Right-to-repair extended to John Deere tractors under FTC settlement
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The US Federal Trade Commission, together with five states, has reached a settlement with Deere & Company, the maker of John Deere farm equipment, over allegations that the firm unfairly restricted farmers' ability to repair their own machinery. The regulator, which sued Deere last year, argued that the company's policies forced equipment owners and independent repair providers to pay higher prices for servicing. The outcome is a notable win for the right-to-repair movement, extending the debate beyond consumer electronics into agricultural machinery.
Under the terms, Deere will be required for the next 10 years to give farmers and independent repair providers the same repair resources — including relevant software capabilities — that it currently offers to its authorised dealers. The company will also face reporting and oversight requirements, and the decade-long agreement could be extended if it breaches the terms. Nathan Proctor, of US PIRG's Right to Repair campaign, welcomed the result as "a win for farmers", adding that his group would continue to monitor Deere's compliance.
- FTC and five states settle right-to-repair case with John Deere.
- Deere must share dealer-level repair resources for 10 years.
- Campaigners hail the deal as a win for farmers.
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The FTC first took Deere to court in 2025, accusing the tractor and farm-equipment maker of locking out independent repair shops and farmers themselves by withholding software tools that only its official dealers could access. That meant even simple fixes often needed an authorised technician, adding cost and delay for farmers, particularly during busy planting or harvest periods.
The case has been closely watched because it sits at the centre of the broader "right to repair" movement, which argues that people who own equipment, whether phones, cars or tractors, should be free to fix it themselves or choose an independent repairer rather than being tied to the manufacturer. Deere has long been one of the movement's most prominent targets given how central its machinery is to modern farming.
The Federal Trade Commission is the main US government body responsible for policing unfair business practices, and it brought this case alongside five state governments. Advocacy groups such as US PIRG's Right to Repair campaign have campaigned on the issue for years, framing it as a matter of fairness and cost for farmers who rely on this equipment to run their businesses.
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Originally published by Engadget as “FTC reaches settlement that brings right-to-repair to John Deere farm equipment”.