May 24, 2016—The Auto Care Association (ACA) announced Monday that its senior vice president, Aaron Lowe, participated in a series of roundtables produced by the U.S. Copyright Office in Washington D.C., May 18-19.
The roundtables were a part of a study on copyright law and its relation to software-embedded consumer products, such as cars, and issues related to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
Lowe discussed the growing use of software in newer cars as well as the concerns that vehicle manufacturers were adopting anti-competitive technological protection measures that would prevent parts manufacturers, service facilities and consumers from accessing software for a variety of reasons related to repair and maintenance.
“The absence of clear guidance regarding interpretations of copyright defenses is having a chilling impact on companies developing replacement components, causing companies in the auto care industry to be concerned about extensive and disruptive litigation,” said Lowe.
Lowe said the consumer who purchases a vehicle should own that car, including all software, and that those consumers and their service providers should have access to that software to perform repairs.
