AAPEX 2016

The use by vehicle manufacturers of embedded software on today’s vehicles and the use of copyright law to protect that software is creating extensive concerns as to whether consumers actually own their vehicle and everything inside it, or are they simply licensing that vehicle from the manufacturer. The answer to the question could have huge implications for the ability of the independent repair industry to design and produce competitive replacement parts and to provide service for today’s and tomorrow’s vehicles.

Attendees will learn:

• How vehicle manufacturers are using embedded software on vehicle components and the challenges that is posing to the independent aftermarket.
• How the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and other copyright law are being used by manufacturers to prohibit access to embedded software for use by the repair industry.
• The status of legal and legislative action to challenge the anticompetitive uses of copyright law.