this post was submitted on 20 Jan 2025
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Right to Repair

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Whether it be electronics, automobiles or medical equipment, the manufacturers should not be able to horde “oem” parts, render your stuff useless if you repair it with aftermarket parts, or hide schematics of their products.

I Fix It Repair Manifesto

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Anti-paywall link: https://www.wired.com/story/ftc-sues-john-deere-over-repairability/

Today the US Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against farming equipment manufacturer Deere & Company—makers of the iconic green John Deere tractors, harvesters, and mowers—citing its longtime reluctance to keep its customers from fixing their own machines.

“Farmers rely on their agricultural equipment to earn a living and feed their families,” FTC chair Lina Khan wrote in a statement alongside the full complaint. “Unfair repair restrictions can mean farmers face unnecessary delays during tight planting and harvest windows.”

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[–] LovableSidekick 1 points 1 hour ago

The Trump Supreme Court has entered the chat.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

There are several republican members who were once farmers so I hope this doesn't get dropped.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I'm guessing Deere will just ~~bribe~~ lobby the new administration to make the fight reset.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 day ago

They'll just 'invest' a few million dollars into the Trump shitcoin and magically the FTC will back down.

[–] frunch 12 points 21 hours ago

I imagine they'll do all the legwork and put forth a tight case. Then none of it will matter and the whole thing will get tossed because reasons

[–] Cris_Color 22 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I expect the new FTC chair will toss this when they get into office, but I guess we'll have to see how things play out

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago

probably. diaperking don't care about the farmer vote, but the big companies can still cut checks.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago (2 children)

What farming equipment does Europe use?

It feels like this won't fly in the EU

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 hour ago

John Deer from talking with my German farming friend

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Claas and Deutz would be the biggest ones ig

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Why don't farmers switch to them? I assume there are laws preventing it, it sounds like JD have a monopoly in the US else farmers would switch

[–] chonglibloodsport 2 points 1 hour ago

Are you asking why American farmers who want to repair their own stuff don’t switch to European equipment?

All the parts would be in metric!

[–] jqubed 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

IIRC a mixture of inertia (“we’ve always used John Deere”) and some specialty equipment/attachments that only they make and would not necessarily work with other brands

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago

At some point continuing to use a product that abuses you is just your own fault.

I hope a movement starts where they start switching, JD will conform very quickly if their sales tank.