WASHINGTON–Seeking to stave off what it sees as a potential legal challenge to aftermarket parts, insurance industry groups called on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to ensure that such parts remain legal and available to consumers.
“We are concerned that ongoing legal proceedings involving a novel application of design patent rights would harm our members' policyholders by increasing auto repair costs, which would necessitate higher insurance costs,” wrote the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, American Insurance Association and the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America in joint testimony submitted to the PTO.
“We believe these legal proceedings could establish precedent that could virtually eliminate competitive aftermarket repair parts from the marketplace,” the groups wrote.
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