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https://qz.com/mcdonalds-broken-ice-cream-machines-federal-regulators-1851339089
Federal regulators want to fix McDonald's broken ice cream machines, and they're asking to expand right-to-repair laws to address the issue. In a letter to the U.S. Copyright Office on Thursday, regulators asked for commercial soft-serve machines to be exempt from current laws making them difficult to repair. The laws also make it more difficult for you to get a McFlurry.
"In the Agencies' view, renewing and expanding repair-related exemptions would promote competition in markets for replacement parts, repair, and maintenance services," said the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission in a joint letter.
The McDonald's broken ice cream machines have found themselves at the center of the right-to-repair movement. The reason McDonald's ice cream machines are always down is because of copyright law. Only technicians licensed by the company that made the device are allowed to touch the machines, and they charge over $300 for a 15-minute servicing, according to the letter. The DOJ and the FTC identified commercial soft-serve machines as one of four device categories that would benefit from an easing of copyright laws.
(Score: 0, Troll) by DadaDoofy on Thursday July 04 2024, @07:13PM (1 child)
"The reason McDonald's ice cream machines are always down is because of copyright law."
What a ridiculous assertion. McDonald's voluntarily, and of their own free will, entered into a contractual agreement with "the company that made the device". If they don't like what the company charges to fix the machines, they can source them from another manufacturer or make their own.
This is just another example of this site's crusade against private property and copyright protection thereof. What incentive do creators have to create if their means of making a living can be freely stolen, by each according to their need? In any case, good luck with this. Thankfully, the US Supreme Court has just shot down regulators' ability to cook up their own laws.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Mykl on Sunday July 07 2024, @04:19AM
You've missed the point.
While McDonald's Corporate entered into the contract willingly, the franchisees did not. Further, there is strong evidence / proof of corruption in the deal, with executives who work at Corporate having a commercial interest in the repair company, essentially meaning that they personally profit when one of the machines goes down.
This sort of conflict of interest is illegal in most countries (I am not a US lawyer, so can't comment on the situation there), and for good reason.
As to your "they can source them from another manufacturer or make their own" - the point is that the franchisees can't do that without the approval of Corporate who, as we noted above, profit handsomely from the current situation.
This is far from a free market situation, and absolutely nowhere near IP theft at all.