"John Deere has kept tight control over how its customers can fix or tinker with its equipment by disallowing access via software restrictions or requiring machines to be brought to approved shops for repair. That has left thousands of farmers to deal with delayed harvests and millions of dollars in lost profits while waiting for an approved fix."
"Right-to-repair is almost a misnomer. This is the fight about ownership rights. What the farmers alleged is that John Deere changed the rules on them once they purchased their tractors and other farming equipment."
John Deere announced a $99 million settlement for a class action lawsuit accusing it of monopolizing the repair market for its equipment. The settlement fund will compensate customers who paid for dealership repairs since 2018. Additionally, John Deere will increase access to repair tools and services for the next decade. The company's restrictive practices have hindered farmers' ability to repair their equipment, contributing to delays and financial losses. This situation has fueled the right-to-repair movement, prompting legal actions and advocacy for ownership rights.
Read at WIRED
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