STATEMENT: FTC investigates John Deere for restricting repair

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After PIRG and allies filed a complaint, court documents reveal that the FTC is actively pursuing the tractor giant for their approach to Right to Repair

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two and a half years after U.S. PIRG, along with farmers’ unions, farm advocacy groups and right to repair advocates, filed an official complaint against John Deere, court documents reveal that the company is being investigated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). According to reporting from Bloomberg, the FTC requested data related to unfair or deceptive practices related to “the repair of agricultural equipment,” documented in court filings. 

The legal complaint, filed by Fairmark Partners, was based on research by U.S. PIRG into how Deere prevents farmers from repairing their own equipment, pushing them to use dealership repair services instead. 

In response, U.S. PIRG Senior Right to Repair Campaign Director Nathan Proctor made the following statement: 

“We are grateful that the FTC has taken our complaint seriously and is investigating Deere’s conduct. We should be able to fix our own stuff. When farmers can’t access the proprietary software tools which are required to diagnose or complete repairs, that means they have to wait for an authorized technician before they can finish their work. The weather doesn’t wait on a dealership’s schedule — a delay could mean the loss of your harvest. 

“Today’s news that the FTC is investigating repair restrictions is good news for farmers, and everyone else who believes people should be able to fix their stuff.”

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