MEMA proposal for Right-to-Repair data approved by copyright office

The Register of Copyrights has accepted MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers’ petition supporting the REPAIR Act. MEMA originally submitted its petition for exemption to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act’s anti-circumvention provisions in August 2023, seeking exemption from the prohibition to bypass copyright protection systems.

Read more: Public pressures Congress for Right to Repair action

The Register’s acceptance of the petition counters equipment manufacturer’s argument that the REPAIR Act violates copyright laws and creates cybersecurity issues. With the exemption,  consumers can access to vehicle telematics and operational data and have the ability to share that data with third-party repairers.

The exemption will be in effect until October 2027. It is supported by both the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission, who submitted comments supporting MEMA’s petition in March 2024 agreeing that this data is both critical to make repairs and that it can be accessed securely.