Right-to-Repair Law To Get DRM Out of Your Car 403
eldavojohn writes "Ralph Nader's back to hounding the automotive industry ... but it's not about safety this time, it's about the pesky DRM in your car. Most cars have a UART in them that allows you to read off diagnostic codes and information about what may be wrong with the vehicle so you can repair it. Late model cars have been getting increasingly complex and dependent on computers which has caused them, as with most things digital, to move towards a proprietary DRM for these tools, diagnostic codes and updated repair information. This has kept independent auto-shops out of the market for fixing your car and relegating you to depend on pricier dealers to get your automotive ailments cured. The bill still has a provision to protect trade secrets but is a step forward to open up the codes and tools necessary to keep your car running."
Prediction (Score:5, Funny)
Ralph Nader will find a way not only to fail at getting DRM out of cars, but it will somehow result in more DRM everywhere else. Florida will be involved in some way.
Yeah, I'm still somewhat bitter at Ralph Nader, why do you ask?
Re:Prediction (Score:2, Funny)
I'm... I'm confused... (Score:4, Funny)
Do... do I still try to make a car analogy?
Maybe a simple "In Soviet Russia car analogy make you?"
Open standards before cars can fly... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Prediction (Score:1, Funny)
I mentioned this post to my wife, suggesting that Ralph may be right on this one. Her response was, "like a broken clock."
Disclosure. We were owners of several Corvairs. Yeah, dating ourselves.
Re:Prediction (Score:3, Funny)
You also reduce your unsafe minutes spent in the vehicle.
Re:Meh. (Score:2, Funny)
If Microsoft ... are they in the wrong?
Yes. Generally speaking.
OpenToyota 2.0 (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Good. (Score:2, Funny)
"MB even refuses to publish or allow others to publish detailed maintenance info."
Milton Bradley never had a manual included with the Monopoly car. They just expect you to "trade in" for some other piece, which usually requires mortgaging some property.
Re:I'm... I'm confused... (Score:1, Funny)
And then we can finally torrent all the cars we want to! =D
Re:This is a very old issue (Score:5, Funny)
Holy crap, a reversed car analogy!
Re:Prediction (Score:2, Funny)
Whole what?