What would you do if you legally were not allowed to work on or modify your vehicle? Nothing…not shoot codes from the computer, not personalize the infotainment system, not put wrench to bolt? A move by Auto Alliance, the lobby group that represents the auto manufacturers, would take a huge step towards that reality if they get their way over a dispute with the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), which is being reviewed by the U.S. Patent Office. Every three years the Patent Office reviews the exemptions to one particular law: the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). When the law was written in 1998, computers in cars were minimal and were mostly diagnostic systems, nothing that bothered anybody and were excepted. Now systems are much more complex and control many basic functions of a vehicle, including brakes, acceleration and steering, and on the surface at least, the manufacturers are concerned with the liability that they could wind up with if a mechanic botched a code and wound up with no brakes (or a similar situation). GM has even gone so far as to threaten to remove telematic software (GPS systems and possibly OnStar) from it’s vehicles if exemptions towards copyright protections are continued.
The dark side of this is that there is the distinct possibility that manufacturers would use this to block third-party modifications, forcing end users (vehicle owners) to deal only with the company or approved repair facilities for any modification or repair, taking that freedom out of the hands of the vehicle owner. Think we’re overreacting? As reported by Autoblog, John Deere had this to say about the ability to work around protected software and tech, noting that it should be “against public policy because individual vehicle owners do not have the technological resources to provide safe, reliable and lawful software for repair, diagnosis or some dubious “aftermarket personalization, modification or other improvement” that is not directed toward repair or diagnosis of the vehicle.” That doesn’t sound good from our ears, and that’s from a tractor manufacturer. Imagine what Ford or GM thinks about third-party tuning companies when the microphones are turned off.
Take the time to read Autoblog‘s review on the situation and think about what you would do, realistically, if you had no legal choice but to go to the dealership each and every time the check engine light came on.
simple. get a car without a computer. my 73 Falcon does just fine without one.
Agreed, don’t bother with the new garbage.
My ’83 Hilux is basically my dream car, I see no reason to replace it with some plastic-coated overweight barge.
This is basically the auto makers trolling the aftermarket companies. The bad thing is how they would define “modification”. The end goal is to put repair shops and auto parts stores out of business.
They can stretch this to the point where not using a part with an actual GM, Ford, etc part number would be considered a modification. This is pretty dark stuff that effects a lot of peoples lively hoods.
What I would do?
I would not buy that car.
And that’s exactly what the manufacturers need to hear.
There are some definite limits as to what they can stop. For example, OBD2 is an open standard – you can’t block making an OBD2 scan tool. And you can’t sue for copyright violations for using a device that never ran OEM code in the first place.
Don’t kid yourself . They can stop anything they damn well set their minds to
They could bluster and intimidate, and hope someone would settle to avoid a costly court fight – but if it did come to a court fight, either of the two examples would get you laughed out of court. Something like one of HP Tuner’s “custom OS” downloads could be another story.
OK folks … time for the teacher in me to come to the fore and hand out the Reality Fix lecture of the month ;
The really really bad news is …. it aint just the automotive manufactures backing this agenda to the hilt with their billions .
Its also each and every ‘ Green ‘ movement imaginable … Cities and Counties [ as well as many State governments ] across the US ….. Big Oil …. every manufacture outside of the Hot Rod / Custom / Hop Up industry .. a whole host of mega Investors / Money Men etc that want to see EVERYONE forced into buying what ever it is they’re invested in [ count Elon Musk amongst their numbers ] … etc etc etc
And if you think things are bad on the automotive side . You should pay attention to whats going on in the world of M/C’s …
But … as if that were not bad enough …. lets widen the scope to the International scene …. where entire countries are now on a focused agenda to end the modifications of all vehicles … not to mention ridding their public roads towns and cities of any and all classic/old cars and bikes once and for all
Question is though …. can y’all handle the worse news of it all ? That being …
WE [ those of us in the hobby side of things ] ARE PARTLY TO BLAME !!!
Why ? Because of the tendencies many of us have towards wretched excess … abuse of privilege [ reminding you driving is a Privilege … not a Right ] irresponsible behavior …and general all around @$&hattedness when on public roads and properties !
Think about that the next time you’re considering doing a burn out in front of your house or in a public parking lot – street racing – or making your pipes or stereo even louder than it already is . ” Shooting yourself in the foot ” being the key phrase to bring to mind
So can or will this happen ?
The real question is ….
WHEN …. will this happen … because its coming … guaranteed …
And at this point gentlemen … they aint jack s*** we or anyone in SEMA etc can do about it .
Greed
The current gen Camaro has the ability to record what is done. Say you change the exhaust and then you need warranty work on the engine. Chevrolet can refuse warranty work even if you change back to the original parts as the computer will record the outputs and it can be found out that the parts have been changed. This per a Chevrolet dealer in the Indianapolis area.
LOL it’s already been illegal to modify your car for around the last fifty years! Mod’s that effect emissions include engine, exhaust, even diff ratios, etc.
Some things outta be illegal, like top fuel wings wood screwed to four door Honda trunk lids and three foot sub woofers blurring the mirrors…
As stated above filling youtube with outrageous stunts on the hyways is screwing yourself. Every time something gets banned it’s usually because of peoples bad actions.
If you want a car you can modify, don’t buy a new car. Buy an older car where these proposed laws would not apply.
So the lunati bootlegged could have been a warning sign. And if modifying vehicles becomes illegal then I think some of us will be doing time.
This is just one more example of big business “protecting” the general public from itself. The manufacturers commercials are filled with the latest technology designed to continue to allow drivers to become less responsible when driving their vehicles. I remember a time when I had to watch traffic to avoid a collision, now there are more electronic sensors designed into cars so I don’t have to look up from my electronic babysitter (phone). The manufacturers are being forced to design cars and trucks to drive themselves because the current population is distracted from real issues. Manufacturers want to sell new cars and the government is forcing them to make them “safer” to enable drivers to continue to be unsafe occupants instead of active drivers.
And I agree with the government’s attitude about this. People just will not stop talking (without a hands free device) and texting while they drive. Most states make it illegal yet drivers continue to do it.
If you can’t stop them, which seems to be the case, then have cars that let them do it while at the same time having computers and electronics take care of the driving for them. It’s safer for all concerned.
This is going to happen because most diy repairs aren’t done correctly or safely. The made in China parts down at autozone aren’t the same quality as o.e. A car that is supposed to stop itself with brakes aren’t up to spec.
As someone that has worked in the auto parts industry since birth, I have wanted them to institute a set standard for after market parts. The cheap stuff that the box chains sell shouldn’t be legal, the quality is a joke, but people don’t care as long as it saves them in the wallet.
I can’t tell you how many times we’ve done a bearing press for a customer that brings in a ‘Zone bearing that feels worse than the bad one we’re taking out.
I guess I’ll just keep driving AMCs, and old British cars, and maintain a diesel ram so I can tow them back home every 4th trip or so. This has worked for me so-far. Now if they try to take my old cars that’s some Charelton Heston, “Cold dead hands” shit right there.
Driving older or restored cars is fine with me but here in Massachusetts they tried to pass a bill that would have outlawed the sale of cars 20 years old and older. It didn’t pass but I can see it coming up again if people stop buying new cars and the state determines that the highways are unsafe.