S. 780 — Introduced in Senate

II 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 780 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 23, 2013 Mr. Whitehouse (for himself and Mr. Hatch) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend title 35, United States Code, to provide for an exception from infringement for certain component parts of motor vehicles. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Promoting Automotive Repair, Trade, and Sales Act of 2013 or the PARTS Act. 2. Exception from infringement for certain component parts of motor vehicles Section 271 of title 35, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (j) (1) With respect to a design patent that claims a component part of a motor vehicle as originally manufactured— (A) it shall not be an act of infringement of such design patent to make or offer to sell within the United States, or import into the United States, any article of manufacture that is similar or the same in appearance to the component part that is claimed in such design patent if the purpose of such article of manufacture is for the repair of a motor vehicle so as to restore such vehicle to its appearance as originally manufactured; and (B) after the expiration of a period of 30 months beginning on the first day on which any such component part is first offered to the public for sale as part of a motor vehicle in any country, it shall not be an act of infringement of such design patent to use or sell within the United States any article of manufacture that is similar or the same in appearance to the component part that is claimed in such design patent if the purpose of such article of manufacture is for the repair of a motor vehicle so as to restore such vehicle to its appearance as originally manufactured. (2) For purposes of this subsection— (A) the term component part— (i) means a component part of the exterior of a motor vehicle only, such as a hood, fender, tail light, side mirror, or quarter panel; and (ii) does not include an inflatable restraint system or other component part located in the interior of a motor vehicle; (B) the term motor vehicle has the meaning given that term in section 32101(7) of title 49; (C) the term make includes any testing of an article of manufacture; and (D) the term offer to sell includes any marketing of an article of manufacture to prospective purchasers or users and any pre-sale distribution of the article of manufacture. . 3. Conforming amendment Section 289 of title 35, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the first paragraph, by striking Whoever and inserting the following: (a) In general Whoever ; (2) in the second paragraph, by striking Nothing and inserting the following: (c) Relationship to other remedies Nothing ; and (3) by inserting after subsection (a), as designated by paragraph (1), the following: (b) Inapplicability This section shall not apply to an act described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) if that act would not be considered an act of infringement under section 271(j) . 4. Effective date The amendments made by this Act shall take effect upon the expiration of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to any patent issued, or application for patent filed, before, on, or after that effective date.