Section 14June 6, 1997, Sec./Art. 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)