The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary announced a hearing on Design Patents and Auto Replacement Parts for March 22, 2010. Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., will preside over the full committee hearing.
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has contacted Congress to oppose Rep. Zoe Lofgren’s, D-Calif., H.R. 3059, the Access to Repair Parts Act. The act would exempt copies of certain component parts from infringing U.S. design patents. Senate Bill 1368 is companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.
ASA said it opposes this legislation because it makes no assurances for the quality and safety of non-original equipment manufactured parts.
To see the text of H.R. 3059 and related advocacy items, visit ASA’s legislative Web site at www.TakingTheHill.com. Repairers who would like to send a letter of opposition to your U.S. representative, should go to the Current Alerts tab on www.TakingTheHill.com.
