Apr 19, 2020 05:03 AM
(This post was last modified: Apr 19, 2020 05:19 AM by C C.)
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-19/r...c/12156196
EXCERPT: The 'right to repair' movement has finally bent the ear of Australia's competition and consumer watchdog, the ACCC, in its pleas to be able to fix their own farm equipment. An ACCC inquiry will examine whether international tractor manufacturers are failing Australian farmers who want access to software tools and parts to repair their own machinery.
Farmers in places as far-flung as America's Midwest to Australia's grain belts are complaining about an increasing technological burden being thrust upon them — software malfunctions that can leave $800,000 pieces of farm machinery sitting idle in paddocks. Farm machinery owners must then wait for authorised repairers to fix the problem.
[...] The ACCC has already spoken to the five major importers or manufacturers of large-scale farm machinery, now it's seeking input from farmers. ...
Farmers have emerged as an unlikely force in the global right to repair movement. The movement eschews the disposable culture of consumer electronics in favour of letting independent repairers and home tinkerers fix broken smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Proponents want access to the code that makes modern machines hum, putting them at loggerheads with tech giants including Apple who own the proprietary software.
In the United States, farmers have risked voiding their warranties by hacking their own John Deere tractors with torrented software so they can carry out their own repairs.... (MORE - details)
EXCERPT: The 'right to repair' movement has finally bent the ear of Australia's competition and consumer watchdog, the ACCC, in its pleas to be able to fix their own farm equipment. An ACCC inquiry will examine whether international tractor manufacturers are failing Australian farmers who want access to software tools and parts to repair their own machinery.
Farmers in places as far-flung as America's Midwest to Australia's grain belts are complaining about an increasing technological burden being thrust upon them — software malfunctions that can leave $800,000 pieces of farm machinery sitting idle in paddocks. Farm machinery owners must then wait for authorised repairers to fix the problem.
[...] The ACCC has already spoken to the five major importers or manufacturers of large-scale farm machinery, now it's seeking input from farmers. ...
Farmers have emerged as an unlikely force in the global right to repair movement. The movement eschews the disposable culture of consumer electronics in favour of letting independent repairers and home tinkerers fix broken smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Proponents want access to the code that makes modern machines hum, putting them at loggerheads with tech giants including Apple who own the proprietary software.
In the United States, farmers have risked voiding their warranties by hacking their own John Deere tractors with torrented software so they can carry out their own repairs.... (MORE - details)