You can trick your whip all you want, but GM says that car is still theirs, no matter what you’ve paid. In a hearing this week, General Motors attorney Harry Lightsey said that purchasing and paying off your GM vehicle is a license agreement and not ownership.
The U.S Copyright Office is holding a hearing on whether anyone other than the vehicle’s manufacturer has the right to alter the that car’s copyrighted software. With modern design being what it is, this means almost altering anything about the vehicle.
Mechanics and private owners are saying they need to be allowed to make repairs on their vehicles to keep them running or maintain their business. But GM is saying that anyone unauthorized altering anything about the vehicle could create problems with the software and endanger the driver. This sounds more like a business ploy on the part of GM to hold a monopoly on vehicle repairs.
Read more about GM’s position on page 2.
This is just another great reason to buy a Ford.
Steve Shuster Correct, which is why I drive a Ford.
Yes Yes Yes, absolutely
Lol
There is some validity to not altering software in newer vehicles, product liability if it runs away or over someone could be in question. Otherwise screw this, you are not copying their software, just modifying it.
After a period of time the manufacturers have to release proprietary info so that non dealer shops can work on them. I find it hard to believe that GM would do this. By the way, why would you want to get into the computer of a car anyway? Second: all GM cars are 100% controlled by the computer. Everything. Even your door locks. They run on a single source wire. If your window control breaks and is out of warranty it’s going to cost you $300 to replace it. Not to mention the labor costs to have it programmed. That’s right, even a window switch is computerized and every car is type specific because it communicates with the main computer and as far as I can understand it, it ties in with your VIN number. Good luck fixing your used car if you are cash poor.
Thanks! Didn’t realize all that! But the ownership thing gets me!!
Sounds like a wonderful idea to keep non computer vehicles . P**s on GM
If you guys comentating, saying we own GM. No we don’t. I think tus will be handled in the new Trump administration.
I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM CAR….. BELIEVE ME THIS IS INSANE.
DEMAND MODIFICATIONS IN THE DESIGNS….. AND SOFTWARE….