Basic Uniform Commercial Code

Intangible

Intangibles can be either semi-intangibles or pure intangibles.

  1. Semi-Intangible

    Semi-intangibles are physical, tangible papers that evidence or embody an intangible right. Semi-intangible is not a formal legal category, but encompasses three types of collateral:

    1. Chattel Paper

      Chattel papers are papers that give a right to payment coupled with a security interest.

      UCC § 9-102(a)(11)

      "Chattel paper" means a record or records that evidence both a monetary obligation and a security interest in specific goods, a security interest in specific goods and software used in the goods, a security interest in specific goods and license of software used in the goods, a lease of specific goods, or a lease of specific goods and license of software used in the goods. In this paragraph, "monetary obligation" means a monetary obligation secured by the goods or owed under a lease of the goods and includes a monetary obligation with respect to software used in the goods. The term does not include

      1. charters or other contracts involving the use or hire of a vessel or
      2. records that evidence a right to payment arising out of the use of a credit or charge card or information contained on or for use with the card. If a transaction is evidenced by records that include an instrument or series of instruments, the group of records taken together constitutes chattel paper.
      Copyright, The American Law Institute

      Mortgages are not chattel papers. They're probably usually instruments.

      Chattel papers can theoretically be perfected by either filing or possession. UCC § 9-313.

    2. Instrument
      UCC § 9-102(a)(47)

      "Instrument" means a negotiable instrument or any other writing that evidences a right to the payment of a monetary obligation, is not itself a security agreement or lease, and is of a type that in ordinary course of business is transferred by delivery with any necessary indorsement or assignment. The term does not include

      1. investment property,
      2. letters of credit, or
      3. writings that evidence a right to payment arising out of the use of a credit or charge card or information contained on or for use with the card.
      Copyright, The American Law Institute

      E.g., checks, CDs, etc.

    3. Document
      UCC § 9-102(a)(30)

      "Document" means a document of title or a receipt of the type described in [UCC § 7-201(2)].

      Copyright, The American Law Institute
  2. Pure Intangible

    Pure intangibles are rights that have no physical embodiment.

    Pure intangibles are either accounts or general intangibles:

    1. Account
      UCC § 9-102(a)(2)

      "Account", except as used in "account for", means a right to payment of a monetary obligation, whether or not earned by performance,

      1. for property that has been or is to be sold, leased, licensed, assigned, or otherwise disposed of,
      2. for services rendered or to be rendered,
      3. for a policy of insurance issued or to be issued,
      4. for a secondary obligation incurred or to be incurred,
      5. for energy provided or to be provided,
      6. for the use or hire of a vessel under a charter or other contract,
      7. arising out of the use of a credit or charge card or information contained on or for use with the card, or
      8. as winnings in a lottery or other game of chance operated or sponsored by a State, governmental unit of a State, or person licensed or authorized to operate the game by a State or governmental unit of a State.

      The term includes health-care-insurance receivables. The term does not include

      1. rights to payment evidenced by chattel paper or an instrument,
      2. commercial tort claims,
      3. deposit accounts,
      4. investment property,
      5. letter-of-credit rights or letters of credit, or
      6. rights to payment for money or funds advanced or sold, other than rights arising out of the use of a credit or charge card or information contained on or for use with the card.
      Copyright, The American Law Institute

      Bank accounts are sui generis deposit accounts, not pure intangible accounts.

    2. General Intangible

      A general intangible is anything that is not another type of property. UCC § 9-102(a)(42).

      E.g., payment intangibles, non-embedded software, etc.

      Payment Intangible
      UCC § 9-102(a)(61)

      "Payment intangible" means a general intangible under which the account debtor's principal obligation is a monetary obligation.

      Copyright, The American Law Institute

      Such as a tax refund