Variations on this bill have been floating around for a while (you may have seen previous iterations entitled "PARTS Act").

I have no idea if it will get any traction in this Congress but I'll be watching it, all the same.

#DesignPatents #Congress #RepairParts #SmartAct

As a general rule, a design patent is infringed when someone makes, uses, sells, offers to sell, or imports an article that looks like the claimed design without permission. 35 U.S.C. § 271(a).

This bill would change that basic rule to provide that, for design patents for the specified car parts, it's never an infringement to make, offer to sell, or import lookalikes.

And, after 30 months, it would not be an infringement to use or to sell them.

#DesignPatents #Congress #RepairParts #SmartAct

The bill applies to certain "component parts" of cars; specifically, to any "component part of the exterior of a motor vehicle only, such as a hood, fender, tail light, side mirror, or quarter panel."

#DesignPatents #Congress #RepairParts #SmartAct