A federal court has ruled that the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust lawsuit against John Deere may proceed, rejecting the company’s efforts to dismiss the case. The FTC, joined by attorneys general from five states, alleges that Deere unlawfully restricts access to necessary diagnostic tools, thereby preventing farmers and independent repair shops from fixing their equipment.
A U.S. District Judge dismissed Deere’s arguments—such as statute of limitations, lack of standing, and constitutional claims, emphasizing that Deere’s practices, as alleged, leave farmers with no repair alternatives and inflate service costs through exclusive licensing.
The lawsuit originated from a 2022 complaint by the National Farmers Union and state affiliates and was part of a broader push by the Biden administration to support right-to-repair initiatives.
Photo Credit: John Deere Company.
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