I've got my opinions about this, but what do you guys think?

Automakers To Gearheads: Stop Repairing Cars

Automakers are supporting provisions in copyright law that could prohibit home mechanics and car enthusiasts from repairing and modifying their own vehicles. In comments filed with a federal agency that will determine whether tinkering with a car constitutes a copyright violation, OEMs and their main lobbying organization say cars have become too complex and dangerous for consumers and third parties to handle. 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.

 

Sounds like something that would come out of Mother Russia.

 

It's about modifying ECU's and software and ensuing liability. Such legal issues are reviewed every three years. Just another misleading title to garner clicks.

"Every three years, the office holds hearings on whether certain activities should be exempt from the DMCA's section 1201, which governs technological measures that protect copyrighted work."

 

This article has been everywhere lately. Pretty interesting.

-Luccia

 

Ok. That was 8 minutes of my life that I won't get back.

Sent from my iPad using NAMotoring

 

yup. has nothing to do with preventing a gearhead from lowering his ride or replacing the rotors and pads when needed.

 

The bottom line question should be... Who is financially responsible for the vehicle after the sale?

Time to start building more pre-1974 cars.

Motor on!

 

Oh really? You don't think the manufacturer considers ride height sensors and brake pad wear sensors as part of the vehicle control system? Lets look at some possible examples (pulled from a post on another forum).

Try to change your own oil:
Proprietary reset tool for oil change service light (available to certified third party service centers with $$$ license). Satellite uplink will automatically void warranty if light is not reset within established mileage limit. While draining oil, electronic dipstick will detect unauthorized oil level reduction event and put engine into limp mode for your protection until towed to authorized dealer.

Aftermarket shocks, springs, etc:
Suspension sensors used to implement government mandated yaw/rollover prevention nannies show that your dampening rates are out of specification for measured wheel travel. Maximum traction control setting enabled, sport setting for electronic steering locked out until dealer reset. Email sent to state licensing server for immediate vehicle inspection notice.

Alternate brake pads for track day:
ABS sensor detects friction coefficient outside expected range, limp mode. GPS shows current location at road course, warranty voided per EULA accepted via touchscreen every time the engine start button is pressed.

I mean it's already starting to happen. You've heard of On-Star calling people while they're making passes at the drag strip because the vehicle g-sensors are recording a collision right? Then they have GPS data showing the vehicle on the strip. You don't think it's a far cry for them to log that so when you show up at the dealership with a broken axle they can deny your warranty claim?



On one hand I totally understand the manufacturers don't want to be left holding the blame when a vehicle computer system freaks out because it's either been tampered with through tuning or fed information through sensors that have been messed with. I mean say you flash your ECU with an aftermarket tune that modifies traction control parameters and now your collision avoidance functionality isn't working and you plow into the back of someone because you're too busy texting on your phone to be paying attention and relying on the vehicle to stop for you in an emergency. On the other hand I'm an enthusiast who believes I fully own what I purchased and I should be able to modify it how I see fit.


Also, lets be honest and just think of how easy it will be for manufacturers to get buy-in from the government/public:

• Teens, elderly, and others demonstrating diminished skills given increased electronic aids.
• Drunks prevented from killing other motorists by crash prevention electronics.
• Poorly maintained cars not allowed to start until critical issues addressed.
• Automatic protection against hacks that could unlock, virus, or otherwise malign a "connected" car.
• Accidents better prevented when vehicle maintenance level accurately maintained for best autonomous avoidance maneuvers.
• Earth not polluted by people who modify or neglect emissions systems.
• Thefts thwarted if car not drivable without encrypted biometric or chip possessed by owner.

The government has already mandated all sorts of electronic nannies and mandated backup cameras are coming also.

Of course the manufacturers could always just stop putting all these darn electronics in my vehicles

 

stick with caterham?

 

Good luck with that one! I figure the only reason that we haven't seen lots of vehicle hacking is because there isn't much they can really do with it--yet. Once they can start using vehicle ECUs to mine for Bitcoins or whatever, you can bet there will be tons of hacked cars.

 

lol it might take a while before vehicle ECUs are powerful enough to crunch data for mining bitcoins.

It is kind of terrifying though that in lots of modern cars there is very little physical connection between the driver and the mechanical components of the car. throttle is now electronic, electronic steering. Heck even the emergency brakes in a lot of new cars are electronic. I haven't yet heard of brakes being drive-by-wire but it wouldn't surprise me if a manufacturer does that very soon to solve packaging issues.

 

Yes please! ... nevermind the freezing winters.