Intangible Asset

An Intangible Asset is an asset that lacks physical substance.

Context:
- ...
Example(s):
- a Computer Software.
- a Contract, such as a Financial Asset.
- a Intellectual Property, such as a Patent, Copyright or a Trade Secret.
- a Business Idea.
- a Scientific Theory.
- a Musical Composition.
- …
Counter-Example(s):
- a Tangible Asset.
See: Creation of the Mind, Intellectual Property, Human Capital.

References

(Wikipedia, 2014) ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intangible_asset Retrieved:2014-5-14.
- … The lack of physical substance would therefore seem to be a defining characteristic of an intangible asset. Both the IASB and FASB definitions specifically preclude monetary assets in their definition of an intangible asset. This is necessary in order to avoid the classification of items such as accounts receivable, derivatives and cash in the bank as an intangible asset. IAS 38 contains examples of intangible assets, including: computer software, copyright and patents.