John Deere sued by FTC over equipment repair practices

The Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday sued Deere & Company, a leading agricultural equipment manufacturer, accusing it of unfairly preventing farmers from repairing their equipment themselves or through independent shops, thereby increasing costs for farmers.

The lawsuit represents a notable sign of federal support for a grassroots “right to repair” movement that has long called for legislation requiring companies, particularly those that make tech gadgets that use computer chips, to remove proprietary restrictions on repairs.

“Restrictions on illegal repairs can be devastating to farmers, who rely on affordable and timely repairs to harvest their crops and earn their income,” FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan said in a statement announcing the lawsuit that the agency filed alongside the FTC. attorneys general of Illinois and Minnesota.

The company, known for its green and yellow John Deere products, has become more heavily dependent on computerized components in recent decades. As part of the change, it took steps to ensure that only its authorized dealers could have access to a software tool needed for many farm equipment repairs, according to the FTC’s lawsuit, which seeks to end this which the agency considers to be anticompetitive behavior.

In opposing right-to-repair laws passed in several states, manufacturers have argued that allowing access to software could raise security concerns and lead to intellectual property theft.

Deere did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit. On Tuesday, the company announced it was taking additional steps to strengthen customers’ ability to repair their equipment.