The Library of Congress, which oversees the US Copyright Office, has announced that it is in agreement with a group of fair-use advocates who argued that car owners should be allowed to modify their cars, including altering the system’s software.
Per the latter item, it was argued the hacking of such intellectual property would incur US copyright liability; the Office ruled against this opinion.
US copyright officials determined that altering computer programs for vehicle repair or modification does not necessarily infringe on the manufacturer’s software copyright.
“We are pleased that analysts will now be able to examine the software in the cars we drive without facing legal threats from car manufacturers,” said Kit Wilson, a staff attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which advocated for the rule changes.
General Motors, Deere & Co, and other vehicle manufactures opposed the ruling.
“Sensitive vehicle data could be easily manipulated, altered, or distributed — undetected — if these changes are implemented,” GM said in a statement.
Additionally, some US government agencies expressed reservations about the new rules. Chief among them was the Environmental Protection Agency, which very clearly stated that it opposed them. The Library of Congress acknowledged the Agency’s opposition in its final rule: “EPA explained that vehicle modifications are often performed to increase engine power or boost fuel economy, but that these modifications increase vehicle emissions and thus violate the Clean Air Act.”
The Library explained that the new rules didn’t break any other laws and that it wouldn’t actually be taking effect for another year, so the EPA and other likeminded agencies would have plenty of time to prepare.
Via The Guardian
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