Attorney General of Minnesota Keith Ellison is suing well-known vehicle manufacturer John Deere over farmers ‘ right to repair their own equipment.
In a federal court hearing on Wednesday in Chicago, Ellison joined the Federal Trade Commission and the Illinois solicitor general in accusing Deere &, Co. of engaging in unfair trade practices, citing the stress of producers who are forced to rely on official dealers to repair damaged machines.
According to Ellison,” Deere has made it almost impossible for producers themselves or separate maintenance outlets to fully restore Deere technology.” ” I’m bringing this petition against Deere to put an end to their unlawful repair dominance and make it easier for Minnesota producers to manage their lives.”
John Deere claimed in a speech on Wednesday evening that the lawsuit is “fatally weak legal ideas.”
” This lawsuit, filed on the eve of a change in ( presidential ) Administration, ignores the Company’s long-standing commitment to customer self-repair and the consistent progress and innovation we have made over time”, the company wrote.
The Moline, Illinois-based firm, which since the 1800s has built the tractors and farm technology as popular as dark barns in land region, has been at the middle of a sky of antitrust investigation in farm land in recent years over what has often been called the , “right-to-repair” plan.
The business has previously defended its proprietary technology, preventing independent software developers from using Deere pieces for inspection, and requiring Deere components for repairs. Farmers frequently complain about machines stalling in the fields during spring planting and having to wait days, even weeks, for a certified technician to approach the farmer for maintenance.
In 2023, Colorado passed the initial “right-to-repair” policy, requiring gear manufacturers to help owners or separate repair businesses the ability to restore the manufacturers ‘ machines. Minnesota passed a , related measure , that year but somewhat exempted agricultural products manufacturers from the court’s purview.
In drop 2023, a major standard with the U. S. Department of Justice visited a land outside Cannon Falls, Minn., and spoke on antitrust issues, including the ability of farmers to restore technology they’ve purchased.
The Minnesota Farmers Union’s president, Gary Wertish, said,” This lawsuit represents a crucial step in establishing a more competitive market for farm equipment that will benefit farmers and independent repair technicians.”
The 37-page lawsuit filed on Wednesday asserts that Deere can charge” supracompetitive prices” for breaking the Clayton Antitrust Act and restricting access to “electronic control units,” which are as crucial to turning in tractors in the 21st century as combustion engines. Farmers and independent repair technicians can access Deere equipment thanks to a deal reached with the American Farm Bureau Federation, but the lawsuit refers to this as a “half measure.”
Deere reported profits of$ 7.1 billion in 2024, but the plaintiffs have requested an injunction against the company.
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