for overseeing the management of specific risks, as applicable. The Board and each of its committees have the ability to engage outside legal and professional advisors to assist the Board or the committee in its oversight responsibilities. For this purpose, management has a high degree of access and communication with independent directors. In addition, the Board of Directors oversees and participates annually in a process of risk assessment that is designed to identify the most salient enterprise risks facing Digimarc’s business and to evaluate how the Company’s corporate strategies align with those risks.

Each year Digimarc’s executive management team prepares for the Board an initial review of the various types of risks that can affect the operations and financial performance of the Company. The management team identifies and categorizes the key strategic, financial, operational and legal and compliance risks facing the Company and then ranks these risks as to the level of risk posed, based upon management’s assessment of the risk relative to Digimarc’s business, personnel, internal processes, policies and controls, and the operating environment of the Company. Taking into consideration Digimarc’s risk controls and mitigation plans, the Board reviews management’s presentation to identify and assess the degree and likelihood of each risk. Having a Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, a Lead Director, and directors who are both knowledgeable about and sensitive to the market and industry risks facing our business ensures that risk is reviewed from multiple alternative vantage points.

Finally, the Board oversees organizational structure, policies and procedures at Digimarc, such as the code of business conduct and other internal policies and guidelines designed to support Digimarc’s corporate governance guidelines and to comply with the laws, rules and regulations that apply to Digimarc’s business operations. For example, employees may anonymously report suspected violations of any applicable law by any employee or agent, questionable accounting or auditing matters, or other ethical or legal matters pursuant to these established policies and procedures.

Board Committees

The Board of Directors has three standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Governance and Nominating Committee. The members of these committees for 2017 are set forth in the following table:


Non-Employee Directors	Audit	Governance & Nominating	Compensation
Gary DeStefano		Member	Chair
Richard L. King		Chair	Member
James T. Richardson	Member
Andrew J. Walter	Member		Member
Bernard Whitney	Chair	Member

Audit Committee

We have a standing Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, consisting in 2017 of Messrs. Whitney (chairman), Richardson, and Walter, that is responsible for overseeing the quality and integrity of our accounting, auditing, and financial reporting practices, the audits of our financial statements, internal control over financial reporting, and other duties assigned by the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee’s role includes a particular focus on the qualitative aspects of financial reporting to shareholders, our processes to manage business and financial risk, and compliance with significant applicable legal, ethical and regulatory requirements.

The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the independent registered public accounting firm engaged to issue an audit report on our financial statements or to perform other audit, review or attestation services for us. The Audit Committee is responsible for resolving any disagreements between management and the independent registered public accounting firm regarding financial reporting. The Audit Committee also serves as our Qualified Legal Compliance Committee.

The Audit Committee met four times during 2017. The Board of Directors has adopted a charter for the Audit Committee, a copy of which is posted on our website, www.digimarc.com, on the Company, Corporate Governance page.

The Board of Directors has determined that each of the three members of the Audit Committee:

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meets the requirements for “independence” set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rules 5605(a)(2) and 5605(c)(2) and applicable SEC rules; and

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has the requisite financial sophistication called for by Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(c)(2).

The Board of Directors also has reviewed and designated each of Messrs. Whitney and Richardson as an “audit committee financial expert” in compliance with Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K.

Compensation Committee

We have a standing Compensation Committee, consisting in 2017 of Messrs. DeStefano (chairman), King, and Walter, that has the authority and responsibility to:

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review, establish and approve, on an annual basis, the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers of the Company;

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administer our annual and long-term compensation plans;

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review and make recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to director compensation;

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approve our overall compensation strategy;

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review and discuss with management the annual Compensation Discussion and Analysis disclosure, and recommend to the Board inclusion of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis in the annual report on Form 10-K and the proxy statement;

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create and approve the Compensation Committee Report;

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review and approve compensation agreements and arrangements between us and our executive officers; and

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perform other duties and functions assigned by the Board of Directors from time to time that are consistent with the Compensation Committee’s charter, our bylaws and governing law.

The Board of Directors has determined that all members of the Compensation Committee are “independent” as that term is defined in Nasdaq Listing Rules 5605(a)(2) and 5605(d)(2) and “outside” directors in accordance with Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m).

The Compensation Committee’s role includes a particular focus on the compensation of our executive officers and non-employee directors and the administration of our equity incentive plans and significant employee benefit programs.

The Compensation Committee met six times in 2017. The Compensation Committee has a written charter, a copy of which is available on our website, www.digimarc.com, on the Company, Corporate Governance page.

The Compensation Committee may, under its charter, delegate any of its responsibilities to subcommittees of the Committee as necessary and appropriate. The Committee has delegated authority to Messrs. Davis and Chamness, acting jointly, so long as each is an executive officer of Digimarc, to grant options (but not restricted stock) to existing and new employees and consultants of Digimarc pursuant to a predetermined annual grant budget, limitations on the number of shares reserved for issuance that can be issued in any one year, and additional guidance or limitations established by the Compensation Committee. No such options were awarded in 2017.

The Compensation Committee, together with our Chief Executive Officer, reviews assessments of executive compensation practices at least annually against comparative data and our compensation philosophy. Our Chief Executive Officer makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee with the intent of keeping our executive officer compensation practices aligned with our compensation philosophy. The Compensation Committee must approve any recommended changes before they can be made.

The Compensation Committee has the authority to retain and terminate any compensation and benefits consultant and the authority to approve the related fees and other retention terms of the consultant. The Compensation Committee has retained Radford (an AON Hewitt Company), a nationally recognized independent consulting firm, to provide an independent review of our compensation programs for executive officers and directors, assist in the preparation of a list of peer companies, examine our pay practices relative to the market and assist in the design of compensation programs. Radford provides compensation information to management on market compensation classifications and trends from time to time, but does not have a material additional relationship outside of the services that it provides to the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee has determined that Radford’s work has not raised any conflict of interest.

Governance and Nominating Committee

We have a standing Governance and Nominating Committee, consisting in 2017 of Messrs. King (chairman), DeStefano and Whitney (Mr. Whitney replaced Mr. Miller, who served on the Committee until his death on December 24, 2017). The Governance and Nominating Committee met four times in 2017. The Board of Directors has delegated to the Governance and Nominating Committee the responsibility for overseeing the quality and integrity of our corporate governance practices and for optimizing the composition and competence of the Board of Directors and its committees by searching for and recommending individuals for election to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Governance and Nominating Committee, a copy of which is posted on our website at www.digimarc.com on the Company, Corporate Governance page.

The Board of Directors has determined that all members of the Governance and Nominating Committee are “independent” as that term is defined in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2).

The Governance and Nominating Committee’s responsibilities include the review, monitoring, and general oversight of our policies and procedures involving corporate governance and compliance with significant legal, ethical, and regulatory requirements. This oversight responsibility includes monitoring compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Governance and Nominating Committee also oversees the structure and evaluation of the Board of Directors and its committees, and the development, monitoring, and enforcement of the corporate governance principles applicable to us.

The Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for recruiting individuals to become members of the Board of Directors and evaluating their qualifications under the guidelines described under “Director Nomination Policy” below. The Board of Directors may from time to time assign to the Governance and Nominating Committee additional duties and functions consistent with its charter, our Bylaws and governing law.

Director Nomination Policy. The Governance and Nominating Committee has a formal written policy addressing the nominating process. A copy of the policy is available on our website at www.digimarc.com,

attached as an exhibit to the Governance and Nominating Committee charter located on the Company, Corporate Governance page of the site. Pursuant to its written policy addressing the nominating process, the Governance and Nominating Committee welcomes and encourages recommendations of director candidates from our shareholders, and will consider any director candidates recommended by our shareholders, provided that the information regarding director candidates who are recommended is submitted to the Governance and Nominating Committee in compliance with the terms of its policy. Director candidate recommendations from shareholders must be provided in writing, include prescribed information, and be sent to Digimarc’s Secretary at the address of our principal executive offices. In evaluating a potential candidate’s qualifications for nomination to the Board, the Governance and Nominating Committee will consider the potential candidate’s experience, areas of expertise, and other factors relative to the overall composition of the Board of Directors. The Governance and Nominating Committee will also review from time to time the skills and characteristics necessary and appropriate for directors in the context of the current composition of the Board of Directors. Directors are expected to devote sufficient time to carry out their duties and responsibilities effectively, ensure that other existing and planned future commitments do not materially interfere with his or her service as a director, and attend at least 75% of all Board of Directors and applicable committee meetings.

The Governance and Nominating Committee’s process for identifying and evaluating nominees for director, including nominees recommended by shareholders, involves an internal assessment of the qualifications and performance of incumbent members of the Board of Directors, compiling names of potentially eligible candidates, vetting those candidates against the factors described above, conducting background and reference checks, conducting interviews with candidates, meeting to consider and approve final candidates and, as appropriate, preparing and presenting to the Board of Directors an analysis with regard to a candidate. The Governance and Nominating Committee will identify director nominees who have the highest personal and professional integrity, have demonstrated exceptional ability and judgment, and, together with other director nominees and members, will effectively serve the shareholders’ long-term interests and contribute to our overall corporate goals. In connection with the selection of nominees for director, consideration will be given to the Board’s overall balance of diversity of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences; however, the Board has not adopted a formal diversity policy beyond the universal corporate policy that decisions involving people are made on the basis of job requirements, independent of an individual’s race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, religion, military or veteran status, physical or mental disability, and/or any other status protected by law, and that there is no tolerance for discrimination of any sort on any protected basis. There are no differences in the manner in which the Governance and Nominating Committee evaluates nominees for director based on whether the nominee is recommended by a shareholder or by the Governance and Nominating Committee. The committee may, from time to time, pay professional search firms to assist in the identification and evaluation of potential nominees.

Shareholder Communications with the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors encourages communication from shareholders. All communications must be in written form, addressed to the Board of Directors or to one or more individual members of the Board of Directors, and sent care of the Secretary of Digimarc at the address of our principal executive offices or via fax to (503) 469-4771. The Secretary of Digimarc will promptly provide all communications to the applicable member(s) of the Board of Directors or the entire Board of Directors, as specified by the shareholder.

Stock Ownership Guidelines

In July 2008, the Board of Directors adopted stock ownership guidelines for members of the Board of Directors and our executive officers. Under the amended director ownership guidelines, effective April 1, 2015, the non-employee members of the Board shall acquire and maintain at least the number of shares necessary to achieve a multiple of three times the annual cash retainer.

Director Resignation Upon Change of Employment

The Board of Directors also has adopted a policy that requires any director who experiences a substantial change in principal employment responsibility to tender his or her resignation from the Board, unless the change was anticipated by the Governance and Nominating Committee at the time of the director’s nomination or election to the Board. Upon receipt of a resignation offered under these circumstances, the Governance and Nominating Committee will review the director’s change in employment responsibilities to evaluate whether the director’s continued service is appropriate.

Other Corporate Governance Matters

In furtherance of our commitment to upholding the highest legal and ethical conduct in fulfilling our responsibilities, the Board of Directors adopted and published corporate governance guidelines and three codes of ethics and business conduct, two of which apply to our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer, our Controller and other finance personnel.

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines can be found on the Company, Corporate Governance page of our website at www.digimarc.com. These Corporate Governance Guidelines provide a framework for the Board of Directors to assist in the governance and oversight of the affairs of Digimarc. Our Code of Business Conduct can be found on the Company, Corporate Governance page of our website at www.digimarc.com. The Code of Business Conduct applies to every officer, director and employee of Digimarc and its subsidiaries, and their immediate family members, and sets forth internal policies and guidelines designed to support and encourage ethical conduct and compliance with the laws, rules and regulations that govern our business operations. Our Code of Ethics for Financial Personnel can be found on the Company, Corporate Governance page of our website at www.digimarc.com. This Code of Ethics applies to the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of Digimarc and its subsidiaries and every officer, director or employee of Digimarc who performs or influences financial transactions and reporting on behalf of Digimarc, and their immediate family members. In addition to the codes described above, we have adopted Standards of Professional Conduct for Legal Personnel that are available on the Company, Corporate Governance page of our website at www.digimarc.com.

Submitted by the Governance and Nominating

Committee of the Board of Directors:

Richard L. King, Chair

Gary DeStefano

Bernard Whitney

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The following table provides information on compensation of our non-employee directors for the year ended December 31, 2017. Directors who are also Digimarc employees receive no additional compensation for their services as directors. During 2017, Mr. Davis was the only director who was an employee of Digimarc. Mr. Davis’s compensation is discussed in this proxy statement under the heading “Executive Compensation.”

2017 Director Compensation


Name	Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)(1)		Stock Awards ($)(2)		Total ($)
Richard L. King	$	50,000	$	100,080	$	150,080
James T. Richardson	$	65,000	$	100,080	$	165,080
Bernard Whitney	$	60,000	$	100,080	$	160,080
William J. Miller(3)	$	50,000	$	100,080	$	150,080
Gary DeStefano	$	50,000	$	100,080	$	150,080
Andrew J. Walter	$	50,000	$	100,080	$	150,080

(1)	Nonemployee directors of the Company receive a $50,000 annual retainer. The Lead Director and the Chair of Audit Committee receive an additional annual retainer of $15,000 and $10,000, respectively. All retainers are paid quarterly in arrears.

(2)

On May 1, 2017, each non-employee, continuing director (a group consisting of Messrs. King, Richardson, Whitney, Miller, DeStefano and Walter) was granted 3,475 shares of restricted stock. The amounts disclosed above represent the grant date fair value for the restricted stock granted to the indicated non-employee director in 2017, computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718 “Compensation—Stock Compensation.” A summary of the assumptions we apply in calculating these amounts is set forth in the Notes to Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017. As of December 31, 2017, the total number of outstanding stock options held by each non-employee director was as follows: Mr. King, 0; Mr. Richardson, 35,000; Mr. Whitney, 10,000; Mr. DeStefano, 0; and Mr. Walter, 0. As of December 31, 2017, the total number of unvested restricted shares held by each non-employee director was as follows: Mr. King, 5,861; Mr. Richardson, 3,475; Mr. Whitney, 3,475; Mr. DeStefano, 7,341; and Mr. Walter, 7,341.

(3)

Mr. Miller passed away on December 24, 2017. Upon his death, the unvested portion of his outstanding restricted share award vested in full and his outstanding options for 35,000 shares were exercisable by his designated beneficiary until the earlier of three years and the tenth anniversary of their respective grant dates. All options were subsequently exercised.

All directors are also reimbursed for reasonable and necessary travel, communications, and other out-of-pocket business expenses incurred in connection with their attendance at meetings, while on corporate business or for continuing education related to their board service.

Cash Compensation. The Board has approved cash compensation for each non-employee director of $50,000 per annum. In addition, the Board has approved an additional annual retainer in the amount of $15,000 for the Lead Director and an additional annual retainer of $10,000 for the Chair of the Audit Committee. These cash retainers included compensation for all committee, chairperson and other roles undertaken by the respective director, and for attendance at all committee and Board of Directors meetings.

Equity Compensation. Under the Equity Compensation Program for Non-Employee Directors under the Digimarc Corporation 2008 Incentive Plan, when a non-employee director is first elected or appointed to our Board of Directors, the director is automatically granted shares of restricted common stock having an aggregate

value of approximately $200,000. These shares vest over the three-year period commencing on the date of grant, with 1/3 of the shares vesting on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant. On the date of each annual meeting of shareholders, each non-employee director automatically receives an annual grant of restricted stock having an aggregate value of approximately $100,000, unless the Compensation Committee exercises its power to make an alternative grant. The stock restrictions lapse on the anniversary of the grant date, so the stock is freely tradable one year after the grant date.

Following is a summary of the cash and equity compensation program for our non-employee directors, presented in a tabular format, effective March 1, 2018:


Annual Cash Retainer		$50,000
Additional Annual Cash Retainer (Lead Director)		$15,000
Additional Annual Cash Retainer (Chair of Audit Committee)		$10,000
Initial Restricted Stock Grant (New Director)	$	200,000 value
Annual Restricted Stock Grant (Continuing Director)	$	100,000 value

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Audit Committee reports as follows:

1.	The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements and internal control over financial reporting with our management.

2.	The Audit Committee has discussed with KPMG LLP, Digimarc’s independent registered public accounting firm, the matters required to be discussed under the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (Communication with Audit Committees).

The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from KPMG LLP required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed with KPMG LLP its independence from Digimarc.

Based on the review and discussion referred to in paragraphs (1) through (3) above, the Audit Committee recommended to Digimarc’s Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors approved, the inclusion of the audited financial statements in Digimarc’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, for filing with the SEC. The Committee also discussed with KPMG the matters required to be discussed by the statement on Auditing Standards No. 1301, as adopted by the PCAOB (which replaced PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 61).

As described under the heading “Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Proposal No. 2),” the Audit Committee has appointed KPMG LLP as Digimarc’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2018 and is seeking ratification of the appointment at the Annual Meeting.

Submitted by the Audit Committee

of the Board of Directors:

Bernard Whitney, Chair

James T. Richardson

Andrew J. Walter

MANAGEMENT

Executive Officers and Key Employee

The following table contains information regarding our executive officers and key employee as of March 1, 2018. There are no arrangements or understandings between any executive officer and any other person pursuant to which the executive officer is or was to be selected as an executive officer. Additionally, there is no family relationship between any director and any executive officer of Digimarc.


Name	Age		Position
Bruce Davis		65	President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors
Aimee Arana		41	Executive Vice President. Sales and Business Development
Robert Chamness		64	Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
Charles Beck		40	Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Joel Meyer		51	Executive Vice President, Intellectual Property
Tony Rodriguez		49	Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer

Executive Officers

Information concerning Mr. Davis is set forth under “Election of Directors” in this proxy statement.

Aimee Arana was named our Executive Vice President of Sales and Business Development on April 19, 2017. Ms. Arana also oversees the program management responsible for successful customer delivery. Before joining Digimarc, Ms. Arana spent the last 20 years working in the retail industry. Most recently, she was Vice President and General Manager for the North America Women’s Division at Nike, Inc. (NYSE: NKE). Ms. Arana also served in various roles at Nike in country general management, strategic sales, merchandising and operations since 2004. Ms. Arana holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Portland State University and a B.A.Sc. from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

Robert Chamness was named our Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary on June 18, 2008, having served at Old Digimarc since January 2002 in various roles including Vice President and General Counsel, Secretary, Vice President of Human Resources, Chief Legal Officer, and Executive Vice President. Mr. Chamness also oversees corporate licensing, facilities and government relations, is the general manager of Digimarc GmbH, and serves as Compliance Officer and Privacy Officer. Prior to joining Digimarc, Mr. Chamness was President, Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Concentrex, Inc. (Nasdaq: CCTX), a software and services provider to the financial services industry. Mr. Chamness holds an A.B. cum laude from Wabash College and a J.D. summa cum laude from the Indiana University School of Law.

Charles Beck was named our Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on November 5, 2013, having served since May 2012 as our Controller. Mr. Beck also oversees information technology. Before joining Digimarc, Mr. Beck was a senior manager at KPMG LLP, which provides audit, tax and advisory services, where he served in various management roles since 2002. Mr. Beck is a CPA and holds an M.B.A. in Finance, and a B.A. in Accounting, from the University of Portland.

Joel Meyer was named our Executive Vice President, Intellectual Property on May 1, 2012. Mr. Meyer joined Old Digimarc in November of 1999 and had served as the Vice President of Intellectual Property at Old Digimarc and Digimarc since September 2004. Prior to joining Old Digimarc, Mr. Meyer was a partner at the law firm of Klarquist Sparkman, where his practice particularly focused on advising high tech companies on the

protection and enforcement of their intellectual property rights. Mr. Meyer received a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Wisconsin with highest distinction, and a J.D. with honors from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Key Employee

Tony Rodriguez was named our Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer effective January 1, 2016. Mr. Rodriguez joined Old Digimarc in 1996, and has been a leader of innovation efforts at Digimarc. Mr. Rodriguez has approximately 28 years of experience in computer science and image processing research and development. At Old Digimarc and Digimarc, Mr. Rodriguez has held senior software engineering and research positions, focused on the development and application of digital watermarking and other content identification technologies. Before joining Old Digimarc, Mr. Rodriguez worked at Intel Architecture Labs as a senior software engineer focused on video segmentation and streaming technologies. Mr. Rodriguez has a bachelor degree in electrical engineering from the University of Washington and completed the AeA/Stanford Executive Institute program from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis included in this proxy statement with management; and based on that review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in Digimarc’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and this definitive proxy statement prepared in connection with the Annual Meeting.

Submitted by the Compensation

Committee of the Board of Directors:

Gary DeStefano, Chair

Richard L. King

Andrew J. Walter

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

None of Messrs. Miller, DeStefano, King or Walter, the members of our Compensation Committee during the fiscal year:

•

was at any time during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 or at any other time an officer or employee of Digimarc, or

•

had any relationship requiring disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K.

No executive officer of Digimarc served as a member of the compensation committee (or other board committee performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of any committee performing equivalent functions, the entire Board of Directors) of another entity, or as a director of another entity, where one of the other entity’s executive officers served on the Compensation Committee of Digimarc or as a director of Digimarc.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

The following Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) describes the philosophy, objectives and structure of our 2017 executive compensation program. This CD&A is intended to be read in conjunction with the tables beginning on page 35, which provide further historical compensation information for our following named executive officers (“named executive officers” or “NEOs”) as of December 31, 2017:


Name		Title
Bruce Davis		Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Aimee Arana1		Executive Vice President, Sales and Business Development
Robert P. Chamness		Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
Charles Beck		Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Joel Meyer		Executive Vice President, Intellectual Property

1	Ms. Arana was named Executive Vice President, Sales and Business Development on April 19, 2017.

On February 22, 2018, the Company filed its Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 on Form 10-K. Please review that document, including the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” for a description of our business strategy and performance.

General Compensation Policy

Our executive compensation programs for named executive officers are designed to attract, retain, motivate and appropriately reward our executive officers, as well as to align the interests of our executive officers with those of our shareholders. The objectives of our compensation programs are to:

•

provide competitive compensation opportunities that attract and retain top executives;

•

inspire the executive team to achieve superior performance in order to deliver profitable growth;

•

foster a performance-oriented environment with variable equity compensation based upon the achievement of annual and longer-term business results;

•

create a direct, meaningful link between (i) performance in achieving our financial and strategic objectives and (ii) individual executive performance and rewards;

•

provide an award that is consistent with each executive’s overall contribution to Digimarc, and that encourages and recognizes career growth and progression; and

•

reward shareholder value creation and align the interests of executives and shareholders through the use of long-term incentives, while effectively managing dilution.

Results of Shareholder Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation

At our 2017 annual meeting of shareholders, we requested our shareholders to approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the compensation paid to our executive officers as disclosed in the proxy statement for our 2017 annual meeting. Our shareholders expressed support for our executive compensation, with approximately 75% of the votes cast voting for approval of the “say on pay” advisory vote on executive compensation. Because of the support expressed by our shareholders for the executive compensation disclosed in the proxy statement for our 2017 annual meeting, the Compensation Committee has continued to apply a similar approach for executive compensation decisions and policies. In accordance with the preference indicated by the votes cast regarding the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation at our 2017 annual meeting of shareholders, the Board determined that future advisory votes on executive compensation would be submitted to shareholders every year. The next advisory vote on the frequency of advisory votes on executive compensation will occur no later than our annual meeting of shareholders in 2023.

Setting Executive Compensation

The Compensation Committee awarded 2017 compensation to the named executive officers based on its review and analysis of their positions, responsibilities and performance, as well as their anticipated responsibilities and potential contributions to growth in shareholder value. The Compensation Committee, together with our Chief Executive Officer, reviewed assessments of executive performance and compensation practices against comparative data and our compensation philosophy. Our Chief Executive Officer made executive officer compensation recommendations to the Compensation Committee with the intent of keeping our executive officer compensation practices aligned with our compensation philosophy. The Compensation Committee must approve any recommended executive officer compensation changes before any such changes can be made. In performing its responsibilities, the Compensation Committee analyzed our performance relative to our peers, and the compensation of our peer companies, in reaching its conclusions. The Compensation Committee also used the services of Radford (an Aon Hewitt Company), a nationally recognized independent consulting firm, to assist it in determining compensation of the named executive officers for 2017. Radford performed an analysis and provided market reference points with respect to each named executive officer’s salary for 2017, as well as the appropriate number and type of equity grants to be considered for granting to each named executive officer. After analysis of these recommendations and other information, the Compensation Committee set the salary and equity grants for each of the named executive officers.

In setting the aggregate level of compensation to be paid for 2017, the Compensation Committee engaged Radford to perform a study of the compensation of senior management at peer companies within the security software, software services, telecommunications, network, internet and other high technology industries. The criteria used to develop the list of peer companies were:

•

Business/labor market competitors, focusing on companies in the security software, software services, telecommunications, network, internet and other high technology industries;

•

Companies with annual revenues of less than $100 million and market capitalization similar to that of Digimarc; and

•

Comparable companies included in financial analyst reports.

Based on Radford’s recommendations, the Compensation Committee established the following list of peer companies to provide a comparative framework for use in setting executive compensation for 2017:


Amber Road Inc.	American Software, Inc.	Bazaarvoice
Brightcove Inc.	Carbonite Inc.	Glu Mobile Inc.
Guidance Software*	Immersion Corporation	The Meet Group Inc.
Mitek Systems, Inc.	ORBCOMM Inc.	Park City Group, Inc.
PDF Solutions, Inc.	Telenav Inc.	Upland Software Inc.
VirnetX Holding Corporation	Zix Corporation

*	Note: Guidance Software was acquired in September of 2017.

The Compensation Committee reviews our peer group periodically for continued appropriateness. Our peer group changed from our peer group in 2016 due to consolidating acquisitions in the intervening period and market capitalization changes of the Company.

In establishing the compensation of our named executive officers, we based the amounts primarily on the market data and advice provided by Radford with respect to the compensation paid to individuals who perform substantially similar functions within the peer group companies, together with the recommendations of the Chief Executive Officer relative to performance and compensation. We also examined the outstanding stock options and restricted stock held by the executive officer for the purpose of considering the retention value of additional equity awards. As a general guideline, for our named executive officers, we set base salary at approximately the 75th percentile, total equity compensation between the 50th and the 75th percentiles and total direct compensation between the 50th and 75th percentiles of peer group companies. We set base salary at approximately the 75th percentile because, as discussed below, we no longer have an annual cash incentive program and, consequently, total cash compensation generally falls below the median of our peer group companies. We believe targeting the 50^th to 75^th percentiles for total direct compensation is appropriate given we have no annual bonus and a larger percentage of at risk compensation compared to peers, most of whom pay annual cash bonuses. Market data, including these compensation percentiles, were among several factors the committee reviewed in determining compensation. We believe that our compensation philosophy will enable us to attract, retain and motivate executives of high quality, while at the same time keep our overall compensation amounts competitive among our peer group. All of these targets are, however, subject to the judgment and discretion of the Compensation Committee. During an annual compensation review, the Compensation Committee determined that the annual compensation was consistent with the pay targets established by the Compensation Committee.

In 2009, the Company changed its executive compensation package to eliminate the annual cash incentive plan in an effort to increase the long term value orientation of executive compensation and further align the interests of our executive officers with those of shareholders. We believe that bonus programs can become too complex and inflexible in changing economic environments. Bonus programs frequently demotivate and disincentivize management, cause misalignment with shareholder interests (particularly in the long term) and are difficult to

create and administer in the current regulatory environment. The Compensation Committee determined that the nature of our business, including the long-term nature of our strategy for building shareholder value and the relative lack of meaningful year-end cut-offs, is not currently well-suited for the use of traditional annual cash incentive compensation programs.

2017 Compensation Components

The primary elements of each named executive officer’s compensation package for the year ended December 31, 2017 were:

•

salary; and

•

long-term incentives in the form of time-based restricted stock.

In determining the elements of the compensation packages for the executive officers, we applied our compensation philosophy and principles and also considered the advice of, and materials provided by, Radford and the Chief Executive Officer concerning compensation levels for executives at comparable companies. Our objective was to establish a mix that would facilitate the following objectives:

•

retention;

•

alignment of compensation with the achievement of key performance objectives; and

•

alignment with shareholder interests.

Because base salary and equity awards are such basic elements of compensation within our industry, as well as the high technology and software industries in general, and are generally expected by employees, we believe that these components must be included in our compensation mix in order for us to compete effectively for talented executives. We award restricted stock for several reasons. First, restricted stock facilitates retention of our executives. Restricted stock generally vests and restrictions generally lapse only if the executive remains employed by Digimarc. Second, restricted stock aligns executive compensation with the interests of our shareholders and thereby focuses executives on increasing value for the shareholders. Restricted stock generally only provides a superior return if the stock price appreciates, and results in materially less dilution to the shareholders than options while frequently providing equivalent value to the employee at less cost to the Company than options. In determining the number of shares to be granted to executives, we take into account the individual’s position, scope of responsibility, ability to affect profits and shareholder value, past and recent performance, and the estimated value of shares at the time of grant. Assuming individual performance at a level satisfactory to the Compensation Committee, the size of total equity compensation is generally targeted between the 50th and 75th percentiles for the peer group. As indicated above, market data, including compensation percentiles, were among several factors the committee reviewed in determining compensation.

Salary. The salary for each executive officer is set on the basis of the position and after reviewing the salary levels in effect for comparable positions with the peer group companies. We provided increases in salaries in 2017 for our chief executive officer, as reflected in the 2017 Summary Compensation Table. The salary for Mr. Davis was increased in connection with his employment agreement entered into effective September 1, 2017, with a base salary of $740,000 per year commencing on September 1, 2017 and with scheduled base salary increases of 3% on each anniversary of the effective date as part of his three-year commitment. The Committee determined that this amount was fair to the Company and the shareholders based on the market data provided by the independent compensation consultants and its review and analysis of his tenure, responsibilities, performance, and contributions to growth in shareholder value. There were no salary increases of the other named executive officers in 2017. The Compensation Committee set the salaries of the remaining named executive officers for 2017 on the basis of the relative compensation of the executive team, the contributions, maturity and tenure of the executive team, the return to shareholders achieved by the executive team since the spin-off from Old Digimarc and the absence of any annual cash incentive program. The absence of any annual

cash incentive program resulted in total cash compensation at or below the 25th percentile of our peer group companies for 2017. The Compensation Committee determined that salary alone was an adequate basis for short-term compensation, and that equity incentives would be used for the long-term elements of incentive programs.

Long-Term Incentives—Equity Compensation. Generally, upon an executive officer’s initial hiring, the Compensation Committee awards restricted stock to the executive officer and, from time to time thereafter, awards time-based restricted stock to each executive officer. These equity compensation awards are designed to align the interests of our executive officers with those of our shareholders and to provide each executive officer with a significant incentive to manage the Company from the perspective of an owner with an equity stake in the business.

The size of the grants made to each executive officer is set at a level that the Compensation Committee deems appropriate to create a meaningful opportunity for stock ownership based upon the individual’s current position with us and individual and Company performance. The Compensation Committee also takes into account comparable awards to individuals in similar positions with the peer group companies and in the industry as reflected in external surveys, the individual’s potential for future responsibility and promotion, the individual’s performance in recent periods, the number of outstanding options and shares of restricted stock held by the individual at the time of the grant, and our equity incentive burn rate. The relative weight given to each of these factors will vary from individual to individual in the Compensation Committee’s discretion and input from the Chief Executive Officer relative to performance and contribution.

In February 2017, we issued annual refresh awards in the form of time-based restricted stock awards to Messrs. Chamness, Beck, and Meyer. These grants vest over a four-year period to provide performance incentives and encourage retention. In making these awards, the Compensation Committee reviewed competitive long-term incentive values, and granted equity compensation to our executives with a value to the executives between the 50th and 75th percentiles of our peer group for their positions. Ms. Arana received a new hire grant in May 2017.

In September 2017, in connection with entering into his new employment agreement, Mr. Davis, our CEO, received a grant of 60,000 shares of time-based restricted stock and options to purchase 200,000 shares of our common stock. His employment agreement also provides for two additional grants to Mr. Davis of options to purchase 100,000 shares of our common stock each, to be granted effective on September 1, 2018 and September 1, 2019, contingent upon approval from the Compensation Committee. The restricted stock and options vest in equal quarterly installments over a three-year period. The Compensation Committee determined that the equity grants and compensation provided pursuant to Mr. Davis’ employment agreement provided sufficient retention and performance incentives and sufficiently aligned Mr. Davis’ interests with those of our shareholders.

In 2017, 87%, 53%, 48%, 51% and 48% of total direct compensation paid to Mr. Davis, Ms. Arana, and Messrs. Chamness, Beck and Meyer, respectively, consisted of equity compensation (calculated based on the grant date fair value of awards granted during 2017).

Benefits and Perquisites. Benefits are established based upon an assessment of competitive market factors and a determination of what is needed to attract and retain talent. The primary benefits received by our named executive officers are the same as for all our other employees and include participation in our health, dental and vision plans and our disability and life insurance plans.

Our policy is not to provide perquisites or other personal benefits to our named executive officers, other than those benefits provided for all our other employees.

Compliance with Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m)

Section 162(m) of the Code generally disallows a tax deduction to public companies for annual compensation exceeding $1 million paid to certain executive officers.

Prior to the changes to Section 162(m) in December 2017, the limitation did not apply to performance-based compensation. Effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, compensation paid to our covered executive officers in excess of $1 million will not be deductible unless it qualifies for transition relief applicable to certain arrangements in place as of November 2, 2017.

The Compensation Committee is aware of the limitations imposed by Section 162(m), and considers the issue of deductibility when and if circumstances warrant. The committee reviews proposed compensation plans in light of applicable tax deductions, and generally seeks to maximize the deductibility for tax purposes of all elements of compensation. However, the committee may approve compensation that does not qualify for deductibility, including stock option and time-based restricted stock awards, if and when the committee deems it to be in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders.

Practices Regarding Equity Grants

As a general matter, except for new hire grants, we grant equity awards to our named executive officers during the first quarter of each year based on parameters approved by the Compensation Committee in the last quarter of the prior fiscal year. Pursuant to our written policy and standard operating procedures with respect to the equity grants, the effective date of these awards is on or after the date the committee approves the grants. Our practice is to set the exercise price of stock options, if any are granted, at the closing price of the underlying common stock on the effective date of the grant.

Termination and Change in Control Payments

Pursuant to our employment agreement with Bruce Davis, if Digimarc terminates Mr. Davis’s employment without cause, or if Mr. Davis terminates his employment for good reason, Mr. Davis will be entitled to the benefits described under “2017 Potential Payments Upon Termination or a Change in Control—Davis Employment Agreement.” In consideration for the provisions in the employment agreement providing for these post-termination benefits, Mr. Davis has agreed to certain non-competition and non-solicitation obligations in our favor. This agreement was designed to assist in the retention of the services of Mr. Davis and to determine in advance the rights and remedies of the parties in connection with any termination. The types and amounts of compensation and the triggering events set forth in this agreement were based on recommendation of counsel and a review of the terms and conditions of normal and customary agreements in our competitive marketplace.

Pursuant to more limited Change of Control Retention Agreements between Digimarc and each of Ms. Arana and Messrs. Chamness, Beck and Meyer, each of these named executive officers will receive severance benefits in the event of termination of the executive without cause by Digimarc, or termination by the executive for good reason, within 12 months following any change of control of Digimarc during the term of the Change of Control Retention Agreement. These agreements were designed to assist in the retention of the services of these executives and to determine in advance the rights and remedies of the parties in connection with a change in control. The types and amounts of compensation and the triggering events set forth in these agreements were based on recommendation of counsel and a review of the terms and conditions of normal and customary agreements in our competitive marketplace.

2017 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table contains information in summary form concerning the compensation earned by our named executive officers for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015.


Name and Principal Position	Year		Salary ($)		Stock Awards ($)(1)		Option Awards ($)(1)		All Other Compensation ($)(2)		Total ($)
Bruce Davis,		2017	$	673,333	$	1,830,000	$	2,916,000	$	12,750	$	5,432,083
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board		2016 2015	$ $	623,333 603,333	$ $	— —	$ $	— —	$ $	13,250 9,275	$ $	636,583 612,608

Aimee Arana,		2017	$	347,051	$	400,139	$	—	$	11,250	$	758,440
Executive Vice President, Sales and
Business Development (3)

Robert P. Chamness,		2017	$	315,000	$	305,019	$	—	$	12,750	$	632,769
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary		2016 2015	$ $	315,000 300,000	$ $	305,142 295,771	$ $	— —	$ $	13,250 9,275	$ $	633,392 605,046

Charles Beck,		2017	$	300,000	$	320,310	$	—	$	11,250	$	631,560
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer		2016 2015	$ $	300,000 275,000	$ $	320,217 320,419	$ $	— —	$ $	12,000 9,275	$ $	632,217 604,694

Joel Meyer,		2017	$	315,000	$	305,019	$	—	$	12,750	$	632,769
Executive Vice President, Intellectual Property		2016 2015	$ $	315,000 300,000	$ $	305,142 295,771	$ $	— —	$ $	13,250 9,275	$ $	633,392 605,046

(1)

These amounts do not reflect compensation actually received by the named executive officer. These amounts represent the aggregate grant date fair value of the stock awards granted from 2015 to 2017, computed in accordance with FASB ASC 718, excluding the effect of any estimated forfeitures for the years 2015 and 2016 only. A summary of the assumptions we applied in calculating these estimates is set forth in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the respective fiscal years. The awards for which the aggregate grant date fair value is shown in this column include awards described under the Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table and in the Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table.

(2)	These amounts consist of matching contributions to our 401(k) plan.

(3)	Ms. Arana joined Digimarc on April 19, 2017 as Executive Vice President, Sales and Business Development. Her annual salary is $400,000.

2017 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS TABLE

Equity awards are made to our named executive officers in accordance with the provisions of our 2008 Incentive Plan. The following table sets forth certain information with respect to stock awards granted during the year ended December 31, 2017 to each of the named executive officers.

Name

Type of
Award

Grant
Date

Approval
Date

All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options (#)

All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units (#)

Exercise or
Base Price of
Option
Awards
($/Sh)

Grant Date
Fair Value of
Stock and
Option
Awards
($)(1)

Bruce Davis

Stock Option

9/1/2017

8/31/2017

200,000

30.50

2,916,000

Bruce Davis

Restricted Stock Award

9/1/2017

8/31/2017

60,000

1,830,000

Aimee Arana

Restricted Stock Award

5/15/2017

4/25/2017

12,784

400,139

Robert Chamness

Restricted Stock Award

2/15/2017

2/9/2017

12,128

305,019

Charles Beck

Restricted Stock Award

2/15/2017

2/9/2017

12,736

320,310

Joel Meyer

Restricted Stock Award

2/15/2017

2/9/2017

12,128

305,019

(1)

These amounts do not reflect compensation actually received by the named executive officer. These amounts represent the aggregate grant date fair value of these awards computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of any estimated forfeitures. A summary of the assumptions we applied in calculating these estimates is set forth in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017. The awards for which the grant date fair value is shown in this column include awards included in the 2017 Summary Compensation Table and in the 2017 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table.

NARRATIVE TO SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE AND GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS TABLE

Employment Agreement with Mr. Davis

We entered into a new employment agreement effective as of September 1, 2017, with our Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Davis. Pursuant to the employment agreement, we agreed to pay Mr. Davis a base salary of $740,000 per year commencing on September 1, 2017, with scheduled base salary increases of 3% on each anniversary of the effective date. Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Davis received a grant of 60,000 shares of time-based restricted stock and options to purchase 200,000 shares of our common stock. The employment agreement also provides for two additional grants to Mr. Davis of options, each to purchase 100,000 shares of our common stock, to be granted effective on September 1, 2018 and September 1, 2019, respectively, contingent upon approval from the Compensation Committee. The restricted stock and options vest in equal quarterly installments over a three-year period. Mr. Davis receives vacation and other benefits similar to those generally provided to other Digimarc executives. The employment agreement provides that as long as Mr. Davis serves as our Chief Executive Officer, it is our intention that he will be nominated to serve as a director and as chairman of our Board of Directors.

Equity Compensation

Equity awards are made to our named executive officers in accordance with the provisions of the 2008 Incentive Plan. Restricted stock awards granted to our named executive officers generally vest quarterly over a four-year period, following the date of grant, contingent upon the executive officer’s continued employment with us.

Salary in Proportion to Total Compensation

In 2017, Mr. Davis, Ms. Arana, and Messrs. Chamness, Beck and Meyer received 12%, 46%, 50%, 48% and 50%, respectively, of their total compensation reported in the Summary Compensation Table in the form of base

salary. Please see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—General Compensation Policy,” for a description of the objectives of our compensation program and overall compensation philosophy.

2017 OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END TABLE

The following table provides summary information, as to the named executive officers, concerning outstanding equity awards as of December 31, 2017.


	Grant Date			Option Awards(1)								Stock Awards(2)
Name				Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options		Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options		Option Exercise Price ($)		Option Expiration Date		Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)		Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)
Name				(#) Exercisable		(#) Unexercisable		Option Exercise Price ($)		Option Expiration Date		Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)
Bruce Davis		9/1/2017	(3)										55,000	$	1,988,250
		9/1/2017	(3)		16,666		183,334	$	30.50		9/1/2027
		11/4/2011			100,000		—	$	27.61		11/4/2021
		1/2/2011			75,000		—	$	30.01		1/2/2021
		1/2/2010			40,000		—	$	14.99		1/2/2020

Aimee Arana		5/15/2017											11,186	$	404,374

Robert Chamness		2/15/2017											9,854	$	356,222
		2/15/2016											6,012	$	217,334
		2/15/2015											3,225	$	116,584
		2/15/2014											938	$	33,909
		1/2/2010			12,916		—	$	14.99		1/2/2020

Charles Beck		2/15/2017											10,348	$	374,080
		2/15/2016											6,309	$	228,070
		2/15/2015											3,494	$	126,308
		2/15/2014											313	$	11,315

Joel Meyer		2/15/2017											9,854	$	356,222
		2/15/2016											6,012	$	217,334
		2/15/2015											3,225	$	116,584
		2/15/2014											938	$	33,909
		10/30/2008			6,729		—	$	9.64		10/30/2018

(1)	Option awards generally vest monthly over a four-year period, unless otherwise footnoted, following the date of grant contingent upon the executive officer’s continued employment with us.

(2)	Stock awards generally vest quarterly over a four-year period, unless otherwise footnoted, following the date of grant contingent upon the executive officer’s continued employment with us.

(3)	Award vests quarterly over a three-year period from a September 1, 2017 commencement date contingent upon the executive officer’s continued employment with us.

The awards in the 2017 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table include awards that are also described in the 2017 Summary Compensation Table and in the 2017 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table.

2017 OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED TABLE

The following table provides summary information for each of the named executive officers who exercised options to purchase shares of our common stock or had restricted stock awards that vested in 2017.


	Option Awards				Stock Awards
Name	Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#)		Value Realized On Exercise ($)		Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting ($)		Value Realized on Vesting ($)
Bruce Davis		60,000	$	1,148,032		41,666	$	1,296,362
Aimee Arana		—	$	—		1,598	$	52,095
Robert Chamness		14,583	$	360,477		11,276	$	346,914
Charles Beck		—	$	—		11,737	$	361,133
Joel Meyer		17,371	$	388,541		11,276	$	346,914

2017 POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL

Davis Employment Agreement. We entered into a new employment agreement with Mr. Davis in September 2017 for a term from September 1, 2017 through August 31, 2020, as described under “Narrative to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table—Employment Agreement with Mr. Davis.” The employment agreement provides that if Digimarc terminates Mr. Davis’s employment without cause (as defined below), or if Mr. Davis terminates his employment for good reason (as defined below), in either case other than following a change of control (as defined in the employment agreement), Mr. Davis’s stock options and restricted stock that would have vested if Mr. Davis’s employment had continued for an additional twenty-four (24) months will immediately and fully vest, and Digimarc will be obligated to continue to pay Mr. Davis the benefits described below for two years from the date of termination. “Cause” is defined as “(i) any act of personal dishonesty by Mr. Davis in connection with his responsibilities as an officer or employee of Digimarc, (ii) Mr. Davis’s conviction of a felony, (iii) any act by Mr. Davis which constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct, (iv) any material violation by Mr. Davis of his employment duties provided that if such violation is curable, it has not been cured within (30) days after delivery to Mr. Davis of a written demand for cure, or (v) any act that would constitute a material violation of Digimarc’s code of conduct or code of ethics or a material violation of any restrictive covenants contained in the employment agreement or any other agreement between Digimarc and Mr. Davis or any Digimarc plan or program.” “Good Reason” includes any of the following changes, if done without Mr. Davis’s prior written consent: “(i) a material reduction in Mr. Davis’s authority, duties or responsibilities; (ii) a material reduction in Mr. Davis’s salary other than as specifically set forth in the employment agreement or (iii) relocation of Mr. Davis’s geographic work location to a location that is more than 50 miles from Mr. Davis’s geographic work location on the date of the employment agreement, except for required travel in furtherance of Digimarc’s business to the extent consistent with Mr. Davis’s duties.” For a period of two years following the date of termination, Mr. Davis would continue to receive base compensation of $740,000 or the level in effect on the date of termination. This amount would be paid according to our standard payroll schedules from the date of termination, as if Mr. Davis had not been terminated. For a period of two years following the date of termination, we would also provide, for Mr. Davis and his dependents, continued health, disability and other fringe benefits similar to those generally provided to other executives of Digimarc.

The employment agreement further provides that in the event that Digimarc terminates Mr. Davis’s employment without cause or Mr. Davis terminates his employment for good reason, in either case within eighteen (18) months following a change of control (as defined in the employment agreement), Mr. Davis’s stock options and restricted stock will immediately and fully vest. For a period of two years following the date of termination, Mr. Davis would continue to receive base salary at the level in effect on the date of termination. This amount would be paid according to our standard payroll schedules from the date of termination, as if Mr. Davis had not been terminated. For a period of two years following the date of termination, we would also provide, for Mr. Davis and his dependents, continued health, disability and other fringe benefits similar to those generally provided to other executives of Digimarc.

The employment agreement provides that in the event that Mr. Davis’s employment terminates due to death or permanent disability, Mr. Davis’s stock options and restricted stock that would have vested if Mr. Davis’s employment had continued for an additional twenty-four (24) months will immediately and fully vest and become exercisable.

In consideration for the provisions in the employment agreement providing for the post-termination payments described above, Mr. Davis has agreed to specified non-competition and non-solicitation obligations in our favor. Mr. Davis’s non-competition and non-solicitation obligations last for the duration of his employment by Digimarc, and for a post-termination period equal to the longer of one year, or the period during which Mr. Davis is receiving severance payments under the employment agreement after his employment by Digimarc terminates. The employment agreement does not provide for the waiver of a breach of such obligations.

Change of Control Retention Agreements. On October 27, 2015, the Compensation Committee approved a form of Change of Control Retention Agreement to be entered into by and between Digimarc and each of Ms. Arana and Messrs. Chamness, Beck and Meyer. The Change of Control Retention Agreement is effective until December 31, 2018 and provides for certain severance benefits in the event of termination of the executive without cause by Digimarc, or termination by the executive for good reason, within 12 months following a change of control of Digimarc during the term of the Change of Control Retention Agreement. “Cause” is defined as willful misconduct that is significantly injurious to us; fraud, dishonesty, embezzlement, misrepresentation or theft of Digimarc property; conviction of (or plea of no contest to) a felony or crime involving moral turpitude; breach of any agreement with Digimarc; unauthorized disclosure of Digimarc’s proprietary or confidential information or breach of any confidentiality/invention/proprietary information agreement(s) with Digimarc; violation of our Code of Ethics, Code of Business Conduct or any other employment rule, code or policy; continued failure or refusal to follow our lawful instructions after five days has passed following delivery of a written notice identifying the failure or refusal; a court order or a consent decree barring the executive from serving as an officer or director of a public company; or continued failure to meet and sustain an acceptable level of performance of the executive’s duties and obligations to Digimarc for thirty days following notice of failure to perform.

Termination by the Executive for “Good reason” is defined as a substantial reduction in duties or responsibilities (with certain exceptions); a material reduction in base salary, benefits or total cash compensation, other than as part of an overall reduction for all employees at the same level; a mandatory transfer to another geographic location more than 35 miles from the prior location of employment, other than normal business travel obligations; the failure of a successor to Digimarc to assume the obligations under the agreement; or Digimarc’s failure to comply with its obligations under the agreement.

The severance benefits payable upon such a termination include 12 months’ salary and up to 18 months premiums necessary to continue the executive’s health insurance coverage under our health insurance plan.

In consideration for the post-termination payments described above, each of Ms. Arana and Messrs. Chamness, Beck and Meyer must execute and not revoke a settlement agreement and general release related to his/her employment and termination.

Stock Options and Restricted Stock under the 2008 Incentive Plan. The 2008 Incentive Plan provides that, unless the Compensation Committee otherwise determines in the grant document, an employment agreement or other agreement between the plan participant and us, all outstanding awards that are not performance shares or performance units will fully vest and become exercisable immediately prior to a change in control (as defined in the 2008 Incentive Plan). In the event of a change in control which constitutes a company transaction (as defined in the 2008 Incentive Plan) all outstanding awards will become fully and immediately exercisable if and to the extent that the awards are not assumed or replaced by the successor company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Compensation Committee has discretionary authority to determine the terms and conditions of any award granted under the 2008 Incentive Plan. In the event a named executive officer’s employment terminates as a result of his/her retirement, death or disability, the executive’s vested options will generally remain exercisable until the earlier of the one year anniversary of his/her termination and the original option expiration date.

The following table summarizes potential payments upon termination of employment or a change in control to each of the named executive officers employed on the last day of our most recently completed fiscal year. The amounts set forth in the table are based on the assumption that the triggering event occurred on the last business day of our last completed fiscal year and that our stock price was the closing market price per share on that date. In the case of stock options, the value of the acceleration was determined based on the difference between (i) the exercise price of the shares for which vesting was accelerated and (ii) $36.15, the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market on December 29, 2017, the last business day of 2017.


Name	Benefit	Before Change in Control Termination w/o Cause or for Good Reason		After Change in Control Termination w/o Cause or for Good Reason		Termination upon Death or Disability		Change in Control
Bruce Davis	Stock Option Vesting Acceleration	$	753,333	$	1,035,837	$	753,333	$	1,035,837
	Restricted Stock Vesting Acceleration	$	1,988,250	$	1,988,250	$	1,988,250	$	1,988,250
	Salary Continuation(1)	$	1,480,000	$	1,480,000	$	—	$	—
	Benefits	$	50,561	$	50,561	$	—	$	—

	Total Value	$	4,272,144	$	4,554,648	$	2,741,583	$	3,024,087


Aimee Arana	Stock Option Vesting Acceleration	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
	Restricted Stock Vesting Acceleration	$	—	$	404,374	$	404,374	$	404,374
	Salary Continuation(1)	$	—	$	400,000	$	—	$	—
	Benefits	$	—	$	12,508	$	—	$	—

	Total Value	$	—	$	816,882	$	404,374	$	404,374


Robert Chamness	Stock Option Vesting Acceleration	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
	Restricted Stock Vesting Acceleration	$	—	$	724,048	$	724,048	$	724,048
	Salary Continuation(1)	$	—	$	315,000	$	—	$	—
	Benefits	$	—	$	12,508	$	—	$	—

	Total Value	$	—	$	1,051,556	$	724,048	$	724,048


Charles Beck	Stock Option Vesting Acceleration	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
	Restricted Stock Vesting Acceleration	$	—	$	739,774	$	739,774	$	739,774
	Salary Continuation(1)	$	—	$	300,000	$	—	$	—
	Benefits	$	—	$	12,508	$	—	$	—

	Total Value	$	—	$	1,052,282	$	739,774	$	739,774


Joel Meyer	Stock Option Vesting Acceleration	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
	Restricted Stock Vesting Acceleration	$	—	$	724,048	$	724,048	$	724,048
	Salary Continuation(1)	$	—	$	315,000	$	—	$	—
	Benefits	$	—	$	12,508	$	—	$	—

	Total Value	$	—	$	1,051,556	$	724,048	$	724,048

(1)	The salary continuation amounts are based on the Named Executive Officer’s base salary in effect on December 29, 2017, the last business day of 2017.

PAY RATIO DISCLOSURE

As required under the Dodd-Frank Act, we are providing the following information about the relationship of the annual total compensation of our employees and the annual total compensation of Bruce Davis, our CEO.

For 2017, our last completed fiscal year:

•

The median of the annual total compensation for all Digimarc employees, excluding our CEO, was $127,084.

•

The annual total compensation of our CEO was $5,432,083, as reflected in the 2017 Summary Compensation Table.

As a result, Mr. Davis’ 2017 annual total compensation was approximately 43 times that of the median of the annual total compensation for all employees for 2017.

We took the following steps to identify the median of the annual total compensation of all our employees for 2017, as well as to determine the annual total compensation of our median employee and our CEO:

•

We determined that, as of December 31, 2017, our employee population consisted of approximately 206 individuals, all of whom were located in the United States (as reported in Digimarc’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017).

•

We selected December 31, 2017, as the date upon which we would identify the “median employee”.

•

To identify the “median employee” from our employee population, we compared the total annual compensation for 2017 for each of our employees as reflected in our internal records.

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table sets forth information regarding our compensation plans under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance to our employees or non-employees, including directors, as of December 31, 2017:


Plan category	Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights		Weighted- average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights		Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
	(a)		(b)		(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders(1)		514,645	$	25.13		933,372
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders		—		—		—

Total		514,645	$	25.13		933,372

(1)

The 2008 Incentive Plan was approved in July 2008, prior to the distribution of our common stock to a trust for the benefit of the shareholders of Old Digimarc on August 1, 2008 (the “Spin-Off”), by our sole shareholder, DMRC LLC, and, following the Spin-Off, was approved and adopted by our shareholders at the 2009 annual meeting of shareholders held on May 1, 2009. The information set forth in the above table does not include the additional 1,000,000 shares to be reserved for issuance under our new 2018 Incentive Plan for which we are requesting shareholder approval pursuant to Proposal 4.

Shares available for issuance under our 2008 Incentive Plan may be granted pursuant to stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, restricted stock, stock units, performance shares, performance units and cash-based awards, which may be granted to officers, directors, employees, consultants, agents, advisors and independent contractors who provide services to us and our affiliated companies.

Our non-employee directors receive restricted stock under our Equity Compensation Program for Non-Employee Directors adopted by the Board of Directors and administered under our 2008 Incentive Plan. Each non-employee director receives an initial grant of restricted stock having an aggregate value of approximately $200,000. The restrictions lapse in equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant. Each non-employee director receives an annual grant of restricted stock having an aggregate value of approximately $100,000 on the date of each annual meeting of shareholders. The restrictions lapse on the one year anniversary date of the grant.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 1, 2018 by:

•

each person or entity known by us to own beneficially more than five percent of our common stock;

•

our chief executive officer, our chief financial officer, each of the other named executive officers and each of our directors; and

•

all of our executive officers and directors as a group.

The beneficial ownership percentage is calculated based on 11,849,849 shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 1, 2018. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting and/or investment power with respect to securities. Unless otherwise indicated, each person or entity named in the table has sole voting power and investment power, or shares voting and investment power with his/her or their spouse under applicable community property laws, with respect to all shares of capital stock listed as owned by that person. Shares issuable upon the exercise of options that are currently exercisable or become exercisable within sixty days after March 1, 2018 are considered outstanding for the purpose of calculating the percentage of outstanding shares of our common stock held by the individual, but not for the purpose of calculating the percentage of outstanding shares of our common stock held by any other individual. The address of each of the executive officers and directors is: care of Digimarc Corporation, 9405 S.W. Gemini Drive, Beaverton, Oregon 97008.


Name and Address of Beneficial Owner	Number of Shares Beneficially Owned		Percentage of Shares Beneficially Owned
Senvest Management, LLC and Richard Mashaal (1)		833,330		7.03	%
540 Madison Avenue, 32nd Floor New York, New York 10022

Lagoda Investment Management, L.P. (2)		670,859		5.66	%
3 Columbus Circle, Suite 2215 New York, New York 10019

Fairbairn Malcolm / c/o Valley High Capital LLC (3)		618,034		5.22	%
10 Orinda View Road Orinda, California 94563

BlackRock, Inc (4)		609,488		5.14	%
55 East 52nd Street New York, New York 10055

Named Executive Officers:
Bruce Davis(5)		322,929		2.67	%
Robert Chamness(6)		92,309		*
Joel Meyer(7)		73,875		*
Charles Beck		46,415		*
Aimee Arana		23,788		*

Directors:
James T. Richardson(8)		85,630		*
Bernard Whitney(9)		38,630		*
Richard L. King		13,994		*
Gary DeStefano		33,980		*
Andrew J. Walter		9,275		*

All executive officers and directors as a group (10 persons)		740,825		6.10	%

*	Less than 1%.

(1)	This information is based solely on the Schedule 13G/A filed by Senvest Management, LLC and Richard Mashaal, the managing member of Senvest Management, LLC, on February 12, 2018.

(2)	This information is based solely on the Schedule 13G/A filed by Lagoda Investment Management, LP on February 14, 2018.

(3)	This information is based solely on the Schedule 13G filed by Fairbairn Malcolm on February 13, 2018.

(4)	This information is based solely on the Schedule 13G filed by BlackRock, Inc. on January 23, 2018.

(5)	Includes options for 238,333 shares of Common Stock exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2018. This amount does not include 5,000 shares of Series A Redeemable Nonvoting Preferred Stock awarded to Mr. Davis in August of 2008.

(6)	Includes options for 12,916 shares of Common Stock exercisable within 60 days of March 1 2018. This amount does not include 2,500 shares of Series A Redeemable Nonvoting Preferred Stock awarded to Mr. Chamness in August of 2008.

(7)	Includes options for 6,729 shares of Common Stock exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2018.

(8)	Includes options for 35,000 shares of Common Stock exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2018.

(9)	Includes options for 10,000 shares of Common Stock exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2018.

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

Policies and Procedures for Approving Transactions with Related Persons

Our Governance and Nominating Committee, in executing the responsibilities delegated to it, reviews, considers and approves, rejects or ratifies all related person transactions between Digimarc and our officers, directors, principal shareholders and affiliates. The Governance and Nominating Committee consists of independent, non-employee directors. The Governance and Nominating Committee has determined that, as a general rule, transactions between Digimarc and its officers, directors, principal shareholders and affiliates should be on terms no less favorable to us than could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties. Digimarc maintains written policies governing these transactions. Our Audit Committee also routinely reviews any transactions with related persons.

OTHER MATTERS

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors and executive officers and persons who beneficially own more than ten percent of our common stock to file initial reports of ownership and changes in their beneficial ownership of our common stock and other equity securities with the SEC and The Nasdaq Stock Market. Based solely on a review of reports that we received and on written representations from reporting persons regarding compliance, we believe that all section 16(a) transactions were reported on a timely basis in 2017, with the exception of the following: one report on Form 3 and one report on Form 4 to report one transaction for our new Executive Vice President, Aimee Arana; and one report on Form 4 to report two transactions for our Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Davis.

Shareholder Proposals

Requirements for Shareholder Proposals to be Brought Before an Annual Meeting. Pursuant to our Bylaws, for a shareholder nomination of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by shareholders to be considered properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder, the shareholder must have given timely notice of the proposal to the Secretary of Digimarc. To be timely for the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, a shareholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received by our Secretary at our principal executive offices no earlier than December 31, 2018 and no later than January 30, 2019.

Requirements for Shareholder Proposals to be Considered for Inclusion in our Proxy Materials. Shareholder proposals submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and intended to be presented at our 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be received by us not later than December 31, 2018 in order to be considered for inclusion in our proxy materials for that meeting.

Discretionary Authority. The proxies to be solicited by us through our Board of Directors for the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will confer discretionary authority on the proxy holders to vote on any shareholder proposal presented at the annual meeting if we fail to receive notice of the shareholder’s proposal for the meeting by January 30, 2019.

Single and Multiple Mailings

If you requested a print version of our proxy materials and share an address with another shareholder, you may receive only one set of proxy materials (including our annual report to shareholders and proxy statement) unless you have provided contrary instructions. If you wish to receive a separate set of our proxy materials now or in the future, we will promptly deliver a separate copy of these materials to you upon written or oral request made to us at: Digimarc Corporation, Attn: Investor Relations, 9405 S.W. Gemini Drive, Beaverton, OR 97008, Phone: (503) 469-4800, Fax: (503) 469-4771. Similarly, if you share an address with another shareholder and have received multiple copies of our proxy materials, you may write to us at the above address or fax number to request delivery of a single copy of these materials.

Form 10-K

We will provide, without charge upon the written request of any beneficial owner of shares of our common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2017. Written requests should be mailed to Robert P. Chamness, Secretary, Digimarc Corporation, 9405 S.W. Gemini Drive, Beaverton, Oregon 97008.

Other Materials

All materials filed by us with the SEC can be obtained at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 or through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

Other Business

The Board of Directors is not aware of any other matter that may be presented for action at the Annual Meeting. Should any other matter requiring a vote of the shareholders arise, the proxy card gives authority to the persons listed on the card to vote at their discretion.

It is important that your shares be represented at the Annual Meeting, regardless of the number of shares you hold. We urge you to promptly vote your shares as directed in the proxy card or notice of internet availability of our proxy materials. Shareholders who are present at the Annual Meeting may revoke their proxies and vote in person or, if they prefer, may abstain from voting in person and allow their proxies to be voted.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

LOGO

Bruce Davis

Chief Executive Officer

Beaverton, Oregon

March 21, 2018

Appendix A

DIGIMARC CORPORATION

2018 INCENTIVE PLAN

SECTION 1. PURPOSE

The purpose of the Digimarc Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to attract, retain and motivate employees, officers, directors, consultants, agents, advisors and independent contractors of the Company and its Related Companies by providing them the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company and to align their interests and efforts to the long-term interests of the Company’s shareholders.

SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS

Certain capitalized terms used in the Plan have the meanings set forth in Appendix A.

SECTION 3. ADMINISTRATION

3.1

Administration of the Plan

The Plan shall be administered by the Board or the Compensation Committee, which shall be composed of two or more directors, each of whom is a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act, or any successor definition adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, or any successor provision thereto.

3.2

Delegation

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board or the Compensation Committee may delegate responsibility for administering the Plan, including with respect to designated classes of Eligible Persons, to different committees consisting of one or more members of the Board, subject to such limitations as the Board deems appropriate, except with respect to Awards to Participants who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or Awards granted pursuant to Section 16 of the Plan. Members of any committee shall serve for such term as the Board may determine, subject to removal by the Board at any time. To the extent consistent with applicable law, the Board or the Compensation Committee may authorize one or more officers of the Company to grant Awards to designated classes of Eligible Persons, within limits specifically prescribed by the Board or the Compensation Committee; provided, however, that no such officer shall have or obtain authority to grant Awards to himself or herself or to any person subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. All references in the Plan to the “Committee” shall be, as applicable, to the Compensation Committee or any other committee or any officer to whom the Board or the Compensation Committee has delegated authority to administer the Plan.

3.3

Administration and Interpretation by Committee

(a) Except for the terms and conditions explicitly set forth in the Plan and to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Committee shall have full power and exclusive authority, subject to such orders or resolutions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as may from time to time be adopted by the Board or a Committee composed of members of the Board, to (i) select the Eligible Persons to whom Awards may from time to time be granted under the Plan; (ii) determine the type or types of Award to be granted to each Participant under the Plan; (iii) determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Award granted under the Plan; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted under the Plan; (v) approve the forms of notice or agreement for use under the Plan; (vi) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be settled in cash, shares of Common Stock or other property or canceled or suspended; (vii) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances cash, shares of Common Stock, other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the Participant, subject to Section 409A of the Code and in accordance with Section 6.3 of the Plan; (viii) interpret

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and administer the Plan and any instrument evidencing an Award, notice or agreement executed or entered into under the Plan; (ix) establish such rules and regulations as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; (x) delegate ministerial duties to such of the Company’s employees as it so determines; and (xi) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for administration of the Plan.

(b) In no event, however, shall the Committee have the right, without shareholder approval, to (i) cancel or amend outstanding Options or SARs for the purpose of repricing, replacing or regranting such Options or SARs with Options or SARs that have a purchase or grant price that is less than the purchase or grant price for the original Options or SARs except in connection with adjustments provided in Section 15, or (ii) issue an Option or SAR or amend an outstanding Option or SAR to provide for the grant or issuance of a new Option or SAR on exercise of the original Option or SAR.

(c) The effect on the vesting of an Award of a Company-approved leave of absence or a Participant’s working less than full-time shall be determined by the Company’s chief human resources officer or other person performing that function or, with respect to directors or executive officers, by the Compensation Committee, whose determination shall be final.

(d) Decisions of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, any Participant, any shareholder and any Eligible Person. A majority of the members of the Committee may determine its actions.

SECTION 4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

4.1

Authorized Number of Shares

Subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 15.1, the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be:

(a) 1,000,000 shares; plus

(b) (i) any authorized shares available for issuance, and not issued or subject to outstanding awards, under the Company’s 2008 Incentive Plan (the “Prior Plan”) on the Effective Date shall cease to be set aside or reserved for issuance pursuant to the Prior Plan, effective on the Effective Date, and shall instead be set aside and reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan and (ii) any shares subject to outstanding awards under the Prior Plan on the Effective Date that cease to be subject to such awards following the Effective Date (other than by reason of exercise or settlement of the awards to the extent they are exercised for or settled in vested and nonforfeitable shares), shall cease to be set aside or reserved for issuance pursuant to the Prior Plan, effective on the date upon which they cease to be so subject to such awards, and shall instead be set aside and reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan, up to an aggregate maximum of 785,000 shares pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of this paragraph, subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 15.1. Shares issued under the Plan shall be drawn from authorized and unissued shares.

4.2

Share Usage

(a) Shares of Common Stock covered by an Award shall not be counted as used unless and until they are actually issued and delivered to a Participant. If any Award lapses, expires, terminates or is canceled prior to the issuance of shares thereunder or if shares of Common Stock are issued under the Plan to a Participant and thereafter are forfeited to or otherwise reacquired by the Company, the shares subject to such Awards and the forfeited or reacquired shares shall again be available for issuance under the Plan. Any shares of Common Stock (i) tendered by a Participant or retained by the Company as full or partial payment to the Company for the purchase price of an Award or to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with an Award, or (ii) covered by an Award that is settled in cash, or in a manner such that some or all of the shares of Common Stock covered by the Award are not issued, shall be available for Awards under the Plan. The number of shares of Common

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Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall not be reduced to reflect any dividends or dividend equivalents that are reinvested into additional shares of Common Stock or credited as additional shares of Common Stock subject or paid with respect to an Award.

(b) The Committee shall also, without limitation, have the authority to grant Awards as an alternative to or as the form of payment for grants or rights earned or due under other compensation plans or arrangements of the Company.

(c) Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may grant Substitute Awards under the Plan. Substitute Awards shall not reduce the number of shares authorized for issuance under the Plan. In the event that an Acquired Entity has shares available for awards or grants under one or more preexisting plans not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, then, to the extent determined by the Board or the Compensation Committee, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such preexisting plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to holders of common stock of the entities that are parties to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan; provided, however, that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of such preexisting plans, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not employees or directors of the Company or a Related Company prior to such acquisition or combination. In the event that a written agreement between the Company and an Acquired Entity pursuant to which a merger or consolidation is completed is approved by the Board and that agreement sets forth the terms and conditions of the substitution for or assumption of outstanding awards of the Acquired Entity, those terms and conditions shall be deemed to be the action of the Committee without any further action by the Committee, except as may be required for compliance with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, and the persons holding such awards shall be deemed to be Participants.

(d) Notwithstanding the other provisions in this Section 4.2, the maximum number of shares that may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall equal the aggregate share number stated in Section 4.1, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15.1.

SECTION 5. ELIGIBILITY

An Award may be granted to any employee, officer or director of the Company or a Related Company whom the Committee from time to time selects. An Award may also be granted to any consultant, agent, advisor or independent contractor for bona fide services rendered to the Company or any Related Company that (a) are not in connection with the offer and sale of the Company’s securities in a capital-raising transaction and (b) do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.

SECTION 6. AWARDS

6.1

Form, Grant and Settlement of Awards

The Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, to determine the type or types of Awards to be granted under the Plan. Such Awards may be granted either alone or in addition to or in tandem with any other type of Award. Any Award settlement may be subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Committee shall determine.

6.2

Evidence of Awards

Awards granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by a written, including an electronic, instrument that shall contain such terms, conditions, limitations and restrictions as the Committee shall deem advisable and that are not inconsistent with the Plan.

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6.3

Deferrals

The Committee may permit or require a Participant to defer receipt of the payment of any Award if and to the extent set forth in the instrument evidencing the Award at the time of grant. If any such deferral election is permitted or required, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall establish rules and procedures for such payment deferrals, which may include the grant of additional Awards or provisions for the payment or crediting of interest or dividend equivalents, including converting such credits to deferred stock unit equivalents; provided, however, that the terms of any deferrals under this Section 6.3 shall comply with all applicable law, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, Section 409A of the Code.

6.4

Dividends and Distributions

Participants may, if and to the extent the Committee so determines and sets forth in the instrument evidencing the Award at the time of grant, be credited with dividends paid with respect to shares of Common Stock underlying an Award in a manner determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Committee may apply any restrictions to the dividends or dividend equivalents that the Committee deems appropriate. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine the form of payment of dividends or dividend equivalents, including cash, shares of Common Stock, Restricted Stock or Stock Units. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the right to any dividends or dividend equivalents declared and paid on the number of shares underlying an Option or Stock Appreciation Right may not be contingent, directly or indirectly, on the exercise of the Option or a Stock Appreciation Right, and an Award providing a right to dividends or dividend equivalents declared and paid on the number of shares underlying an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right, the payment of which is not contingent upon, or otherwise payable on, the exercise of the Option or a Stock Appreciation Right, must comply with or qualify for an exemption under Section 409A of the Code.

SECTION 7. OPTIONS

7.1

Grant of Options

The Committee may grant Options designated as Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock Options.

7.2

Option Exercise Price

The exercise price for shares purchased under an Option shall be at least 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Grant Date (and shall not be less than the minimum exercise price required by Section 422 of the Code with respect to Incentive Stock Options), except in the case of Substitute Awards.

7.3

Term of Options

Subject to earlier termination in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the instrument evidencing the Option, the maximum term of an Option shall be ten years from the Grant Date.

7.4

Exercise of Options

The Committee shall establish and set forth in each instrument that evidences an Option the time at which, or the installments in which, the Option shall vest and become exercisable, any of which provisions may be waived or modified by the Committee at any time.

To the extent an Option has vested and become exercisable, the Option may be exercised in whole or from time to time in part by delivery to or as directed or approved by the Company of a properly executed stock option exercise agreement or notice, in a form and in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, setting forth the number of shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised, the restrictions imposed on the shares purchased under such exercise agreement or notice, if any, and such representations and agreements as may be required by the Committee, accompanied by payment in full as described in Sections 7.5 and 13. An Option may be exercised only for whole shares and may not be exercised for less than a reasonable number of shares at any one time, as determined by the Committee.

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7.5

Payment of Exercise Price

The exercise price for shares purchased under an Option shall be paid in full to the Company by delivery of consideration equal to the product of the Option exercise price and the number of shares purchased. Such consideration must be paid before the Company will issue the shares being purchased and must be in a form or a combination of forms acceptable to the Committee for that purchase, which forms may include:

(a) cash;

(b) check or wire transfer;

(c) having the Company withhold shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be issued on exercise of the Option that have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate exercise price of the shares being purchased under the Option;

(d) tendering (either actually or, so long as the Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, by attestation) shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant that have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate exercise price of the shares being purchased under the Option;

(e) so long as the Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and to the extent permitted by law, delivery of a properly executed exercise agreement or notice, together with irrevocable instructions to a brokerage firm designated or approved by the Company to deliver promptly to the Company the aggregate amount of proceeds to pay the Option exercise price and any withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with the exercise, all in accordance with the regulations of the Federal Reserve Board (i.e., a “cashless” exercise); or

(f) such other consideration as the Committee may permit.

7.6

Effect of Termination of Service

The Committee shall establish and set forth in each instrument that evidences an Option whether the Option shall continue to be exercisable, and the terms and conditions of such exercise, after a Termination of Service, any of which provisions may be waived or modified by the Committee at any time; provided, however, that any such waiver or modification shall satisfy the requirements for exemption under Section 409A of the Code.

If the exercise of the Option following a Participant’s Termination of Service, but while the Option is otherwise exercisable, would be prohibited solely because the issuance of Common Stock would violate either the registration requirements under the Securities Act or the Company’s insider trading policy, then the Option shall remain exercisable until the earlier of the Option Expiration Date and the expiration of a period of three months (or such other period of time as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion) after the Participant’s Termination of Service during which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of the Securities Act or the Company’s insider trading policy requirements.

SECTION 8. INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION LIMITATIONS

Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, the terms and conditions of any Incentive Stock Options shall in addition comply in all respects with Section 422 of the Code, or any successor provision, and any applicable regulations thereunder.

SECTION 9. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

9.1

Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights

The Committee may grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Participants at any time on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion. A SAR may be granted in tandem with an Option or alone

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(“freestanding”). The grant price of a tandem SAR shall be equal to the exercise price of the related Option. The grant price of a freestanding SAR shall be established in accordance with procedures for Options set forth in Section 7.2. A SAR may be exercised upon such terms and conditions and for the term as the Committee determines in its sole discretion; provided, however, that, subject to earlier termination in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the instrument evidencing the SAR, the maximum term of a freestanding SAR shall be ten years, and in the case of a tandem SAR, (a) the term shall not exceed the term of the related Option and (b) the tandem SAR may be exercised for all or part of the shares subject to the related Option upon the surrender of the right to exercise the equivalent portion of the related Option, except that the tandem SAR may be exercised only with respect to the shares for which its related Option is then exercisable.

9.2

Payment of SAR Amount

Upon the exercise of an SAR, a Participant shall be entitled to receive payment in an amount determined by multiplying (a) the difference between the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise over the grant price of the SAR by (b) the number of shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised. At the discretion of the Committee as set forth in the instrument evidencing the Award, the payment upon exercise of an SAR may be in cash, in shares, in some combination thereof or in any other manner approved by the Committee in its sole discretion.

9.3

Post-Termination Exercise

The Committee shall establish and set forth in each instrument that evidences a freestanding SAR whether the SAR shall continue to be exercisable, and the terms and conditions of such exercise, after a Termination of Service, any of which provisions may be waived or modified by the Committee at any time; provided, that any such waiver or modification shall satisfy the requirements under Section 409A of the Code.

9.4

Waiver of Restrictions

Subject to Section 18.5, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may waive any other terms, conditions or restrictions on any SAR under such circumstances and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate; provided, that any such waiver shall satisfy the requirements under Section 409A of the Code.

SECTION 10. STOCK AWARDS, RESTRICTED STOCK AND STOCK UNITS

10.1

Grant of Stock Awards, Restricted Stock and Stock Units

The Committee may grant Stock Awards, Restricted Stock and Stock Units on such terms and conditions and subject to such repurchase or forfeiture restrictions, if any, which may be based on continuous service with the Company or a Related Company or the achievement of any performance goals, as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion, which terms, conditions and restrictions shall be set forth in the instrument evidencing the Award.

10.2

Vesting of Restricted Stock and Stock Units

Upon the satisfaction of any terms, conditions and restrictions prescribed with respect to Restricted Stock or Stock Units, or upon a Participant’s release from any terms, conditions and restrictions of Restricted Stock or Stock Units, as determined by the Committee, and subject to the provisions of Section 13, (a) the shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Award of Restricted Stock shall become freely transferable by the Participant, and (b) Stock Units shall be paid in shares of Common Stock or, if set forth in the instrument evidencing the Awards, in cash or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock. Any fractional shares subject to such Awards shall be paid to the Participant in cash.

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10.3

Waiver of Restrictions

Subject to Section 18.5, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may waive the repurchase or forfeiture period and any other terms, conditions or restrictions on any Restricted Stock or Stock Unit under such circumstances and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate.

SECTION 11. PERFORMANCE AWARDS

11.1

Performance Shares

The Committee may grant Awards of Performance Shares, designate the Participants to whom Performance Shares are to be awarded and determine the number of Performance Shares and the terms and conditions of each such Award. Performance Shares shall consist of a unit valued by reference to a designated number of shares of Common Stock, the value of which may be paid to the Participant by delivery of shares of Common Stock or, if set forth in the instrument evidencing the Award, of such property as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, shares of Common Stock, other property, or any combination thereof, upon the attainment of performance goals, as established by the Committee, and other terms and conditions specified by the Committee. Subject to Section 18.5, the amount to be paid under an Award of Performance Shares may be adjusted on the basis of such further consideration as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion.

11.2

Performance Units

The Committee may grant Awards of Performance Units, designate the Participants to whom Performance Units are to be awarded and determine the number of Performance Units and the terms and conditions of each such Award. Performance Units shall consist of a unit valued by reference to a designated amount of property other than shares of Common Stock, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, shares of Common Stock, other property, or any combination thereof, upon the attainment of performance goals, as established by the Committee, and other terms and conditions specified by the Committee. Subject to Section 18.5, the amount to be paid under an Award of Performance Units may be adjusted on the basis of such further consideration as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion.

SECTION 12. OTHER STOCK OR CASH-BASED AWARDS

Subject to the terms of the Plan and such other terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate, the Committee may grant other incentives payable in cash or in shares of Common Stock under the Plan.

SECTION 13. WITHHOLDING

The Company may require the Participant to pay to the Company the amount of (a) any taxes that the Company is required by applicable federal, state, local or foreign law to withhold with respect to the grant, vesting or exercise of an Award (“tax withholding obligations”) and (b) any amounts due from the Participant to the Company or to any Related Company (“other obligations”) to the extent such amounts are not “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A. The Company shall not be required to issue any shares of Common Stock or otherwise settle an Award under the Plan until such tax withholding obligations and other obligations are satisfied.

The Committee may permit or require a Participant to satisfy all or part of the Participant’s tax withholding obligations and other obligations by (a) paying cash to the Company, (b) having the Company withhold an amount from any cash amounts otherwise due or to become due from the Company to the Participant, (c) having the Company withhold a number of shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be issued to the Participant (or become vested, in the case of Restricted Stock) having a Fair Market Value equal to the tax withholding obligations and other obligations, or (d) surrendering a number of shares of Common Stock the Participant already owns having a value equal to the tax withholding obligations and other obligations. To the extent

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required to avoid adverse financial accounting consequences to the Company, the value of the shares so withheld or tendered may not exceed the employer’s minimum required tax withholding rate.

SECTION 14. ASSIGNABILITY

No Award or interest in an Award may be sold, assigned, pledged (as collateral for a loan or as security for the performance of an obligation or for any other purpose) or transferred by a Participant or made subject to attachment or similar proceedings otherwise than by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution, except to the extent permitted by the Company, the Participant may designate one or more beneficiaries on a Company-approved form who may exercise the Award or receive payment under the Award after the Participant’s death. During a Participant’s lifetime, an Award may be exercised only by the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing and to the extent permitted by Section 422 of the Code, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may permit a Participant to assign or transfer an Award subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall specify.

SECTION 15. ADJUSTMENTS

15.1

Adjustment of Shares

In the event, at any time or from time to time, a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, distribution to shareholders other than a normal cash dividend, or other change in the Company’s corporate or capital structure results in (a) the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or any securities exchanged therefor or received in their place, being exchanged for a different number or kind of securities of the Company or (b) new, different or additional securities of the Company or any other company being received by the holders of shares of Common Stock, then the Committee shall make proportional adjustments in (i) the maximum number and kind of securities available for issuance under the Plan; (ii) the maximum number and kind of securities issuable as Incentive Stock Options as set forth in Section 4.2; (iii) the maximum number and kind of securities set forth in Section 4.3; (iv) the maximum numbers and kind of securities set forth in Section 16.3; and (v) the number and kind of securities that are subject to any outstanding Award and the per share price of such securities, without any change in the aggregate price to be paid therefor. The determination by the Committee, as to the terms of any of the foregoing adjustments shall be conclusive and binding.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, for cash or property, or for labor or services rendered, either upon direct sale or upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, outstanding Awards. Also notwithstanding the foregoing, a dissolution or liquidation of the Company or a Company Transaction shall not be governed by this Section 15.1 but shall be governed by Sections 15.2 and 15.3, respectively.

15.2

Dissolution or Liquidation

To the extent not previously exercised or settled, and unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, Awards shall terminate immediately prior to the dissolution or liquidation of the Company. To the extent a vesting condition, forfeiture provision or repurchase right applicable to an Award has not been waived by the Committee, the Award shall be forfeited immediately prior to the consummation of the dissolution or liquidation.

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15.3

Change in Control

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, unless the Committee shall determine otherwise in the instrument evidencing the Award or in a written employment, services or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Related Company, in the event of a Change in Control:

(a) All outstanding Awards, other than Performance Shares and Performance Units, shall become fully and immediately vested and exercisable, and all applicable deferral and restriction limitations or forfeiture provisions shall lapse, immediately prior to the Change in Control and shall terminate at the effective time of the Change in Control, and any such Awards constituting “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code shall be paid within 60 days following the effective date of the Change in Control; provided, however, that with respect to a Change in Control that is a Company Transaction, such Awards, other than Awards constituting “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, shall become fully and immediately exercisable, and all applicable deferral and restriction limitations or forfeiture provisions shall lapse, only if and to the extent such Awards are not converted, assumed or replaced by the Successor Company.

For the purposes of this Section 15.3(a), an Award shall be considered converted, assumed or replaced by the Successor Company if following the Company Transaction the option or right confers the right to purchase or receive, for each share of Common Stock subject to the Award immediately prior to the Company Transaction, the consideration (whether stock, cash or other securities or property) received in the Company Transaction by holders of Common Stock for each share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Company Transaction is not solely common stock of the Successor Company, the Committee may, with the consent of the Successor Company, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of the Option, for each share of Common Stock subject thereto, to be solely common stock of the Successor Company substantially equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Company Transaction. The determination of such substantial equality of value of consideration shall be made by the Committee, and its determination shall be conclusive and binding.

(b) The target payout opportunities attainable under all outstanding Stock Awards and Stock Units with restrictions based on performance criteria, Performance Shares, and Performance Units shall be deemed to have been fully earned based on targeted performance being attained as of the effective date of the Change in Control, and such Awards shall be paid within 60 days following the effective date of the Change in Control.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may instead provide in the event of a Change in Control that is a Company Transaction that a Participant’s outstanding Awards shall terminate upon or immediately prior to such Company Transaction and that such Participant shall receive, in exchange therefor, a cash payment equal to the amount (if any) by which (x) the value of the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Company Transaction, or, in the event the Company Transaction is one of the transactions listed under subsection (c) in the definition of Company Transaction or otherwise does not result in direct receipt of consideration by holders of Common Stock, the value of the deemed per share consideration received, in each case as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such outstanding Awards (to the extent then vested and exercisable or whether or not then vested and exercisable, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion) exceeds (y) if applicable, the respective aggregate exercise price or grant price for such Awards.

15.4

Further Adjustment of Awards

Subject to Sections 15.2 and 15.3, the Committee shall have the discretion, exercisable at any time before a sale, merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation, dissolution or change in control of the Company, as defined by the Committee, to take such further action as it determines to be necessary or advisable with respect to

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Awards. Such authorized action may include (but shall not be limited to) establishing, amending or waiving the type, terms, conditions or duration of, or restrictions on, Awards so as to provide for earlier, later, extended or additional time for exercise, lifting restrictions and other modifications, and the Committee may take such actions with respect to all Participants, to certain categories of Participants or only to individual Participants. The Committee may take such action before or after granting Awards to which the action relates and before or after any public announcement with respect to such sale, merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation, dissolution or change in control that is the reason for such action.

15.5

No Limitations

The grant of Awards shall in no way affect the Company’s right to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

15.6

Fractional Shares

In the event of any adjustment in the number of shares covered by any Award, each such Award shall cover only the number of full shares resulting from such adjustment.

15.7

Section 409A of the Code

Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, (a) any adjustments made pursuant to this Section 15 to Awards that are considered “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code shall be made in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and (b) any adjustments made pursuant to this Section 15 to Awards that are not considered “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be made in such a manner as to ensure that after such adjustment the Awards either (i) continue not to be subject to Section 409A of the Code or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

SECTION 16. PERFORMANCE GOALS AND LIMITATIONS ON AWARDS

The Compensation Committee may, at the time of grant of an Award, determine that the vesting and/or payment pursuant to the Award shall be conditioned on the attainment for the specified Performance Period of specified performance targets related to designated performance goals for such period selected by the Compensation Committee from among the Performance Criteria specified in Section 16.1.

16.1

Performance Criteria

If the Compensation Committee determines that an Award shall be subject to this Section 16, then the lapsing of restrictions thereon and the distribution of cash, shares of Common Stock or other property pursuant thereto, as applicable, shall be subject to the achievement of one or more objective performance goals established by the Compensation Committee, which shall be based on the attainment of specified levels of one of or any combination of the following “performance criteria” for the Company as a whole or any business unit of the Company, as reported or calculated by the Company: net earnings or net income (before or after taxes); earnings per share (basic or fully diluted); net sales growth or bookings growth; revenues; operating profit or income (including or excluding depreciation, amortization, extraordinary items, restructuring charges or other expenses); return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, net capital utilized, equity or sales); working capital; cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow or cash flow return on capital); earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation and/or amortization; gross or operating profit; cost control; strategic initiatives; market share; improvements in capital structure; productivity ratios; share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return); expense targets; margins; operating efficiency or margins; capital efficiency; strategic targets; economic profit; employee or customer satisfaction, services performance, subscriber, cash management or asset management metrics; working capital targets; cash value added; or market or economic value added (together, the “Performance Criteria”).

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Such performance goals also may be based on the achievement of specified levels of Company performance (or performance of an applicable affiliate or business unit of the Company) under one or more of the Performance Criteria described above relative to the performance of other corporations.

The Compensation Committee may provide in any such Award that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude any of the following events that occurs during a Performance Period: (i) asset write-downs, (ii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (iii) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or provisions affecting reported results, (iv) any reorganization and restructuring programs, (v) extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 and/or in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to shareholders for the applicable year, (vi) acquisitions or divestitures, (vii) foreign exchange gains and losses, and (viii) gains and losses on asset sales.

16.2

Compensation Committee Certification and Authority

After the completion of each Performance Period, the Compensation Committee shall certify the extent to which any Performance Criteria has been satisfied, and the amount payable as a result thereof, prior to payment, settlement or vesting of any Award subject to this Section 16.

The Compensation Committee shall have the power to impose such other restrictions on Awards subject to this Section 16 as it may deem necessary or appropriate.

16.3

Limitations

Subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 15.1, no Participant may be granted Awards other than Performance Units subject to this Section 16 in any calendar year period with respect to more than 750,000 shares of Common Stock for such Awards, except that the Company may make additional one time grants of such Awards for up to 1,000,000 shares to newly hired or newly promoted individuals, and the maximum dollar value payable with respect to Performance Units or other awards payable in cash subject to this Section 16 in any one calendar year is $2,500,000.

The Compensation Committee shall have the power to impose such other restrictions on Awards subject to this Section 16 as it may deem necessary or appropriate.

SECTION 17. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

17.1

Amendment, Suspension or Termination

The Board or the Compensation Committee may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion of the Plan at any time and in such respects as it shall deem advisable; provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule, shareholder approval shall be required for any amendment to the Plan; and provided, further, that any amendment that requires shareholder approval may be made only by the Board. Subject to Section 17.3, the Compensation Committee may amend the terms of any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively.

17.2

Term of the Plan

The Plan shall have no fixed expiration date. After the Plan is terminated, no future Awards may be granted, but Awards previously granted shall remain outstanding in accordance with their applicable terms and conditions and the Plan’s terms and conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Incentive Stock Options may be granted more than ten years after the later of (a) the Effective Date and (b) the date of approval by the shareholders of any amendment to the Plan that constitutes the adoption of a new plan for purposes of Section 422 of the Code.

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17.3

Consent of Participant

The amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan or a portion thereof or the amendment of an outstanding Award shall not, without the Participant’s consent, materially adversely affect any rights under any Award theretofore granted to the Participant under the Plan. Any change or adjustment to an outstanding Incentive Stock Option shall not, without the consent of the Participant, be made in a manner so as to constitute a “modification” that would cause such Incentive Stock Option to fail to continue to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any adjustments made pursuant to Section 15 shall not be subject to these restrictions.

Subject to Section 18.5, the Board shall have broad authority to amend the Plan or any outstanding Award without the consent of a Participant to the extent the Board deems necessary or advisable to (i) comply with, or take into account, changes in applicable tax laws, securities laws, accounting rules and other applicable law, rules and regulations or (ii) to ensure that an Award is not subject to additional taxes, interest or penalties under Section 409A of the Code.

SECTION 18. GENERAL

18.1

No Individual Rights

No individual or Participant shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and the Company has no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants under the Plan.

Furthermore, nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan shall be deemed to constitute an employment contract or confer or be deemed to confer on any Participant any right to continue in the employ of, or to continue any other relationship with, the Company or any Related Company or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Related Company to terminate a Participant’s employment or other relationship at any time, with or without cause.

18.2

Issuance of Shares

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Company shall have no obligation to issue or deliver any shares of Common Stock under the Plan or make any other distribution of benefits under the Plan unless, in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, such issuance, delivery or distribution would comply with all applicable laws (including, without limitation, the requirements of the Securities Act or the laws of any state or foreign jurisdiction) and the applicable requirements of any securities exchange or similar entity.

The Company shall be under no obligation to any Participant to register for offering or resale or to qualify for exemption under the Securities Act, or to register or qualify under the laws of any state or foreign jurisdiction, any shares of Common Stock, security or interest in a security paid or issued under, or created by, the Plan, or to continue in effect any such registrations or qualifications if made.

As a condition to the exercise of an Option or any other receipt of Common Stock pursuant to an Award under the Plan, the Company may require (a) the Participant to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise or receipt that such shares are being purchased or received only for the Participant’s own account and without any present intention to sell or distribute such shares and (b) such other action or agreement by the Participant as may from time to time be necessary to comply with the federal, state and foreign securities laws. At the option of the Company, a stop-transfer order against any such shares may be placed on the official stock books and records of the Company, and a legend indicating that such shares may not be pledged, sold or otherwise transferred, unless an opinion of counsel is provided (concurred in by counsel for the Company) stating that such transfer is not in violation of any applicable law or regulation, may be stamped on stock certificates to ensure exemption from registration. The Committee may also require the Participant to execute and deliver to the Company a purchase agreement or such other agreement as may be in use by the Company at such time that describes certain terms and conditions applicable to the shares.

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To the extent the Plan or any instrument evidencing an Award provides for issuance of stock certificates to reflect the issuance of shares of Common Stock, the issuance may be effected on a noncertificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of any stock exchange.

18.3

Indemnification

Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Board, or a committee appointed by the Board, or an officer of the Company to whom authority was delegated in accordance with Section 3 of the Plan, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such person in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which such person may be a party or in which such person may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by such person in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by such person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such claim, action, suit or proceeding against such person; provided, however, that such person shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before such person undertakes to handle and defend it on such person’s own behalf, unless such loss, cost, liability or expense is a result of such person’s own willful misconduct or except as expressly provided by statute.

The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such person may be entitled under the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or of any power that the Company may have to indemnify or hold harmless.

18.4

No Rights as a Shareholder

Unless otherwise provided by the Committee or in the instrument evidencing the Award or in a written employment, services or other agreement, no Award, other than a Stock Award, shall entitle the Participant to any cash dividend, voting or other right of a shareholder unless and until the date of issuance under the Plan of the shares that are the subject of such Award.

18.5

Compliance with Laws and Regulations

In interpreting and applying the provisions of the Plan, any Options granted as an Incentive Stock Option pursuant to the Plan shall, to the extent permitted by law, be construed as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, although the Company makes no representations that Options granted as Incentive Stock will maintain such qualification.

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan to the contrary, the Company intends that any and all Awards and compensation payable under the Plan shall satisfy the requirements for exemption from, or compliance with, Section 409A of the Code and that all terms and provisions shall be interpreted to satisfy such requirements. If the Committee determines that an Award, payment, distribution, deferral election, transaction or any other action or arrangement contemplated by the provisions of the Plan would, if undertaken, cause a Participant to become subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Committee, to the extent it deems necessary or advisable in its sole discretion, reserves the right, but shall not be required, to unilaterally amend or modify the Plan and any Award granted under the Plan so that the Award qualifies for exemption from, or compliance with, Section 409A of the Code.

Furthermore, any payment or distribution that is to be made under the Plan (or pursuant to an Award under the Plan) to a Participant who is a “specified employee” of the Company within the meaning of that term under Section 409A and as determined by the Committee, on account of a “separation from service” within the meaning of that term under Section 409A of the Code, may not be made before the date which is six months after the date of such “separation from service,” unless the payment or distribution is exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code by reason of the short-term deferral exemption or otherwise.

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Notwithstanding any other provision in the Plan, the Committee makes no representations that Awards granted under the Plan shall be exempt from, or comply with, Section 409A of the Code and makes no undertaking to preclude Section 409A of the Code from applying to Awards granted under the Plan.

Awards not deferred under Section 6.3 and not otherwise exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code are intended to qualify for the short-term deferral exemption to Section 409A of the Code, and payment shall be made as soon as administratively feasible after the Award became vested, but in no event shall such payment be made later than 2¹/₂ months after the end of the calendar year in which the Award becomes vested unless otherwise permitted under the exemption provisions of Section 409A of the Code.

18.6

Participants in Other Countries or Jurisdictions

Without amending the Plan, the Committee may grant Awards to Eligible Persons who are foreign nationals on such terms and conditions different from those specified in the Plan as may, in the judgment of the Committee, be necessary or desirable to foster and promote achievement of the purposes of the Plan and shall have the authority to adopt, amend or rescind such modifications, procedures or subplans under the Plan as may be necessary or desirable to comply with provisions of the laws or regulations of other countries or jurisdictions in which the Company or any Related Company may operate or where Participants may reside to ensure the viability of the benefits from Awards granted to Participants employed in such countries or jurisdictions, meet the requirements that permit the Plan to operate in a qualified or tax-efficient manner, comply with applicable foreign laws or regulations and meet the objectives of the Plan.

18.7

No Trust or Fund

The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan. Nothing contained herein shall require the Company to segregate any monies or other property, or shares of Common Stock, or to create any trusts, or to make any special deposits for any immediate or deferred amounts payable to any Participant, and no Participant shall have any rights that are greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company.

18.8

Successors

All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Awards shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all the business and/or assets of the Company.

18.9

Severability

If any provision of the Plan or any Award is determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or as to any person, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or, if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the Committee’s determination, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or Award, and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

18.10

Choice of Law and Venue

The Plan, all Awards granted thereunder and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto, to the extent not otherwise governed by the laws of the United States, shall be governed by the laws of the State of Oregon without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law. Participants irrevocably consent to the nonexclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in the State of Oregon.

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18.11

Legal Requirements

The granting of Awards and the issuance of shares of Common Stock under the Plan are subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.

SECTION 19. EFFECTIVE DATE

The effective date (the “Effective Date”) is the date on which the Plan is approved by the shareholders of the Company. If the shareholders of the Company do not approve the Plan within 12 months after the Board’s adoption of the Plan, any Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan will be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options.

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APPENDIX A

DEFINITIONS

As used in the Plan,

“Acquired Entity” means any entity acquired by the Company or a Related Company or with which the Company or a Related Company merges or combines.

“Award” means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Stock Award, Restricted Stock, Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit, cash-based award or other incentive payable in cash or in shares of Common Stock as may be designated by the Committee from time to time.

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

“Cause,” unless otherwise defined in the instrument evidencing an Award or in a written employment, services or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Related Company, means dishonesty, fraud, serious or willful misconduct, unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential information or trade secrets, or conduct prohibited by law (except minor violations), in each case as determined by the Company’s chief human resources officer or other person performing that function or, in the case of directors and executive officers, the Compensation Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive and binding.

“Change in Control,” unless the Committee determines otherwise with respect to an Award at the time the Award is granted or unless otherwise defined for purposes of an Award in a written employment, services or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Related Company, means the occurrence of any of the following events:

(a) an acquisition by any Entity of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 40% or more of either (1) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (2) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”), provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the Company, other than an acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege where the security being so converted was not acquired directly from the Company by the party exercising the conversion privilege, (ii) any acquisition by the Company, (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Related Company, (iv) an acquisition by any Entity pursuant to a transaction that meets the conditions of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) set forth in the definition of Company Transaction, or (v) any acquisition approved by the Board;

(b) a change in the composition of the Board during any two-year period such that the individuals who, as of the beginning of such two-year period, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that for purposes of this definition, any individual who becomes a member of the Board subsequent to the beginning of the two-year period, whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of those individuals who are members of the Board and who were also members of the Incumbent Board (or deemed to be such pursuant to this proviso) shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board; and provided further, however, that any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of or in connection with an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an Entity other than the Board shall not be considered a member of the Incumbent Board; or

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

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“Committee” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.

“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.

“Company” means Digimarc Corporation, an Oregon corporation.

“Company Transaction,” unless the Committee determines otherwise with respect to an Award at the time the Award is granted or unless otherwise defined for purposes of an Award in a written employment, services or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Related Company, means consummation of:

(a) a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into any other company;

(b) a sale in one transaction or a series of transactions undertaken with a common purpose of at least 50% of the Company’s outstanding voting securities; or

(c) a sale, lease, exchange or other transfer in one transaction or a series of related transactions undertaken with a common purpose of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets,

excluding, however, in each case, a transaction pursuant to which

(i) the Entities who are the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Company Transaction will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, at least 50% of the outstanding shares of common stock, and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, of the Successor Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Company Transaction, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities;

(ii) no Entity (other than the Company, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, a Related Company or a Successor Company) will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 40% or more of, respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock of the Successor Company or the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Successor Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors unless such ownership resulted solely from ownership of securities of the Company prior to the Company Transaction; and

(iii) individuals who were members of the Incumbent Board will immediately after the consummation of the Company Transaction constitute at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Successor Company.

Where a series of transactions undertaken with a common purpose is deemed to be a Company Transaction, the date of such Company Transaction shall be the date on which the last of such transactions is consummated.

“Compensation Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board.

“Disability,” unless otherwise defined by the Committee for purposes of the Plan in the instrument evidencing the Award or in a written employment, services or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Related Company, means a mental or physical impairment of the Participant that is expected to result in death or that has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of 12 months or more and that causes the Participant to be unable to perform his or her material duties for the Company or a Related Company and to be engaged in any substantial gainful activity, in each case as determined by the Company’s chief human resources officer or other person performing that function or, in the case of directors and executive officers, the Compensation Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, “Disability” shall have the meaning attributed to that term for purposes of Section 422 of the Code.

“Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 19.

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“Eligible Person” means any person eligible to receive an Award as set forth in Section 5.

“Entity” means any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act).

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

“Fair Market Value” means the closing price for the Common Stock on any given date during regular trading, or if not trading on that date, such price on the last preceding date on which the Common Stock was traded, unless determined otherwise by the Committee using such methods or procedures as it may establish.

“Grant Date” means the later of (a) the date on which the Committee completes the corporate action authorizing the grant of an Award or such later date specified by the Committee and (b) the date on which all conditions precedent to an Award have been satisfied, provided that conditions to the exercisability or vesting of Awards shall not defer the Grant Date.

“Incentive Stock Option” means an Option granted with the intention that it qualify as an “incentive stock option” as that term is defined for purposes of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision.

“Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option other than an Incentive Stock Option.

“Option” means a right to purchase Common Stock granted under Section 7.

“Option Expiration Date” means the last day of the maximum term of an Option.

“Outstanding Company Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Change in Control.”

“Outstanding Company Voting Securities” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Change in Control.”

“Parent Company” means a company or other entity which as a result of a Company Transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries.

“Participant” means any Eligible Person to whom an Award is granted.

“Performance Award” means an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units granted under Section 11.

“Performance Criteria” has the meaning set forth in Section 16.1.

“Performance Period” means the period of time during which the Performance Criteria must be met in order to determine the degree of payout and/or vesting with respect to an Award. The Compensation Committee may establish different Performance Periods for different Participants, and the Compensation Committee may establish concurrent or overlapping Performance Periods.

“Performance Share” means an Award of units denominated in shares of Common Stock granted under Section 11.1.

“Performance Unit” means an Award of units denominated in cash or property other than shares of Common Stock granted under Section 11.2.

“Plan” means the Digimarc Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan.

“Prior Plan” has the definition set forth in Section 4.1.

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‘‘Related Company” means any entity that is directly or indirectly controlled by, in control of or under common control with the Company.

“Restricted Stock” means an Award of shares of Common Stock granted under Section 10, the rights of ownership of which are subject to restrictions prescribed by the Committee.

“Retirement,” unless otherwise defined in the instrument evidencing the Award or in a written employment, services or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Related Company, means “Retirement” as defined for purposes of the Plan by the Committee or the Company’s chief human resources officer or other person performing that function or, if not so defined, means Termination of Service on or after the date the Participant reaches “normal retirement age,” as that term is defined in Section 411(a)(8) of the Code.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

“Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right granted under Section 9.1 to receive the excess of the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Common Stock over the grant price.

“Stock Award” means an Award of shares of Common Stock granted under Section 10, the rights of ownership of which are not subject to restrictions prescribed by the Committee.

“Stock Unit” means an Award denominated in units of Common Stock granted under Section 10.

“Substitute Awards” means Awards granted or shares of Common Stock issued by the Company in substitution or exchange for awards previously granted by an Acquired Entity.

“Successor Company” means the surviving company, the successor company or Parent Company, as applicable, in connection with a Company Transaction.

“Termination of Service” means a termination of employment or service relationship with the Company or a Related Company for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary, including by reason of death, Disability or Retirement. Any question as to whether and when there has been a Termination of Service for the purposes of an Award and the cause of such Termination of Service shall be determined by the Company’s chief human resources officer or other person performing that function or, with respect to directors and executive officers, by the Compensation Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive and binding. Transfer of a Participant’s employment or service relationship between the Company and any Related Company shall not be considered a Termination of Service for purposes of an Award. Unless the Compensation Committee determines otherwise, a Termination of Service shall be deemed to occur if the Participant’s employment or service relationship is with an entity that has ceased to be a Related Company. A Participant’s change in status from an employee of the Company or a Related Company to a nonemployee director, consultant, advisor, or independent contractor of the Company or a Related Company or a change in status from a nonemployee director, consultant, advisor or independent contractor of the Company or a Related Company to an employee of the Company or a Related Company, shall not be considered a Termination of Service.

“Vesting Commencement Date” means the Grant Date or such other date selected by the Committee as the date from which an Award begins to vest.

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LOGO

DIGIMARC CORPORATION

C/O BROADRIDGE CORPORATE ISSUER SOLUTIONS, INC.

P.O. BOX 1342

BRENTWOOD, NY 11717

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DIGIMARC CORPORATION

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The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following:

Vote on Directors

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1. Election of Directors

Nominees:

01) Bruce Davis 04) James T. Richardson

02) Gary DeStefano 05) Andrew J. Walter

03) Richard L. King 06) Bernard Whitney

Vote on Proposals

The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following proposals:

For

Against

Abstain

2. To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of Digimarc Corporation for the year ending December 31, 2018.

☐

3. To approve, by non-binding vote, the compensation paid to our executive officers.

☐

4. To approve the Digimarc Corporation 2018 Incentive Plan.

☐

For address changes/comments, mark here. ☐

(see reverse for instructions)

Please sign as name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please sign full title as such.

Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]

Date

Signature (Joint Owners)

Date

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:

The Notice of the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, 2018 Proxy Statement, Proxy Card and

2017 Annual Report to Shareholders are available at www.proxyvote.com.

E40764-P03310

PROXY

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OF DIGIMARC CORPORATION

The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Bruce Davis and Charles Beck, and each of them, with the power to act without the other and with the power of substitution, as proxies and attorneys-in-fact and hereby authorizes them to represent and vote, as provided on the other side, all the shares of Digimarc Corporation Common Stock which the undersigned is entitled to vote and, in their discretion, to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held April 30, 2018, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, with all powers which the undersigned would possess if present at the Meeting.

THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTIONS MADE BUT THE CARD IS SIGNED, THIS PROXY CARD WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL NOMINEES UNDER PROPOSAL 1, FOR PROPOSAL 2, FOR PROPOSAL 3, FOR PROPOSAL 4 AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES WITH RESPECT TO SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY.

Address Changes/Comments:

(If you noted any Address Changes/Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.)

Continued and to be signed on reverse side