Patents give your company the exclusive right to manufacture a specific product. They run for a set period of time before expiring and allowing your competitors to enter the marketplace. Patents ...

Intangible assets are resources owned by a company that have value but no physical form. Common intangible assets within a company include patents, trademarks, goodwill and franchise licenses.

Just as the value of tangible assets like equipment often depreciates over time, so does that of intangible assets—like brands, trademarks, copyright, and product development. "Amortization" is the ...