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Showing contexts for: software copyright in Dcit Cen Cir 20, Mumbai vs Purnandu Jain (Huf), Mumbai on 8 January, 2018Matching Fragments
4. The learned CIT(A) has erred in law and in facts, by upholding the order of the learned AO by concluding that the consideration paid for the use of copyrighted software is in the nature of "royalty", both under the Act and the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between India and Netherlands ("the Tax Treaty").
5. The learned CIT(A) has erred in law and in facts, by not accepting the contentions filed by the Appellant while distinguishing the case of the Appellant from the facts of the decision of the Karnataka High Court in the case of CIT Vs Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Others (ITA No 2808 of 2006 and others).
This definition is much narrower and restricted than the definition of "Royalty" under the Income-tax Act. In the case of Samsung Electronic Co. Ltd. (supra) the Bench has considered this issue and had given a finding, that under the Indo-US DT AA, payment made for a copyrighted article is not "Royalty" and that only Article '7' is attracted.
The OECD Commentary clarifies the distinction between the right to use copyright and transfer of a copyrighted article. According to OECD, only a transfer that enables a transferee to commercially exploit software copyright will give rise to royalty income. But where the transferee gets exclusive rights for use, though it is short of full ownership, it will nevertheless be a case of sale of software. In such cases, the transaction will be outside the tax net in India as the said transaction will give rise to business income and in the absence of Permanent Establishment (PE) in India of Minitab Inc. Of U.S.A, business income are not be chargeable to tax in India as per Article 7 of India -USA DT AA.
We notice that the co-ordinate bench of tribunal has decided an identical issue in the case of M/s Baan Global B V (supra) has considered an identical issue and rendered its decision as under:
"10. We have heard the rival submissions, perused the relevant finding given in the impugned order and also the various decisions, cited before us.18
ITA No. 926 & 927/Bang/2012 M/s. Shell India Markets Private Limited The sole issue involved before us is, whether the payment received by the assessee on sale of computer software product is to be treated as income by way of "royalty" or business income. In case, if it is a 'business' income, then admittedly, assessee being a non-resident company with no permanent establishment in India, the same will not be taxable in India and if it is a "royalty", then it has to be taxed at the rate of 15% as provide under the treaty. Thus, the only issue for consideration is, whether the said payment falls within the terms of "royalty" under Article 12(4) of India- Netherland DTAA or under 9(1)(vi) of Income Tax Act. Here again, it is an undisputed fact that, assessee being a tax resident of Netherland has sought benefit under Indo Netherland DTAA, therefore, the payment received by the assessee from its Indian Subsidiary, INFOR India has to be examined under the treaty provisions. Briefly recapitulating the relevant facts for the purpose of our adjudication emanating from the impugned order is that, Assessee Company is engaged in the business of development and sale of computer software and also provides "other general services" in relation to the software. For both the activities, it has entered into a "distribution agreement" with its Indian subsidiary INFOR India which mainly functions as a distributor of computer software. So far as payments received from "other general services" of Rs.4,79,36,944/-, same has been offered to tax in India as 'fee for technical services' on which there is no dispute. The dispute is with regard to the payment of Rs.3,75,25,291/- received by the assessee company as a sale consideration for the computer products supplied by it. The computer software is sold "off shelf" which is mainly used by the Indian customer in their business for financial accounting, inventory management, HR management etc. INFOR India carries out marketing and sale of the software in India and places order with the assessee. The software supplied is then distributed to the Indian customers through INFOR. The consideration charged by INFOR India is based on terms agreed between the assessee and INFOR India as per the 'distribution agreement'. Under the terms of the agreement, as noted by the CIT(A), there is no transfer of any copyright in the software product. The payment received by the assessee is purely towards a copyrighted software product as against the payment for any copyright itself. The assessee does not give any right to use the copyright embedded in the software. In other words, the Indian Customer (or INFOR India) except for the limited right to access the copyright software for its own business purpose does not acquire any kind of right to exploit the copyright in the computer software. These facts have not been controverted by the department and, therefore, what has been incorporated and stated by the CIT(A) in his order is reckoned as admitted facts.
(ii) There is a difference between a purchase of a book or a music CD because while these can be used once they are purchased, software stored in a dumb CD requires a license to enable the user to download it upon his hard disk, in the absence of which there would be an infringement of the owner's copyright.
(TCS vs. State of AP distinguished as being in the context of sales-tax);"
18. We have also noted the submission of the Ld. DR that the seller of the software has a copyright upon it. That distinction between copyright and copyrighted article was originally coined by the US Internal Revenue Service. He had also submitted that this interpretation is supportive of internal revenue of the USA as majority of the software and the copyrights originate from USA. By terming such transfer of software which are under copyright in the USA as copyrighted article the software sellers of the USA where taken out of the ambit of taxation of the other countries which were purchasing/acquiring the software. Furthermore Ld. Counsel of the assessee has pleaded that after the insertion of explanation iv to Section 9(i)(iv), this software sale has also come under the ambit of royalty. However Hon'ble Delhi High Court has applied the static approach under which domestic law as at the time of the entering of the DTAA is applied and not the domestic law as prevailing as which the ambulatory approaches mandates. He has further submitted that eminent author Klaus vogel has also favoured the ambulatory approach. He has further mentioned the Hon'ble jurisdictional Bombay High Court has also favoured ambulatory approach in some other decisions. We also note the Ld. CIT-A has referred to a decision of Federal Court of Australia in the case of IBM vs. CIT (supra) which held that similar payment by IBM Australia to IBM USA under similar DTAA was royalty payment.