WASHINGTON (Feb. 9, 2012) — A new bill in the U.S. House of Representatives would limit design patents on auto parts to 30 months from the current 14 years.
H.R. 3889—the Promoting Automotive Repair, Trade and Sales, or PARTS, Act—was introduced Feb. 8 by Reps. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif. The bill, if passed, would take effect 90 days after enactment.
“Competition is the hallmark of our free market system,” Rep. Issa said in a press release that was distributed by the Automotive Service Association (ASA). “Consumers have dozens of choices in electronics, food, service, clothing and other products. The same array of choices, across all price points, should also extend to automotive repair parts.”
The PARTS Act has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee. The text of the bill can be found on the ASA legislative website.