Oral Arguments in Ford Parts Patent Suit Heard in Appeals Court
A panel of judges at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Feb. 5 heard oral arguments in the appeal of a 2006 International Trade Commission (ITC) ruling that prevents aftermarket parts manufacturers from duplicating several parts on 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 Ford F-150 models. In Dec. 2005, Ford Global Technologies
Laser in on Measuring
Would you construct a new home on a foundation built on a fault line? What about a foundation made from recycled milk cartons or popsicle sticks? If you answered “no” to these questions (and hopefully you did), then ask yourself why a technician would repair a damaged vehicle without first knowing that the frame was structurally sound and in proper alignment?
One in Six U.S. Drivers Will Be Uninsured By 2010, Study Says
A study issued by the Insurance Research Council (IRC) indicates that the national rate of uninsured motorists will jump to 16.1 percent, or one in six drivers, by 2010 as a result of the recent economic downturn. In 2007, 13.8 percent of motorists were uninsured. The report cites a correlation between the unemployment rate and
State Farm Revises Select Service Agreement
There are new changes in store for Select Service shops, but State Farm spokesperson George Avery says they’re minor and shouldn’t concern shops too much. Avery made the announcement at the Collision Industry Conference held Jan. 15-16, 2009 in Scottsdale, Ariz., emphasizing that the new provisions being added to the Select Service agreement simply are a revision that
Wisconsin Automotive Parts Association Backs Repair Clause Legislation
The Wisconsin Automotive Parts Association (WAPA) has joined the Quality Parts Coalition’s (QPC) effort to enact “repair clause” legislation championed by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) in the 110th Congress, which the QPC claims will secure the future of the American independent repair industry. The legislation would create an exemption for design patent infringement liability for
Get Good Air
Your compressed air system is vital to most of the functions in your shop. That’s why ongoing, preventive maintenance is crucial to maintaining
performance and efficiency.
Wisconsin Automotive Parts Association Backs Repair Clause Legislation
The Wisconsin Automotive Parts Association (WAPA) has joined the Quality Parts Coalition’s (QPC) effort to enact “repair clause” legislation championed by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) in the 110th Congress, which the QPC claims will secure the future of the American independent repair industry. The legislation would create an exemption for design patent infringement liability for
TV Report Claims Aftermarket Parts Are Unsafe
An investigative report by a Columbus, Ohio, TV station claimed that using aftermarket crash parts could interfere with airbag deployment and possibly prevent airbags from deploying in crashes, and the station warned consumers against having their vehicles repaired with anything but OEM parts. Phil Mosley, general manager of Mercedes-Benz Collision Center in West Chester, Ohio,
Legislative Lowdown
Federal – Aaron Lowe, vice president of government affairs for the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), briefed legislators in the House Small Business Committee on the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (H.R. 2694) on Sept. 25. Introduced last year, H.R. 2694 (Rep. Edolphus Towns, D-NY) would require car companies to make the same
CCAR Offers EPA Paint Rule Training
The Coordinating Committee For Automotive Repair (CCAR) has added a “Paint Rule” module for its S/P2 e-learning program. The new “Paint Rule” module is now available at no additional cost to users of the S/P2 Collision Repair training. Collision shop subscribers will find the module in the “Pollution Prevention” course. The purpose of the module