Wired (January 16)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is suing John Deere and this could mark “a tipping point for right-to-repair.” Deere has prevented farmers and third-party mechanics from making repairs by placing “limitations on its operational software, meaning certain features and calibrations on its tractors can only be unlocked by mechanics who have the right digital key.” Following “years of complaints” about these policies, repairability advocates see the FTC’s suit as “a milestone for consumer rights.”
Tags: Calibrations, Complaints, Consumer rights, Digital key, Farmers, FTC, John Deere, Limitations, Mechanics, Operational software, Repairability, Tipping point, Tractors
WARC (May 3)
“Political leaders in France and the US have been publicly critical of companies for making products smaller while maintaining the existing price, but South Korea’s government is one of the first to legislate against it.” The Korea Fair Trade Commission “will now require producers that downsize products to put notices on packages, websites, or at stores for the three months following the change.”
Tags: Companies, Critical, Downsize, France, FTC, Legislate, Notices, Packages, Political leaders, Price, Products, Smaller, South Korea, Stores, U.S., Websites
