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DMCA exemption for repairs, modifications, research on your vehicle takes effect

ifixit.org

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Re: DMCA exemption for repairs, modifications, research on your vehicle takes effect

#3
There is going to be a huge market in refurbished, older non-computerized machinery and automobiles.

With farm and heavy equipment, this tends to be true already, since it is effectively indestructible, as the depreciation is significant, while the costs to replace with a brand-new model is astronomical, and so stuff gets rebuilt, welded up, patched up, and reused until it is completely kaput, often decades after it was built.

Automobiles are trickier, especially if you are in an area that gets snow and uses a lot of salt in the winters, since the bodywork rots out quickly, much faster than the expensive mechanical components, like the engine and tranny, wear out.

Re: DMCA exemption for repairs, modifications, research on your vehicle takes effect

#4
For those who don't take the time to read the (short) article, here's the most important part (IMO):

>The downside: In 2018, advocates will have to ask for permission to repair their cars again—a daunting process that costs a massive amount of time, effort, and legal fees.

>But we’re trying to change that. Yesterday, iFixit and Repair.org submitted comments to the Copyright Office in support of carving out a permanent exemption for all repair and security research—for cars and everything else. Hopefully, fixing your tractor or hunting for security vulnerabilities in your car won’t be a jailable offence ever again.

>If you want to help make the world safe for repair, join Repair.org—they’re on the front lines every day, fighting for your right to fix everything you own.

Re: DMCA exemption for repairs, modifications, research on your vehicle takes effect

#5

This is great news. It is alarming to realize that a majority of devices built after 2020 will be connected to the internet without the choice for us to vet their security. Securing these devices must be a proactive endeavor.

Only if you buy them.

Re: DMCA exemption for repairs, modifications, research on your vehicle takes effect

#7
post #3

There is going to be a huge market in refurbished, older non-computerized machinery and automobiles. With farm and heavy equipment, this tends to be true already, since it is effectively indestructible, as the depreciation is significant, while the costs to replace with a brand-new model is astronomical, and so stuff gets rebuilt, welded up, patched up, and reused until it is completely kaput, often decades after it…

Bodywork got a lot better sometime around 1995.

(I live in the vast barren norths of Michigan where roads are constantly salted during the winter months and you don't really see that many rust buckets anymore)

Re: DMCA exemption for repairs, modifications, research on your vehicle takes effect

#8
post #3

There is going to be a huge market in refurbished, older non-computerized machinery and automobiles. With farm and heavy equipment, this tends to be true already, since it is effectively indestructible, as the depreciation is significant, while the costs to replace with a brand-new model is astronomical, and so stuff gets rebuilt, welded up, patched up, and reused until it is completely kaput, often decades after it…

Non computerized automobiles are those before fuel injection became common, which dates back to the early 80's. One option would be anything with mechanical diesel injection pumps, but those will at some point be harder to get past emissions inspection.

Keeping a car that old on the road is going to be tricky, the engines do wear out at some point and bodies will go faster depending on the climate. Anything from that era will soon be a classic with associated spare parts prices.

Tractors from the 1940's still run pretty good though, there's plenty of them and they were built to last.

Re: DMCA exemption for repairs, modifications, research on your vehicle takes effect

#9
post #5

This is great news. It is alarming to realize that a majority of devices built after 2020 will be connected to the internet without the choice for us to vet their security. Securing these devices must be a proactive endeavor.

Only if you buy them.

Not really... There will be (already are) tons of devices that we do not own that can affect our safety, health or quality of life. For example: traffic lights controls or ventilation systems. Left insecure, they can/will be dangerous.

Re: DMCA exemption for repairs, modifications, research on your vehicle takes effect

#10

For those who don't take the time to read the (short) article, here's the most important part (IMO): >The downside: In 2018, advocates will have to ask for permission to repair their cars again—a daunting process that costs a massive amount of time, effort, and legal fees. >But we’re trying to change that. Yesterday, iFixit and Repair.org submitted comments to the Copyright Office in support of carving out a permanen…

In the spirit of hyperlinks, https://repair.org
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