The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), along with the attorneys general for Illinois and Minnesota, has filed a lawsuit against John Deere, accusing the agricultural equipment giant of engaging in unfair practices that force farmers to pay excessive repair costs. The lawsuit is part of the ongoing right-to-repair movement, which advocates for consumers’ right to fix their own products or use independent repair services.
Unfair Repair Restrictions
The complaint alleges that John Deere has engaged in practices that prevent farmers from making repairs to equipment they own. These practices include incorporating proprietary software into machinery, essentially locking it from being fixed by anyone other than authorized technicians. The FTC claims these actions push farmers toward the company’s official dealer network for repairs, which reportedly charge higher-than-average prices for service.
“Illegal repair restrictions can be devastating for farmers, who rely on affordable and timely repairs to harvest their crops and earn their income,” said FTC Chair Lina Khan in a press release. She stressed that the lawsuit aims to protect farmers’ right to repair their own equipment or to choose independent repair shops without fear of financial exploitation.
Software Locking Practices
According to the lawsuit, Deere makes the only fully functional software repair tool capable of performing all necessary repairs, but this tool is restricted to official dealers. The suit claims that this gives Deere unlawful monopoly power, as farmers are forced to rely on the dealer network for repairs, even for basic tasks that could be done independently. The company allegedly locks out the equipment’s internal systems until an officially licensed technician unlocks them—often with a simple software switch.
Promises of Reform Not Met
Despite signing a 2023 memorandum of understanding with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) to provide greater repair access to farmers and independent shops, the lawsuit argues that Deere continues to withhold the necessary tools, perpetuating its repair monopoly.
The lawsuit seeks to force John Deere to provide access to its software repair tools and other resources to independent repair shops, aiming to put an end to the company’s anticompetitive behavior. Nathan Proctor, Director of the PIRG’s Right to Repair Campaign, emphasized that consumers should not be deprived of their right to repair: “When you buy something, you should be able to do whatever you want with it.”
For further information, read the full article on Engadget here.