Marshy Posted 4 hours ago Share Posted 4 hours ago Sweet relief may finally be on its way for McDonald’s notorious ice cream machine woes. After years of frustrated customers and broken promises of McFlurries, McDonald’s franchisees now have the legal green light to fix those notoriously glitchy ice cream machines. Thanks to a new exemption granted by the US Copyright Office, franchise owners and repair technicians now have a “right to repair” and can bypass software locks embedded in the machines’ systems and handle repairs themselves—or call in third-party help. This change, which took effect on October 28, 2024, aims to reduce downtime and improve customer satisfaction by making repairs faster and more accessible. For years, franchisees have been at the mercy of manufacturer-authorized technicians to address issues with the Taylor-made machines, which frequently break down and display cryptic error messages. The digital locks built into the machines’ software, protected under Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), made it illegal for owners to troubleshoot or repair the machines without going through the manufacturer. This often led to long waits and costly service calls, leaving customers empty-handed and ice cream machines gathering dust. The new exemption changes the game. Now, McDonald’s owners and repair pros can legally bypass the locks on commercial food equipment, including the infamous soft service machines that prompted lawsuits, to handle diagnostics and maintenance themselves. The victory comes after sustained efforts by Public Knowledge and iFixit, who successfully argued against the restrictive practices imposed by Taylor, the machine manufacturer. The change permits owners, repair technicians, and DIY enthusiasts to legally diagnose and fix these machines without waiting for costly official service calls. However, the ruling isn’t a total fix—it still comes with significant limitations. Elizabeth Chamberlain, iFixit’s director of sustainability, cautioned that while bypassing the locks is now legal, sharing or selling the tools needed to unlock the machines remains illegal under the DMCA. This creates a notable barrier for most franchisees and repair shops, who may lack the technical skills to develop the unlocking tools themselves. “The door to repair has been opened,” Chamberlain explains, but “few will be able to walk through it without significant difficulty.” While the ruling offers some relief, it highlights ongoing challenges in the right-to-repair movement. The inability to share unlocking tools leaves many franchisees dependent on costly workarounds, limiting the full impact of the exemption. Still, for jaded McDonald’s patrons tired of being turned away each time they try to satisfy a sweet tooth, it’s a huge step toward enjoying a smoother day—and more reliable soft serve. https://www.vice.com/en/article/mcdonalds-mcflurry-machine-repair-law/ https://www.ifixit.com/News/102368/victory-is-sweet-we-can-now-fix-mcdonalds-ice-cream-machines https://fox59.com/news/national-world/mcdonalds-may-finally-have-a-solution-for-its-broken-ice-cream-machine-issue/ https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/28/food/mcdonalds-broken-mcflurry-solution/index.html Image: LeraKora | Dreamstime.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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