Article 157p. 157

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(b) Provide advisory services for the determination of

search patterns;

(c) Maintain search files and search rooms and reference

libraries; and

(d) Adapt and package industrial property information.

11.2. Establish networks or intermediaries or regional

representatives;

11.3.

Educate

the

public

and

build

awareness

on

intellectual property through the conduct of seminars

and lectures, and other similar activities;

11.4.

Establish

working

relations

with

research

and

development

institutions

as

well

as

with

local

and

international intellectual property professional groups

and the like;

11.5. Perform state-of-the-art searches;

11.6. Promote the use of patent information as an effective

tool to facilitate the development of technology in the

country;

11.7. Provide technical, advisory, and other services relating

to the licensing and promotion of technology, and carry

out an efficient and effective program for technology

transfer; and

11.8.

Register

technology

transfer

arrangements, and

settle disputes involving technology transfer payments.

(n)

SECTION 12. The Management Information Services

and

EDP

Bureau .

—

The Management Information

Services and EDP Bureau shall:

12.1.

Conduct

automation

planning,

research

and

development, testing of systems, contracts with firms,

contracting, purchase and maintenance of equipment,

design and maintenance of systems, user consultation,

and the like; and

12.2.

Provide

management

information

support

and

service to the Office. (n)

SECTION 13. The Administrative , Financial and Human

Resource

Development

Service Bureau . — 13.1. The

Administrative Service shall: (a) Provide services relative to

procurement and allocation of supplies and equipment,

transportation, messengerial work, cashiering, payment

of

salaries

and

other

Office's

obligations,

office

maintenance, proper safety and security, and other utility

services;

and

comply

with

government

regulatory

requirements in the areas of performance appraisal,

compensation and benefits, employment records and

reports;

(b) Receive all applications filed with the Office and

collect fees therefor; and

(c) Publish patent applications and grants, trademark

applications, and registration of marks, industrial designs,

utility models, geographic indication, and lay-out-designs

of integrated circuits registrations.

13.2. The Patent and Trademark Administration Services

shall perform the following functions among others:

(a) Maintain registers of assignments, mergings, licenses,

and bibliographic on patents and trademarks;

(b) Collect maintenance fees, issue certified copies of

documents in its custody and perform similar other

activities; and

(c) Hold in custody all the applications filed with the

office, and all patent grants, certificate of registrations

issued by the office, and the like.

13.3. The Financial Service shall formulate and manage a

financial

program

to

ensure

availability

and

proper

utilization of funds; provide for an effective monitoring

system of the financial operations of the Office; and

13.4. The Human Resource Development Service shall

design and implement human resource development

plans and programs for the personnel of the Office;

provide for present and future manpower needs of the

organization;

maintain

high

morale

and

favorable

employee attitudes towards the organization through the

continuing

design

and implementation of employee

development programs. (n)

SECTION 14. Use of Intellectual Property Rights Fees by

the IPO . — 14.1. For a more effective and expeditious

implementation of this Act, the Director General shall be

authorized to retain, without need of a separate approval

from any government agency, and subject only to the

existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations,

all the fees, fines, royalties and other charges, collected by

the Office under this Act and the other laws that the

Office will be mandated to administer, for use in its

operations, like upgrading of its facilities, equipment

outlay, human resource development, and the acquisition

of the appropriate office space, among others, to improve

the delivery of its services to the public. This amount,

which shall be in addition to the Office's annual budget,

shall be deposited and maintained in a separate account

or fund, which may be used or disbursed directly by the

Director General.

14.2. After five (5) years from the coming into force of this

Act, the Director General shall, subject to the approval of

the Secretary of Trade and Industry, determine if the fees

and charges mentioned in Subsection 14.1 hereof that the

Office shall collect are sufficient to meet its budgetary

requirements. If so, it shall retain all the fees and charges

it shall collect under the same conditions indicated in

said Subsection 14.1 but shall forthwith, cease to receive

any funds from the annual budget of the National

Government; if not, the provisions of said Subsection 14.1

shall continue to apply until such time when the Director

General, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Trade

and Industry, certifies that the above-stated fees and

charges the Office shall collect are enough to fund its

operations. (n)

SECTION 15. Special Technical and Scientific Assistance .

— The Director General is empowered to obtain the

assistance

of

technical,

scientific

or

other

qualified

officers and employees of other departments, bureaus,

offices,

agencies

and

instrumentalities

of

the

Government, including corporations owned, controlled or

operated by the Government, when deemed necessary in

the consideration of any matter submitted to the Office

relative to the enforcement of the provisions of this Act.

(Sec. 3, R.A. No. 165a)

SECTION 16. Seal of Office . — The Office shall have a seal,

the form and design of which shall be approved by the

Director General. (Sec. 4, R.A. No. 165a)

SECTION 17. Publication of Laws and Regulations . —

The Director General shall cause to be printed and make

available for distribution, pamphlet copies of this Act,

other pertinent laws, executive orders and information

circulars relating to matters within the jurisdiction of the

Office. (Sec. 5, R.A. No. 165a)

SECTION 18. The IPO Gazette . — All matters required to

be published under this Act shall be published in the

Office's own publication to be known as the IPO Gazette.

(n)

SECTION 19. Disqualification of Officers and Employees

of the Office . — All officers and employees of the Office

shall not apply or act as an attorney or patent agent of an

application for a grant of patent, for the registration of a

utility model, industrial design or mark nor acquire,

except by hereditary succession, any patent or utility

model, design registration, or mark or any right, title or

interest therein during their employment and for one (1)

year thereafter. (Sec. 77, R.A. No. 165a)

PART II The Law on Patents

CHAPTER I General Provisions

SECTION 20. Definition of Terms Used in Part II , The

Law on Patents . — As used in Part II, the following terms

shall have the following meanings:

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