- DefinitionThe aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.
Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
 -Publisher FASB
 -Name Accounting Standards Codification
 -Topic 230
 -SubTopic 10
 -Section 45
 -Paragraph 28
 -Subparagraph (b)
 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3602-108585
Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
 -Publisher FASB
 -Name Accounting Standards Codification
 -Topic 350
 -SubTopic 30
 -Section 50
 -Paragraph 2
 -Subparagraph (a)(2)
 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275
Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
 -Publisher FASB
 -Name Accounting Standards Codification
 -Topic 350
 -SubTopic 30
 -Section 45
 -Paragraph 2
 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274
| Name: | us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets | 
| Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_ | 
| Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType | 
| Balance Type: | debit | 
| Period Type: | duration |