Advising an Automotive or Mobility Business: A Practitioner's Guide to Vehicle Data, Supplier IP, Software Features, and the Aftermarket
By Casey Scott McKay ·
This guide builds the legal architecture an automotive or mobility business actually needs, in the order the decisions arise rather than the order a textbook would present them. It starts with a data inventory that separates diagnostic, journey, and occupant data, because a single undifferentiated category cannot support the different consents and access rules each one requires. It then covers connected services terms, the event data recorder regime, telematics access commitments, and the subscription feature model that has produced most of the consumer protection exposure in the sector. The middle sections work through supplier IP allocation across a tiered chain, joint development for driver assistance, standard essential patent indemnities, and software escrow. The closing sections cover the aftermarket position, dealer and distribution brand control, cybersecurity obligations, litigation readiness, and a governance model that keeps all of it current.
IP and Technology > Information Technology | Guide | Published 21 August 2025 - Updated 1 November 2025 | Casey Scott McKay - marksy.us
Summary. This guide builds the legal architecture an automotive or mobility business actually needs, in the order the decisions arise rather than the order a textbook would present them. It starts with a data inventory that separates diagnostic, journey, and occupant data, because a single undifferentiated category cannot support the different consents and access rules each one requires. It then covers connected services terms, the event data recorder regime, telematics access commitments, and the subscription feature model that has produced most of the consumer protection exposure in the sector. The middle sections work through supplier IP allocation across a tiered chain, joint development for driver assistance, standard essential patent indemnities, and software escrow. The closing sections cover the aftermarket position, dealer and distribution brand control, cybersecurity obligations, litigation readiness, and a governance model that keeps all of it current.
Keywords: automotive IP programme · vehicle data governance · connected services terms · event data recorder policy · telematics access · supplier IP allocation · tooling ownership · joint development for autonomy · standard essential patent indemnity · subscription feature disclosure · over the air updates · design patents on collision parts · parts authentication · dealer trademark licensing · fleet telematics monitoring · cybersecurity management system · log retention · subpoena response policy · gray market vehicles · certified pre-owned licensing
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