By

Vijay Pal Dalmia, Advocate

Supreme Court of India & Delhi High Court

Email id: vpdalmia@vaishlaw.com

Mobile No.: +91 9810081079

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And

Shivam Kamra
5th Year student at Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies
Intern at Vaish Associates Advocates

Introduced in 2017, the Goods and Services tax (GST) is a destination based consumption tax subsuming in itself, the erstwhile taxes like sales tax, service tax, excise etc. Under the GST regime, the tax is levied simultaneously by the Central as well as the State/Union territory Government and such tax is levied on the "Supply"1 of "Goods"2 or "Services"3 or both.

As per the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Intellectual Property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce. These usually take the form of Trademarks, Copyrights, Patents and industrial Designs etc.

TAXABILITY OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY UNDER GST LAW

Intellectual Property is an Intangible right of its owner, which often creates confusion as to its taxability whenever such right has to be transferred. Section 9 of the CGST Act, 2017 states that CGST shall be levied on the value determined under Section 15 of the same act on all Intra-state supply of Goods or Services or both at such rates notified by the government with GST council's recommendations. Thus, vide. the tax rate notification4, which states as follows :

S. No.

Chapter/Section/Heading

Description of Service

Rate of Tax

17

Heading 9973
(Leasing or rental services, with or without operator)

'Temporary or permanent transfer or permitting the use or enjoyment of Intellectual Property (IP) right in respect of goods other than Information and Technology software'

6%

It can be inferred that Intellectual Property has been taxed and classified as "Service" under GST law as the above-mentioned notification pertains to taxation of services at specified rates.

GST APPLICABLE TO DIFFERENT KINDS OF LICENSING SERVICES WITH RESPECT TO INTELECTUAL PROPERTYIN THE SERVICE ACCOUNTING CODE

The Service accounting code5 (SAC) provides for the respective rate for various classified services in the main group. In regard to the Intellectual Property, in the group 99733 which relates to 'Licensing Services for the right to use Intellectual Property and similar products', the various sub-heading which are relevant are stated as follows :

SAC CODE

DESCRIPTION

997332

Licensing services for the right to broadcast and show original films, sound recordings, radio and television programme etc.
(Relating to Copyright in films, Musical work, sound recordings and television programmes)

997333

Licensing service
(Relating to Copyright in Artistic works)s for the right to reproduce original art works

997334

Licensing services for the right to reprint and copy manuscripts, books, journals and periodicals.
((Relating to Copyright in Literary works)

997336

Licensing services for the right to use trademarks and franchises.
(Relating to Trademarks and franchises)

997339

Licensing services for the right to use other intellectual property products and other resources.
(Relating to other Intellectual Property like Architectural and Engineering plans, Industrial Designs etc.)

Further, to eliminate the dilemma for taxation of IP, the Press-release dated 10th November 2017 gave a clearer view of this issue, highlighting the recommendations on changes in GST rates given by GST council. The press release inter-alia stated that

In order to obviate dispute and litigation, it is proposed that irrespective of whether permanent transfer of Intellectual Property is a supply of goods or service.-
(i) permanent transfer of Intellectual Property other than Information Technology software attracts GST at the rate of 12%; and
(ii) permanent transfer of Intellectual Property in respect of Information Technology software attracts GST at the rate of 18%.6

Therefore, it can be inferred that Licensing services in relation to various Intellectual property are rated at 12%.

However, a simultaneous reading of the explanation clause in the notification, specifically clause 4 sub-clause (ii), which states that "Reference to "Chapter", "Section" or "Heading", wherever they occur, unless the context otherwise requires, shall mean respectively as "Chapter, "Section" and "Heading" in the annexed scheme of classification of services (Annexure)."7
However, in the above-mentioned Annexure, it is only 'Licensing services for the right to use intellectual property and similar products' that has been mentioned in the Group 99733.

Therefore, the annexure to the notification fails to provide for the "Assignments" of the IP and only provides for the "Licensing" part. But co-jointly reading the press-release and the annexure, it can be inferred that whether there is a permanent transfer of Intellectual property(assignment) or just a temporary transfer for Licensing, the applicable rate is 12%. For convenience, it is imperative to highlight the key difference between the two terms :

Difference between 'Assignment' and 'Licensing' of Intellectual Property

  • Licensing means to give a person, some right relating to the IP, to make use of the said IP in a restricted way, but does not create any proprietary interest. Therefore, the licensee cannot be put on an equal footing with the owner of such licensed IP.
  • Assignment is the per se transfer of rights relating to IP, which makes the assignee an owner of the assigned IP rights and he can make use of the IP in whatever manner, subject to such agreement.
    Assignment can be even of only a part of the IP, if not the whole.

TRANSFER OF COPYRIGHT/TRADEMARKS/PATENT VS. COPYRIGHTED/TRADEMARKED/PATENTED GOODS

It is to be noted that there is a significant difference between transfer of 'copyrights' and that of 'copyrighted work.' Transfer of copyrights mean the transfer of the inherent right of the ownership from the original author to any other person which attracts a GST rate of 12% (18% in case of trademarks) whereas, when such literary, dramatic, musical, artistic or film work is produced into a CD and then sold, it results in the transfer of such copyrighted work, but the rights of ownership still remains with the original author. Such transfer attracts a rate mentioned in the HSN code for different kinds of products.

For Example : If 'Patanjali' Sell their Trademark "PATANJALI" to 'Dabur', then such transfer shall attract a GST rate of 12% on the total consideration or transaction value whereas, GST rate applicable on goods bearing the mark "PATANJALI" like herbal toothpaste, soaps, shampoos etc. is different in case of different products as per HSN code.

SALE OF 'BRANDED' AND 'UNBRANDED' GOODS

Various products like eatables, raw grains like barely, natural honey , paneer, cereals like oats, pulses etc. if sold loosely without bearing any brand name and unpackaged, do not attract any GST as they are exempted under the exemption notification. However, when these commodities are put in packaged containers and under the seal of a registered brand name, these are liable to GST.

But, on a close reading of this principle, one might raise the question :

"WHAT IF THE BRAND IS UNREGISTERED?

Well, as per the Notification8 issued by the CBIC, The phrase "registered brand name" means brand name or trade name, that is to say, a name or a mark, such as symbol, monogram, label, signature or invented word or writing which is used in relation to such specified goods for the purpose of indicating, or so as to indicate a connection in the course of trade between such specified goods and some person using such name or mark with or without any indication of the identity of that person, and which is registered under the Trade Marks Act, 1999.9

Hence, in the light of above stated explanation, one might find ways to avoid his/her Trademark registration as selling under an unregistered trademark would do them more good than bad, because that will not subject them to any GST liability. It is only when they get their Trademark registered under the said Act, that such GST liability shall arise. This can become one of the big loopholes under GST regime and will definitely affect the Intellectual Property industry.

REVERSE CHARGE MECHANISM APPLICABLE ON COPYRIGHTS

As per Section 9(1) of CGST Act 2017, GST has to be deposited by the person supplying the goods and/or services. However, Section 9(3) of the CGST Act, 2017 embodies the principle of Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM) according to which, the tax liability has to be discharged not by the supplier of goods and/or services, but by the recipient of such services. The said sub-section gives Government the power on recommendations of the GST council, to specify certain categories of supply of goods or services or both on which, RCM shall be applicable.

Therefore, the Government came out with the notification10, Entry no. 9 of which states that if the services are supplied by an author, music composer, photographer, artists or like persons, by way of transferring or permitting the use or enjoyment of a copyright covered under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 13 of the copyright act 1957, which relates to original literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work to a publisher, music company or producer or like person/co., then such publisher, music company or producer or like person/co will be the one liable to discharge the tax liability on receipt of such services.

Footnotes

1 Section 7, CGST Act, 2017

2 Section 2(52), CGST Act, 2017.

3 Section 2(102), CGST Act, 2017

4 Notification no. 11/2017-CT dated 28.06.2017

7 Explanation, clause (4) sub-clause(ii), Notification No. 11/2017-Central Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017

8 Notification no. 1/2017-CT (rate) dated 28.06.2017

9 See Explanation, clause(ii) to notification no. 1/2017-CT dated 28.06.2017

10 Notification No. 13/2017- Central Tax (Rate) dated 28.06.2017

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