PART V 

FINAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 230. Equitable Principles to Govern Proceedings

       In all inter partes proceedings in the Office under this Act, the equitable principles of laches, estoppel, and acquiescence where applicable, may be considered and applied. (Sec. 9-A, R.A. No. 165)

SEC. 231. Reverse Reciprocity of Foreign Laws

       Any condition, restriction, limitation, diminution, requirement, penalty or any similar burden imposed by the law of a foreign country on a Philippine national seeking protection of intellectual property rights in that country, shall reciprocally be enforceable upon nationals of said country, within Philippine jurisdiction. (n) 

SEC. 232. Appeals

        232.1. Appeals from decisions of regular courts shall be governed by the Rules of Court. Unless restrained by a higher court, the judgment of the trial court shall be executory even pending appeal under such terms and conditions as the court may prescribe. 

         232.2.   Unless expressly provided in this Act or other statutes, appeals from decisions of administrative officials shall be provided in the Regulations. (n) 

SEC. 233. Organization of the Office; Exemption from the Salary Standardization Law and the Attrition Law

       233.1.  The Office shall be organized within one (1) year after the approval of this Act. It shall not be subject to the provisions of Republic Act. No. 7430. 

        233.2. The Office shall institute its own compensation structure: Provided, That the Office shall make its own system to conform as closely as possible with the principles provided for under Republic Act No. 6758. (n) 

SEC. 234. Abolition of the Bureau of Patents, Trademarks, and Technology Transfer

       The Bureau of Patents, Trademarks, and Technology Transfer under the Department of Trade and Industry is hereby abolished. All unexpended funds and fees, fines, royalties and other charges collected for the calendar year, properties, equipment and records of the Bureau of Patents, Trademarks and Technology Transfer, and such personnel as may be necessary are hereby transferred to the Office. Personnel not absorbed or transferred to the Office shall enjoy the retirement benefits granted under existing law, otherwise, they shall be paid the equivalent of one month basic salary for every year of service, or the equivalent nearest fractions thereof favorable to them on the basis of the highest salary received. (n) 

SEC. 235. Applications Pending on Effective Date of Act

       235.1.  All applications for patents pending in the Bureau of Patents, Trademarks and Technology Transfer shall be proceeded with and patents thereon granted in accordance with the Acts under which said applications were filed, and said Acts are hereby continued to be enforced, to this extent and for this purpose only, notwithstanding the foregoing general repeal thereof: Provided, That applications for utility models or industrial designs pending at the effective date of this Act, shall be proceeded with in accordance with the provisions of 
this Act, unless the applicants elect to prosecute said applications in accordance with the Acts under which they were filed. 

       235.2.  All applications for registration of marks or trade names pending in the Bureau of Patents, Trademarks and Technology Transfer at the effective date of this Act may be amended, if practicable to bring them under the provisions of this Act. The prosecution of such applications so amended and the grant of registrations thereon shall be proceeded with in accordance with the provisions of this Act. If such amendments are not made, the prosecution of said applications shall be proceeded with and registrations thereon granted in accordance with the Acts under which said applications were filed, and said Acts hereby continued in force to this extent for this purpose only, notwithstanding the foregoing general repeal thereof. (n) 

SEC. 236. Preservation of Existing Rights

       Nothing herein shall adversely affect the rights on the enforcement of rights in patents, utility models, industrial designs, marks and works, acquired in good faith prior to the effective date of this Act. (n) 

SEC. 237. Notification on Berne Appendix

       The Philippines shall by proper compliance with the requirements set forth under the Appendix of the Berne Convention (Paris Act, 1971) avail itself of the special provisions regarding developing countries, including provisions for licenses grantable by competent authority under the Appendix. (n) 

SEC. 238. Appropriations

       The funds needed to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be charged to the appropriations of the Bureau of Patents, Trademarks, and Technology Transfer under the current General Appropriations Act and the fees, fines, royalties and other charges collected by the Bureau for the calendar year pursuant to Sections 14.1 and 234 of this Act. Thereafter such sums as may be necessary for its continued implementations shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. (n) 

SEC. 239. Repeals

       239.1.  All Acts and parts of Acts inconsistent herewith, more particularly Republic Act No. 165, as amended; Republic Act no. 166, as amended; and Articles 188 and 189 of the Revised Penal Code; Presidential Decree No. 49, including Presidential Decree No. 285, as amended, are hereby repealed. 

       239.2.  Marks registered under Republic Act No. 166 shall remain in force but shall be deemed to have been granted under this Act and shall be due for renewal within the period provided for under this Act and, upon renewal, shall be reclassified in accordance with the International Classification. Trade names and marks registered in the Supplemental Register under Republic Act No. 166 shall remain in force but shall no longer be subject to renewal. 

       239.3.  The provisions of this Act shall apply to works in which copyright protection obtained prior to the effectivity of this Act is subsisting: Provided, That the application of this Act shall not result in the diminution of such protection. (n) 

SEC. 240. Separability

       If any provision of this Act or the application of such provision to any circumstances is held invalid, the remainder of the Act shall not be affected thereby. (n) 

SEC. 241. Effectivity

       This Act shall take effect on 1 January 1998. (n)