Legal Definitions - tangible thing

A tangible thing refers to anything that has a physical presence and can be perceived by the senses, such as by touch or sight. It is a physical object that occupies space and can be possessed or held.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: A newly purchased automobile

  When someone buys a car, they are acquiring a tangible thing. The car is a physical object that can be seen, touched, driven, and parked. Its physical existence makes it a tangible asset that can be owned, insured, and eventually sold.

• Example 2: A collection of antique books

  An individual who owns a library of rare, first-edition books possesses tangible things. Each book is a physical item with pages, covers, and binding that can be held, read, and displayed. The physical nature of the books distinguishes them from, for instance, the intangible copyright to the stories within them.

• Example 3: Office furniture and equipment in a business

  A company's assets often include items like desks, chairs, computers, and printers. These are all tangible things because they are physical objects that occupy space within the office, can be moved, used, and have a physical value. They are distinct from intangible assets like the company's brand name or patents.