John Deere faces U.S. lawsuit over farmers' ability to repair tractors

[Kaz]

Quote

 

Tractor maker John Deere faces a federal lawsuit that accuses the company of illegally forcing farmers to use only authorized dealers for critical repairs, boosting its multibillion-dollar profits.

The lawsuit — filed on Wednesday by the Federal Trade Commission along with Illinois and Minnesota — escalates a long-running battle over farmers' right to repair their own agricultural equipment and parts.

As tractors and combines have gotten more computerized, farmers have complained that Deere has restricted access to its software and made it difficult, or nearly impossible, for owners to diagnose and fix problems themselves or with the help of independent mechanics. Instead, farmers have to use authorized dealers, who tend to charge more and may take longer.

 

John Deere faces U.S. lawsuit over farmers' ability to repair tractors

WWW.NPR.ORG

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The Federal Trade Commission and two states accuse Deere of costing farmers time and money by unfairly limiting software access and forcing the...

 

Louis Rossman must be dancing right now, he's fought so hard to push right to repair.  Obviously, it's a lawsuit that will take some time, and who knows what sneaky ways they will figure out to circumvent the exact language used to curtail their behaviour.  Wouldn't it be great if you could just take your car to a mechanic when it needs to be fixed?  Tractor owners think so!

[LabRat]

FINALLY!

I'm from where JD is from, and TBQH, it's become kind of an embaressment. 
Once, *the* agricultural industrial equipment provider. Now, fleecing farmers barely making it season-to-season...