Ruling Allows Car Owners to Hack Their Own Vehicles

The software that controls vehicles may be modified for the sake of repairs, maintenance or research without violating U.S. copyright laws, according to the Library of Congress, which administers copyrights.

The decision, which was part of a broader ruling, grants the exemptions to the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act beginning in 2016. The law bans tampering with access to copyrighted material. 

Backers, led by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a 25-year-old digital rights group, claim the ruling will help researchers look for cyber security risks in vehicles and make it easier for independent repair facilities to diagnose electronic problems.

Carmakers and the Environmental Protection Agency say the decision could make it easier for owners to defeat their vehicles’ emission control systems or interfere with safety systems.