I don't own my tractor?

I suppose for our older stuff this doesn't apply but I guess I didn't realize I didn't own my tractors.

http://modernfarmer.com/2016/07/right-to-repair/

As a biker and the past president of a state motorcycle rights organization we went through this as well. Several states have been pushing state laws. A federal right to repair bill has not yet been passed but is slated for consideration by 2018. Hope it covers tractors

You own the hardware (once the loan is paid off), but they own the rights to the software that you are licensing to be able to use the tractor. Just like a computer, you buy the PC itself, but you license the software, even the code in the BIOS firmware is licensed, not owned. Even open source source software like Linux is licensed, not owned, but it is free to use and modify any way you see fit because of the open source license that it is distributed under.

Curious if down the road an aftermarket
will open up to reload software into the
machine you have

What happens when the software is outdated? Tractor junk?

(quoted from post at 00:14:10 07/20/16) What happens when the software is outdated? Tractor junk?

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Like automotive software/firmware, tractor software/firmware should have the ability to be updated, as nearly 100% of all software these days has bugs of some sort or another that needs to be remedied by replacing the code. The simpler the code the less likelihood of bugs, but nearly every pieces of software these days, especially code to control hardware in real time, is complex enough that bugs are inevitable.

End of Warranty should be full ownership, even under current rules.

Wayne

(quoted from post at 08:48:46 07/21/16) End of Warranty should be full ownership, even under current rules.

Wayne

Click to expand...

The problem with that is that the software is covered by copyright laws, not consumer protection laws. You do own the copy that is in the tractor once you pay for the tractor in terms of being able to use that copy of the software to control that one tractor forever, and being able to transfer the ownership of that one copy to whoever you sell the tractor to, but you do not own the code itself in terms of being able to modify it or to make other copies, except for backup purposes.

IMO you are worried about something that does not need concern you other than getting the laws corrected. If your tractor is on your property and you decide to repair it, how can the manufacturer ever know?

IF the tractor has a wireless communication link to the manufacturer, that could most probably be disabled.

Also most likely the tractor manufacturers have to meet the same EPA requirements to sell them, so the communication protocols and the trouble codes would also have to meet SAE specs. All that needs to be done is find the computers connector, verify that it is a J1962, obtain a high quality scan tool and pro quality software for a laptop that auto discovers the communications protocol.

Then connect everything and see if you can access the computers data. With a good setup as described above there is zero chance of causing a problem.

Anyone that needs help locating the tool & software, let me know and I'll point you in a direction.

You have the right to repair your tractor... BUT.. .YOU DONT HAVE A RIGHT TO THE SOFTWARE CODE. And new tractors have lots of computerize sensors and it takes diagnostic software in most cases to find the bad part... YOU DO NOT OWN THE SOFTWARE OR THE DIAGNOSTIC SOFTWARE. Folks are saying they should get the diagnostic software for free.

SO>>>> hope this clarifies the argument.

Yes, you can fix your tractor. And you can throw parts at it, replace sensors you think are bad, rebuild the engines. You cannot have the software.. you can not modify the software. New software is not only protected by copywright laws.. but more so by EPA CLEAN AIR ACT laws...

Some argue they should have access to that software. I dont think they will win that argument. However as in automobiles, laws force the makers to put a standard OBD port on the car, and I would suspect that law will eventually force tractors to do the same. It will give you access to standard trouble codes ONLY, but not to the software per say... ( although some have found out a way to crack it, and also some aftermarket companies have been fined over a million dollars for selling illegal modifications to the emissions)

I understand mfg's owning the software and codes but, farmers, independent shops and dealers should be allowed to PURCHASE scanning tools and diagnostic programs, in order to trouble shoot problems they are having with what ever brand of tractor they own or are working on.
Being able to scan codes and do diagnostic test on sensors and other electronic equipment in order to make repairs, without modifying or altering that software or codes in no way infringes on that mfg's copy rights.