Analysis
An examination or assessment. Qualitative analysis determines the value of an investment, especially a stock, by examining its non-numeric characteristics, such as employee morale, customer loyalty, or brand value.
Asset
An item that can be converted into cash or used to add value to the business. Some assets are tangible in that they physically exist and have a readily defined value. Other assets however are intangible in that they do not physically exist nor have they a readily defined value. See Intangible Asset and Goodwill.
Assignment / Assignation
Intellectual property is like physical property in that it can be bought and sold or otherwise transferred, inherited and so on. The contract for the transfer of ownership from assignor to assignee is known as an assignment or assignation - see Selling / Transfer of Ownership.
Automatic Right
An automatic right is one that arises automatically as soon as a work is created. In the context of intellectual property the main automatic rights are Copyright and Design Right. Copyright for example, comes into being as soon as a literary work is written. See Copyright and Design Right.
Brand
An identifying symbol, word(s), or mark that serves as a badge of origin of a product or service, distinguishing one company's goods or services from its competitors. Often a brand is distinguished from a new trade mark as having a history and public recognition attached. See also Goodwill, Intangible Asset and Analysis.
