TaxTMI 
TaxTMI 
2020 (1) TMI 649
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....ement and the receipts were reimbursements being in the nature of cost allocation without markup and hence does not constitute 'income' under section 2(24) of the Act; Receipts towards access to use software held as 'royalty' under the India-Netherlands DTAA 3. Erred in construing the payments of Rs. 48,18,78,884 received by the Appellant from Key Application Service provider and Shell group entities for access to use copyrighted software as royalty taxable under Article 12 of India - Netherlands Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement ('India - Netherlands DTAA'); 4. Failed to appreciate that the payments received were only for the 'use of copyrighted article' as compared to 'use of copyright', 'use of process', 'use of property similar to patents, design, trademark and invention', which does not constitute 'royalty' under the India-Netherlands DTAA; Receipts towards IT Support services held as 'Fees for Technical Services' CFTS') under the Act as well as India-Netherlands DTAA 5. Erred in holding that payments of Rs. 1,37,76,27,749 received by the Appellant for IT ....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
.... "12. After considering the aforesaid submissions and the relevant terms of 'Master Service Agreement' (as reproduced above) between the assessee and the IT Services providers, i.e., WIPRO/IBM, it is quite ostensible that:- • Firstly, any kind of right granted to WIPRO/IBM cannot be passed on or transferred to any other person and only WIPRO/IBM is legally permissible to exercise this right. • Secondly, the right to access/use of software is again subject to various terms and conditions, which has been highlighted under Article 4 • The right which has been given to WIPRO/IBM is not unfettered but has a very limited use for the own business purpose and not otherwise. • Thus, only limited right to access/use the software has been provided to the UT service provider for its own business purpose and they do not get any right in the said software. The access to software is not for use of any copyright albeit for a copyrighted articles during the course of providing service. The agreement clearly envisages that WIPRO/IBM shall use the software only for providing services to Shell entities and cannot alter or modify the soft....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....s any use or right to use of copyright? The definition of copyright, though has not been explained or defined in the treaty, however, the various Courts have consistently opined that the definition of "copyright "as given in the 'Copyright Act, 1957' has to be taken into account for understanding the concept. Section 14of the said Act defines the 'copyrights' to mean as under: "14. Meaning of copyright - For the purposes of this Act, "copyright" means the exclusive right subject to the provisions of this Act, to do or authorise the doing of any of the following acts in respect of a work or any substantial part thereof, namely: (a) in the case of a literary, dramatic or musical work, not being a computer programme, (i) to reproduce the work in any material form including the storing of it in any medium by electronic means; (ii) to issue copies of the work to the public not being copies already in circulation; (iii) to perform the work in public, or communicate it to the public; (iv) to make any cinematograph film or sound recording in respect of the work; (v) to make any translation of the work; (vi) to make any....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....ll within the realm and ambit of right to use copyright in the computer software programme, the aforesaid rights must be given and if the said rights are not given then, there is no copyright in the computer programme or software. Here in this case, none of the conditions mentioned in section 14 of the 'Copyright Act' is applicable as held by the learned CIT(A); and is also is evident from the terms of MSA, because no such rights has been given by the assessee to the IT Service providers. 14. Further by making use or having access to the computer programs embedded in the software, it cannot be held that either WIPRO/IBM are using the process that has gone into the software or that they have acquired any rights in relation to the process as such. The software continues to be owned by the assessee and what WIPRO/IBM is getting mere access to the software. The source code embedded in the software has not been imparted to them. Hence, there is no use or right to use of any process as held by the learned AO. Hence, the finding of the learned CIT(A) that the payment in question cannot be reckoned as "royalty" is factually and legally correct and the same is upheld. ....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....zing the character of the transaction for tax purposes. Payments in these types of transactions would be dealt with as business income in accordance with Article 7. 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 in relation to the copyright. The enjoyment of some or all the rights which the copyright owner has is necessary to invoke the royalty definition. Viewed from this angle, a nonexclusive and non-transferable licence enabling the use of a copyrighted product cannot be construed as an authority to enjoy any or all of the enumerated rights ingrained in Article 12 of DTAA. Where the purpose of the licence or the transaction is only to restrict use of the copyrighted product for internal business purpose, it would not be legally correct to state that the copyright itself or right to use copyright has been transferred to any extent. The parting of intellectual property rights inherent in and attached to the software product in favour of t....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....y third party without the consent of Infrasoft. 93. The licensee has been prohibited from copying, decompiling, deassembling, or reverse engineering the software without the written consent of Infrasoft. The licence agreement between the Assessee Company and its customers stipulates that all copyrights and intellectual property rights in the software and copies made by the licensee were owned by Infrasoft and only Infrasoft has the power to grant licence rights for use of the software. The licence agreement stipulates that upon termination of the agreement for any reason, the licensee shall return the software including supporting information and licence authorization device to Infrasoft. Xxx xxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxxxx xxx xxxxxx 94. The incorporeal right to the software i.e. copyright remains with the owner and the same was not transferred by the Assessee. The right to use a copyright in a programme is totally different from the right to use a programme embedded in a cassette or a CD which may be a software and the payment made for the same cannot be said to be received as consideration for the use of or right to use of any copyright to bring it withi....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....the Delhi High Court in DIT v. M/s Nokia Networks OY (Supra) as not amounting to acquiring a copyright in the software". The ratio of the above decision clearly clinches the issue which is applicable in the case of the assessee also. This ratio and principle has been followed and reiterated again in the case of Principal CIT vs M.Tech India Pvt Ltd (supra) and again in the decisions of Alacatel Lucent, Canada, reported [2015] 372 ITR 476 , wherein Hon'ble Delhi High Court relying upon its earlier two decisions in the case of DIT vs Ericson , [2012] 343 ITR 470 and DIT vs M/s Nokia Networks, reported in 358 ITR 259 (Del) concluded that, when assessee supplies the software which is incorporated on CD, it has applied only a tangible property and payment made for acquiring such a property cannot be regarded as payment by way of royalty. The relevant observation of the High Court in Alcatel Lucent (supra) in this regard reads as under: "We have noticed, at the outset, that the ITAT had relied upon the ruling of this Court in Director of Income Tax V. Ericsson A.B. (2012) 343 ITR 470 wherein identical argument with respect to whether consideration paid towards supply of....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....s Court in Associated Cement Companies Ltd. (supra). A software programme may consist of various commands which enable the computer to perform a designated task. The copyright in that programme may remain with the originator of the programme. But the moment copies are made and marketed, it becomes goods, which are susceptible to sales tax. Even intellectual property, once it is put on to a media, whether it be in the form of books or canvas (In case of painting) or computer discs or cassettes, and marketed would become "goods". We see no difference between a sale of a software programme on a CD/floppy disc from a sale of music on a cassette/CD or a sale of a film on a video cassette/CD. In all such cases, the intellectual property has been incorporated on a media for purposes of transfer. TAXPUNDIT.ORG Sale is not just of the media which by itself has very little value. The software and the media and case laws in favour of the assessee including that of the Delhi High Court on several occasions, we are inclined to follow the decision and proposition laid down by the Hon'ble Delhi High Court. Thus, in view of the finding given above, we uphold the order of the CIT(A) that the paymen....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....domestic definition but also carried them to influence the meaning of royalty under Article 12. Notably, in both cases, the clarificatory nature of the amendment was not questioned, but was instead applied squarely to assessment years predating the amendment. The crucial difference between the judgments however lies in the application of the amendments to the DTAA. While TV Today, supra note 22 recognizes that the question will have to be decided and the submission argued, Verizon, supra note 23 cites no reason for the extension of the amendments to the DTAA. As regards the decision of Hon'ble Bombay High Court in the case of CIT vs. Siemens Aktiongesellschaft (supra), referred to by d. CIT DR, the Hon'ble Delhi High Court has also dealt with this point and made distinction that the issue and situation before the Hon'ble Bombay High Court was materially different and also the term 'royalty' was not defined in the German DTAA. 17. Thus, we hold that for all the years the payments received by the assessee from WIPRO/IBM in pursuance to the MSA cannot be treated as "royalty" under Article 12(4) of the India-Netherland DTAA. 17. Thus, the matter is decided in favour o....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
.... from IT support services which constitutes Fees for Technical Services ('FTS') and royalty under the India-Netherlands Treaty DTAA. For this Assessee has raised following ground:- "Payments towards IT Support fees held in be Fees for Technical Services 'FTS') and royalty. 4. Erred in holding that payments received by the Appellant for IT support DTAA 5. Failed to appreciate that IT support services do not 'make available any technical knowledge, skill, experience etc.to the services recipient under Article 12 of the India-Netherlands DTAA and hence not subject to tax in India. 6. Erred in alternatively holding that the receipt from IT - support services qualify as Royalty' under the IndiaNetherlands DTAA." 8. The facts and circumstances are exactly identical in both the AYrs i.e. 2009-10 and 2010-11 and also the grounds raised are identically worded hence, we will take- the facts from 2009-10. 9. The learned Counsel for the assessee, first of all, took us through the findings of the DRP on the issue which is recorded in Para 53 as under: "5.3 Discussions and directions of DRP 5.3.1 We have consi....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....ess. 5.3.2 considering the above factual and leg& matrix we are of the opinion that the action of the AO in treating the above receipt is fee for technical services does not require any interference The alternate arguments on taxability of the receipt as royalty do not require any direction from the penal as we have already upheld the taxability of the services as "fees for included service". 10. The learned Counsel for the assessee explained the facts that the SITI BV is a company registered in the Netherlands. SIT! BV is in the business of providing information technology (IT') support services. During the financial year ended 31.03.2006 SIT! BV provided IT (mobile office) support services, IT helpdesk and network infrastructure related services to: Indian customers. SITI BV is a tax resident of the NetherIand and is eligible to claim benefits under the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement entered into between India and The Netherlands. He explained that SITI BV is in the business of providing information technology support services SITI BV typically, provides helpdesk services-and network infrastructure services to Shell group companies comprising. ....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
.... to use, any copyright of literacy, artistic or scientific work including cinematograph films, any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience.' 12. From the above, it is clear that SITI BV is engaged in providing IT services to Indian entities but does not provide any right to use any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work including cinematograph films, any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience. Even under the agreements entered into with WIPRO and IBM, SITI BV only provides them access to the software i.e. computer Programme. SITI BV does not provide them the right to use the copyright embedded in the software. In other words, WIPRO, IBM are not permitted to make copies and sell the software. Under the Services Agreements, WIPRO and IBM-have been granted the mere under the right in the copyrighted software and not the right of, use of-copyright'. Whereas use of copyright' encompasses exploitation of the rights embedded in a copyright but....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....ties within paragraph 3(b) of this Article and fees for technical services defined in paragraph 4(b) of this Article, 10% of the gross amount of such royalties and fees for technical services. 3** ** ** (4) For the purpose of paragraph 2 of this Article, and subject to paragraph 5, of this Article, the term "fees for technical services" means payments of any kind of any person in consideration for the rendering of any technical or consultancy services (including the provision of services of a technical or other personnel) which: (a) are ancillary and subsidiary to the application of enjoyment of the right, property or information for which a payment described in paragraph 3(a) of this article is received; or b) are ancillary and subsidiary to the enjoyment of the property for which a payment described in paragraph 3(b) of this Article is received, or Make available technical knowledge, experience. skill, knowhow or processes, or consist of the development and transfer of a technical plan or technical design. 5. The definition of fees for technical services in paragraph 4 of this Article shall not include amounts paid: ....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
.... Ltd of Mumbai and that J B. Boda was duly licenced by the Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority to transact reinsurance business in India 11 The Tribunal also observed as under. - "27. In the illustrative transaction, New India Insurance Co. Ltd in India has entered into an agreement to reinsure on an Excess Loss basis the catastrophe risk arising from its primary insurance cover in conjunction with J.B. Boda and Alsford Page and gems Ltd. (the reinsurance brokers). The terms of the agreement specifies that the assessee in conjunction with J.B. Bode are recognized as intermediary, through whom all communications relating to this agreement shall pass. The terms of the agreement further provides that the assessee will provide all the details of agreed endorsements to the reinsurers by e-mail or facsimile and shall submit the slip policy to XIS (Lloyd's processing market) for signing. The assessee will act as a claim administrator and Will submit claims advices to relevant market systems. For the services rendered, the assessee along with the other reinsurance brokers acting as an intermediary in the reinsurance process for New India Assurance Co. will be....
X X X X Extracts X X X X
X X X X Extracts X X X X
....e process. 12. Based on this manner of transacting, the Tribunal came to a conclusion that the payment received by the assessee could not be regarded as 'fees for technical services'. Further, more, the Tribunal also held that such receipts would not amount to fees for technical services as the "make available" clause contained in article 13(4)(c) had not been satisfied in the facts and circumstances of the present case. 13. In our view, the Tribunal has arrived at these conclusions purely on assessing the factual matrix of the case at hand. The findings are in, the nature of factual findings and, therefore, according to us, no substantial question of law arises for our consideration, particularly, because the learned counsel for the Revenue was unable to point out any perversity in the recording of such findings. As such no substantial question of law arises for our consideration. The appeal is dismissed. There shall be. no order as to costs." 13. Further, the learned Counsel for the asséssee stated that the reliance placed by DRP in Arevay T and D India Limited of Perfeti Van Melle Holdings B.V. In re [2011] 16 taxmann.com 207 (AAR - New ....