The objective of section 18 Intangible Assets other than Goodwill is to prescribe the accounting treatment for any intangible assets that are not dealt with elsewhere in the standard. In so doing, it sets out the general principle for recognising intangible assets as well as the initial and subsequent measurement of intangible assets within the scope of the standard.

The equivalent standard in Old UK GAAP is FRS 10 Goodwill and Intangible Assets, and in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is IAS 38 Intangible Assets.