Draft Taxation Determination

TD 2022/D3

Income tax: use of an individual's fame by related entities

• Please note that the PDF version is the authorised version of this draft ruling.
  This document has been finalised by TD 2023/4.

What this draft Determination is about

1. This draft Determination^[1] applies to arrangements where an individual with fame establishes an entity (referred to as the 'related entity'; for example, a family trust or company) and enters into an agreement with that entity for the use of their name, image, likeness, identity, reputation and signature (referred to as 'fame' for the purposes of this Determination).

2. The related entity then agrees with other entities for their authorised use of the individual's fame in return for a fee.

3. This Determination explains the Commissioner's views on the application of section 6-5 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 in these circumstances.^[2]

4. All legislative references in this Determination are to the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, unless otherwise indicated.

5. This Determination is only concerned with income from use of the individual's fame. It does not apply to income from the provision of services (such as where the individual is engaged by a related entity to provide services to a third party), nor does it apply to fees earned by a related entity from exploiting copyright, trademark or registered design rights licensed to the related entity.

Ruling

6. In Australian law, an individual with fame has no property in that fame^[3] and therefore cannot vest or transfer any property in their fame to another entity. Exploitation of an individual's fame can be done by way of agreement for a fee. Where a related entity is a party to such an agreement, it is incapable of authorising the use of the individual's fame by other entities as the agreement does not vest any property in the related entity. The fees paid for use of the individual's fame will be ordinary income of the individual and assessable to them under section 6-5.

7. The common law of Australia does not recognise as a proprietary right an individual's ability to exploit their fame separately from an accompanying business.^[4] Consequently, there is no recognised proprietary right (common law or otherwise) in an individual's fame that is capable of transfer or assignment.^[5]

8. While an individual does not have a recognised proprietary right in their fame, they may have a limited cause of action^[6] if their fame is used in a manner which misleads the public or a significant portion of the public into thinking some form of association or endorsement exists between the individual and the product or services of another.

9. Under an action for 'passing off'^[7], the relevant property that is protected is the goodwill^[8] of the individual's business that would likely be injured due to improper use.^[9] Goodwill cannot be dealt with or assigned independently of that individual's business.^[10]

10. An individual with fame can exploit that fame by authorising others to use their fame for a fee. However, such an agreement would not vest any property in the individual's fame in the other entity. As a result, the related entity is not in a position to exploit the image of the individual with fame. The agreement between the related entity and the individual would merely authorise that which would otherwise be actionable.^[11] As a result, the other entity cannot derive income attributed to the use of the individual's fame. Accordingly, the income derived under the purported sub-licencing of those rights to a third party is the ordinary income of the individual.^[12] The related entity is receiving an amount that is being applied or dealt with on the individual's behalf.

11. This can be distinguished from a circumstance where a related entity engages the individual with fame to provide services. For example, the individual with fame may be engaged by the related entity to attend product launches and promotional events for a third party. In these circumstances, contractual payments by the third party to the related entity can be assessable to the related entity under section 6-5. However, consideration would also need to be given in these circumstances to the potential application of the personal services income rules in Part 2-42 or the application of Part IVA of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936.

Example - media personality agrees with a related entity to use their fame

12. A family trust is established by a media personality. The trustee of the family trust enters into a deed with the individual which grants a right to use and exploit the fame of the individual throughout Australia.

13. The trustee contracts with a business for the use of the media personality's photo and name on the packaging of their product for a fee. Payment by the business is made to the trustee. However, the income from this use of the individual's fame is ordinary income of the individual. This is because while the trustee has a right to use that fame, the deed does not provide any property to the trustee which could allow a third party to use it for a fee. Therefore, the individual should include that fee amount in their assessable income in the relevant income year.

Date of effect

14. When the final Determination is issued, it is proposed to apply to years of income commencing both before and after its date of issue, subject to the compliance approach in Appendix 1 to this Determination. Where an arrangement is subject to the compliance approach in Appendix 1 to this Determination, it is proposed that the final Determination will only apply to income derived from that arrangement in the 2023-24 income year and later income years. However, this Determination will not apply to taxpayers to the extent that it conflicts with the terms of a settlement of a dispute agreed to before the date of issue of this Determination (see paragraphs 75 and 76 of Taxation Ruling TR 2006/10 Public Rulings).

Commissioner of Taxation
5 October 2022

Appendix 1 - Compliance approach

15. The Commissioner acknowledges that the views on alienation set out in this Determination differ to the practical compliance approach in allowing limited alienation of income taken in Draft Practical Compliance Guideline PCG 2017/D11 Tax treatment of payments for use and exploitation of a professional sportsperson's 'public fame' or 'image' (which was withdrawn on 24 August 2018). The Commissioner also acknowledges that individuals may have entered into arrangements on the basis of PCG 2017/D11. As such, it is appropriate to apply a transitional compliance approach to the views expressed in this Determination.

16. The Commissioner will not devote compliance resources to apply the views expressed in this Determination to income derived before 1 July 2023 from arrangements entered into in good faith that are consistent with the principles outlined in PCG 2017/D11 where they are entered into before the publication of this draft Determination.

17. This compliance approach applies both before and after the issue of this Determination in respect of the 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 income years.

18. Where the Commissioner is asked to issue or amend assessments, or is asked or required to state a view (for example, in a private ruling or in submissions in a litigation matter), they will do so consistently with the views set out in this Determination. This includes circumstances where the Commissioner identifies a tax risk during the course of an unrelated review or audit activity.

Appendix 2 - Your comments

19. You are invited to comment on this draft Determination, including the proposed date of effect and compliance approach. Please forward your comments to the contact officer by the due date.

20. A compendium of comments is prepared when finalising this Determination, and an edited version (names and identifying information removed) is published to the Legal database on ato.gov.au.

21. Please advise if you do not want your comments included in the edited version of the compendium.

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References

ATO references:
NO 1-JPW3O3S

Related Rulings/Determinations:

TR 1999/16
TR 2006/10

Business Line:  SMB

Legislative References:
ITAA 1997 6-5
ITAA 1997 6-5(4)
ITAA 1997 Pt 2-42
ITAA 1936 Pt IVA
Competition and Consumer Act 2010 Sch 2 18

Cases Relied on:
Australian Consolidated Press Ltd v Ettingshausen
[1993] NSWCA 10

Commissioner of Taxation v. Just Jeans Pty Ltd
[1987] FCA 218
16 FCR 110
87 ATC 4373
18 ATR 775
72 ALR 213 86
ConAgra Inc v McCain Foods (Aust) Pty Ltd
[1992] FCA 176
33 FCR 302
23 IPR 193
106 ALR 465
[1992] AIPC 38,408
Honey, G. v. Australian Airlines Ltd & Anor
[1989] FCA 234
(1989) ATPR 40-961
14 IPR 264
Hospital Products Ltd v United States Surgical Corporation
[1984] HCA 64
156 CLR 41
58 ALJR 587
55 ALR 417
4 IPR 291
Irvine v Talksport Ltd
[2002] 1 WLR 2355
[2002] EWHC 367
JH Coles Pty Ltd v Need
49 CLR 499
7 ALJ 360
[1934] ALR 13
1A IPR 388
[1934] AC 82
JT International SA v Commonwealth of Australia
[2012] HCA 43
250 CLR 1
86 ALJR 1297
291 ALR 669
[2013] ALMD 712
Spriggs v Commissioner of Taxation
[2009] HCA 22
239 CLR 1
83 ALJR 749
256 ALR 596

Other References:
PCG 2017/D11