- John Deere previously restricted tractor repairs to itself and authorized shops, but must now provide farmers with tools, resources, and future updates for repairs.
- In 2025, the FTC sued John Deere for limiting repair access; a settlement requires immediate and continued release of repair resources, with five states monitoring compliance for 10 years.
- A separate farmer-initiated antitrust lawsuit against John Deere resulted in a $99 million settlement with right to repair provisions.
- Computerization in machines enables companies like John Deere to use software licenses to restrict repair, making unauthorized repair potentially criminal.
- John Deere's market dominance gave it control over repair tools, monopolizing repair services—a business model that discourages easily fixable devices.
- The John Deere case highlights the need for right to repair laws, as the settlement will prevent farmers from waiting days or weeks for repairs that hurt crops.
- The principle extends beyond farm equipment: if you can't legally repair what you own, you're dependent on corporations, supporting EFF's advocacy for right to repair laws and exemptions.