License Agreement for Music Rights: Minimum Guarantee Fees Not Royalty, Costs to be Amortized Over 6-Year Period

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....ITAT determined that payments made under a license agreement for audio and audiovisual rights between the assessee and Hungama for commercial exploitation of music content constituted minimum guarantee license fees rather than royalty payments. The agreement stipulated a guaranteed fee of Rs. 11,73,62,500/- for 6 years. The Tribunal rejected AO's classification of expenses as prior period expenses, noting dates in music titles reflected commercial exploitation start dates, not license acquisition. ITAT directed AO to conduct denovo assessment, treating payments as deferred revenue expenditure amortizable over six-year license period. The Tribunal emphasized proper allocation of costs during license duration while maintaining assessee's right to be heard during reassessment.....