Design protection of visible spare parts
 On 14 September 2004 the European Commission adopted a legislative proposal to include a Repairs Clause into the Design Directive 98/71/EC.
The clause provides for free competition in the market of visible replacement parts (body panels, lamps, windscreens…) to the benefit of hundreds of thousands SMEs concerned in the independent aftermarket and of 260 million EU vehicle owners.
FIGIEFA, together with 10 other European associations gathered in the ECAR Alliance (European Campaign for the Freedom of the Automotive Parts and Repair Market), strives to ensure that legislation in the field of design protection duly safeguards free competition and freedom of choice for consumers from the first day of vehicle ownership. ECAR supports any legitimate use of industrial property rights but rejects their abuse that results in monopoly in the vehicle replacement parts market.
The European Parliament has approved the proposal for the first reading. It is now up to the European Council to continue discussions.
More detailed information is available on www.ecar-eu.com
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