101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB2026

 

Introduced , by Rep. Michelle Mussman

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Digital Fair Repair Act. Provides that original equipment manufacturers shall: (i) make available to any independent repair provider or owner of equipment manufactured by the original equipment manufacturer the same diagnostic and repair documentation in the same manner as that information is made available to the manufacturer's authorized repair providers; and (ii) make available for purchase by the owner, his or her authorized agent, or any independent repair provider parts, inclusive of any updates to the embedded software of the parts, upon fair and reasonable terms. Requires original equipment manufacturers to make available for purchase by owners and independent repair providers all diagnostic repair tools incorporating the same diagnostic, repair, and remote communications capabilities that the original equipment manufacturer makes available to its own repair or engineering staff or an authorized repair provider. Requires an independent repair provider that purchases or acquires embedded software or service parts to notify the owner of the equipment in writing of certain warranties prior to performing any services on digital electronic equipment. Provides that, with one exception, an authorized provider shall have all the rights and remedies provided under the Act. Authorizes the Attorney General to seek to enjoin violations and to recover civil penalties. Requires the Attorney General to establish an outreach program to inform the public of rights under the Act. Defines terms. Excludes motor vehicle manufacturers. Provides for recovery of damages and attorney's fees. Provides for the protection of trade secrets. Effective January 1, 2020.


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A BILL FOR

 

HB2026LRB101 05140 TAE 50152 b

1    AN ACT concerning business.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Digital Fair Repair Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:
7    "Authorized repair provider" means a person or a business
8that has an arrangement for a definite or indefinite period in
9which an original equipment manufacturer grants to a separate
10business organization or individual a license to use a trade
11name, service mark, or related characteristic for the purposes
12of offering repair services under the name of the original
13equipment manufacturer.
14    "Digital electronic equipment" or "equipment" means a part
15or equipment originally manufactured for distribution and sale
16in the United States.
17    "Documentation" means any manuals, diagrams, reporting
18output, or service code descriptions provided to the authorized
19repair providers for purposes of effecting repair.
20    "Embedded software" means any programmable instructions
21provided on firmware delivered with the equipment or part for
22the purposes of equipment operation, including all relevant
23patches and fixes made by the manufacturer for this purpose,

 

 

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1including, but not limited to, a basic internal operating
2system, an internal operating system, a machine code, an
3assembly code, a root code, and a microcode.
4    "Fair and reasonable terms" means an equitable price in
5light of relevant factors, including, but not limited to:
6        (1) the net cost to the authorized repair provider for
7    similar information obtained from an original equipment
8    manufacturer, less any discounts, rebates, or other
9    incentive programs;
10        (2) the cost to the original equipment manufacturer for
11    preparing and distributing the information, excluding any
12    research and development costs incurred in designing and
13    implementing, upgrading, or altering the product, but
14    including amortized capital costs for the preparation and
15    distribution of the information;
16        (3) the price charged by other original equipment
17    manufacturers for similar information;
18        (4) the price charged by original equipment
19    manufacturers for similar information prior to the launch
20    of original equipment manufacturer web sites;
21        (5) the ability of aftermarket technicians or shops to
22    afford the information;
23        (6) the means by which the information is distributed;
24        (7) the extent to which the information is used, which
25    includes the number of users, and frequency, duration, and
26    volume of use; and

 

 

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1        (8) inflation.
2    "Firmware" means a software program or set of instructions
3programmed on a hardware device to allow the device to
4communicate with other computer hardware.
5    "Independent repair provider" means a person or business
6operating in this State that is not affiliated with an original
7equipment manufacturer or an original equipment manufacturer's
8authorized repair provider, that is engaged in the diagnosis,
9service, maintenance, or repair of equipment, except that an
10original equipment manufacturer shall be considered an
11independent repair provider for purposes of those instances
12when the original equipment manufacturer engages in the
13diagnosis, service, maintenance, or repair of digital
14equipment that is not affiliated with the original equipment
15manufacturer.
16    "Motor vehicle" means a vehicle that is designed for
17transporting persons or property on a street or highway and is
18certified by the manufacturer under all applicable federal
19safety and emissions standards and requirements for
20distribution and sale in the United States. Motor vehicle does
21not include:
22        (1) a motorcycle;
23        (2) a recreational off-highway vehicle; or
24        (3) a recreational vehicle or an auto home equipped for
25    habitation.
26    "Motor vehicle dealer" means a person or business who, in

 

 

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1the ordinary course of business, is engaged in the business of
2selling or leasing new motor vehicles to a person or business
3pursuant to a franchise agreement, has obtained a license under
4the Illinois Vehicle Code, and is engaged in the diagnosis,
5service, maintenance, or repair of motor vehicles or motor
6vehicle engines pursuant to that franchise agreement.
7    "Motor vehicle manufacturer" means a person or business
8engaged in the business of manufacturing or assembling new
9motor vehicles.
10    "Original equipment manufacturer" means a person or
11business who, in the ordinary course of its business, is
12engaged in the business of selling or leasing new digital
13electronic equipment or parts of equipment to any person or
14business and is engaged in the diagnosis, service, maintenance,
15or repair of digital electronic equipment or parts of such
16equipment.
17    "Owner" means a person or business who owns or leases a
18digital electronic product purchased or used in this State.
19    "Service parts" or "parts" means any replacement part,
20either new or used, made available by the original equipment
21manufacturer to the authorized repair provider for purposes of
22effecting repair.
23    "Trade secret" means (1) anything tangible or intangible or
24electronically stored or kept that constitutes, represents,
25evidences, or records intellectual property, including secret
26or confidentially held designs, processes, procedures,

 

 

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1formulas, inventions, or improvements, (2) secret or
2confidentially held scientific, technical, merchandising,
3production, financial, business, or management information, or
4(3) any other trade secret as defined in 18 U.S.C. 1839 as that
5Section existed on January 1, 2016.
 
6    Section 10. Requirements.
7    (a) For equipment and parts sold and used in this State,
8the original equipment manufacturer of the equipment and parts
9shall:
10        (1) make available to any independent repair provider
11    or owner of products manufactured by the original equipment
12    manufacturer diagnostic and repair documentation,
13    including repair technical updates and updates and
14    corrections to embedded software, for no charge or in the
15    same manner and in the same time frame as the original
16    equipment manufacturer makes that diagnostic and repair
17    documentation, including repair technical updates and
18    updates and corrections to embedded software, available to
19    its authorized repair provider; and
20        (2) make available for purchase by the owner, his or
21    her authorized agent, or any independent repair provider,
22    parts, inclusive of any updates to the embedded software of
23    the parts, upon fair and reasonable terms.
24    Nothing in this Section requires the original equipment
25manufacturer to sell equipment or service parts if the parts

 

 

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1are no longer available to the original equipment manufacturer
2or the authorized repair provider of the original equipment
3manufacturer.
4    (b) An original equipment manufacturer that sells any
5diagnostic, service, or repair documentation to any
6independent repair provider or to any owner in a format that is
7standardized with other original equipment manufacturers, and
8on terms and conditions more favorable than the manner and the
9terms and conditions pursuant to which the authorized repair
10provider obtains the same diagnostic, service, or repair
11documentation, shall be prohibited from requiring an
12authorized repair provider to continue purchasing diagnostic,
13service, or repair documentation in a proprietary format,
14unless such proprietary format includes diagnostic, service,
15or repair documentation or functionality that is not available
16in such standardized format.
17    (c) An original equipment manufacturer of equipment sold or
18used in this State shall make available for purchase by owners
19and independent repair providers all diagnostic repair tools
20incorporating the same diagnostic, repair, and remote
21communications capabilities that the original equipment
22manufacturer makes available to its own repair or engineering
23staff or an authorized repair provider.
24    An original equipment manufacturer shall offer such tools
25for sale to an owner and independent repair provider upon fair
26and reasonable terms. An original equipment manufacturer that

 

 

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1provides diagnostic repair documentation to aftermarket
2diagnostic tool manufacturers, diagnostics providers, or
3service information publications and systems shall have fully
4satisfied its obligations under this Section and thereafter not
5be responsible for the content and functionality of such
6aftermarket diagnostic tools, diagnostics, or service
7information systems.
8    (d) Original equipment manufacturer equipment or parts
9sold or used in this State for the purpose of providing
10security-related functions may not exclude diagnostic,
11service, and repair documentation necessary to reset a
12security-related electronic function from information provided
13to an owner or independent repair provider. If excluded under
14this Act, the documentation necessary to reset an immobilizer
15system or security-related electronic module shall be obtained
16by an owner or independent repair provider through the
17appropriate secure data release systems.
 
18    Section 15. Notice to consumers. An independent repair
19provider that purchases or acquires embedded software or
20service parts shall, prior to performing any services on
21digital electronic equipment, notify the owner of the equipment
22in writing that:
23        (1) consumers should review the terms and conditions of
24    the warranty for such digital electronic equipment as
25    repairs not performed by an authorized repair provider

 

 

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1    could affect the terms and conditions of the warranty;
2        (2) warrantors cannot require that only branded parts
3    be used with the product in order to retain the warranty;
4        (3) warrantors must demonstrate that a defect or damage
5    was caused by independent repair to affect the warranty;
6        (4) warranties are governed by the federal
7    Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act; and
8        (5) the independent repair provider is not an
9    authorized repair provider for such digital electronic
10    equipment.
 
11    Section 20. Rights of authorized repair provider. Except in
12the instance of a dispute arising between an original equipment
13manufacturer and its authorized repair provider related to
14either party's compliance with an existing authorized repair
15agreement, an authorized repair provider shall have all the
16rights and remedies provided in this Act.
 
17    Section 25. Duties of Attorney General. The Attorney
18General shall develop, establish, and implement a public
19outreach program directed at independent repair providers,
20consumers, and digital electronic original equipment
21manufacturers to inform them of their rights and
22responsibilities pursuant to this Act. The public outreach
23shall include brochures, consumer guides, posters, or any
24combination thereof and be made available to consumers and

 

 

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1other stakeholders by any means deemed appropriate by such
2division and may include internet, radio, and print
3advertising. The public outreach may also identify and recruit
4individuals or trade organizations to assist in distributing
5this information and materials. The public outreach shall begin
6no later than the 30th day after the effective date of this
7Act.
 
8    Section 30. Injunctions.
9    (a) Whenever the Attorney General believes from
10satisfactory evidence that any person, firm, corporation,
11association, or agent or employee thereof has engaged in or is
12about to engage in any act or practice that is a violation of
13this Act, the Attorney General may bring an action in the
14manner provided under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business
15Practices Act to enjoin the unlawful act or practice and to
16obtain restitution of any moneys or property obtained directly
17or indirectly by the unlawful act or practice.
18    (b) Before bringing an action under this Section, the
19Attorney General shall give the person against whom such
20proceeding is contemplated notice by certified mail and an
21opportunity to show in writing within 5 business days after
22receipt of notice why proceedings should not be instituted,
23unless the Attorney General finds, in any case seeking
24preliminary relief, that to give such notice and opportunity is
25not in the public interest.

 

 

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1    (c) In connection with any proposed proceeding under this
2Section, the Attorney General is authorized to take proof and
3make a determination of the relevant facts and issue subpoenas.
 
4    Section 35. Limitations.
5    (a) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require an
6original equipment manufacturer to divulge a trade secret.
7    (b) No provision in this Act shall be read, interpreted, or
8construed to abrogate, interfere with, contradict, or alter the
9terms of any agreement executed and in force between an
10authorized repair provider and an original equipment
11manufacturer, including, but not limited to, the performance or
12provision of warranty or recall repair work by an authorized
13repair provider on behalf of an original equipment manufacturer
14pursuant to such authorized repair agreement, except that any
15provision in such an authorized repair agreement that purports
16to waive, avoid, restrict, or limit an original equipment
17manufacturer's compliance with this Section shall be void and
18unenforceable.
19    (c) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require an
20original equipment manufacturer or an authorized repair
21provider to provide an owner or independent repair provider
22access to non-diagnostic and repair documentation provided by
23an original equipment manufacturer to an authorized repair
24provider pursuant to the terms of an authorizing agreement.
 

 

 

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1    Section 40. Exclusions. Nothing in this Act applies to
2motorcycle equipment, equipment for recreational off-highway
3vehicles, motor vehicle manufacturers, any product or service
4of a motor vehicle manufacturer, or motor vehicle dealers.
 
5    Section 45. Penalty. Any person, firm, corporation, or
6association or agent or employee thereof who engages in any act
7or practice that is a violation of this Act is liable for a
8civil penalty of not more than $500 for each violation, which
9may be recovered in a civil action brought by the Attorney
10General.
 
11    Section 50. Applicability. This Act applies to equipment
12sold or in use on or after the effective date of this Act.
 
13    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January
141, 2020.