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S 780 113th Congress Senate

PARTS Act

Official title: A bill to amend title 35, United States Code, to provide for an exception from infringement for certain component parts of motor vehicles.

Introduced: April 23, 2013 Introduced by: Whitehouse, Sheldon Democratic · Rhode Island See on congress.gov
Commerce Intellectual propertyManufacturingMarketing and advertisingMotor vehiclesTrade restrictions
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This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 23, 2013
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Apr 23, 2013
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action April 23, 2013

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Promoting Automotive Repair, Trade, and Sales Act of 2013 or the PARTS Act - Declares that it is not an act of infringement, with respect to a design patent that claims a component part of a motor vehicle as originally manufactured, to: (1) make, test, or offer to sell within, or import into, the United States any article of manufacture that is similar or the same in appearance to the component part claimed in such design patent if the purpose of such article is for the repair of a motor vehicle to restore its appearance as originally manufactured; or (2) use or sell within the United States any such same or similar articles for such restorations more than 30 months after the claimed component part is first offered for public sale as part of a motor vehicle in any country.

Defines "component part" as a component part of the exterior of a motor vehicle only (such as a hood, fender, tail light, side mirror, or quarter panel), excluding an inflatable restraint system or other component part located in the interior of a motor vehicle.

Specifies that an offer to sell includes any marketing of an article of manufacture to prospective purchasers or users and any pre-sale distribution.

Applies this Act to any patent issued, or application filed, before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 780: PARTS Act. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-780/
MLA
"S. 780: PARTS Act." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-780/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 780, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-780/.
Markdown link
[S. 780: PARTS Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-780/)
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