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OEM is an Original Equipment Manufacturer, for example, an automobile manufacturer, which is different from someone that’s making replacement parts. You cannot make a replacement part if the original part is still under patent protection from the OEM. Down the road, of course, when the patent expires, you can do it.

For example, there are classic cars, the Corvettes. You can buy any part for a classic Corvette, even if the Corvette is 60 or 65 years old. But that’s because All the patents have expired, and new manufacturers are free to make those parts. And in fact, the OEM is not even interested in making those parts anymore.

They’ve moved on to their new models, but there’s nothing wrong with replacement parts being made and often they’re even made from the same mold as the original part.