Delhi HC has held on 22.11.2013 in the case of DIRECTOR OF INCOME TAX Vs. INFRASOFT LTD. that by sale of software what has been transferred is not copyright or the right to use copyright but a limited right to use the copyrighted material and does not give rise to any royalty income.
DElhi HC has not examined the effect of the subsequent amendment to section 9 (1)(vi) of the Act and also whether the amount received for use of software would be royalty in terms thereof for the reason that the Assessee is covered by the DTAA, the provisions of which are more beneficial.The amount received by the Assessee under the licence agreement for allowing the use of the software is not royalty under the DTAA.
Delhi HC has not agreed with the judgment of Andhra Pradesh High Court in the case of SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO. LTD (SUPRA) that right to make a copy of the software and storing the same in the hard disk of the designated computer and taking backup copy would amount to copyright work under section 14(1) of the Copyright Act and the payment made for the grant of the licence for the said purpose would constitute royalty.
