Wizard
SupporterNot sure where to post this, but it must be affecting some people on here:
Farmers driving 'right to repair' issue as legislative battle unfolds in US
Farmers driving 'right to repair' issue as legislative battle unfolds in US - ABC News
It's a modern dilemma — a customer wants to fix a broken smartphone, tablet or laptop, only to be told by the manufacturer they will have to pay top dollar at an "authorised repair centre" or fork out for a replacement.
But for farmers like Paul Green, who grows grain in Western Australia's Wheatbelt, the stakes are a lot higher than a broken iPhone.
"In my view if I'm paying $800,000 for a tractor then I own the tractor and I can do what I want with it," he said.
Wizard
SubscriberI was a spare parts manager at a JD dealership in the wheatbelt in WA for a while and it was a real problem sorting some problems as it was done via the phone to the good old usa, these farmerd rarely had phone reception so we were often called to fo it via sat phone.
Lots of ****ed off farmers
cheers
blaze
Super Moderator
A similar situation with trucks, some makes requiring ECU/BMU access to perform mundane maintenance such as a brake reline.
A mate had a new truck that was fitted with an in cab alarm for te park brake. Mine spec states the alarm has to be external, an $11,000 modification. No longer can you fit a $5 relay and secondhand Holden horn.
If you don't like trucks, stop buying stuff.
Wizard
SupporterIt was never a problem with my old truck:Originally Posted by V8Ian
old truck.jpg
Fossicker
John Deere in particular is big on this idea of “you only buy the right to use” your tractor rather than ownership per se.
So if it’s a license agreement, then shouldn’t JD be obliged to repair it at their cost when it breaks down? Or the ‘purchaser’ has a a right to functional machinery at all times?
Many farmers up our way are paying big money to purchase and refurbish the last generation of tractors pre-software to avoid this. The losses in fuel efficiency and convenience relative to a new tractor are becoming secondary to the need to repair and maintain.
YarnMaster
I'll have to chat with a young rellie of mine about this as she works for JD. Travels (or did pre virus) extensively for them.
Sounds like the same sort of complete control those that flog GM seeds have over the farmers that buy from them by not allowing seed to be kept back for the next seasons planting.
AlanH.
LordRover
SupporterI thought the issue of not being able to self serve John Deere tractors was covered by Landline on the ABC a while back and that the ACCC has said it was illegal. Could be wrong though.
REMLR 243
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ForumSage
SubscriberThe ACCC consultation closed in may and they are presumably still considering it....Purchasers of agricultural machinery survey
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
- Citizen Space
There do seem to be a few aftermarket options in the US for diagnostic and repair tools
Agriculture Kits — Diesel Laptops
Regards,
Tote
Go home, your igloo is on fire....
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Wizard
SupporterIt is a can of worms whichever way you look at it. On the one hand the manufactures have every right to protect their software, having spent huge amounts on developing it. It is no different to Microsoft or any other developer wanting a return on their investment. The difference with the likes of Microsoft is that the market amounts to millions of users, so it is a loosing battle to police it and a viable option for others to develop alternatives.
With tractors and other agricultural machinery by comparison it is a small market. It is very specialised software with a limited market and therefore not as attractive to after market developers.
As for owners being able to access the software themselves it should be remembered that although the owner has bought the hardware, he has only bought a licence to USE the software to run it. That licence does not include access to it.
As pointed out elsewhere, it is possible to connect with the manufacturer or the dealer via the Internet, PROVIDING that you have a workable connection. This is not something new, it was available back in the 1990's where I was working offshore, but via satellite. It is used today for airlines that MAY have aircraft still in the air, and I am sure Tombie will be able to tell you; in the mining industry for big earthmoving equipment.
I can well understand the farmers frustrations and the need for a better alternative, but the fact is I doubt that it will change any time soon.
If the Yanks cannot force the manufacturers to release proprietary software I see little hope for it here.
What is Proprietary Software? - Definition from Techopedia
Wizard
The issue here is that the manufacturers have gone beyond saying you cannot access or alter the software. You do not even have the right to do your own diagnostic work on the machinery if this requires access to the software. Does not sound too bad until you realise you cannot even change a light bulb without access to the diagnostic software to tell the computer the bulb has been changed.
Car manufacturers are now saying they own all the data they collect from your use of the car you purchased from them and have the right to sell this data to whom they please. This includes all future purchasers of the vehicle if you decide in the future to sell the car to someone else.
With the increasing amounts of data about your use of the vehicle and where you have used it that is being collect not just the moving parts for maintenance purposes this is an interesting one that is in the US courts at the moment. The car manufacturers see collecting and selling this data as no different to what Google already does
The EU already has the legislation in place to put a tracker in every vehicle that is registered in their territory. The Galileo satellite system was built with this function so they can make the project a cash generator and recover some of the cost. As this is a global system expect them to sell the benefits to other countries
If you combine the manufacture information and add in the satellite information you gain a fairly detailed picture of peoples lives and habits. How much is that information on the worth on the market? What new ways of taxing movement could be created?
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