17. In a patent infringement action before the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court, a Technical Examination Officer (TEO) prepares a technical report to assist the court in understanding the technology at issue. Which of the following statements is most accurate under R.O.C.'s Intellectual Property Case Adjudication Act? (A) The court may rely on the TEO's report as binding expert evidence without disclosing it to the parties. (B) The TEO may independently determine whether the patent is valid and issue a decision binding on the court. (C) The parties must be given an opportunity to review and respond to the TEO's opinions before the court relies upon them. (D) The TEO serves as a court-appointed expert witness and may be cross-examined in the same manner as a witness.