Victory Is Sweet: We Can Now Fix McDonald's Ice Cream Machines
The U.S. Copyright Office has allowed legal repairs of McDonald's ice cream machines, enabling bypassing digital locks, but sharing repair tools remains prohibited, highlighting ongoing challenges for the Right to Repair movement.
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The U.S. Copyright Office has granted a significant exemption allowing the legal repair of commercial food preparation equipment, including McDonald’s ice cream machines, which have been notorious for frequent malfunctions. This ruling enables owners and technicians to bypass digital locks that previously restricted access to repair information, a situation that has left many machines inoperable for extended periods. However, while this is a notable advancement for the Right to Repair movement, challenges remain. The ruling does not permit the sharing or distribution of tools necessary for repairs, limiting accessibility for many franchise owners and independent repair shops. Additionally, broader exemptions for other commercial and industrial equipment were not granted, leaving many businesses still reliant on manufacturer-authorized repairs. The ruling highlights ongoing tensions between consumer rights and manufacturer control over repair processes. Advocates are pushing for further reforms in copyright law to enhance repair rights and access to necessary tools. The fight for comprehensive repair rights continues, with hopes for future legislation, including the Freedom to Repair Act in the U.S. and similar initiatives in Canada.
- The U.S. Copyright Office has allowed legal repairs of McDonald's ice cream machines.
- Digital locks that hindered repairs can now be bypassed, but tools for repairs cannot be shared.
- Broader exemptions for other commercial equipment were denied, maintaining manufacturer control.
- The ruling is a step forward for the Right to Repair movement but highlights ongoing challenges.
- Advocates are seeking further reforms in copyright law to improve repair rights.
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- Many commenters discuss the ongoing issues with the machines, citing maintenance and training as key factors in their frequent breakdowns.
- There is skepticism about McDonald's commitment to resolving these issues, with some suggesting it serves as a marketing strategy.
- Several users express frustration with the DMCA and its implications for repair rights, advocating for broader rights to repair beyond just ice cream machines.
- Some comments highlight the potential for positive change in Canada regarding repair legislation, contrasting it with the U.S. situation.
- Humor and sarcasm are prevalent, with users making light of the situation and the absurdity of the ongoing debate.
39 commentsHaving worked at a fast food join (not McDonalds) much earlier in my life, any lacking maintenance and proper cleaning, especially if there has been a power outage will turn the the machine into a rapid incubator for bacteria that will make you ill.
Since shifts change and not everyone keeps on the machine, a power outrage can quickly be lost to the workers.
Getting angry if an employee tells you the machine is broken and demanding ice-cream is an exceedingly bad idea. Take that as a blessing. The employee may have saved you from running to the bathroom a lot.
I personally stay away from softicecream entirely. But if you must, try to find a place where a lot of people are buying so the machine is in frequent use. That doesn't mean its safe but it makes it a lot more likely.
Of course not being used frequently is not an automatic reason for the machine to be in incubator mode, it may will be well cared for, well cleaned, great maintenance.
That's good news, I didn't know about that bill. It looks like it was voted for unanimously in parliament. It's nice when you hear about our government doing something good for once.
McDonald's ice cream machines are always broken and now the feds are involved - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40832988 - June 2024 (2 comments)
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The Real Reason McDonald's Ice Cream Machines Are Always Broken [video] - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38232983 - Nov 2023 (2 comments)
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Sure we focus on the big brain things like copyright, business malpractice and MBA lore but with it comes McDonald's embedded.
I know this might sound a bit snobby, but just don't play the game, ignore them. If there is criminal activity let who gets paid deal with it, otherwise just move on and stop "fixing" problems that are not of your concern, let alone "fixing" them for free.
Chamberlain v. Skylink, final court of appeals for the federal circuit opinion, page 39:
"Underlying Chamberlain’s argument on appeal that it has not granted such authorization lies the necessary assumption that Chamberlain is entitled to prohibit legitimate purchasers of its embedded software from “accessing” the software by using it.
Such an entitlement, however, would go far beyond the idea that the DMCA allows copyright owner to prohibit “fair uses . . . as well as foul.” Reimerdes, 111 F. Supp. 2d at 304.
Chamberlain’s proposed construction would allow copyright owners to prohibit exclusively fair uses even in the absence of any feared foul use.
It would therefore allow any copyright owner, through a combination of contractual terms and technological measures, to repeal the fair use doctrine with respect to an individual copyrighted work—or even selected copies of that copyrighted work. Again, this implication contradicts § 1201(c)(1) directly. Copyright law itself authorizes the public to make certain uses of copyrighted materials. Consumers who purchase a product containing a copy of embedded software have the inherent legal right to use that copy of the software. What the law authorizes, Chamberlain cannot revoke." (Emphasis mine)
> Video Game Accessibility:
> Unfortunately, the exemption allowing circumvention of digital locks on video games for accessibility purposes (introduced in 2021) was not renewed. No petition for renewal was submitted, and as a result, individuals with disabilities who need alternative input methods to play video games are left out.
TL;DW: there are some perverse incentives to keep them broken. Basically the owner operators are forced to use a particular brand by corporate. Corporate McDonalds has a deal with a particular ice cream machine company. That particular company is the only company owner operators are allowed to buy from, and the only company allowed to service the machines. And it's no skin off of McDonald's back for these machines to always be broken, the cost falls on the owner-operators.
- Are the machines listed as "broken" on https://mcbroken.com/ actually broken? Or is that more of a meme, with many just undergoing routine cleaning, etc.?
- Why does this seemingly happen only in US? In European McDonald's it's pretty much unheard of.
- Why would McDonald's Corp. be happy with the status quo? Is it some kind of tactic to squeeze more revenue from the franchises? If so, why not address it in the franchise agreement and just let restaurants sell more ice cream?
Is this a uniquely American thing because I can’t remember ever having a “sorry our machine is down” in Ontario.
The oirginal palin txet of tihs msesage was put trhough a porprietary ecnryption aglorithm I cerated, and waht you see hree is the rseulting cpyher txet. It is illegal for you to rveerse my porprietary ecnryption aglorithm.
I wnat tihs on a TS-hirt.
Under no circumstances should we need an exemption from the copyright office just to be able to repair an ice cream machine. It's not even a permanent exemption! The DMCA causes many weird problems.
> This time, the FTC and DOJ even weighed in to support our petition.
See also:
https://www.ifixit.com/News/92942/the-ftc-and-doj-call-for-i...
Elections matter.
Clickbait of the weirdest kind - the totally unnecessary one. They could have gone with more truthful "We're now allowed to" with the same amount of impact... right?
Related
McDonald's ice cream machines are always broken and now the feds are involved
Federal regulators are pushing for right-to-repair laws to address McDonald's broken ice cream machines, supplied by Taylor. Current restrictions lead to high costs, delays, and financial losses. Regulators aim to enhance repair accessibility and competition.
Federal Appeals Court Rules Fair Use May Be Narrowed to Serve Hollywood Profits
The D.C. Circuit Court upheld Section 1201 of the DMCA, limiting fair use and raising concerns about corporate favoritism and government overreach, while the EFF plans to advocate for individual rights.
Companies Lobby Against Giving the Military the Right to Repair
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Companies Are Simply Ignoring Many New State 'Right to Repair' Laws
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Disability Rights Are Technology Rights
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