$($###$16)$No chat gpt answers & don't copy from chegg or else I'll give $5$ downvotes

A company acquires a patent with a legal life of $20$ years but expects a useful life of only $8$ years.

The company also incurred $$20,000$ in legal costs to defend the patent.

How should these costs be accounted for?

A$)$ The patent and legal costs should both be expensed immediately

B$)$ The patent should be amortized over $20$ years, and legal costs expensed immediately

C$)$ The patent should be amortized over $8$ years, and legal costs expensed immediately

D$)$ The patent should be amortized over $8$ years, and legal costs capitalized