McDonald's Granted Right to Repair McFlurry Machines
The US Copyright Office has approved an exemption allowing third-party repairs on McDonald's ice cream machines, lifting previous restrictions under the DMCA.
- The exemption permits franchise owners to bypass digital locks on McDonald's ice cream machines for repair purposes.
- This decision follows a petition by iFixit and Public Knowledge, supported by the FTC and DOJ.
- The exemption is part of a broader set of changes to Section 1201 of the DMCA, impacting various commercial food preparation equipment.
- Despite the exemption, selling or distributing tools to bypass software locks remains illegal, posing challenges for independent repair efforts.
- The exemption, effective October 28, aims to reduce the downtime of McDonald's ice cream machines, notorious for frequent breakdowns.
Engadget 
The Verge 