By SEMA Staff

	The deadline for priority booth space selection for the 2013 SEMA Show is April 5.

The deadline for priority booth space selection for the 2013 SEMA Show is April 5. While submissions are accepted anytime before the event takes place from November 5–8, 2013, manufacturers who return their Exhibit Space Rental Agreement (ESRA) with a deposit by April 5 will have greater opportunities to collaborate with Show organizers and participate in the Priority Booth Selection Process.

The selection process is the first opportunity exhibitors have to select the actual location of their SEMA Show booth.

"The Priority Booth Selection Process is the best time for exhibitors to choose their space at the Show," said Tom Gattuso, SEMA director of trade shows. "We highly recommend that exhibitors take part in the space selection process and commit to participating in the SEMA Show as early as possible. This really gives exhibitors the time they need to plan and prepare for the upcoming Show, and it allows our staff to work with and assist as much as possible."

The SEMA Show is the premier automotive trade event, as well as the largest gathering of small businesses in the world. The Show is where specialty-parts manufacturers connect with more than 60,000 quality international and domestic buyers.

To secure a space at the 2013 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com/buyabooth or contact SEMA's Show Management at 702-450-7662 ext. 120 or SalesMgr@ConvExx.com.

By SEMA Editors

	UPS is offering discounts of up to 39% for SEMA members on their ground, air and international shipments.

UPS is offering discounts of up to 39% for SEMA members on their ground, air and international shipments.

SEMA members can receive a discount of up to 34% for Next Day, Second Day, Three-Day and Commercial Ground services, and up to 17% for Residential Ground service. U.S. exports also qualify for a 39% discount on international export rates.

SEMA members can also schedule pickups, track shipments, create and print shipping labels and order free supplies for their business.

To take advantage of all that UPS offers to SEMA members, visit www.SEMA.org/UPS, log-in with your SEMA-member credentials and then click the “Sign Up and Save Today” button to access the UPS program enrollment website. To speak with a UPS customer representative regarding package services discounts, call 800-325-7000.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Identical bills have been introduced in the U.S. House (HR 1127) and Senate (S 544) directing the president to develop a comprehensive national manufacturing strategy and amend the plan every two years. Similar legislation has been introduced and considered in recent years.

The “Rebuild American Manufacturing Act of 2013” is designed to increase the number of manufacturing jobs in the United States to no less than 20% of all American jobs and identify emerging technologies to strengthen competitiveness. The bill requires a survey of all companies headquartered in the United States with facilities overseas to identify what products and how many manufacturing jobs are being outsourced. A second survey would identify all manufacturing goods produced domestically, where they are produced and how many Americans are employed in manufacturing. A third survey would review the assistance provided to the manufacturing sector by the federal government and compare the approach taken by the United States with that of other countries. The initial manufacturing strategy would be due 180 days after the bill is signed into law.

For more information, please contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Identical bills have been introduced in the U.S. House (HR 1127) and Senate (S 544) directing the president to develop a comprehensive national manufacturing strategy and amend the plan every two years. Similar legislation has been introduced and considered in recent years.

The “Rebuild American Manufacturing Act of 2013” is designed to increase the number of manufacturing jobs in the United States to no less than 20% of all American jobs and identify emerging technologies to strengthen competitiveness. The bill requires a survey of all companies headquartered in the United States with facilities overseas to identify what products and how many manufacturing jobs are being outsourced. A second survey would identify all manufacturing goods produced domestically, where they are produced and how many Americans are employed in manufacturing. A third survey would review the assistance provided to the manufacturing sector by the federal government and compare the approach taken by the United States with that of other countries. The initial manufacturing strategy would be due 180 days after the bill is signed into law.

For more information, please contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Supreme Court ruled that books and other goods produced overseas can be imported into the United States without the permission of the copyright holder. The court was considering the sale of imported textbooks on eBay that had been produced for a different market and were being sold at a different price than in the United States. At issue was the “first-sale” doctrine, which generally allows owners of a product made in the United States to decide whether they want to resell the product. The question was whether the doctrine applied to goods made overseas. The Court ruled that the Copyright Act’s term did not specify geographic boundaries and, therefore, was not limited to the United States.

The first-sale doctrine applies to trademark law as well, with one exception. The owner of a U.S. trademark registration may bar the unauthorized import of “gray-market” goods sold outside the company’s normal distribution channel if the trademark owner’s overseas product has a physical and material difference tailored for a particular foreign market.  

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Supreme Court ruled that books and other goods produced overseas can be imported into the United States without the permission of the copyright holder. The court was considering the sale of imported textbooks on eBay that had been produced for a different market and were being sold at a different price than in the United States. At issue was the “first-sale” doctrine, which generally allows owners of a product made in the United States to decide whether they want to resell the product. The question was whether the doctrine applied to goods made overseas. The Court ruled that the Copyright Act’s term did not specify geographic boundaries and, therefore, was not limited to the United States.

The first-sale doctrine applies to trademark law as well, with one exception. The owner of a U.S. trademark registration may bar the unauthorized import of “gray-market” goods sold outside the company’s normal distribution channel if the trademark owner’s overseas product has a physical and material difference tailored for a particular foreign market.  

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA is supporting North Carolina legislation to provide for the prompt issuance of titles to owners of out-of-state motor vehicles that are 35 years old or older. Under the bill, if a required inspection and verification is not conducted by the Division of Motor Vehicles within 10 days after receiving a request and the inspector has no probable cause to believe that the ownership documents or public vehicle identification number does not match the vehicle being examined, the vehicle will be deemed to have satisfied all inspection and verification requirements and the title will be issued to the owner within 10 days. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA is supporting North Carolina legislation to provide for the prompt issuance of titles to owners of out-of-state motor vehicles that are 35 years old or older. Under the bill, if a required inspection and verification is not conducted by the Division of Motor Vehicles within 10 days after receiving a request and the inspector has no probable cause to believe that the ownership documents or public vehicle identification number does not match the vehicle being examined, the vehicle will be deemed to have satisfied all inspection and verification requirements and the title will be issued to the owner within 10 days. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA is supporting North Carolina legislation to provide for the prompt issuance of titles to owners of out-of-state motor vehicles that are 35 years old or older. Under the bill, if a required inspection and verification is not conducted by the Division of Motor Vehicles within 10 days after receiving a request and the inspector has no probable cause to believe that the ownership documents or public vehicle identification number does not match the vehicle being examined, the vehicle will be deemed to have satisfied all inspection and verification requirements and the title will be issued to the owner within 10 days. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle titling and registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles has been reintroduced in the New York State Senate and Assembly. The bill defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948. Under the bill, kit cars and replica vehicles will be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble. An identical bill has been introduced in the New York Senate. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.