John Deere Settles $99M Repair Monopoly Lawsuit

0:00It's April 7th. Global news today starts now, AI-powered and worldwide. I'm Koi with the story. John Deere just dropped $99 million to settle a class-action lawsuit, accusing them of locking farmers out of repairing their own, tractors and gear. The suit claimed the company and his dealers hoarded repair software, forcing folks to pay top dollar at authorized spots instead of fixing things, themselves, or with independence. This deal covers farmers who shelled out for big-age equipment repairs from January 10th, 2018, up to when the court gives preliminary. Okay, it still needs final judge approval, and John Deere also promised better access to diagnostic tools and repair resources to ease things up. Farmers have been hit hard, paying with the suit called Sky High prices in a rigged market. John Deere denies any foul play but says settling lets them zero in on customer service without the drama. Meanwhile, they've got bigger heat from the Federal Trade Commission, who sued in January 2025 over similar unfair repair blocks that jack-up costs and delay fixes.

1:07As right to repair, pushes grow across phones, consoles, and more. This payout signals companies might have to open up those lockdown systems for. Good.