US Copyright Office Grants McDonald's Right to Repair Ice Cream Machines

Franchisees can now bypass digital locks to fix machines, ending Taylor's repair monopoly.

The exemption allows McDonald's franchisees to repair their ice cream machines without relying solely on the manufacturer, Taylor Company.
Previously, only Taylor technicians could fix the machines due to digital locks protected under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
The decision was influenced by a petition from iFixit and Public Knowledge, aiming to improve repairability in the commercial food industry.
Despite the exemption, the tools needed to bypass the digital locks are not legal to sell or distribute, posing a challenge for franchisees.
The ruling is expected to reduce downtime for McDonald's ice cream machines, which are frequently reported as broken.