The FTC’s settlement requires Deere—for the next 10 years and under the supervision of the FTC and plaintiff states—to provide farmers and independent repair providers with the same equipment repair resources, including applicable software capabilities, that it currently provides to authorized Deere dealers.
So supposedly this is standard time period that FTC stimulates during settlements. Its really moreso the FTC doesn’t want to commit to monitoring it for more than 10 years. The idea is that if in 2036 they’ve gotten to healthily competing spot, then they’ll loosen their monitoring grip; if not, then they’ll keep the grip.
That’s a lot more benefit of the doubt than I’m comfortable handing mega corps or the FTC, but I’m glad the farmers got at least that much.
I heard this from a source I’d call (at best) somewhat reliable, so if there’s evidence of similar-ish cases that hold for longer spans of time, I’d love to hear about it.
Not really… pretty sure I saw somewhere else saying this is only for 10 years, then it’s back to the same old shit.
Yup. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/07/ftc-states-secure-settlement-deere-company-advancing-farmers-right-repair
So supposedly this is standard time period that FTC stimulates during settlements. Its really moreso the FTC doesn’t want to commit to monitoring it for more than 10 years. The idea is that if in 2036 they’ve gotten to healthily competing spot, then they’ll loosen their monitoring grip; if not, then they’ll keep the grip.
That’s a lot more benefit of the doubt than I’m comfortable handing mega corps or the FTC, but I’m glad the farmers got at least that much.
I heard this from a source I’d call (at best) somewhat reliable, so if there’s evidence of similar-ish cases that hold for longer spans of time, I’d love to hear about it.