John Deere agrees to expand repair access after disputing the FTC's monopoly allegations
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Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
The FTC and states alleged that Deere reserved fully functional repair software for authorized dealers, raising costs and delaying repairs. Deere disputed that account. In July 2026, the parties announced an agreement expanding access to repair tools.
Read the full background
The January 2025 lawsuit concerned access to full-function diagnostic and repair capabilities, not whether farmers could perform any repairs themselves. Deere pointed to existing tools and planned improvements. The July 8, 2026 settlement announcement describes ten years of dealer-equivalent access on fair and reasonable terms. The agreement does not establish the original allegations through a trial finding, and announced obligations are distinct from demonstrated compliance.
People in this case
Andrew N. FergusonCommented
Keith EllisonCommented
Kris MayesCommented
Josh KaulCommented
Timeline
2 timeline entries on this page. Dates: January 15, 2025 to July 8, 2026
January 2025
FTC and states sue Deere over repair-tool access
FTC and state plaintiffs sued Deere over restricted access to repair software. Deere disputed the allegations. Commissioners Andrew Ferguson and Melissa Holyoak dissented from filing the complaint, citing its timing, the evidence and ongoing settlement talks, while supporting right-to-repair legislation.
[01]Federal Trade Commission
The FTC alleges that Deere withheld fully functional repair software from farmers and independent shops, increasing dependence on authorized dealers. Deere disputes the allegations.
FTC and states sue Deere over repair restrictions · Federal Trade CommissionComplaint announcement and description of Service ADVISOR access[02]John Deere
Deere rejects the complaint's factual and legal premises and describes self-repair resources it says it already provides or is developing.
Deere responds to the FTC's January 2025 complaint · John DeereOpening response to the complaint; existing and proposed repair tools[03]Ferguson and Holyoak dissent from filing the Deere complaint
The commissioners support repair rights but oppose filing at this stage on procedural, evidentiary and settlement-negotiation grounds.
Ferguson and Holyoak dissent from filing the Deere complaintJoint dissent, pages 2-3
July 2026
FTC and Deere announce a repair-access agreement
The announced terms provide for ten years of dealer-equivalent repair resources on fair and reasonable terms. Deere described the agreement as reinforcing its repair commitment. The announcement is distinct from proof of compliance.
[04]Federal Trade Commission
The announced settlement provides for ten years of dealer-equivalent repair resources on fair and reasonable terms. The FTC states that a stipulated order takes effect as law when approved and signed by the district judge.
FTC announces July 2026 repair-access settlement with Deere · Federal Trade CommissionAnnounced terms, commission vote and judicial-approval note[05]John Deere
Deere describes the agreement as reinforcing its existing commitment to repair options and expanding access. This is the company's account of the agreement, not an admission of the original allegations.
Deere describes its July 2026 repair-access agreement · John DeereCompany announcement and Denver Caldwell's comments[06]Paul Weiss analysis of the FTC-Deere settlement
The analysis separates the government settlement from the parallel private action and explains the repair-aftermarket theory. The denial of Deere's pleading motion was not a trial finding of liability.
Paul Weiss analysis of the FTC-Deere settlementGovernment allegations, pleading-stage decision and settlement terms
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
Federal Trade Commission
Deere's restrictions on fully functional repair resources unlawfully increased repair costs and dependence on authorized dealers.
Sources (1)
- FTC and states sue Deere over repair restrictions · Federal Trade CommissionComplaint announcement and description of Service ADVISOR access
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
12 responses. First 6 shown initially. Newest first.
Mark R. MeadorFTC commissioner addressing National Farmers Union Before this statement
Meador discusses Deere's repair restrictions and the July settlement's parity, nonretaliation and compliance provisions.
"farmers were often forced to use Deere’s authorized dealers,"
CondemnedCase context: John Deere agrees to expand repair access after disputing the FTC's monopoly allegations
Full statement and sources
Meador supports repair access that includes future software and diagnostic tools rather than a remedy limited to today's technology.
After the statement
Meador says Deere must report compliance and explain new dealer tools released without equivalent plans for owners and independent repair providers.
Mark Meador discusses Deere and farmers' repair rightsFarmers' Right to Repair, section IV, pages 4-6Why this label?
Meador criticizes restrictions that force farmers into Deere's dealer network and argues for equivalent access that keeps pace with new tools. His criticism addresses the repair restrictions under scrutiny.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Andrew N. FergusonFTC chair, in a statement joined by Mark MeadorBefore this statement
Ferguson's July 8 statement recalls his procedural dissent from the complaint and his support for a settlement providing tangible relief.
"farmers will no longer have to pay increasingly exorbitant costs and endure service delays"
CondemnedCase context: John Deere agrees to expand repair access after disputing the FTC's monopoly allegations
Full statement and sources
Ferguson supports equal repair-tool access for farmers and independent shops, arguing it will end excessive costs and service delays.
After the statement
The statement requires equivalent repair resources on fair and reasonable terms and extends access to qualifying future tools.
Ferguson and Meador support the Deere repair-access settlementJoint statement, concluding discussionWhy this label?
Ferguson criticizes costly dependence on Deere dealers and supports equivalent tools for farmers and independent shops. That criticism targets the restrictions, despite his earlier opposition to filing the suit.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Keith EllisonMinnesota attorney generalBefore this statement
Minnesota's attorney general announced the July 8 repair-access settlement with Deere.
"John Deere’s illegal practice of preventing farmers from repairing their own equipment"
CondemnedCase context: John Deere agrees to expand repair access after disputing the FTC's monopoly allegations
Full statement and sources
Ellison welcomes the settlement as relief from restrictions he says raised farmers' costs and hurt independent repair businesses.
After the statement
The release describes equivalent repair resources and ten years of oversight under the government agreement.
Keith Ellison welcomes Deere right-to-repair settlementAttributed statementWhy this label?
Ellison calls Deere's repair restrictions illegal and harmful to farmers and independent businesses. His welcome for the settlement accompanies direct criticism of the restrictions.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Kris MayesArizona attorney generalBefore this statement
Arizona announced a settlement resolving allegations that Deere illegally restricted farmers and independent repair shops.
"This settlement puts control back where it belongs: in the hands of the people who own the equipment."
CondemnedCase context: John Deere agrees to expand repair access after disputing the FTC's monopoly allegations
Full statement and sources
Mayes criticizes what she calls Deere's monopoly over repair tools and welcomes returning repair control to equipment owners.
After the statement
The release describes equivalent repair resources, protections against retaliation and ten years of oversight.
Kris Mayes welcomes Deere repair-access settlementAttributed statementWhy this label?
Mayes says farmers and mechanics have been at the mercy of Deere's repair-tool monopoly. That is direct criticism of the restrictions, not merely praise for the agreement.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Josh KaulWisconsin attorney generalBefore this statement
Wisconsin announced a settlement expanding farmers' and independent shops' access to Deere repair resources.
"Farmers shouldn’t have to go to a dealership"
CondemnedCase context: John Deere agrees to expand repair access after disputing the FTC's monopoly allegations
Full statement and sources
Kaul opposes dealer-only repair dependence and welcomes the settlement for giving farmers more options.
After the statement
The release describes equivalent repair resources and a ten-year order.
Josh Kaul welcomes expanded Deere repair optionsJuly 8 release, page 1Why this label?
Kaul opposes dealer-only repair dependence and welcomes the settlement for giving farmers more options.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Rob LarewNational Farmers Union president Before this statement
National Farmers Union welcomed the settlement resolving the government's challenge to Deere's repair restrictions.
"Farmers across the country refused to stay quiet about this injustice."
CondemnedCase context: John Deere agrees to expand repair access after disputing the FTC's monopoly allegations
Full statement and sources
Larew welcomes relief from Deere's restrictions and argues that all farmers need permanent legal repair rights, regardless of equipment brand or state.
After the statement
Larew also calls for a permanent, nationwide law covering farmers regardless of their state or equipment brand.
Rob Larew welcomes Deere settlement and seeks a nationwide repair lawAttributed statementWhy this label?
Larew describes farmers' lack of repair rights as an injustice and says they should have had those rights all along. His call for a nationwide law extends that opposition to repair restrictions.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Show fewer responses
Dana NesselMichigan attorney generalBefore this statement
Michigan joined the FTC and other states in challenging Deere's repair-software restrictions.
"Deere has deliberately designed a system that forces Michigan farmers to depend on the company"
CondemnedCase context: John Deere agrees to expand repair access after disputing the FTC's monopoly allegations
Full statement and sources
Nessel condemns Deere's restrictions as forcing farmers into dependence on the company and raising repair costs.
After the statement
Nessel alleges that the system forces farmers to use Deere's authorized dealers and violates Michigan antitrust law.
Dana Nessel joins Deere repair-monopoly lawsuitAttributed statementWhy this label?
Nessel condemns Deere's restrictions as forcing farmers into dependence on the company and raising repair costs.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Federal Trade CommissionFederal Trade Commission, announcing a lawsuit with Illinois and MinnesotaDirectly involvedBefore this statement
The complaint distinguishes dealer-only full-function tools from more limited customer tools.
"Action: Filed an antitrust lawsuit challenging Deere's restrictions on fully functional repair tools."
CondemnedCase context: John Deere agrees to expand repair access after disputing the FTC's monopoly allegations
Full statement and sources
The FTC alleges that Deere's restrictions increase repair costs and delays and unlawfully protect its authorized-dealer network.
After the statement
The original allegations were disputed by Deere; the parties later announced a settlement.
FTC and states sue Deere over repair restrictions · Federal Trade CommissionComplaint announcement and description of Service ADVISOR accessDeere responds to the FTC's January 2025 complaint · John DeereOpening response to the complaint; existing and proposed repair toolsFTC announces July 2026 repair-access settlement with Deere · Federal Trade CommissionAnnounced terms, commission vote and judicial-approval noteWhy this label?
The reference is Deere's repair-tool restrictions. The FTC challenges those restrictions as unlawful and harmful.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
John DeereDeere & Company, official response to the FTC complaintDirectly involvedBefore this statement
The FTC and states had sued over access to fully functional repair software.
"The complaint is based on flagrant misrepresentations of the facts and fatally flawed legal theories"
DeniedCase context: John Deere agrees to expand repair access after disputing the FTC's monopoly allegations
Full statement and sources
Deere calls the FTC complaint factually and legally flawed and says it punishes innovation.
After the statement
Deere described existing tools and future capabilities. Those claims do not themselves establish dealer-equivalent access.
Deere responds to the FTC's January 2025 complaint · John DeereOpening response to the complaint; existing and proposed repair toolsWhy this label?
The reference is the alleged unlawful repair restrictions. Deere explicitly rejects the complaint's factual premises and legal theory.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Lina KhanFTC chair when the complaint was filedBefore this statement
Khan issued this statement when the FTC filed its complaint against Deere.
"Unfair repair restrictions can mean farmers face unnecessary delays during tight planting and harvest windows."
CondemnedCase context: John Deere agrees to expand repair access after disputing the FTC's monopoly allegations
Full statement and sources
Khan says unfair repair restrictions can delay farmers' repairs during planting and harvest.
After the statement
She says repair delays can erase farmers' income.
Lina Khan statement supporting the Deere lawsuitSigned statement, pages 1-4Why this label?
Khan calls the repair restrictions unfair and criticizes their effects on farmers' ability to make timely repairs.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
- Andrew N. FergusonFTC commissioner, in a dissent joined by Melissa Holyoak
Before this statement
The FTC complaint alleged that Deere restricted access to fully functional repair software.
"I recognize that the right to repair one’s own equipment matters a great deal. And I favor right-to-repair legislation. ... But I must dissent from the filing of today’s Complaint on three procedural grounds."
Mixed or conditionalCase context: John Deere agrees to expand repair access after disputing the FTC's monopoly allegations
Full statement and sources
Ferguson, joined by Holyoak, supports repair rights but opposes filing the complaint on timing, evidence and settlement-negotiation grounds.
After the statement
Ferguson favors settling only if the agreement provides real benefits to farmers. His objections concern the filing's timing, evidentiary basis and effect on negotiations.
Ferguson and Holyoak dissent from filing the Deere complaintJoint dissent, pages 2-3Why this label?
Relative to the FTC's allegation that Deere's repair restrictions were unlawful, Ferguson neither defends nor condemns the restrictions. He backs repair rights and a settlement that gives farmers real benefits, but opposes the suit itself and says the evidence is too thin to file with confidence. We labeled it Mixed or conditional because his support for the complaint's goal and his opposition to filing it are materially different positions.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Kwame RaoulIllinois attorney generalBefore this statement
Raoul joined the FTC and Minnesota in suing Deere over repair restrictions.
"farmers should have increased flexibility to repair and maintain their equipment"
CondemnedCase context: John Deere agrees to expand repair access after disputing the FTC's monopoly allegations
Full statement and sources
Raoul condemns forcing farmers to rely on expensive authorized dealers and supports access to fully functional repair tools.
After the statement
The release alleges that reserving fully functional software for authorized dealers raises costs and delays repairs.
Kwame Raoul announces Deere repair-restriction lawsuitRaoul's attributed statementWhy this label?
Raoul condemns forcing farmers to rely on expensive authorized dealers and supports access to fully functional repair tools.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(15)
Official statement
FTC and states sue Deere over repair restrictions
Relevant passage: Complaint announcement and description of Service ADVISOR access
About this source
The FTC alleges that Deere withheld fully functional repair software from farmers and independent shops, increasing dependence on authorized dealers. Deere disputes the allegations.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Rob Larew welcomes Deere settlement and seeks a nationwide repair law
Relevant passage: Attributed statement
About this source
Larew welcomes the FTC-state settlement and argues that manufacturer-specific relief should be followed by a permanent national repair law.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Mark Meador discusses Deere and farmers' repair rights
Relevant passage: Farmers' Right to Repair, section IV, pages 4-6
About this source
Meador discusses equipment-repair restrictions, aftermarket competition and the July government settlement. His speech distinguishes the ability to choose equipment from the ability to switch after purchase.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Dana Nessel joins Deere repair-monopoly lawsuit
Relevant passage: Attributed statement
About this source
Nessel criticizes Deere's software restrictions and joins the FTC and other states in seeking an antitrust remedy.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Josh Kaul welcomes expanded Deere repair options
Relevant passage: July 8 release, page 1
About this source
The Wisconsin DOJ release attributes to Kaul support for repair choice and the government settlement.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Kris Mayes welcomes Deere repair-access settlement
Relevant passage: Attributed statement
About this source
Mayes criticizes restricted repair-tool access and supports the agreement's owner access and nonretaliation provisions.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Ferguson and Meador support the Deere repair-access settlement
Relevant passage: Joint statement, concluding discussion
About this source
Ferguson supports the settlement and retains his earlier criticism of filing the suit. Meador joins the statement. It addresses tool parity, future resources and enforcement.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Keith Ellison welcomes Deere right-to-repair settlement
Relevant passage: Attributed statement
About this source
Ellison welcomes expanded repair access and connects the agreement to farmers' costs and independent repair businesses. The release distinguishes the government agreement from private damages litigation.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Kwame Raoul announces Deere repair-restriction lawsuit
Relevant passage: Raoul's attributed statement
About this source
Raoul supports the complaint and access to fully functional repair resources as a competition remedy.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Ferguson and Holyoak dissent from filing the Deere complaint
Relevant passage: Joint dissent, pages 2-3
About this source
The commissioners support repair rights but oppose filing at this stage on procedural, evidentiary and settlement-negotiation grounds.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Lina Khan statement supporting the Deere lawsuit
Relevant passage: Signed statement, pages 1-4
About this source
Khan supports the antitrust complaint and argues that repair restrictions create costs, delay and loss of choice. These are enforcement allegations rather than trial findings.
- Published
- Accessed
Analysis
Paul Weiss analysis of the FTC-Deere settlement
Relevant passage: Government allegations, pleading-stage decision and settlement terms
About this source
The analysis separates the government settlement from the parallel private action and explains the repair-aftermarket theory. The denial of Deere's pleading motion was not a trial finding of liability.
- Author
- Paul, Weiss
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Deere describes its July 2026 repair-access agreement
Relevant passage: Company announcement and Denver Caldwell's comments
About this source
Deere describes the agreement as reinforcing its existing commitment to repair options and expanding access. This is the company's account of the agreement, not an admission of the original allegations.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
FTC announces July 2026 repair-access settlement with Deere
Relevant passage: Announced terms, commission vote and judicial-approval note
About this source
The announced settlement provides for ten years of dealer-equivalent repair resources on fair and reasonable terms. The FTC states that a stipulated order takes effect as law when approved and signed by the district judge.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Deere responds to the FTC's January 2025 complaint
Relevant passage: Opening response to the complaint; existing and proposed repair tools
About this source
Deere rejects the complaint's factual and legal premises and describes self-repair resources it says it already provides or is developing.
- Published
- Accessed
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- The Dispute Index
- Title
- John Deere agrees to expand repair access after disputing the FTC's monopoly allegations
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- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/john-deere-repair-software-restrictions-ftc-settlement
The Dispute Index. "John Deere agrees to expand repair access after disputing the FTC's monopoly allegations". First published: 2026-10-17. Last updated: 2026-10-17. https://disputeindex.com/cases/john-deere-repair-software-restrictions-ftc-settlement