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 the Promoting Automotive Repair, Trade and Sales Act (PARTS Act, H.R. 3889). The bill is 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.
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.
More Information:
To view H.R. 3889 in its entirety, visit ASA’s legislative website, www.TakingTheHill.com.
