U.S. Reps. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., recently introduced H.R. 3889, the
Promoting Automotive Repair, Trade and Sales (PARTS) Act, in the House of Representatives. The bill would amend the
U.S. design patent law to change the period of design patent protection for automakers from 14 years to 30
months.