McDonald’s to Repair Ice Cream Machines: Customers Excited About the Update

McDonald’s has gained the legal ability to conduct repairs on its ice cream machines, following a significant ruling from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the U.S. Copyright Office.

The debate surrounding the right to repair products that consumers own has been a long-standing issue across various sectors, mainly because many businesses restrict purchasers from carrying out their maintenance.

A particularly well-known instance of this phenomenon is the infamously malfunctioning ice cream machines at McDonald’s, which have become a source of humor on social media platforms.

Previously, the manufacturer of these machines, Taylor Company, held exclusive copyrights, meaning only they were authorized to service the equipment. Fortunately, a collaborative initiative from the FTC and the Copyright Office has paved the way for a shift in this policy.

McDonald’s began offering ice cream as part of its menu in the 1940s.

In a ruling dated October 25, the U.S. Copyright Office granted an exemption to Taylor Company’s copyright, enabling McDonald’s to repair their ice cream machines independently.

This decision follows a supportive comment filed by the FTC in March. FTC Chair Lina Khan announced this milestone in a post on X on October 30.

“Thanks to the U.S. Copyright Office, McDonald’s franchisees can now repair their own ice cream machines. The FTC backed this change with a comment in March, and we remain committed to safeguarding the public’s right to repair,” she stated.

Thanks to @CopyrightOffice, McDonald’s franchisees now have the right to repair their own ice cream machines. In March @FTC filed a comment in support of this change, and we’ll keep using our tools to protect people’s right to repair. https://t.co/vzLV15dUEk https://t.co/r13FaYHoIp

— Lina Khan (@linakhanFTC) October 30, 2024

In response to the announcement, many users took to the replies to express their views on this development.

“Happy to see this come to fruition,” noted one user.

Another added: “You [Lina Khan] seem to juggle everything effortlessly, how is that possible?”

A third user remarked: “Finally, you’re addressing real concerns,”

This update is part of a series of actions by the FTC this October. On October 21, Khan announced the enforcement of a ruling that prohibits view botting during live streams and the purchase of followers on social media, making these practices illegal.

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Image Credit: Dexerto.com