The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is investigating Deere & Company over the company’s repair policies.
A filing made public on Thursday, Oct. 17th, by data analytics company Hargrove and Associates seeking to circumvent the agency's subpoena on its market data sent from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. The filing says the FTC investigation started back in September of 2021.
The FTC is focusing on the company’s restrictions on repairing software and hardware in its products—specifically, whether Deere & Company violated the Federal Trade Act’s section 5, which prohibits unfair or deceptive practices affecting commerce.
Deere is also facing lawsuits from farmers on whether its repair policies violate anti-trust laws.
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) sent Deere & Company Board of Directors an oversight letter seeking information on their right to repair policies on October 2nd. The deadline for a response is Thursday, Oct. 17th.
Below is Senator Warren's letter and Hargrove and Associate's filing to the FTC.
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