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Mazda slaps developer with cease-and-desist for DIY smart home integration

submitted by heshie+(OP) on 2023-10-23 20:18:46 | 331 points 188 comments
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11. 0xbadc+Yb[view] [source] 2023-10-23 21:18:03
>>heshie+(OP)
> Mazda has invested tremendous time and resources to develop confidential and proprietary information including computer code used by company. Recently certain Mazda Information, including proprietary API information, was used to create code and information posted to GitHub.com identified in repository of bdr99 ([private]). This repository contains code developed in python (https://github.com/bdr99/pymazda) and javascript (https://github.com/bdr99/node-mymazda), and appears to have been uploaded and used to create computer code associated with home-assistant.io and mobile applications. MNAO analyzed some of the code and determined that the code provides functionality same as what is currently in Apple App Store and Google Play App Store. We are requesting immediate removal of code from Github, brd99.

Since when is an API call proprietary information? Can they even claim a DMCA against it? That's like claiming DMCA for telling someone how to flick a light switch.

12. gnabgi+6c[view] [source] 2023-10-23 21:18:46
>>heshie+(OP)
This has been discussed a couple of times: "Removal of Mazda Connected Services integration" (270 points, 78 comments, 10 days ago)[0], "Mazda's DMCA takedown kills a hobbyist's smart car API tool" (83 points, 27 comments, 6 days ago)[1] - the first being the original blog post on Home Assistant, the second referencing that blog post, maybe adding more content and this article referencing both sources (but adding little)

[0]: >>37874220 [1]: >>37921584

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19. ceejay+Le[view] [source] [discussion] 2023-10-23 21:36:10
>>JumpCr+Lc
In theory.

In practice, the company still has a big advantage in arbitration.

https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/why-binding-arbitratio...

> The problem is that companies generally know more than customers about an arbitrator’s record and thus are likely to strike out arbitrators who are more inclined to rule in favor of consumers. On average, each securities firm in the study had been involved in 81 other arbitrations. In non-securities disputes, such as those with cellular carriers, the average company had been in 133 hearings. By contrast, most consumers have never been involved in a previous arbitration and tend to strike arbitrators randomly. As a result, the firms’ informational advantage leads to systematically biased outcomes.

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21. salzig+8f[view] [source] [discussion] 2023-10-23 21:37:36
>>sliken+Hb
BMW doesn't anymore: https://techcrunch.com/2023/09/07/bmw-feels-the-heat-stops-c...

Looks like the pain was big enough.

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60. aksss+Bl[view] [source] [discussion] 2023-10-23 22:14:52
>>otikik+bc
Which is ironic for Mazda, because at least like model year 2019 and prior you could literally telnet into the CMU and do all sorts of hacks to it. Whether it was intentional or not, Mazda has enjoyed a bit of a sheen of being kinda hack/maker friendly if you play in that space.

https://mazdatweaks.com/serial/

70. active+zn[view] [source] 2023-10-23 22:26:22
>>heshie+(OP)
I just happen to read about DMCA exemptions legalities recently (which I submitted at >>37961007 ). Turns out that exemptions to DMCA are recommended every three years. I noticed one especially relevant to this one under the section category of "Proposed New or Expanded Exemptions":

> Proposed Class 7: Computer Programs— Vehicle Operational Data > MEMA petitions for a new exemption to ‘‘access, store, and share vehicle operational data, including diagnostic and telematics data’’ from ‘‘a lawfully acquired motorized land vehicle or marine vessel such as a personal automobile or boat, commercial vehicle or vessel, or mechanized agricultural vehicle or vessel.’’ 182 The petition limits circumvention to ‘‘lawful vehicle owners and lessees, or those acting on their behalf.’’ > The Office encourages proponents to develop the legal and factual administrative record in their initial submissions, including describing with specificity the relevant TPMs and whether their presence is adversely affecting noninfringing uses, whether eligible users may access such data through alternate channels that do not require circumvention, and the legal basis for concluding that the proposed uses are likely to be noninfringing. In general, the Office seeks comment on whether the proposed exemption should be adopted, including any proposed regulatory language.

- From Page 14, of October 19, 2023 – Notice of Proposed Rulemaking at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-10-19/pdf/2023-2...

The US Copyright Office goes on to say *they want feedback on this potential exemption*:

> The Office encourages proponents to develop the legal and factual administrative record in their initial submissions, including describing with specificity the relevant TPMs and whether their presence is adversely affecting noninfringing uses, whether eligible users may access such data through alternate channels that do not require circumvention, and the legal basis for concluding that the proposed uses are likely to be noninfringing. In general, the Office seeks comment on whether the proposed exemption should be adopted, including any proposed regulatory language.

Note that final sentence!

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101. maxeri+ct[view] [source] [discussion] 2023-10-23 23:04:45
>>throwa+Or
This isn't something I know anything about, but I know that 1-Wire exists and so on so am able to locate something like https://www.analog.com/en/products/max30207.html pretty easily. $2 in quantity, reports a temperature digitally, accurate to 0.3 C between 0 and 70 C.

What is it about that device (or similar) that would put it out of scope?

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103. JumpCr+St[view] [source] [discussion] 2023-10-23 23:10:25
>>ljm+zg
The problem is more firms having a voice in selecting the arbitrator than them paying for it [1]. TL; DR If you're going into arbitration, don't be passive about the selection process.

[1] https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication%20Files/19-046_6706ef32-...

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147. tough+EZ[view] [source] [discussion] 2023-10-24 04:19:17
>>thomas+jF
Seems it would require to fork the whole home assistant repo https://github.com/home-assistant/core/pull/101849#issuecomm...
169. sebazz+JB2[view] [source] 2023-10-24 15:58:16
>>heshie+(OP)
Compare this to Tesla. https://developer.tesla.com/docs/fleet-api
183. razoda+y77[view] [source] 2023-10-25 21:05:09
>>heshie+(OP)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LMVQ30c7TcA
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184. mirkul+Ti8[view] [source] [discussion] 2023-10-26 07:50:09
>>wutwut+Tf3
If you are accusing me of being absurdist or reductionist, know this: floor mats were the official cause of "sudden acceleration", where they would slip off their pegs that were holding them to the floor (usually due to human error), and would jam the pedal to the floor. Or sometimes between the brake pedal and the floor preventing correct operation of the brake. In fact, Toyota and NHTSA issued an urgent recall in 2009 to remove all floor mats from vehicles due to this very issue: https://www.safetyresearch.net/toyota-and-nhtsa-issue-urgent...

So yes, the line was very obvious because these are events that happen in real life, risk that you say you wanted to eliminate by absolutely playing it safe: "_anything_, there is no such thing as excessive 'playing it safe'"

I can only assume that your original comment was reactionary and hyperbolic, but then got upset over where that kind of hyperbole lead in the past.

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