Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Notice
DMCA Exemption for ECU Software
In the sixth triennial review of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), the Copyright Office established an exemption regarding the electronic control unit (ECU) software used in automobiles and agricultural vehicles.
This exemption allows vehicle owners and independent mechanics or garages to bypass technological protection measures (TPMs) in ECU software for the purposes of diagnosing, repairing, and modifying their vehicles. This decision was made after considering significant public health, safety, and environmental concerns raised by opposition parties.
Adopted Exemption
After careful consideration of the arguments presented by both supporters and opponents of the vehicle software exemption, the Copyright Office adopted the following DMCA exemption:
Computer programs embedded in and controlling the functionality of motorized land vehicles, such as personal automobiles, commercial motor vehicles, or mechanized agricultural vehicles, excluding programs primarily intended for telematics or entertainment systems, may be circumvented by the authorized vehicle owner. This circumvention must be a necessary step for diagnosing, repairing, or lawfully modifying a vehicle function and must not violate any applicable laws, including but not limited to regulations set by the Department of Transportation or the Environmental Protection Agency.
2018 Update
In 2018, the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) supported the renewal of current exemptions that provide greater access to vehicle software for diagnostic and repair services by independent repair providers.
MEMA’s comments, submitted on July 22, were part of the first phase of the U.S. Copyright Office's eighth triennial review proceeding under the DMCA. The DMCA permits temporary exemptions to its prohibition against circumventing technological measures that control access to copyrighted works.
Before 2018, the repair exemption for vehicle software applied only to vehicle owners. During the seventh triennial review, MEMA successfully lobbied for the expansion of this exemption, allowing third-party providers to service vehicles on behalf of owners.
Our Services and Legal Compliance
Our services include the collection and organization of repair and diagnostic data available online to assist our customers in exercising their legal rights to diagnose, repair, or perform other necessary tasks for the normal operation of their vehicles. We operate in full compliance with copyright laws and DMCA policies, ensuring that our activities do not infringe upon any copyrights.
Reporting Copyright Infringement
If you believe that any content on our website infringes your copyright, please contact us immediately at support@globaldiag.co.uk. We will promptly review and remove any infringing content as necessary.
In your report, please include the following information:
- Your contact information (name, email address, and phone number)
- A description of the copyrighted work that you believe has been infringed
- The URL or other identifying location of the alleged infringing material on our website
- A statement affirming that you have a good faith belief that the use of the copyrighted material is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law
- A statement, made under penalty of perjury, that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on the copyright owner's behalf
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.