Deere & Co agrees to pay $99 million to settle ‘right to repair’ lawsuit

Deere & Co. has agreed to a $99 million settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit accusing the company of illegally monopolizing repair services for its agricultural equipment. The lawsuit, filed in 2022, claimed Deere withheld necessary repair software and pressured farmers to use authorized dealers, leading to higher prices. Deere denies wrongdoing but stated the settlement allows them to focus on customer service. The settlement fund will be distributed to class members who paid for repairs between January 10, 2018, and the deal’s approval date, and includes provisions for increased repair resource availability.

This settlement comes as Deere also faces a separate lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleging unfair practices that inflate repair costs and limit farmers’ repair options. Deere has dismissed the FTC’s claims as baseless.

The case is part of a broader “right to repair” movement gaining momentum across various industries, including smartphones and video game consoles, where manufacturers have been accused of restricting independent repairs through software locks and limited access to tools and parts. Lawmakers in several states are considering legislation to address these concerns.

(Source：WTOP)