Proposed Rules Allow Hacking DRM to Fix Electronics

[Post-Crisis D]

This probably belongs in the Technology Forum but, oh, wait, we don't have one . . .

The Librarian of Congress and US Copyright Office just proposed new rules that will give consumers and independent repair experts wide latitude to legally hack embedded software on their devices in order to repair or maintain them. This exemption to copyright law will apply to smartphones, tractors, cars, smart home appliances, and many other devices.

Source: In Groundbreaking Decision, Feds Say Hacking DRM to Fix Your Electronics Is Legal

Right now, it appears it's limited to certain electronic devices.  I kind of hope one day they'll extend it to software as well.  For example, I have some software (under a perpetual license) that I bought and paid for that gets to be a real pain (activation and all that) when moving to a new computer.  My view is that I should be able to run the software I bought and paid for as long as I have a computer capable of running an operating system it will run under.

[catowned]

^^^ Yes to that! Want to use the software I bought!

I thought the rule allowed for fixing hardware.

[Post-Crisis D]

I thought the rule allowed for fixing hardware.

It does.  But I'm hoping it eventually gets extended to software too.