Quote:
Originally Posted by thstone
The issue is whether a DIY repair or modification might infringe on the manufacturer's intellectual property rights.
The John Deere story took this argument to its logical (but IMHO wrongheaded) conclusion - that a product protected by patent is not actually purchased by the customer, it is only licensed for use to the customer.
And there is ample legal precedent in the software world to support JD's claim.
This is both worrisome, irritating, and frustrating to those of us who feel that what we buy, we own.
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Did JD win that case? What were farmers doing that prompted this, adding blowers to their tractors?
I can see this with software, once it's sold, that's all the Government is going to make on it.
Modification to cars are a whole different game. There are companies out there like Lingenfelter, Hennessy, Shelby and many more, plus all the after market companies. There is just too much money in taxes for the Government to allow this.