On Wednesday 12 March 2003 06:58 am, you wrote:
> LinuxLingam wrote:
> > why is software not yet taxed for excise?
>
> Sorry, my last reply talked about *customs* on Software.
>
> Software is not taxed for excise because of a very simple reason. Software
> is a service, not a product. Only products that are _produced_ may be
> taxed for excise.
wow! yet when it comes to marketing, all software companies like to talk
officially in terms of their software products.
i wonder if the new budget announcements on service tax brings software in
its domain. is software taxed as a services currently?
>
> Writing software is like a CA doing books, or an Architect making plans.
> Service, not Product.
you've just put your hand into a madhumakhi ka cchaajja.
a CA does not copyright the formula for a financial formula, locks everyone
else from using it, makes the formula a trade secret, and ensures everyone
writes their accounts books their way, and pay them a royalty each time, and
also ensure by using the formula, they consent to their books being accessed
by the CA for any purpose.
an architect does not copyright the concept of a 'window' to every house,
since humans have demanded shelter but a need to see the outdoors and let in
some sunshine. thus every house that uses a window.... you get the picture.
so it seems, even the idea of applying a service tax is not entirely
appropriate in such a copyright+license ecosystem. because the distinction
between service and product is blurred. and the intangible, as well as the
implicit aspects are much higher.
i don't know.
:-(
LL
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