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For years, John Deere has made it difficult for farmers to repair their equipment. Today, the Federal Trade Commission announced it will file a lawsuit to stop them. Illinois and Minnesota have the FTC and Attorneys General sued John Deere over unfair labor practices related to repairs.
According to the complaint, Deere unlawfully restricted farmers from repairing their farm equipment. Under this scheme, farmers had to return tractors to authorized John Deere dealers for official repairs.
“Unlawful repair restrictions can be devastating to farmers who rely on affordable and timely repairs to harvest their crops and generate income,” FTC Chair Lina Khan said in a press release about the claim. “Today, the FTC’s action seeks to ensure that America’s farmers are free to repair their equipment or use the repair shops of their choice – reducing costs, preventing disruptive delays, and promoting fair competition for independent repair shops.”
Legal action taken against John Deere brewed for years. Last fall, the FTC announced a case company research on repair practices. It happened repeatedly sued lawyers on the issue by farmers and have long promised to make it easier to repair their machines. He lied.
The basic scheme is this: newer machines made by John Deere have advanced computer systems that kick in when something is done. Even if a farmer makes a major repair on the tractor, the computers lock the tractor out of operation again until an officially licensed repairman turns the software key.
Farmers have been asking for one thing for a long time: access to instructions and tools that allow them to repair their machinery in a timely manner. “Through limited distribution of repair tools, Deere was able to control and limit who could repair farm equipment, which allowed Deere to maintain 100% market share and charge higher prices for all repairs through its network of authorized dealers. requires a fully functional tool.” The FTC said.
This increased the cost of repairing major farm equipment, delayed harvests, and caused an explosion in agriculture. used farm equipment farmers try to buy machines manufactured before John Deere loads them with computers. The lawsuit aims to force Deere to use the same tools as authorized repair shops, allowing farmers to repair their own equipment.
News of the lawsuit was met with universal acclaim by many groups lobbying to force John Deere to make it easier to repair the items.
“Everybody should be allowed to make their own stuff, especially farmers. When farmers can’t access the special software tools they need to diagnose or complete a repair, it means they have to wait for a qualified technician before they can get the job done. Weather does not wait for a dealer’s schedule – delay can mean lost product. It could not only bankrupt the farmer, but raise food prices for everyone,” said Nathan Proctor, director of PIRG’s Right to Repair campaign.
“We should not tolerate companies obstructing repairs. When you buy something, you should be able to do what you want with it,” added Proctor. “The FTC’s enforcement actions will help farmers and anyone else who believes that people can fix their stuff.”
The FTC lawsuit joins a long list of aggressive actions by the Commission against corporate abuse under Khan. Right to repair has been a key issue in the Biden White House, and through both executive orders and FTC lawsuits, DC has been able to rattle off a number of victories for consumers.
