Trade Commission Probes Deere Over Right to Repair

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is investigating Deere & Co. to determine whether the tractor giant’s equipment repair policies violate consumer protection laws, according to a public filing.

The investigation, which began in 2021, is focused on repair restrictions placed on equipment hardware and any software, filings show. The probe was made public last week after data analytics company Hargrove & Associates Inc moved to quash an FTC subpoena associated with the case.
Deere said in a statement to Agriculture Dive that it is “cooperating with the FTC” and cannot provide further comment during an ongoing investigation.

The FTC is investigating whether Deere violated Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, which prohibits companies from misleading consumers or engaging in unfair practices that affect commerce. Nathan Proctor, PIRG’s U.S. senior right-to-repair campaign director, said in a statement the investigation is “good news for farmers.”

Source: AgricultureDive.com