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“copyrighted article”

International TaxSection 9(1)(vi)Section 9(1)(vi)293 judgments

The decision most relied on for copyrighted article is Engineering Analysis Centre of Excellence (P) Ltd. v. CIT (432 ITR 471), cited in 914 judgments on BharatTax.

Leading authorities on copyrighted article

Engineering Analysis Centre of Excellence (P) Ltd. v. CIT
432 ITR 471 · 2021 · Supreme Court
914
citing judgments

Payments for the supply or use of computer software, where there is no transfer of copyright but only a right to use the copyrighted product, are generally considered business profits and not 'royalty' or 'fees for technical services' under the Income Tax Act, 1961 or relevant DTAAs. This principle also applies to transponder fees, which are not taxable as royalty.

DIT v. Nokia Networks OY
358 ITR 259 · 2013 · High Court
276
citing judgments

Payments for the supply of software along with telecom equipment are not in the nature of royalty if they are for the use of a copyrighted article, not the copyright itself. Such payments are not taxable in India in the absence of a Permanent Establishment (PE).

DIT v. Infrasoft Ltd.
39 Taxmann.com 88 · 2013 · High Court
269
citing judgments

Payments for the use of copyrighted software, without the transfer of any rights in the underlying copyright itself, do not constitute 'royalty' under the Income-tax Act or tax treaties. Such payments are often treated as business income, taxable only if a permanent establishment exists.

DIT v. Ericsson A.B
343 ITR 470 · 2012 · High Court
256
citing judgments

Payments for the use of copyrighted software or reimbursement of data processing costs do not constitute 'royalty' under Section 9(1)(vi) of the Income-tax Act or Article 12(3) of a DTAA where there is no transfer of copyright or rendering of services that "make available" technical knowledge. This position was later upheld by the Supreme Court.

Tata Consultancy Services v. State of Andhra Pradesh
271 ITR 401 · 2004 · Supreme Court
231
citing judgments

The sale of 'canned software' in physical form is the sale of a copyrighted article and constitutes 'goods,' distinct from the underlying copyright. This case provides foundational principles for distinguishing copyrighted works from copyrighted articles and for what qualifies as 'production or manufacturing of goods or articles' under tax laws.

CIT v. Synopsis International Old Ltd.
212 Taxmann 454 · 2013 · High Court
177
citing judgments

Payments for computer software are treated as royalty income under Section 9(1)(vi) of the Income-tax Act, particularly concerning the expanded definition provided by Explanation 2 and Explanation 4.

Verizon Communications Singapore Pte Ltd. v. ITO
361 ITR 575 · 2014 · High Court
156
citing judgments

Payments for the use of equipment or copyrighted articles constitute royalty income under section 9(1)(vi) of the Income-tax Act, necessitating TDS deduction under section 195 and attracting disallowance under section 40(a)(i) for non-compliance.

CIT v. Wipro Ltd. (
70 Taxmann.com 129 · Reported
77
citing judgments

Payments are liable for deduction of tax at source when they are in the nature of royalty. The withholding tax liability can be worked out by applying a proportion to the total remittance.

Judgments citing copyrighted article

DCIT, New Delhi vs. M/S. Rhc Holding Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi

In the result, appeal of the assessee is allowed

ITA 2446/DEL/2014[2009-10]Status: DisposedITAT Delhi14 Feb 2025AY 2009-10

Bench: Shri Vikas Awasthy& Shri Brajesh Kumar Singhआअसं.2446/िद"ी/2024(िन.व. 2017-18) Gsma Ltd., 1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 450, Atalanta, Untied State Of America ...... अपीलाथ"/Appellant Pan: Aaecg-1610-K बनाम Vs. Assistant Commissioner Of Income-Tax, International Taxation 1(3)(1), Civic Centre, ....."ितवादी/Respondent Minto Road, New Delhi 110002 अपीलाथ" "ारा/ Appellant By: Shri P.P Singh, Advocate "ितवादी"ारा/Respondent By: Shri M.S Nethrapal, Cit-Dr सुनवाई क" ितिथ/ Date Of Hearing : 06/08/2025 घोषणा क" ितिथ/ Date Of Pronouncement : 04/11/2025 आदेश/Order Per Vikas Awasthy, Jm: This Appeal By The Assessee Is Directed Against The Assessment Order Dated 06.04.2021 Passed U/S. 143(3) R.W.S 144C(13) Of The Income Tax Act,1961(Hereinafter Referred To As ‘The Act’), For Assessment Year 2017-18. 2. The Registry Has Issued Defect Memo Stating That The Appeal Is Time Barred By 1076 Days. The Assessee Has Filed An Application Supported By An Affidavit Citing Reasons For Delay In Filing Of Appeal.

For Appellant: Shri P.P Singh, AdvocateFor Respondent: Shri M.S Nethrapal, CIT-DR
Section 143(3)Section 9(1)(vii)

passages from that decision:- 11 "89. There is a clear distinction between royalty paid on transfer of copyright rights and consideration for transfer of copyrighted articles. Right to use a copyrighted article or product with the owner retaining his copyright is not the same thing as transferring or assigning rights ... There is no transfer of any right in respect of copyright by the Assessee and it is a case of mere transfer of a copyrighted article. The payment is for a copyrighted article and represents the purchase price of an article and cannot be considered as royalty either under

Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Corporate Circle 3(1), Chennai vs. Saipem India Projects Private Limited, Chennai

The appeals stand dismissed

ITA 2319/CHNY/2024[2018]Status: DisposedITAT Chennai15 Jan 2025

Bench: Hon’Ble Shri Manoj Kumar Aggarwal, Am & Hon’Ble Shri Manu Kumar Giri, Jm 1. आयकरअपील सं./ Ita No.2264/Chny/2024 (िनधा)रण वष) / Assessment Year: 2017-18) & 2. आयकरअपील सं./ Ita No.2319/Chny/2024 (िनधा)रण वष) / Assessment Year: 2018-19) Acit M/S. Saipem India Projects Pvt. Ltd. बनाम/ Corporate Circle-3(1), 4, Fourth Lane Yaralagadda Towers Chennai. Off Nungambakkam High Road, Vs. Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034. "थायीलेखासं./जीआइआरसं./Pan/Tan No. Aaaci-7915-F (अपीलाथ"/Appellant) : (""थ" / Respondent) अपीलाथ"कीओरसे/ Appellant By : Shri S.P. Chidambaram (Advocate) – Ld.Ar ""थ"कीओरसे/Respondent By : Shri A. Sasikumar (Cit) -Ld. Dr सुनवाईकीतारीख/Date Of Hearing : 07-01-2025 घोषणाकीतारीख /Date Of Pronouncement : 15-01-2025 आदेश / O R D E R Per Bench: 1. Aforesaid Appeals By Revenue For Assessment Years (Ays) 2017- 18 & 2018-19 Have Identical Facts & Issues. First, We Take Up Appeal For Ay 2017-18 Which Arises Out Of An Order Passed By Learned Commissioner Of Income Tax (Appeals), Chennai-16 [Cit(A)] On 28-06- 2024 In The Matter Of An Assessment Framed By Ld. Assessing Officer

For Appellant: Shri S.P. Chidambaram (Advocate) – Ld.ARFor Respondent: Shri A. Sasikumar (CIT) -Ld. DR
Section 143(3)Section 195Section 40

that such software payments do not require withholding tax u/s 195. It was submitted that the relevant agreement provide for limited right to use copyrighted article and therefore, no TDS would be required considering the decision of Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Engineering Analysis Centre of Excellence

Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai vs. Saipem India Projects Private Limited, Kanchipuram

The appeals stand dismissed

ITA 2264/CHNY/2024[2017-18]Status: DisposedITAT Chennai15 Jan 2025AY 2017-18

Bench: Hon’Ble Shri Manoj Kumar Aggarwal, Am & Hon’Ble Shri Manu Kumar Giri, Jm 1. आयकरअपील सं./ Ita No.2264/Chny/2024 (िनधा)रण वष) / Assessment Year: 2017-18) & 2. आयकरअपील सं./ Ita No.2319/Chny/2024 (िनधा)रण वष) / Assessment Year: 2018-19) Acit M/S. Saipem India Projects Pvt. Ltd. बनाम/ Corporate Circle-3(1), 4, Fourth Lane Yaralagadda Towers Chennai. Off Nungambakkam High Road, Vs. Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 034. "थायीलेखासं./जीआइआरसं./Pan/Tan No. Aaaci-7915-F (अपीलाथ"/Appellant) : (""थ" / Respondent) अपीलाथ"कीओरसे/ Appellant By : Shri S.P. Chidambaram (Advocate) – Ld.Ar ""थ"कीओरसे/Respondent By : Shri A. Sasikumar (Cit) -Ld. Dr सुनवाईकीतारीख/Date Of Hearing : 07-01-2025 घोषणाकीतारीख /Date Of Pronouncement : 15-01-2025 आदेश / O R D E R Per Bench: 1. Aforesaid Appeals By Revenue For Assessment Years (Ays) 2017- 18 & 2018-19 Have Identical Facts & Issues. First, We Take Up Appeal For Ay 2017-18 Which Arises Out Of An Order Passed By Learned Commissioner Of Income Tax (Appeals), Chennai-16 [Cit(A)] On 28-06- 2024 In The Matter Of An Assessment Framed By Ld. Assessing Officer

For Appellant: Shri S.P. Chidambaram (Advocate) – Ld.ARFor Respondent: Shri A. Sasikumar (CIT) -Ld. DR
Section 143(3)Section 195Section 40

that such software payments do not require withholding tax u/s 195. It was submitted that the relevant agreement provide for limited right to use copyrighted article and therefore, no TDS would be required considering the decision of Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Engineering Analysis Centre of Excellence

Sumo Logic, Inc., Usa vs. The Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, International Taxation, Circle 3(1)(2), Delhi

In the result, appeal of the assessee is partly allowed as indicated above

ITA 3350/DEL/2023[2021-22]Status: DisposedITAT Delhi27 Dec 2024AY 2021-22

Bench: Shri Saktijit Dey & Shri S. Rifaur Rahman(Assessment Year : 2021-22 Sumo Logic, Inc. Vs. Acit, Circle Int. Tax 3(1)(2), 3Rd Floor, 305 Main Street, Delhi. Redwood City, California, Foreign, United States. C/O Deloitte Haskins & Sells Llp, Tower-B, 7Th Floor, Building 10, Dlf Cyber City Complex, Phase-Ii, Gurgaon-122002. (Pan: Abecs 9368 P) (Appellant) (Respondent) Assessee By : Shri Sachit Jolly, Adv. & Shri Aditya Rathore, Adv. Revenue By : Shri Vijay B Vasanta, Cit Dr Date Of Hearing : 03.10.2024 Date Of Order : 27.12.2024 O R D E R Per S. Rifaur Rahman, Am : 1. The Captioned Appeal Preferred By The Assessee Is Directed Against The Assessment Order Dated 28.09.2023 Passed By The Learned Assistant Commissioner

For Appellant: Shri Sachit Jolly, Adv. &For Respondent: Shri Vijay B Vasanta, CIT DR
Section 143(3)Section 144C(13)Section 144C(5)

present case, the payment is for the use of copyrighted material rather than for the use of copyright. The distinction between the copyright and copyrighted article has been very well pointed out by the decisions of Hon'ble Delhi High Court in the case of DIT v. Nokia Networks ... ratio laid down in the decisions (supra), the payment received by the assessee has to be held to have been received for use of copyrighted article rather than for use of or right to use of copyright. 17. Having held so, the next issue which arises for consideration is, whether