John Deere Settles Antitrust Lawsuit Over Right to Repair

On July 8, 2026, Deere & Company reached a 10-year settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the attorneys general of Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The agreement resolves a January 2025 antitrust lawsuit alleging the company unlawfully monopolized the repair market by withholding diagnostic software, technical manuals, and calibration tools, forcing farmers to rely on authorized dealers.

Under the terms, Deere must provide equipment owners and independent technicians with the same resources available to authorized dealers, including electronic fault code resets, software reprogramming capabilities, and access to the DTAC Solutions technical database. The company is prohibited from retaliating against customers who use independent services and must pay $1 million to the five plaintiff states for legal and enforcement costs. This follows a separate $99 million class-action settlement reached in April 2026 to compensate farmers for past overcharges.

FTC officials and state attorneys general characterized the deal as a victory for competition and a means to lower costs for rural communities. Deere executives stated the move reinforces their commitment to customer flexibility and agricultural productivity. The settlement, which does not include an admission of wrongdoing, currently awaits final approval from Judge Iain D. Johnston in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The FTC noted that the application of the Sherman Act in this case may establish a precedent for other industries using software-lock architectures, such as consumer electronics and automotive sectors.