ABOUT US
The Quality Parts Coalition (QPC) represents the interests of the automotive collision parts industry, the insurance industry, seniors and consumers. The goal of the QPC is to develop and secure a permanent legislative change to U.S. design patent law to preserve competition and to ensure the availability of quality, lower-cost alternative collision repair parts for consumers.
In May 2008, Ford Global Technologies filed a complaint at the International Trade Commission, alleging design patent infringement against manufacturers and U.S. distributors of exterior collision repair parts for the 2005 Ford Mustang. This complaint followed on the heels of the previous one filed by Ford Global Technologies relating to the Ford F-150, which resulted in the temporary effective elimination of competition for seven exterior Ford F-150 repair parts for a number of months. The Quality Parts Coalition was created to find a legislative solution to this design patent challenge.