MAM
ICC engages CII for WC commercial rights protection
MUMBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has engaged Copyright Integrity International (CII) to work closely with its existing in-house legal team on the management of a rights protection programme for next year‘s World Cup, which gets underway on 19 February.
Based in Bengaluru, CII is a specialist in online and offline anti-piracy protection services for sports clients. It will provide the ICC with a suite of commercial rights-protection and anti-piracy services and solutions such as online content and broadcast protection, comprehensive trademark and brand protection and media terms enforcement, in a programme designed to protect the ICC’s intellectual property rights from the threats of piracy, ambush marketing and unlicenced use.
ICC GM commercial Campbell Jamieson said, “Our commercial partners and sponsors make our events possible and generate significant funding for the global game. The aim of the ICC’s commercial rights protection programme is to maintain the exclusivity of their association with our events. It is vital that those rights are protected so that our partners’ investments can be channelled into the development of cricket throughout our 105 Members.”
CII CEO Dr Clinton Free added: “It’s a privilege to be engaged by a client such as the ICC to manage the commercial rights-protection programme for such a globally significant event as the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. Our extensive services and experienced team will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the event is an unqualified success. Our role will include not only the monitoring and enforcement of infringements but also an education programme for the public that will ensure wholesome enjoyment of the event with due respect to the ICC’s commercial partners and sponsors.”
The ICC’s legal team has been working hard over the past few months to develop strategies to combat unlawful association with the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, particularly within the three host territories of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
As part of that programme, it has recently released brand and content protection guidelines for the tournament. Through a series of FAQs and illustrations, this document provides other companies and members of the public with a guide to how they might associate with the event without infringing the rights that have been granted to the ICC’s official partners.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
