[phrosty]

In the near future? The EFF is saying it may be illegal right now.

First -- people distributing ROMs, modified or not, are certainly breaking copyright already.

Second -- copyright doesn't allow people to modify the software on their own devices that don't have a supported mechanism to do so. I.e. you can't break a secure system. It was amended to allow this under a few explicit circumstances (like jailbreaking phones) that don't apply to our ECUs. I assume the reason EFF isn't 100% certain of the legalities is that although our ECUs certainly has a standard mechanism to do so, flashing is obviously not intended or supported for enthusiast use.

Third -- less certain here but there are probably additional emissions laws that forbid custom ECUs on the street.