A historical category that emerged and developed under the historical conditions of high development of modern science and technology and economy, especially intelligent products "produced" for exchange and profit. The so-called intelligent product refers to a kind of knowledge product that is "produced" by relying on the advantages of knowledge-intensive and using modern technical means through the collection and processing of information materials. It can win considerable economic and social benefits for decision-making institutions or adoption units. Smart products used only by companies are not soft goods, and smart products produced for others without commodity exchange are not soft goods. It, like general commodities, has dual factors of use value and value.

Compared with ordinary goods, soft goods have the following characteristics: 1, service. It mainly serves the coordinated development of science and technology, economy and society. This is the common attribute of smart products. 2. Multiple transferability. General goods can only be sold once, and soft goods can be sold many times. Only when you buy a patent can you get the corresponding possession and protection. 3. keep it secret. That is, if necessary, the seller must keep secrets for the buyer.

Soft goods embody different relations of production under different social systems. In socialist society, it embodies the socialist distribution principle of mutual assistance and cooperation among various departments and industries and distribution according to work.