Final Rule on Automotive Software Copyright Protection Exemption Excludes Repair Industry

The Library of Congress Reading Room

Final rule by the Library of Congress gives consumers the ability to circumvent copyright protection on vehicle software, but excludes third-parties. Repair industry groups concerned it could impact independent repair facilities.

The Library of Congress published its final rule on the Exemption to Prohibition on Circumvention of Copyright Protection Systems for Access Control Technologies in today’s Federal Register. The rule, recommended by the Register of Copyrights and adopted by the Librarian of Congreess, provides an exemption to provisiosn of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) for consumers to make copies and alter computer programs