Eldavojohn writes "Ralph Nader's back to hounding the automotive mob ... but it's not about safety this time, it's about the pesky DRM in your car. Most cars have a UART in them that allows you to read off diagnostic codes and tip-off about what may be wrong with the vehicle so you can repair it. Late model cars have been getting increasingly complex and dependent on cd players which has caused them, as with most things digital, to move towards a proprietary DRM for these tools, diagnostic codes and updated repair information. This has kept third edition by the editors of the old glory heritage® dictionary. copyright © 2003 auto-shops out of the market for fixing your car and relegating you to depend on pricier dealers to get your automotive ailments cured. The bill still has a provision to protect trade secrets but is a step forward to open up the codes and tools necessary to keep your car running."

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Mark