intellectual property right

Patent Co-operation Treaty (PCT) was entered on June 9, 1970. On 7th December, 1998 India became the 98th contracting state of the PCT. Signatory countries formed a Union for co-operation in filing, searching, and examination of applications for protection of inventions and rendering special technical services. Full Article

Hon’ble Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukharjee has introduced the Finance Bill, 2010 in the Lok Sabha on the 26th of February, 2010. Clause 75 and 76 of the said bill covers the legislative changes relating to Chapter V of Finance Act, 1994 (i.e. Service Tax). While some fresh exemptions from service tax have been granted, some existing exemptions have either been withdrawn or modified. All these changes have been notified under notification nos. 2/201 0–ST to 17/201.. Full Article

Following eight new services are proposed to be introduced: Services of promoting, marketing or organizing of games of chance, including lottery [Section 65 (105) (zzzzn)]. Health services, namely, health check up undertaken by hospitals or medical establishments for the employees of business entities; and health services provided under health insurance schemes offered by insurance companies.[Section 65 (105) (zzzzo)] Full Article

Customs duty on packaged software - As basic customs duty is Nil for packaged software, the additional duty of customs („CVD?) levied in lieu of the Central Excise duty payable on like goods manufactured in India (including education cess and secondary and higher education cess on such CVD) is the effective customs duty paid on import of such software; and Service tax in relation to providing right to use information technology software for commercial exploitation unde.. Full Article