News
50th Meeting of GST Council – Highlights
11 July 2023
The GST Council recently held its 50th Meeting on 11 July 2023. The meeting held after approximately 5 months saw many important decisions on various topics, including that on taxing online gaming and that on GST Appellate Tribunal. The Council has also attempted to tackle several complex and controversial issues that have plagued the industry with uncertainty for the last six years.
Copyright in screenplay of a film vests with the author and not the producer of the film
04 July 2023
The Delhi High Court has held that in a case where the author of the screenplay of the film is engaged pursuant to a contract with the producer, against remuneration, copyright in the screenplay would vest with the author and not in the producer.
NCLAT has no power to review its own judgment, but it can recall a judgment in exercise of its inherent jurisdiction
26 June 2023
A five-Member Bench of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (‘NCLAT’) has held that NCLAT is not vested with any power to review its own judgment, however, in exercise of its inherent jurisdiction it can entertain an application for recall of judgment on certain grounds. The Tribunal was of the view that it has an inherent jurisdiction to recall a judgement which was made with procedural lapses...
Competition law – CCI is not a grievance redressal forum against regulatory decisions of regulators
19 June 2023
The Delhi High Court has held that the Competition Act, 2002 does not contemplate the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to act as an appellate court or a grievance redressal forum against decisions taken by other regulators, in exercise of their statutory powers and which are not interfaced with trade or commerce.
Earth-moving equipment not covered as ‘automobiles’ – Repacking of parts of earth-moving equipment was not ‘deemed manufacture’ prior to 29 April 2010
12 June 2023
The 3-Member Bench of the Tribunal has held that packing or repacking of parts, component and assemblies of earth moving equipment would not amount to deemed manufacture under Section 2(f)(iii) of the Central Excise Act, 1944 read with the Third Schedule thereof, for the period prior to 29 April 2010.
Computer program resulting in technical effect/contribution eligible for patent protection
05 June 2023
The Delhi High Court has held that an invention should not be deemed a computer program per se merely because it involves algorithms and computer-executable instructions. According to the Court, rather, it should be assessed based on the technical advancements it offers and its practical application in solving real-world problems.
Angel Tax: A proposal for reforming valuation rules
26 May 2023
To deter generation and use of unaccounted money through subscription of shares of a closely held company, Finance Act, 2012 introduced Section 56(2)(viib) in the Income Tax Act, 1961. The Finance Act 2023 extended the ambit of Angel Tax to even non-resident investors. Considering the challenges posed by the aforesaid amendment, the CBDT has issued a press release on 19 May 2023 proposing certain legislative changes.
Credit note issued to dealer in consideration of replacement of defective part under warranty is exigible to sales tax
24 May 2023
A Larger Bench (3-Judge Bench) of the Supreme Court has held that a credit note issued by a manufacturer to a dealer of automobiles in consideration of the replacement of a defective part in the automobile sold pursuant to a warranty agreement, being collateral to the sale of the automobile, is exigible to sales tax.
Copyrights – Original drawings used to industrially produce an article will fall under ‘artistic work’ and be entitled to copyright protection
19 May 2023
In a dispute involving copyright in respect of the original drawings, the Delhi High Court has reiterated that even if the original drawings are used to industrially produce an article, they would continue to fall within the meaning of the artistic work defined under Section 2(c) of the Copyright Act, 1957 and would be entitled to the full period of copyright protection.
An online game of skill like ‘Rummy’ is not gambling or betting, even if played with stakes
15 May 2023
The Karnataka High Court in its recent decision has held that offline/online games such as Rummy which are mainly/preponderantly/substantially based on skill and not on chance, whether played with/without stakes, do not tantamount to ‘gambling or betting’ as contemplated in Entry 6 of Schedule III of the Goods and Services Act, 2017. According to the Court, the terms ‘betting’ and ‘gambling’ appearing in Entry 6 of Schedule III of the CGST Act do not and cannot include games of skill.