That depends on jurisdiction, I guess. Here, paying with goods or services doesn't excempt the other party from paying VAT. I fail to see how that can't be applied when paying with intellectual property.
Anything can be applied - why isn't giving a street performer money subject to VAT? So yes, it could be applied.
I suspect if buskers earn enough they very well might be eligable for VAT.
( I am not a tax lawyer ).
That would only be if the income is VAT-taxable, or at least in the UK anyway. I am also not a lawyer but they appear to be defining the fairly nebulous "data value" as being VAT-taxable now. There's no rhyme or reason other than "country got power; country want more money",