The U.S. House Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet Subcommittee hearing on the PARTS Act, House Resolution 1057, on Tuesday should still be available for replay.

We’ll do our own coverage and analysis, but repairers might want to take a look at the stances offered by various U.S. representatives on the committee, CAPA (there to represent the Consumer Federation of America), an aftermarket supplier, an intellectual property attorney, and the Automotive Service Association.

The House’s original version is here.

The latest iteration of the law would prevent automakers from enforcing patents on the appearance — but not the function — of parts after only 30 months. Right now, any design patents issued by the government are good for 14-15 years. It would only apply to OEMs — no other industry, including the aftermarket.

“Next week the IP subcommittee will examine the PARTS Act, which reduces the number of years auto makers may sue competitors for infringing their design patents for specific car parts that are typically replaced after collisions,” Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., said in a statement Friday. “This hearing will weigh the consequences of such a limitation to determine if the PARTS Act strikes the proper balance between protecting existing intellectual property rights under the Patent Act and creating greater competition in the automotive after-parts industry.”

Read our prior coverage here:

• Ahead of PARTS Act hearing today, we look at proposed aftermarket auto body parts law, supporter’s argument
• Claiming abuse of system, QPC, PARTS Act seek to cut design patent life for auto OEM parts — but no one else’s
• Aftermarket PARTS Act saves insurers money, but savings to consumers dubious
• New Republic contributor parrots insurer arguments on PARTS Act, misses broader issue
• Aftermarket PARTS Act reintroduced in Congress would limit OEM auto body design patents

More information:

“HEARING: H.R. 1057, THE ‘PROMOTING AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR, TRADE, AND SALES ACT’ (‘PARTS ACT’)”

House Judiciary Committee, Feb. 2, 2016

Featured image: The U.S. House Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet Subcommittee hearing on the PARTS Act, House Resolution 1057, should begin at 4 p.m. Feb. 2, 2016.