FTC Probing John Deere Over Customers' 'Right To Repair' Equipment

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is investigating farm equipment maker Deere over its repair policies, focusing on whether the company's restrictions on repairs violate customers' "right to repair." Reuters reports: The investigation, authorized on Sept. 2, 2021, focuses on repair restrictions manufacturers place on hardware or software, often referred to by regulators as impeding customers' "right to repair" the goods they purchase. The probe was made public through a filing by data analytics company Hargrove & Associates Inc, which sought to quash an FTC subpoena seeking market data submitted to it by members of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. Neither HAI nor AEM is a target of the FTC probe [...].

The FTC is probing whether Deere violated the Federal Trade Act's section 5, according to the filing. The law prohibits unfair or deceptive practices affecting commerce, and the FTC has recently used it in a broad array of cases, including against Amazon and pharmacy benefit managers.

They keep buying

[Revek]

So I don't care anymore. Quit buying their products. I don't hear about any of the other farm equipment manufacturers doing this. Do they?

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

High-end farm gear is an ecosystem that you buy into and then add pieces to over time. You do not mix-n-match.

Re:

[Revek]

You can buy a 'set' of say Case hardware and start replacing it over time. No way with how long this has been going on they couldn't have dont this.

Re: They keep buying

[Zero__Kelvin]

What stops Case, e.g. from doing the same shit. People who bought John Deer already paid for the equipment they own. You are being ridiculous. Right to Repair isn't only violated by JD, nor is it limited to the farming domain. You may as well suggest that people in high crime areas should just move rather than expect police protection. It shows that you haven't put any thought into this issue at all.

Re:

[codebase7]

Don't give him ideas.

Then again, he probably already makes similar statements anyway, because why should Americans be allowed hold their government / corporations accountable when there's profits to be made? /s

Re:

[Mirddes]

sounds super shit. open ecosystem for farm equipment is a no brainer, the fact that it isn't sounds super toxic and in dire need of regulation.

Re:

[geekmux]

High-end farm gear is an ecosystem that you buy into and then add pieces to over time. You do not mix-n-match.

You don’t mix and match? OK. Sounds like even MORE of a reason for the competition to jump in and offer the entire alternate solution then. At a better price, especially on the maintenance side.

Tell the seasoned sales person they can make commission selling one car, or selling an entire fleet of cars. See which opportunity they jump at.

Re:

[jonwil]

Firstly all the other guys that make farm gear are also anti-right-to-repair (why do you think older easier-to-repair equipment is popular?) and secondly if you already own John Deere equipment, you aren't going to buy your new gear from a competitor.

Re:

[JBeretta]

Does Caterpillar count? Pretty sure they do the exact same thing..

Probing?

[jenningsthecat]

The only "probing" in this case should be the financial, legislative, and punitive equivalent of a studded dildo thrust repeatedly into an eliminatory orifice until the correct future course of action for John Deere becomes abundantly and painfully clear.

Re:

[geekmux]

The only "probing" in this case should be the financial, legislative, and punitive equivalent of a studded dildo thrust repeatedly into an eliminatory orifice until the correct future course of action for John Deere becomes abundantly and painfully clear.

Damn. I’ve heard of being “butthurt” over a purchase before, but this takes it deep to another level.

That was about as graphic as reading a John Deere executive bonus report sponsored by the Field Repair Division, underwritten by the legal department of Dewey, Cheetum, and Howe.

See

[ArchieBunker]

This is what a functioning government looks like.

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

Nothing government does can ever succeed. Elect me and I will prove it! -Republican motto

Not convinced

[hwstar]

Homo sapiens are flawed.

All of this is is with regard to the current US government which I call the "State", Some citizens of other countries will have it better when it comes to how their government operates.

Here are 10 reasons why this is the case:

1. There will always be a lust for power which drives certain individuals to seek it out.
2. People who seek out power tend to be narcissists
3. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. -- Lord Acton
4. People are apathetic. Most of us no longer care what the government

For all of the history...

[MpVpRb]

...of everything ever made or manufactured, it has been mostly possible to repair given sufficient skill. Yeah, some things like broken glass can only be repaired poorly, but some sort of repair has always been possible. Also, almost everything was open source. Students could examine the work of masters to see how it was made.

Technology has now allowed evil corporate overlords to take away a right we have had for centuries. We're not asking for new rights, we're DEMANDING the return of rights we have always

How do they do it?

[chuckugly]

How exactly does the OEM stop customers from repairing the equipment? I think that's an important bit of info the summary leaves out.

Re: How do they do it?

[Zero__Kelvin]

The same way Apple does. All you need to do is only allow modules signed with John Deer's private key. Each component is controlled by firmware which will refuse to work with any component not so signed. Also, turn in your geek card if one has been mistakenly issued to you.

So 3 years later......

[bsdetector101]

What have they done ???

Bah

[iluvcrap2000]

So how many years is this going on? the gov't just doing something about it? The Companies are protecting their product income stream. Any way to screw the consumer. Remember that Sony is doing the purchased media scheme that's actually a "Limited Time Rental" and they time it out and your shit outta luck. How is fair use being done now since VHS tapes are outta use?