John Deere’s “unfair” practices increased repair costs for farmers and prevented them from being able to repair tractors and other equipment they owned, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleges in a new lawsuit.
The FTC and the attorneys general of Illinois and Minnesota lawsuit filed today in a long-running fight for the right to repair, a battle that has become more heated as Deere incorporates more and more software into farm equipment. The complaint accuses John Deere of “decades” of illegal practices that forced farmers to turn to the company’s own network of authorized dealers for repairs.
“Unlawful restrictions on repairs can be devastating for farmers, who depend on affordable and timely repairs to harvest their crops and earn income,” FTC Chair Lina Khan said in a press release today. “Today’s action by the FTC seeks to ensure that farmers across the United States are free to repair their own equipment or use repair shops of their choice, reducing costs, avoiding ruinous delays, and promoting fair competition for independent repair shops.” .
Deere produced “the only fully functional software repair tool capable of performing all repairs” on its equipment, according to the FTC. The tool was only available to the company’s distributors, who charged higher prices than independent shops. That illegally gave Deere “monopoly power” for certain repair services, the FTC alleges.
Deere says he supports customers’ right to repair equipment. The company signed a memorandum of understanding with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) in January 2023 that was supposed to make its software, tools and documentation available so farmers and independent shops could do their own repairs.
“We are and remain committed to enabling customers to repair the products they purchase,” John Deere Chief Technology Officer Jahmy Hindman said in a 2021 report. Decoder interview.