House Committee to Hold Hearing on Automotive Parts Legislation

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July 30, 2012

House Committee to Hold Hearing on Automotive Parts Legislation

Bill Provides Exception for Certain PartsWASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary’s Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet will hold a hearing Aug. 1, 2012, on H.R. 3889, Promoting Automotive Repair, Trade and Sales Act (PARTS Act), sponsored by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif.

The bill states it is not an act of infringement with respect to a design patent to:

(1) make, test or offer to sell within the U.S., or import into the U.S., any article of manufacture that is similar in appearance to the component part claimed in such design patent if the purpose of such article is for the repair of a motor vehicle to restore its appearance to as originally manufactured; and

(2) use or sell within the U.S. any such same or similar articles for such restorations more than 30 months after the claimed component part is first offered for public sale as part of a motor vehicle in any country.

To view H.R. 3889 in its entirety, please visit ASA’s legislative website, www.TakingTheHill.com.

The legislation is co-sponsored by Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Rep. Walter Jones Jr. (R-N.C.), Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) and Rep. Dennis Ross (R-Fla.). Lofgren has offered similar legislation in a previous Congress.

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry.

ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. For additional information about ASA, including past news releases, go to www.ASAshop.org, or visit ASA’s legislative website at www.TakingTheHill.com.