The US Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit against farming equipment manufacturer Deere & Company, citing its reluctance to allow customers to fix their own machines. The company’s software restrictions make certain features and calibrations inaccessible to farmers unless they use authorized dealers.
The FTC’s main complaint centers around the limited digital keys that grant access to these restricted features. Only licensed dealers can obtain these keys, leaving farmers with limited repair options. This practice is allegedly anti-competitive and violates US copyright protections.
Deere & Company has refused to comment on the lawsuit but forwarded a statement claiming that its commitment to customer service and equipment quality will not waiver. However, advocacy groups say this case marks an important milestone for the “right to repair” movement, which advocates for companies to make their products more accessible and repairable by consumers.
The lawsuit alleges that Deere’s restrictions have inflated farmers’ repair costs and degraded their ability to obtain timely repairs. A recent expansion of Deere’s repairability program is seen as a step in the right direction, allowing independent technicians to reprogram electronic controllers on Deere equipment.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/ftc-sues-john-deere-over-repairability