Fiscal Implications
47. Agreement to the proposals in this paper for legislative change to enable the NEU to take enforcement action under the Trade Marks and Copyright Acts does not require the government to fund enforcement activity.
48. It is, however, anticipated that in order to implement the enforcement strategy identified in paragraph 32, the NEU would need to employ extra investigators and cover investigation expenses such as cost of storage of evidence, hiring an interpreter where necessary and the use of forensic specialists where necessary (such as to obtain evidence from computer hard drives).
49. It is estimated that the total cost to the NEU for enforcement during year one will be $664,050 (based on a team of one team leader and two investigators). It is anticipated that the investigative team would increase in size with the addition of an extra investigator in year two, increasing the cost to $840,263. Another two investigators in year three and outyears would increase the costs to $964,465.
50. Options for funding the NEU, including the option of third party funding, will be examined as part of the 2007 Budget process. Regardless of the outcome of that process, I consider that it is important to make the legislative changes now while there is a legislative vehicle available. Enforcement activity could be picked up in the future years if funding is not obtained for 2007/2008.
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