The right for farmers to repair their own tractors (Right to repair)

Policy
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Apparently, American Farmers using John Deere Tractors have to load hacked firmware onto their equipment so that they can do basic maintenance. But risk fines and jail time because of the intellectual property laws around software in hardware.

Is this an issue that is affecting Australian Farmers at the moment?

Also this may touch on the wider issue of digital liberties, especially once we come to rely on software in devices in basic living.

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Almost no one will care, until they can’t get their “McNuggets”.

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Yes, it’s an abuse of the DMCA, whereby you may not break DRM regardless of whether your intended use of the unlocked content would otherwise count as fair use. So, it’s no use introducing a right to repair, if you would still need to violate the DMCA to exercise that right, just like you are not able the exercise your fair use rights in the face of DRM’d content.

One of the principles we introduced in the Creative Works policy was an obligation on content providers/distributers to provide necessary means for the exercise of fair use rights. It was a more rights positive stance that just banning DRM which felt too authoritarian.

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Now this is the type of policies we should be looking at. I most certainly agree with paying royalties, but I’d be inclined to remove all restrictions for use of IP, tho I most certainly think trademark should be maintained.

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Already done: from https://pirateparty.org.au/wiki/Platform#Culture_and_creative_works

Make distributors liable for technological protection measures that interfere with the exercise of free-use exceptions and exemptions.

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Is there a name for the practice of locking down software like this (eg Tivoisation)?

Propaganda words:
“If you’re not allowed to repair it / do you really own it? / {stand against {{word I don’t have} | {support the right to repair}”

“Digital Rights / Civil Rights / Your Rights”

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Late thought for {{word @alexjago doesn’t have}} above: try four words: “sale by false pretence”?

This activity ought to be illegal in Australia under extant consumer protection laws (assuming they were enforced as stated) on the basis the item as sold was not fit for purpose?

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Late late thought: “Stand against weasel sales; Support the right to repair” (substitute “fake” for “weasel” if clearer)?

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