Europe to Allow Crash Parts Copying

The European Commission plans this month to allow independent manufacturers to copy and sell crash parts such as fenders and bumpers without permission from the OEM that designed them, reports the Financial Times.
OEMs vehemently oppose the rule and, says the Times, thought they had convinced the EC to rethink the policy. The commission estimates full liberalization might cost the industry some $2.2 billion U.S. per year in lost replacement parts sales, boost the cost of new cars and raise questions about the safety of copied parts.
OEMs say the measure also will send the wrong message to China regarding the importance of intellectual property rights.