WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., reintroduced a monthly bill Wednesday that would amend U.S. patent legislation by cutting down the time automakers can implement style and design patents on collision restore components to two and a 50 % a long time from 14 a long time towards aftermarket components suppliers.
The monthly bill — regarded as the Preserve Dollars on Automobile Fix Transportation, or Clever, Act — would implement to automotive factors, this sort of as fenders, quarter panels and doorways, and only have an impact on aftermarket restore components. It would not change the 14-12 months time period in which automakers can implement style and design patents towards other automakers.
The revived laws is supported by Republican Rep. Dave Joyce of Ohio and Democratic Reps. Zoe Lofgren of California, Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington.
The monthly bill was previously introduced in 2021 by Issa, who mentioned it will extend customer alternative for collision restore components, decrease fees for motorists and insurers and maximize opposition in the car restore components marketplace.
“In accordance to AAA, a 3rd of American motorists are unable to manage the fees of an unpredicted automobile restore monthly bill with no likely into financial debt,” Issa mentioned in a assertion. “As restore fees carry on to increase, people are worthy of obtain to as quite a few car portion restore possibilities as doable. The Clever Act will maximize customer alternative, persuade opposition, and foster innovation to travel down the price of high priced repairs.”
Teams backing the monthly bill contain Customers for Automobile Trustworthiness and Protection Coalition, Countrywide Affiliation of Mutual Insurance policies Businesses, Automotive Human body Sections Affiliation and AutoZone.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which signifies main automakers in the U.S., did not quickly answer to a ask for for remark.
Issa’s monthly bill arrives just after a further Property Republican, Rep. Neal Dunn of Florida, reintroduced a bill in February mandating that motor vehicle house owners and unbiased restore outlets have the very same obtain to restore and routine maintenance applications and information as automakers and their franchised dealerships.
The monthly bill — regarded as the Appropriate to Equitable and Expert Automobile Field Fix Act — would need that all applications and devices, wireless transmission of repair and diagnostic data and telematics units necessary for motor vehicle repairs be created accessible to the unbiased restore sector.