[Shop-talk] Massachusetts "Right to Repair" Ballot Initiative

[David Scheidt]

On Nov 7, 2012, at 9:42 AM, "Randall" <TR3driver at ca.rr.com> wrote:

>> I just noticed this, which apparently passed overwhelmingly:
>
> It's interesting, but I can't see that it changes anything, much.  They are
> allowed to charge "fair market value" for the information, which could
> easily be a lot more than I'd be willing to pay (eg $50,000 per year is
> pretty reasonable if you are selling 100 cars a month); and information
> pertaining to alarm systems or "trade secrets" is expressly excluded.
> Anything they haven't already published could likely be considered a "trade
> secret".
>
> How many independent shops, let alone individual owners even drop $500 on a
> set of manufacturer service manuals?
>
> And I'm guessing that the EPA will balk at the idea of letting any car
owner
> know how to dirty up their exhaust, meaning it will be overturned fairly
> easily.  Interstate commerce and all that.