By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. House of Representatives’ Intellectual Property Subcommittee held a hearing on a bill that would reduce the length of design patents for automotive crash parts from 14 years to 30 months, including those previously issued. A design patent protects the unique visual ornamental characteristics of a product rather than its structure or function. Crash parts include fenders, hood, lights, side mirrors and quarter panels. 

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has ruled that such parts produced by the automakers are eligible for design patent registration. The legislation faces considerable opposition in the House and no action has been scheduled to date on a similar bill in the U.S. Senate. 

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. House of Representatives’ Intellectual Property Subcommittee held a hearing on a bill that would reduce the length of design patents for automotive crash parts from 14 years to 30 months, including those previously issued. A design patent protects the unique visual ornamental characteristics of a product rather than its structure or function. Crash parts include fenders, hood, lights, side mirrors and quarter panels. 

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has ruled that such parts produced by the automakers are eligible for design patent registration. The legislation faces considerable opposition in the House and no action has been scheduled to date on a similar bill in the U.S. Senate. 

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The second Friday in July has been designated as West Virginia Collector Car Appreciation Day.

Thanks to the efforts of Delegate Gary Howell, a West Virginia House Concurrent Resolution (H.C.R. 14) has been introduced to designate the second Friday in July as West Virginia Collector Car Appreciation Day. For the past six years, the U.S. Senate has passed a similar resolution, at SEMA’s request, to acknowledge the day’s significance in raising awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society. 

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

The second Friday in July has been designated as West Virginia Collector Car Appreciation Day.

Thanks to the efforts of Delegate Gary Howell, a West Virginia House Concurrent Resolution (H.C.R. 14) has been introduced to designate the second Friday in July as West Virginia Collector Car Appreciation Day. For the past six years, the U.S. Senate has passed a similar resolution, at SEMA’s request, to acknowledge the day’s significance in raising awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society. 

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

The second Friday in July has been designated as West Virginia Collector Car Appreciation Day.

Thanks to the efforts of Delegate Gary Howell, a West Virginia House Concurrent Resolution (H.C.R. 14) has been introduced to designate the second Friday in July as West Virginia Collector Car Appreciation Day. For the past six years, the U.S. Senate has passed a similar resolution, at SEMA’s request, to acknowledge the day’s significance in raising awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society. 

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

The second Friday in July has been designated as West Virginia Collector Car Appreciation Day.

Thanks to the efforts of Delegate Gary Howell, a West Virginia House Concurrent Resolution (H.C.R. 14) has been introduced to designate the second Friday in July as West Virginia Collector Car Appreciation Day. For the past six years, the U.S. Senate has passed a similar resolution, at SEMA’s request, to acknowledge the day’s significance in raising awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society. 

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 that would allow West Virginia’s vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket exhaust systems that meet a 95-decibel limit was reintroduced for the 2016 legislative session.

SEMA-model legislation that would allow West Virginia’s vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket exhaust systems that meet a 95-decibel limit was reintroduced for the 2016 legislative session. Current West Virginia law only allows a muffler originally installed by the manufacturer or an equivalent. 

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 that would allow West Virginia’s vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket exhaust systems that meet a 95-decibel limit was reintroduced for the 2016 legislative session.

SEMA-model legislation that would allow West Virginia’s vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket exhaust systems that meet a 95-decibel limit was reintroduced for the 2016 legislative session. Current West Virginia law only allows a muffler originally installed by the manufacturer or an equivalent. 

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 that would allow West Virginia’s vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket exhaust systems that meet a 95-decibel limit was reintroduced for the 2016 legislative session.

SEMA-model legislation that would allow West Virginia’s vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket exhaust systems that meet a 95-decibel limit was reintroduced for the 2016 legislative session. Current West Virginia law only allows a muffler originally installed by the manufacturer or an equivalent. 

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 that would allow West Virginia’s vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket exhaust systems that meet a 95-decibel limit was reintroduced for the 2016 legislative session.

SEMA-model legislation that would allow West Virginia’s vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket exhaust systems that meet a 95-decibel limit was reintroduced for the 2016 legislative session. Current West Virginia law only allows a muffler originally installed by the manufacturer or an equivalent. 

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