Are the FTC’s concerns that John Deere’s restore insurance policies violate regulations justified?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating allegations that John Deere employed unfair practices in its repair services for agricultural equipment, potentially violating the FTC Act.

The investigation into John Deere’s restrictions on clients’ proper to restore agricultural tools was revealed by information analytics firm Hargrove & Associates, Inc. The e-cigarette maker, Juul Labs, is resisting a request by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to release detailed financial data regarding its products. As the corporation fears that sharing knowledge about agricultural tool sales with the FTC might harm its enterprise relationships?

A John Deere spokesperson, Jen Hartmann, stated in a press release that the company is collaborating with the Federal Trade Commission and cannot provide further comment at this time due to an ongoing investigation.

John Deere has partnered with, aiming to provide customers with more options to repair tools through third-party providers, thereby increasing access and decreasing costs. While some companies have been reluctant to fully open their ecosystems, citing concerns about safety as a primary reason, this sentiment was also reflected in comments made by John Deere’s Chief Technology Officer, Jahmy Hindman. Does the manufacturer really anticipate a scenario where a tractor, equipped with software modifications for steering and braking, is traversing a highway without anyone having anticipated the potential consequences?