Following a
hearing
before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary
March 23, Maaco Collision Repair & Auto Painting echoed its support
for the Access to Repair Parts Act (H.R. 3059/S. 1368). The legislation
would amend U.S. patent code so that it wouldn’t be an act of design
patent infringement to manufacture or distribute alternative repair
parts for the purpose of repairing a vehicle to its original appearance.
In a press release, Maaco says the Access to Repair Parts Act “paves
the way for continued access to affordable, automotive collision
replacement parts at a time when Americans are looking for ways to save
more and spend less.”
“Maaco is committed to supporting the Access to Repair Parts Act and
the protection it gives to consumers,” said Patrick Donohue, vice
president of sales. “As the world’s largest provider of collision
repair and auto painting services, we are able to provide cost savings
to our customers by leveraging our buying power and using alternative
parts. This design patent law threatens to destroy our ability to offer
price flexibility to approximately 500,000 consumers each year. As an
advocate for hard-working Americans, we encourage Congress to preserve
choice and competition.”
Maaco and other supporters of the legislation, including the Quality
Parts Coalition, are concerned that the increasing number of design
patents held by OEMs will limit or eliminate market competition,
creating a monopoly that would drive up crash parts prices and increase
the cost of insurance premiums by as much as $3 billion.
Maaco Collision Repair & Auto Painting is working with a coalition
of national consumer groups, aftermarket automotive companies and
associations, automotive repairers, insurance industry representatives
and senior citizens to support the legislation. Reps. Rick Boucher
(D-Va.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), William D. Delahunt (D-Mass.), Sheila
Jackson-Lee (D-Texas), Charles A. Wilson (D-Ohio), G.K. Butterfield
(D-N.C.) and Debbie Halvorson (D-Ill.) are cosponsors of H.R. 3059.
Groups opposing the legislation, including the Automotive Service
Association, say that it makes no assurances for the quality and safety
of non-OEM parts and would deny businesses the ability to rightfully
protect their intellectual property.
More information:
•
Groups Testify at Crash Parts Patent Legislation Hearing