more right to repair - JD gonna be in trouble it seems...

[id10t]

Via Slashdot - https://yro.slashdot.org/story/23/12/07/2257237/a-massive-repair-lawsuit-against-john-deere-clears-a-major-hurdle

"A judge rejected John Deere's motion to dismiss a landmark class action lawsuit over the agricultural giant's repair monopolies, paving the way for a trial that will determine whether the company's repair practices are illegal. The case will specifically examine whether Deere has engaged in a "conspiracy" in which Deere and its dealerships have driven up the cost of repair while preventing independent and self-repair of tractors that farmers own.

In a forceful, 89-page memorandum, U.S. District Court Judge Iain Johnson wrote that the founder of John Deere "was an innovative farmer and blacksmith who -- with his own hands -- fundamentally changed the agricultural industry." Deere the man "would be deeply disappointed in his namesake corporation" if the plaintiffs can ultimately prove their antitrust allegations against Deere the company, which are voluminous and well-documented. Reuters first reported on Johnson's memo.

At issue are the many tactics Deere has used to make it more difficult and often impossible for farmers to repair their own tractors, from software locks and "parts pairing" that prevent farmers from replacing parts without the authorization of a Deere dealership. "Only Deere and Dealer authorized technicians have access to the Repair Tools, and Deere withholds these resources from farmers and independent repair shops," Johnson wrote."

[john70t]

Don't buy it. Simple as that. I tol u bois a decade or two ago. A company can sell what it wants, but the antitrust and contractual issues remain in the grey sphere imo. There must be a reason other than buyer's remorse.

But when the bulk of mftrs team up against the consumer:
https://www.vehicleservicepros.com/industry-news/news/53066083/auto-care-alliance-auto-care-alliance-expresses-opposition-to-recent-move-by-asa-and-scrs
The agreement that was struck in 2014 as the initial memorandum of understanding between the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, Coalition for Auto Repair Equality, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, and Association of Global Automakers has not demonstrated that its enforcement mechanism has been honored by the parties, despite requests for dispute resolution.

The spyware is the 600lb gorilla in the room:
https://www.wired.com/story/right-to-repair-cars-hackers/
But since then, the auto business has shifted online, and almost every new car these days comes with a telematics system that collects data on its operation—including how fast it’s moving, where it’s going, how hard its driver is braking, and whether everything in the car is working correctly. This data can be transmitted wirelessly, and some automakers no longer build the onboard port into their vehicles, arguing they don’t need it anymore.

[Zeke]

There are some practical issues at stake here. This is not a new situation but a dire situation where a major piece of harvesting machinery sits in a field of ready to harvest crops and won't move, even in a limp mode. And the farmer is at the mercy of the dealer and manufacturer to get his machine in working order when it only needed a minor non critical part. Like cab A/C or something not inherently dangerous to the crops or operator(s).

You can hamstring someone just so much. When a half a million dollar machine ends up costing you another million in crop loss, you are going to get angry with the system.

[1990C4S]

It's not like the buyers are unaware of JD's business practices. They want it both ways. They want the JD product, but not the restrictions that come with the purchase.

I find it laughable that a judge would pretend to know how the original owner would feel about current business practices. I suspect that Henry Ford would be agreeable, as long as it made them lots of money.