Mazda false DMCA takedown notice Home Assistant App: Difference between revisions

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 Programmer Brandon Rothweiler released an open source tool<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Source Integration on Github |url=https://github.com/bdr99/pymazda |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717224306/https://github.com/bdr99/pymazda |archive-date=2022-07-17 |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Github - Open source my MyMazda integration}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mazda Connected Services on the Home Assistant website |url=https://community.home-assistant.io/t/mazda-connected-service/354221 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Home Assistant - Mazda Connected Service}}</ref> that integrates the Mazda connectivity features into the open source home management software "Home Assistant", which is an open platform that allows users to access their products via these indiviually created integrations. The program functions in essentially the same way as Mazda's official app, connecting to Mazda's servers that control your car remotely.
-==Malicious DMCA takedown notice==
+==Malicious DMCA takedown notice and subsequent subscription fee==
-{{Placeholder box|Change this section's title to be descriptive of the incident.
+On October 10th 2023 Mazda issued a DMCA takedown notice<ref>{{Cite web |title=Takedown Notice by Mazda |url=https://github.com/github/dmca/blob/master/2023/10/2023-10-10-mazda.md |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012182527/https://github.com/github/dmca/blob/master/2023/10/2023-10-10-mazda.md |archive-date=2023-10-12 |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Github}}</ref> to github claiming the integration that adds connectivity with Mazda vehicles infringes on their intellectual properly rights by stealing code from their official app and wanted it, along with forks of the project, removed from the website. The developer did not want to challenge the claims and took down the repository within a few days to avoid potential legal repercussions. With the repository and all its forks gone, the integration was also removed from the Home Assistant app.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Removal of Mazda Connected Services on Home Assistant |url=https://www.home-assistant.io/blog/2023/10/13/removal-of-mazda-connected-services-integration/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Home Assistant}}</ref>
-Impartial and complete description of the events, including actions taken by the company, and the timeline of the incident coming to the public's attention.}}On October 10th 2023 Mazda issued a DMCA takedown notice<ref>{{Cite web |title=Takedown Notice by Mazda |url=https://github.com/github/dmca/blob/master/2023/10/2023-10-10-mazda.md |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012182527/https://github.com/github/dmca/blob/master/2023/10/2023-10-10-mazda.md |archive-date=2023-10-12 |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Github}}</ref> to github claiming the integration that adds connectivity with Mazda vehicles infringes on their intellectual properly rights by stealing code from their official app and wanted it, along with forks of the project, removed from the website. Github complied and promptly removed the repositories in question by October 13th.
+The reason the DMCA takedown notice is malicious is that code from Mazda's official app is not required to develop a tool that works in a similar way. The API of the server is freely accessible and figuring out how to interact with it can be done completely without infringing on anyone's copyright.
-The reason the DMCA takedown notice is malicious is that no code from Mazda's official app is not required to develop a tool that works in a similar way. The API of the server is freely accessible and figuring out how to interact with it can be done completely without infringing on anyone's copyright.
+Additionally, Mazda introduced a monthly usage fee of $10/month<ref>{{Cite web |title=MyMazda user receiving subscription fee notice |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/1egt09k/what_do_i_do_to_keep_it_for_free/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Reddit}}</ref> to the MyMazda app starting in mid 2024. Cars purchased between 2019 and 2024 retain a 3-year trial period and cars purchased since 2025 a one-year trial where the remote features can be used free of charge, however, past the trial a monthly fee must be payed in order to continue using the connectivity features.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mazda FAQ page on subscription fees for MyMazda |url=https://mazda.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/192/~/is-there-a-subscription-fee-for-mazda-connected-services%3F |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Mazda FAQ}}</ref> Together with the shutdown of the free alternative, Mazda owners are forced to pay the subscription fee or be locked out of the remote features they had previously been able to access free of charge.
 ===Mazda's response===
 There was never a response from Mazda, but the intention and proposed solution was for people to use their official app instead.
-Additionally, Mazda introduced a monthly usage fee of $10/month<ref>{{Cite web |title=MyMazda user receiving subscription fee notice |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/1egt09k/what_do_i_do_to_keep_it_for_free/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Reddit}}</ref> to the MyMazda app starting in mid 2024. Cars purchased between 2019 and 2024 retain a 3-year trial period and cars purchased since 2025 a one-year trial where the remote features can be used free of charge, however, past the trial a monthly fee must be payed in order to continue using the connectivity features<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mazda FAQ page on subscription fees for MyMazda |url=https://mazda.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/192/~/is-there-a-subscription-fee-for-mazda-connected-services%3F |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Mazda FAQ}}</ref>.
 ==Consumer response==
-{{Placeholder box|Summary and key issues of prevailing sentiment from the consumers and commentators that can be documented via articles, emails to support, reviews and forum posts.}}
+People were unhappy about the takedown of the open source repository as to many the unoffical app worked better and was easier to use than Mazda's own MyMazda service. Additionally, some have stated that they would not have purchased a Mazda vehicle, had they known the open source project would be struck by a DMCA claim.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Would not have purchased a Mazda had I know this was coming. |url=https://community.home-assistant.io/t/mazda-connected-service/354221/102 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Home Assistant}}</ref>
+The prevailing sentiment is that the subscription fee is not worth the features of the MyMazda app<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reddit Discussion on Subscription Fee for MyMazda app |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/1hvntgn/is_anyone_paying_for_the_mazda_connected_service/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Reddit Discussion on Subscription fee for MyMazda app |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/1fyc8ld/how_is_everyone_feeling_about_charging_for_mazda/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Reddit Dicsussion on Subscription fee for MyMazda app |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/1egs0ik/connected_services_no_longer_free/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Reddit}}</ref>, especially considering how limited many consider the suite of features to be. Along with the removal of the free alternative, many aren't willing to pay for the features in the MyMazda app and have been looking for other alternatives.
 ==References==
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