Intangible assets

Accounting today provides detailed information for a large scope of stakeholders that vary from investors to managers to creditors. These stakeholders rely heavily on the accounting information provided by certified public accountants and verification by auditors. With so much emphasis on the information provided by accountants, why is it that assets with no physical substance have such a large influence on the results of the financial statements? The valuation of intangible assets, such as goodwill, …

…the future, as intangible assets such as goodwill, patents, trademarks, intellectual capital and customer lists are becoming key assets in many of today's corporations, especially in the technology industry. With the growing influence of intangible assets, their assessment is becoming more important and the criteria for their assessment should also continue to develop to help eliminate any irregularities that may arise. This is essential in protecting the credibility of accountants and the shareholders of corporations.