The Core of Intangibles: Diverse Perspectives

" Objective - The study aims to provide a multidimensional understanding of the conceptual boundaries of intangible assets, distinguishing them from related constructs such as firm-specific intangible resources and intellectual capital. In this regard, the study examines how accounting, legal, and economic perspectives – particularly identification, property rights, control, and economically relevant distinctive features – shape the degree of ""asset ness"" exhibited by different intangibles. Methodology/Technique - The research adopts a multidisciplinary, literature-based approach. Attention was paid to both seminal and contemporary studies published over the last two decades. An extensive search across a range of academic databases was conducted, and the reference lists of seminal papers were examined. In addition, targeted searches were conducted for key authors who have made significant contributions to the field. Findings - IP-based intangibles consistently satisfy asset definition criteria across accounting, economic, and legal dimensions. In contrast, many intangibles remain firm-specific and embedded within organizational processes, making them inseparable from the firm and therefore unrecognizable under accounting standards. The analysis demonstrates that challenges surrounding intangibles consistently emerge across disciplinary boundaries, thereby highlighting the multidimensional nature of the topic. Novelty - The present paper contributes to the existing literature by offering a multidimensional conceptual foundation for understanding the multifaceted nature of intangibles. The study introduces a distinction between intangible assets and firm-specific intangible resources and conceptualizes intellectual capital as a synergistic knowledge system in which both components and their interconnections are pivotal. Type of Paper - Review"