Amendment of Directive 98/71/EC on design protection of visible car spare parts

Introduction date

TBA

Summary

The UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO)consulted in 2005 on a proposal of the European Commission to remove national design protection for visible car spare parts, such as bumpers, windscreens and doors. Non-visible parts such as engines, product safety and quality will not be affected. The aim is to open the Euro 10 billion spare parts market to competition, especially from small business, and bring consumer prices down.

In Nov 2007, the European Parliament published its report on the proposal for an amending Directive, and gave its full support. The proposal was due to be considered by the EU Council at the end of May 2008.