McDonald’s ice cream machines have gained a reputation for frequently being out of service when customers visit the restaurant. This is largely due to strict copyright laws that restrict unauthorized technicians from repairing the machines. The manufacturers require technicians to be specially licensed and they put locks on the machines to prevent unauthorized repairs.
However, 404 Media discovered a new federal ruling, announced on Friday, that allows technicians to legally bypass the locks on McDonald’s ice cream machines. This ruling will enable more technicians to repair the machines, which is considered a victory for the right to repair movement.
iFixit, known for providing repair guides to the tech community, shared a demonstration of how to bypass the locks on McFlurry machines last year. They showed that a simple device can be used to unlock the machines, despite McDonald’s previous request for franchise owners not to use such devices. Now, franchise owners are free to utilize these methods.
