Question

Kingbird Industries had one patent recorded on its books as of January 1, 2020. This patent had a book value of $249,600 and a remaining useful life of 8 years. During 2020, Kingbird incurred research and development costs of $90,000 and brought a patent infringement suit against a competitor. On December 1, 2020, Kingbird received the good news that its patent was valid and that its competitor could not use the process Kingbird had patented. The company incurred $93,500 to defend this patent.
Required: At what amount should patent(s) be reported on the December 31, 2020, balance sheet, assuming monthly amortization of patents?

Answer 1

Answer:

The amount patent(s) should be reported on the December 31, 2020, balance sheet, assuming monthly amortization of patents, is $32,300.

Explanation:

This can be calculated as follows:

Patent book value = $249,600

Remaining useful years January 1, 2020 = 8

Remaining useful months of the patents from January 1, 2020 = Remaining useful years January 1, 2020 * 12 8 * 12 = 96

Monthly Patent book value = Patent book value / Remaining useful months = $249,600 = $2,600

Patent book value amortized from January 1, 2020 to December 1, 2020 = Monthly Patent book value * 12 = $2,600 * 12 = $31,200

Legal fee incurred = $93,500

Number of months from January 1, 2020 to December 1, 2020 = 11

Relevant months of legal fee incurred starting from December 1, 2020 = Remaining useful months of the patents from January 1, 2020 - Number of months from January 1, 2020 to December 1, 2020 = 96 - 11 = 85

Monthly legal fee = Legal fee incurred / Relevant months of legal fee incurred starting from December 1, 2020 = $93,500 / 85 = $1,100

Amount to report = Patent book value amortized from January 1, 2020 to December 1, 2020 + Monthly legal fee for December 1, 2020 only = $31,200 + $1,100 = $32,300

Therefore, the amount patent(s) should be reported on the December 31, 2020, balance sheet, assuming monthly amortization of patents, is $32,300.