16 AUGUST 2026 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Do You Really “Own” Your Car? by Britt Storkson Owner, P2FlowLLC Your brand new, latest and greatest computer-controlled car is paid off. You own your car. You have the title. Now, two questions remain: 1. Who owns the data that allows the computer-controlled car to operate? 2. Who owns/controls the data your computer-controlled car collects, compiles, and sometimes transmits? The data your computer-controlled car uses to operate nowadays means software that controls virtually everything your car does. The functions this software executes are many and varies widely from model to model, but to name a few pertaining to a gasoline-powered car: • Heating and air conditioning • Engine fuel injection • Throttle position • Emission control systems • Electric windows All of these functions require software - something that tells it what to do - to do anything. All of this software is stored safely inside a memory that is read by the program. This is fine if the software is correct as modern computer memories can be really bulletproof. They are even used in aircraft black boxes designed to survive crash impacts, and most of the time they do. But what if the software is wrong? In most cases, if the software is wrong, you don’t go anywhere. Not only must software content be absolutely correct, it must be aligned correctly in the memory. Software failure can shut down some or all of the car functions. With a software failure, you may not even be allowed to enter or drive your own car. This brings up some really interesting questions, most of which, as far as I know at this time, haven’t been addressed legally. If you own your car, do you also own the software that allows the car to run properly? Could you at some point be forced to pay royalties for the continued use of this software? Let’s define the term “royalty”: A royalty payment is a payment made by one party to another who owns a particular asset, for the right to ongoing use of that asset. Traditionally, it has been assumed if you buy a product with a computer in it, you buy the computer and software too. But this concept has never been codified into law. There have been many cases over the years where the software buyer has had to pay for the continued use of software, but only when the buyer agreed to an ongoing upgrade plan. Accounting software is a good example of this, but other software companies have things like maintenance agreements which accomplish the same purpose. So what is the way around this? I personally don’t and won’t buy cars with computers. Granted, I own a 1993 Suzuki Swift with 405,000 miles on it which has a very basic computer running the throttle body fuel injection, electronic ignition, and emissions controls, but nothing more. Nothing major to fail and leave me stranded somewhere. The other way I believe the industry will (and should) go to at some point is to use the versatility and configurability of computers to service a wide range of car models. For example, all fuel injection electronics have a certain number of inputs and outputs to the injectors. Prewritten software can be downloaded into a memory which defines the functions needed for a certain make and model of car. Remember, with computers, almost everything is definable. And while it makes writing software quite a chore due to all of the detail and testing required, it only needs to be done once. And it can be copied an unlimited number of times. So let’s make the computer work to our advantage. How about having the technology work for us instead of against us? Britt Britt Storkson may be contacted via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com Engine / Machinery Maintenance by: Sullivan-Palatek, Inc. Portable Diesel Driven Air Compressor Technician September 1-3 ~ Michigan City, IN phone: 219-874-2497 www.sullivan-palatek.com/events/ Groundwater / Water Well by: Midwest GeoSciences Group Aquifer Testing for Improving Hydrogeologic Site Characterization September 29-October 1 ~ Fort Collins, CO phone: 763-607-0092 www.midwestgeo.com/courses/ aquifer2026-ftcollins.php Irrigation by: Rain Bird Academy Training September 14-18 ~ Orlando, FL September 14-18 ~ Bellingham, WA September 21-25 ~ Vancouver, WA September 28-October 2 ~ Baton Rouge, LA phone: 800-498-1942 E-mail: training@rainbird.com Pipe by: McElroy University Saddle Fusion Operator Qualification September 22 ~ Broken Arrow, OK Socket Fusion Operator Qualification September 22 ~ Broken Arrow, OK Manual Butt Fusion Operator Qualification September 23 ~ Broken Arrow, OK Medium Diameter Hydraulic Butt Fusion Operator Qualification September 24-25 ~ Broken Arrow, OK Large Diameter Fusion Operator Qualification September 29-30 ~ Broken Arrow, OK phone: 918-836-8611 www.mcelroy.com More education opportunities during events can be found by clicking here online at: worldwidedrillingresource.com Education Connection
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