Steve Panten, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; Motorcyclists deserve right to repair what they own | Opinion
"Manufacturers have twisted a 1998 copyright law to lock independent repair shops out of the market. Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) was written to prevent music and movie piracy. At the time, nobody was thinking about motorcycle diagnostics.
But today, manufacturers embed encrypted locks in their products and use Section 1201 to make bypassing those locks illegal, even when the repair itself is lawful. Your local independent mechanic, no matter how skilled, cannot legally access the diagnostic software needed to service your bike. You are forced back to the dealership, on their timeline and at their price.
Momentum building in statehouses across the country
ABATE of Wisconsin has been fighting this at the state level, working with legislators to require manufacturers to provide necessary tools and diagnostic information at a reasonable cost. Momentum is building in statehouses across the country, and we are pleased that federal lawmakers have also taken preliminary steps to include right-to-repair provisions that recognize and include the motorcycle community."
