FTC vs. Deere
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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), along with attorneys general from Illinois and Minnesota, filed a lawsuit against John Deere manufacturer Deere and Company on Jan. 15, charging the agriculture machinery giant with engaging in practices that allegedly force farmers to rely on its authorized dealers for critical equipment repairs.
According to the FTC’s complaint, these alleged tactics have inflated costs for American farmers and deprived them of the ability to quickly fix the tractors and combines they depend on for planting and harvesting.
The lawsuit alleged that Deere holds monopoly power in certain repair services for its own agricultural equipment, partly because of its exclusive control over a fully functional software repair tool called “Service ADVISOR.”The FTC alleged that Deere limits distribution of this tool to authorized dealers only, preventing farmers and independent repair shops from making the same range of repairs that official dealers can perform.
An alternative version of the software—Customer Service ADVISOR—is said to be incapable of offering the same level of functionality, creating what the commission describes as an unlawful chokehold on essential farm equipment repairs.
“Illegal repair restrictions can be devastating for farmers, who rely on affordable and timely repairs to harvest their crops and earn their income,” FTC Chair Lina Khan said in a statement announcing the suit. “The FTC’s action today seeks to ensure that farmers across America are free to repair their own equipment or use repair shops of their choice—lowering costs, preventing ruinous delays, and promoting fair competition for independent repair shops.”
For the rest: https://www.theepochtimes.com/business/ftc-and-states-sue-john-deere-over-alleged-repair-monopoly-5792695
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I thought this had been going on for the while and wasn't there some US court case that gave the "right to repair"?
I remember @Larry talking about it.
EDIT: Here is one forum thread on it. Not exactly the one I am thinking of
https://nodebb.the-new-coffee-room.club/topic/10359/right-to-repair/2?_=1737033033630
