Intangible good
An intangible good is something that provides utility which does not have a physical nature, as opposed to a physical good (an object). Intangible goods do not have a physical presence, but "ownership rights exist for them (established with patents and copyrights), they can be stored, and their ownership transferred." Digital goods such as downloadable music, mobile apps or virtual goods used in virtual economies are proposed to be examples of intangible goods. Other examples of intangible goods include "scientific inventions, and "originals" such as the words in a book manuscript or the images stored on a film master." Another example of a category of intangible goods is intellectual property. In contrast, tangible goods have a physical presence. Examples include "newspapers, music CD's, and movie DVD's." These are the "physical expression of intangible goods that can be copyrighted."
.jpg)
An intangible good is something that provides utility which does not have a physical nature, as opposed to a physical good (an object).[1] Intangible goods do not have a physical presence, but "ownership rights exist for them (established with patents and copyrights), they can be stored, and their ownership transferred."[2]
Digital goods such as downloadable music, mobile apps or virtual goods used in virtual economies are proposed to be examples of intangible goods.[3] Other examples of intangible goods include "scientific inventions, and "originals" such as the words in a book manuscript or the images stored on a film master." [4] Another example of a category of intangible goods is intellectual property.[5]
In contrast, tangible goods have a physical presence. Examples include "newspapers, music CD's, and movie DVD's." These are the "physical expression of intangible goods that can be copyrighted." [6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "What are intangible goods?". JWP. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ "North American Product Classification System (NAPCS) Canada [Provisional Version 0.1] – Introduction". www.statcan.gc.ca. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ "Intangible product". Collins Dictionary.
- ^ "North American Product Classification System (NAPCS) Canada [Provisional Version 0.1] – Introduction". www.statcan.gc.ca. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ "North American Product Classification System (NAPCS) Canada [Provisional Version 0.1] – Introduction". www.statcan.gc.ca. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
- ^ "North American Product Classification System (NAPCS) Canada [Provisional Version 0.1] – Introduction". www.statcan.gc.ca. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
Further reading
[edit]- Bannock, Graham et al.. (1997). Dictionary of Economics, Penguin Books.
- Hill, Peter 1999. "Tangibles, intangibles and services: a new taxonomy for the classification of output." Canadian Journal of Economics. Vol. 32, no. 2. April. p. 426-447.
- Milgate, Murray (1987), "goods and commodities," The New Palgrave: A Dictionary of Economics, v. 2, pp. 546–48. Includes historical and contemporary uses of the terms in economics.
