5 ms·

Not on either side here, but I feel like you're missing the point there. Let's say someone does modify the code, then the machine messes up and ends up killing

Not on either side here, but I feel like you're missing the point there. Let's say someone does modify the code, then the machine messes up and ends up killing someone. Who would be the culprit there? I guess they could have something that detects when the software is modified, but even if they did, I bet it would still be poor publicity for them (similar to when people misuse Tesla's assist and getting in accidents). Also, honest question here about changing transmission. You make it sound as if it's completely unrelated with the code, but is it? The code may very well be tuned for the hardware as it is, and changing any of it could also lead to unexpected results. Of course there's much better ways of going about it, but from a lawsuit protection perspective, I think you're simplifying an issue which is much more complex than it may seem at the surface.

bartl 10y ago
>Let's say someone does modify the code. Let's not. These farmers don't want to change the software. They only want to fix their hardware. And because of the close tightness with the software, they can't.
- bigtimeidiot 10y ago
  Do you think I can pull the electric motor from my Model S to replace it? When John Deere does this, HN is up in arms. When Tesla does it, it's part of an "innovative business model".
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
  - georgyo 10y ago
    I think if you had the part and replaced it, your car would turn on without a Tesla engineer recertifying it.
    - bigtimeidiot 10y ago
      >your car would turn on without a Tesla engineer recertifying it I think you're going to be disappointed.
  - jinzo 10y ago
    As someone in the car repair industry I can assure you that Teslas hostility regarding non-authorised-repair is a big issue and will only blow up when Teslas become more common. At least here in Europe, this won't fly.
rdslw 10y ago
No. JD is a knife manufacturer who puts countermeasures to prohibit knives owners from sharpening second side of the blade (among others things). Because it can be dangerous.
- koolba 10y ago
  It sounds like you can't sharpen the first side either. Or more aptly, replace the handle of the knife when it gets worn.
DanielBMarkham 10y ago
Both the OP and the reply seem a bit over-the-top, but it's a fair call to say that the goal was changing the subject from "who owns the tractor" to "think of the children!" People repair stuff they own all the time, and if they do a bad job of it, they are liable for any damages caused. All that's really needed here is some clear way to indicate that this factory-issued X has been modified by the owner to be an X1 model. End of story. We can't continue down this path of people developing software and somehow in the process picking up vast quantities of physical goods that buyers think they actually own. Not only is it evil, it's nonsensical from the viewpoint of the average informed person. The only reason it's worked as long as it has is that most people aren't informed enough about it. Tractors might be the straw that breaks the camel's back on this issue. People don't think much about the inner workings of their phones, but Joe Farmer fixing his tractor is a concept most folks don't have difficulty getting their head around.
- yazbo_mcclure 10y ago
  You nailed it Dan
ProblemFactory 10y ago
> Let's say someone does modify the code, then the machine messes up and ends up killing someone. Who would be the culprit there? People repair and modify their cars every day - and these are driven on public roads among other drivers and pedestrians. Farm equipment is operated on private property and among workers who are mostly aware of the risks. In the end, if the vehicle is unsafe, the driver is responsible.

bartl 10y ago

>Let's say someone does modify the code. Let's not. These farmers don't want to change the software. They only want to fix their hardware. And because of the close tightness with the software, they can't.

bigtimeidiot 10y ago
Do you think I can pull the electric motor from my Model S to replace it? When John Deere does this, HN is up in arms. When Tesla does it, it's part of an "innovative business model".
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
- georgyo 10y ago
  I think if you had the part and replaced it, your car would turn on without a Tesla engineer recertifying it.
  - bigtimeidiot 10y ago
    >your car would turn on without a Tesla engineer recertifying it I think you're going to be disappointed.
- jinzo 10y ago
  As someone in the car repair industry I can assure you that Teslas hostility regarding non-authorised-repair is a big issue and will only blow up when Teslas become more common. At least here in Europe, this won't fly.

rdslw 10y ago

No. JD is a knife manufacturer who puts countermeasures to prohibit knives owners from sharpening second side of the blade (among others things). Because it can be dangerous.

koolba 10y ago
It sounds like you can't sharpen the first side either. Or more aptly, replace the handle of the knife when it gets worn.

DanielBMarkham 10y ago

Both the OP and the reply seem a bit over-the-top, but it's a fair call to say that the goal was changing the subject from "who owns the tractor" to "think of the children!" People repair stuff they own all the time, and if they do a bad job of it, they are liable for any damages caused. All that's really needed here is some clear way to indicate that this factory-issued X has been modified by the owner to be an X1 model. End of story. We can't continue down this path of people developing software and somehow in the process picking up vast quantities of physical goods that buyers think they actually own. Not only is it evil, it's nonsensical from the viewpoint of the average informed person. The only reason it's worked as long as it has is that most people aren't informed enough about it. Tractors might be the straw that breaks the camel's back on this issue. People don't think much about the inner workings of their phones, but Joe Farmer fixing his tractor is a concept most folks don't have difficulty getting their head around.

yazbo_mcclure 10y ago
You nailed it Dan

ProblemFactory 10y ago

> Let's say someone does modify the code, then the machine messes up and ends up killing someone. Who would be the culprit there? People repair and modify their cars every day - and these are driven on public roads among other drivers and pedestrians. Farm equipment is operated on private property and among workers who are mostly aware of the risks. In the end, if the vehicle is unsafe, the driver is responsible.