3.
Patents, net
 
Patents are stated at cost less accumulated amortization and consist of the following at
December 31, 2019
and
2018:
 
   
2019
   
2018
 
Patents
  $
198,655
    $
228,669
 
Less: accumulated amortization
   
(52,392
)    
(82,213
)
Patents, net
  $
146,263
    $
146,456
 
 
During the year ended
December 31, 2018,
$112,022
original cost of the patents, with associated accumulated amortization of
$96,055
were written off due to its obsolete status. The residual book value of
$15,967
was expensed as additional amortization expense.
 
Amortization expense amounted to
$11,662
for the year ended
December 31, 2019
and
$38,296
December 31, 2018,
respectively, and is included in selling, general and administrative expenses.
 
Estimated future amortization expense is as follows:
 
2019
   
11,957
 
2020
   
10,655
 
2021
   
10,251
 
2022
   
10,251
 
2023
   
10,251
 
Thereafter
   
92,898
 
Total expense
  $
146,263
 

About Goodwill & Intangibles Disclosures

Goodwill and intangible asset disclosures reveal the premium paid in acquisitions and how management assesses whether that premium retains its value. Since goodwill is no longer amortized under US GAAP, the annual impairment test is the only mechanism that adjusts carrying values downward — making the assumptions behind that test critically important for investors.

Key signals: a history of goodwill impairments suggests management consistently overpays for acquisitions. Watch the gap between reporting unit fair value and carrying amount — when fair value exceeds carrying amount by less than 10-20%, a small decline in business performance could trigger a write-down. For finite-lived intangibles, examine useful life assumptions across customer relationships, technology, and trade names; aggressive estimates inflate near-term earnings. Compare total intangibles-to-total-assets ratios against peers to assess acquisition dependency. Rising goodwill as a percentage of equity can signal balance sheet fragility.