For Mazda vehicle owners using Home Assistant, a popular open-source home automation platform, a handy integration that allowed for seamless connection and control of their cars within their smart homes has abruptly disappeared. This useful tool, created by an independent developer, offered a range of functionalities beyond Mazda’s official app, but has been shut down following a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown notice from the automaker.
Previously, Mazda owners with Home Assistant could leverage an unofficial API integration to achieve impressive levels of car connectivity. Imagine a scenario where your car charger only activates when your Mazda is confirmed to be plugged in, or receiving alerts if you accidentally left your trunk open. One user even automated their charging schedule based on dynamic energy prices, while another created a sophisticated system to check fuel levels before their commute, receive window closure alerts before rain, and remotely start their car in cold weather. The possibilities, as many users discovered, were extensive and often surpassed the capabilities of Mazda’s own application.
Alt text: Screenshot of Home Assistant interface displaying various Mazda vehicle data points like fuel level, location, and sensor status, illustrating the integration’s capabilities before DMCA takedown.
However, this innovative project, largely the work of software developer Brandon Rothweiler in his spare time, caught the attention of Mazda, and not in a positive way. In a DMCA notice directed to GitHub, where Rothweiler hosted the integration’s code, Mazda alleged copyright infringement. The notice claimed Rothweiler’s work:
- Infringed on Mazda’s copyright.
- Used Mazda’s proprietary API information without authorization.
- Duplicated functionalities found in Mazda’s official mobile apps available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Just a day after the DMCA notice was issued, Rothweiler submitted a request to remove the Mazda integration from the Home Assistant core project, citing the legal threat. Home Assistant promptly released an update removing the integration and expressed their disappointment with Mazda’s aggressive approach. They highlighted that Mazda chose to immediately issue a legal notice rather than attempting to communicate with the developer or the Home Assistant team directly. This move has sparked debate within the open-source and car enthusiast communities about the accessibility of car APIs and the rights of independent developers.
Alt text: GitHub comment screenshot showing user “bdraco” questioning Mazda’s copyright infringement claim regarding the Mazda API integration code, wondering if the API itself is being considered copyrighted.
J. Nick Koston, a frequent contributor to Home Assistant, voiced the confusion shared by many. He remarked on GitHub that he couldn’t find any copyrighted Mazda code within the integration’s package, questioning the basis of Mazda’s claims, unless they were asserting copyright over the API itself. Others in the community echoed this sentiment, pointing out that Rothweiler’s integration, built using Python and JavaScript, was unlikely to contain code directly copied from Mazda’s proprietary mobile applications.
The removal of this integration raises significant questions about the future of third-party car API tools and the balance between automaker control and open access for innovation. While Mazda’s DMCA takedown is legally valid, it effectively shuts down a tool that many users found incredibly valuable, hindering the potential for further innovation and user customization within the connected car space. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by independent developers seeking to enhance car functionality through unofficial APIs, and the potential for legal action to stifle such projects.
