- The complete crack of Deere's firmware in 2022 must have had some impact on this.
https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/16/john_deere_doom/
Edit: 'Sick Codes confirmed that he believes John Deere failed to comply with its GPL obligations. "I'd love for them to come forward and explain how they are in compliance," he said.'
- I live in a wine region in central Calif where everyone has a tractor. We bought a Kubota, enjoy using it and get a lot of work done with it. We have a neighbor that bought a new John Deere and for about a 3 month period we endured nothing but abuse from him because we didn't buy "American". Then his problems started...
by causality0
6 subcomments
- One of the most user-hostile companies on earth. My John Deere lawnmower came with a fuel gauge that runs off a CR2032 that's embedded in epoxy. The battery runs out of charge in about six months and the gauge stops working. If you saw the gauge open and replace the battery it doesn't start working again. If you disconnect the gauge the lawnmower won't start. Replacement gauges are $60.
- The second paragraph likely answers some of your immediate questions
> The settlement also includes an agreement by Deere to provide “the digital tools required for the maintenance, diagnosis, and repair” of tractors, combines, and other machinery for 10 years. That part is crucial, as farmers previously resorted to hacking their own equipment’s software just to get it up and running again. John Deere signed a memorandum of understanding in 2023 that partially addressed those concerns, providing third parties with the technology to diagnose and repair, as long as its intellectual property was safeguarded. Monday’s settlement seems to represent a much stronger (and legally binding) step forward.
- This is woefully inadequate as a remedy. The dollar amount is minuscule and the remedy time limited. Seems like they just got a license to continue business as usual.
- Woah, childs play money for the amount of pain, lock in, and money they’ve cost farmers.
by SilverElfin
2 subcomments
- Seems like a small price for a big company. Shouldn’t there be some higher punitive fine for even trying this tactic? It’s basically zero cost for companies to be abusive.
by Dead_Lemon
3 subcomments
- It surprised me that farmers aren't just ditching John Deere for alternatives that respect them.
Visiting family on their farm in the early 2000's, they had been selling off their John Deere tractors and replacing them with Massey Ferguson, because they were annoyed with the poor servicing and parts delivery they had with their local shop/dealership. Way before this right to repair stuff happened.
- Farmer here. We only run equipment made before 2000 and all of our tractors are from the 1980s. We badly need right to repair.
by gettingoverit
0 subcomment
- So basically they got fined a cost of single tractor repair, and it didn't even create a legal precedent due to settlement? Someone believed that "will make available" has any consequences, given decades-long tradition to just ignore such agreements? Well, great.
by darth_avocado
8 subcomments
- The stock is up 5% today. What’s the catch?
by fiftyacorn
0 subcomment
- Let me check who the second largest shareholder is - ah its bill gates
by written-beyond
0 subcomment
- Whenever I read John Deere my brain somehow adds Louis Rossman in there too.
by thelastgallon
0 subcomment
- > providing third parties with the technology to diagnose and repair
This means only John Deere's authorized contractors, which is going to be pretty costly.
- Just buy a Mahindra tractor and get done with it! Quality might be iffy but you can repair it to your heart's content
by mothballed
0 subcomment
- I bought a ~completely mechanical tractor without ECU right under the 25hp cutoff that requires computer and emissions controls to get around this bullshit. The adding of DPF and/or SCR to agricultural diesels gave vendors cover to fuck the customer using the excuse of preventing emissions tampering.
by shevy-java
0 subcomment
- Good! Wonder if Louis Rossmann already mentioned that.
- Needs another zero, likely made 9 figures in revenue from this scheme.
- this is awesome. beyond happy to see it
- Up to one third of that $99m goes to attorneys. Named plaintiffs get $25k each and class members get what's left over, which could be anything from $50 to $5k according to ChatGPT.
I wonder if they'll throw in free credit monitoring with that?
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