Issues with revenue recognition have been around for decades.
The American Institute of CPAs and the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission have tried to provide detailed guidance to assist
companies in their revenue determinations for complicated
transactions. Ultimately, the appropriateness of revenue
recognition boils down to the facts and circumstances of a given
sale. There certainly are intricate revenue recognition rules
(especially related to software), but many of the issues about
premature recognition result from the normal blocking and tackling
required by Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, "Revenue
Recognition," which requires persuasive evidence of a sales
arrangement, delivery, a fixed or determinable sales price and that
collectability is reasonably assured.