McDonald’s iconic soft-serve ice cream machines, notorious for frequent breakdowns, have long been the subject of jokes, memes, and even political commentary. The machines’ chronic unreliability has earned them a special place in the public imagination, even inspiring McBroken, an online tracker for malfunctioning units across the U.S.
A new exemption to copyright law, which went into effect this week, may finally offer a solution to the frustrating issue. The change allows McDonald’s to speed up repairs to its ice cream machines, improving service and potentially enhancing the fast-food giant’s reputation.
Previously, repairs to the machines could only be carried out by the manufacturers, due to protections under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The law made it illegal for third-party technicians—such as McDonald’s employees or franchise owners—to override the digital locks embedded in the machines’ software.
But now, with the implementation of the new rule, third-party vendors are legally permitted to repair “retail-level commercial food preparation equipment,” which includes McDonald’s ice cream machines. This development was highlighted by 404 Media journalist Jason Koebler during an interview with NPR’s Weekend Edition.
The move is a victory for the broader “right to repair” movement, which advocates for laws requiring manufacturers to make repair tools, parts, and service information accessible to consumers and independent repair businesses. This campaign gained momentum in recent years, especially after tech companies like Apple began allowing customers to repair their own devices. In 2021, Apple announced it would sell parts and tools to customers for DIY iPhone repairs.
Though the rule applies to a variety of food-prep equipment, McDonald’s ice cream machines have emerged as a particularly potent symbol of the issue. The machines have even become a focal point in the U.S. presidential race. Two days before the new rule took effect, former President Donald Trump posted a photoshopped image on X (formerly Twitter) of President Joe Biden holding an ice cream cone, promising, “WHEN I’M PRESIDENT THE MCDONALD’S ICE CREAM MACHINES WILL WORK GREAT AGAIN!”
However, it’s possible the Biden administration already took action on the matter. In March, both the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Justice Department backed the right-to-repair petitioners, urging the U.S. Copyright Office to approve the exemption.
Advocacy groups like iFixit, an online repair resource, and Public Knowledge, a nonprofit consumer rights organization, led the charge for the change.
“This is a significant step forward,” iFixit wrote in a blog post celebrating the new rule. However, the group noted that the ruling doesn’t go far enough. While it now allows repairs to be made, iFixit’s Elizabeth Chamberlain cautioned that the rule doesn’t allow independent technicians to share or distribute the tools necessary for those repairs.
Despite this limitation, the ruling marks a key milestone in the ongoing fight for consumer rights and access to repairable products, particularly in the fast-food industry.
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