Treas. Reg. 1.861-18(f)(1): a transfer of a copyright right is a sale or a licence, and a licence is sourced as a royalty (26 CFR 1.861-18(f)(1))
If a holder keeps substantial rights in its content and lets the buyer use it, the IRS treats the deal as a licence and the fee as a royalty sourced by where the content is used.
Dated 18 Oct 2026Source checked 18 Oct 2026Basis: primary text
In the source's own words
“A transfer of a copyright right that does not constitute a sale or exchange because not all substantial rights have been transferred will be classified as a license. ... Income derived from the licensing of a copyright right will be sourced under section 861(a)(4) or 862(a)(4), as appropriate.”
Where it was read
Also read from the same source
- Treas. Reg. 1.861-18(a)-(b): what a digital content transaction is and its four categories (26 CFR 1.861-18(a)(2), (b)(1))
- Treas. Reg. 1.861-18(c): copyright rights and copyrighted articles (26 CFR 1.861-18(c)(2), (c)(3))
- Treas. Reg. 1.861-18(d)-(e): services to develop digital content, and know-how (26 CFR 1.861-18(d), (e))
- Treas. Reg. 1.861-18(f)(2)-(3): a copy that is not truly sold is a lease, and a delete-after-a-period rule is a lease (26 CFR 1.861-18(f)(2), (f)(3))
- Treas. Reg. 1.861-18(f)(2)(ii): sourcing of a sold copy, and the billing-address rule for electronic delivery (26 CFR 1.861-18(f)(2)(ii))
- Treas. Reg. 1.861-18(g)(1) and (i): the label on the contract does not decide, and the rule's start date (26 CFR 1.861-18(g)(1), (i)(1))
Figures it counts in
It is shown on its own, not counted into a figure.
Cited in this guide