Mechanics torn on Right to Repair Bill

BOSTON (WWLP) - There is a heated debate among auto repairers over whether they have all the information they need to fix your car.

The “Right to Repair Bill” proposes to make electronic codes and repair data universally accessible. Independent auto repair ships are split. Some are for the bill saying that it provides them with more information to fix newer-model cars. Others opposed to the bill say it exposes the car manufacturers' intellectual property rights and trade secrets - Allowing aftermarket parts companies to use that information to produce cheap, low quality knock-off parts to be sold overseas.

“It sets a very dangerous precedent,” said Dan Gage of the Mass. Auto Coalition, which opposes the bill. “Obviously the auto industry is impacted, but it would allow this to potentially happen again in other industries,”

Art Kinsman of the Mass. Right to Repair Coalition disagrees. “We protect trade secrets and intellectual property of the manufacturer,” Kinsman said. “We don't want the blueprints. We just want to know how to fix the car.”

Supporters of the bill say that if more auto data is available to auto repairers on how to fix cars, it will save customers time and money.

Opponents maintain that the bill is a slippery slope to lax intellectual property laws that that will impact other innovation industries and open the door to lawsuits.