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A Process is a series of actions or steps towards achieving a
particular end, whereas a Computer program means a set of
instructions expressed in words, codes, schemes or in any other form,
including a machine readable medium, capable of causing a computer
to perform a particular function to achieve a particular result i.e a
Computer Software is a set of computer programs that define a series
of actions or steps that must be taken by the Computer Hardware to
achieve the desired result. The Computer Software Program therefore
defines a process to achieve the result through a set of instructions
used to control the elements of hardware. The program is written in a
language which can be comprehended by human beings, this is called
source code. But when this set of instructions is converted into
executable files i.e machine language, they become non-
understandable by humans. It is these machine language executables
which are provided to the user in form of Computer Software and not
the set of instructions expressed in words which could be understood
by humans. A software program in machine language or in form of
executable files forms a sort of black box which accepts inputs and
accordingly generates output by controlling the machine hardware.
How the input commands are processed is not known unless one has
access to the source code. Thus a software program basically acts as a
secret process which processes the input commands of the user. The
payment made for right to use of such secret process would definitely
take form of 'royalty' as the definition of Royalty in DTAA as well as
the Income Tax Act encompasses the right to use of a secret process.