Posted on 04/20/2015 8:34:32 PM PDT by Rusty0604
Automakers are supporting provisions in copyright law that could prohibit home mechanics and car enthusiasts from repairing and modifying their own vehicles.
Allowing them to continue to fix their cars has become "legally problematic," according to a written statement from the Auto Alliance, the main lobbying arm of automakers.
The dispute arises from a section of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act that no one thought could apply to vehicles when it was signed into law in 1998. But now, in an era where cars are rolling computing platforms, the U.S. Copyright Office is examining whether provisions of the law that protect intellectual property should prohibit people from modifying and tuning their cars.
Aftermarket suppliers and home enthusiasts have been modifying ECUs for years without dire consequences. By tweaking the ECU codes, ...they've boosted horsepower, improved fuel efficiency, established performance limits for teen drivers and enhanced countless other features. These innovations have contributed to a "decades-old tradition of mechanical curiosity and self-reliance," according to the EFF.
Those innovations could be curbed precisely at a time that automakers believe personalization of vehicles is emerging as a significant trend. Software is allowing for all sorts of technology, such as 4G LTE wireless connections, and motorists can use this software to choose from an increasing array of infotainment options. But the car companies, paradoxically, want to be the ones doing the personalizing.
The EFF thinks the industry's desire to block exemptions has more to do with profits than safety. As software becomes easier to update, automakers could sell these performance upgrades on an a la carte basis. Because a favorable ruling would strengthen their control of the software, the car companies could potentially force consumers to only have their vehicles fixed at their dealerships or preferred repair shops.
(Excerpt) Read more at autoblog.com ...
Old saw:
F(ix) O(r) R(epair) D(aily)
Nah, I admit that aftermarket electronic ignitions were kinda cool, but...you did that yourself.
Maybe it was about the time you had to start buying "star" sockets and drivers.
If they ever were really fun at all...
A carburetor? Now you're just making up words.
What kind of car has something called a carburetor?
Remember Axenoliths 1st rule of General Motors -
“All conundrums associated with General Motors can be resolved by assuming that their core philosophy involves losing as much money and market share as possible.”
As long as you accept that, everything GM does makes perfect sense.
Examples
Caprice (abominated for subsequent order of magnitude sales drop)
Hughes Electronics (Sold)
Direct TV (Sold)
Aztec
Saturn (Killed)
Pontiac (Killed)
Kappa platform (ditched)
et. al.
I wouldn’t say it’s a classic but the pickup I bought last week does have a carburetor. Ef Detroit and their EPAized junk.
Yes. Rent-seeking plutocrats. In the end, nations will bow down to them with axes.
Looks like I might be getting some tubing and plate to build a real chassis again—a good start. Time to start writing some how-tos for others, while I’m at it, and will start with documentation on doing repairs with fewer tools.
In 50 years, with the idiocracy of our own shitizens, and the influx of turd worlders, it will be a moot point.
My Goodness!
The old IBM model of customer care.
Force them to marry you and hold them at gunpoint forever.
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
In a nutshell, this protects the consumer from denial of warranty coverage if someone other than a stealership works on your car, or if aftermarket parts are installed. It’s somewhat vague about modifications, but it requires the manufacturer to prove that the modification caused a given problem. For example, if you put an aftermarket audio system in your car, and the transmission breaks, they can’t use the audio system mod to deny coverage on the transmission.
Admittedly, this is about warranty coverage, not “intellectual property”.
Sounds like the auto industry wants this law to go away, and to kill off independent shops who typically charge less than the stealerships.
Fooling with the pair of old Jeeps has been a serious refresher on a lot of stuff I forgot or vaguely remember from HS auto mechanics.
I seem to get 1 step forward and 4 steps back.
What a find. Congratulations.
It was such an improvement to yank the points out and upgrade to electronic ignition on that old Willys of mine.
Part stores might decide to weigh in on this....
I never thought to tweak the ECU code on my 57 BelAir or 67 Camaro. Guess I’m old school.
Another old saw First On Race Day.Period correct in the 60s not so much today unfortunately.
Another old saw First On Race Day.Period correct in the 60s not so much today unfortunately.
Misleading headline!
It’s about ECU software, not general maintenance or repairs.
1969 428 Cobra jet Cyclone
Saweeet!
57 BelAir and 67 Camaro here. Best part is that they are 100% reparable. Eat it on gas but make up for it on repair bills and fact they will never depreciate.
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