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As reported previously on SN, McFlurry machines have been at the centre of arguments about Copyright vs the Right to Repair. Now it seems that the US Copyright Office have delivered a victory to McDonalds Franchisees and third parties by allowing them to bypass the Technological Protection Measures (TPM) to repair the devices.
The final rule adopted by Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden was based on recommendations made by Shira Perlmutter, the register of copyrights and director of the US Copyright Office. The ruling came in the ninth triennial proceeding to determine exemptions under Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The process provides exemptions for the next three years to "the prohibition against circumvention of technological measures that effectively control access to copyrighted works."
"The Register recommends adopting a new exemption covering diagnosis, maintenance, and repair of retail-level commercial food preparation equipment because proponents sufficiently showed, by a preponderance of the evidence, adverse effects on the proposed noninfringing uses of such equipment," the Register's findings said.
Opposition to the change came from McDonalds corporate and the machine manufacturers, Taylor Company, as well as the Entertainment Software Association, Motion Picture Association, and Recording Industry Association of America
For those who enjoy a punny good time:
The change should "spark a flurry of third-party repair activity and enable businesses to better serve their customers," Rose said. "While we are disappointed that the Register recommended a narrower exemption than we had proposed, this does not soften our enthusiasm. We will continue to chip away at half-baked laws blocking the right to repair, sprinkling consumer victories as we go. Today's win may not be parfait, but it's still pretty sweet."
(Score: 2) by Mykl on Tuesday October 29, @05:14AM (2 children)
Translation: "It doesn't affect me, therefore it shouldn't affect anyone"
For those who actually do go McDonalds (and there are a lot of them!) it's a massive pain in the butt. It's also a massive pain for the franchisees who are trying to run a business with one arm tied behind their back by corporate. There is also the wider issue of commercial Right to Repair which may affect you later when it comes to your car, washing machine or some other appliance. This win may help secure your rights in those other scenarios.
Or the cHiLdReN sTaRvInG iN aFrIcA!
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Tuesday October 29, @12:58PM (1 child)
No, the translation is, is this REALLY one of life's greatest nuisances? Has this EVER been "OMG, this is the worst thing EVAR!" for anyone in the entire world?
Have YOU gone to McToilets and said, "Oh COME ON, DUDE! SHIT, IMMA GONNA DIE IF I DON'T GET A MCFURRY!"? If so, you have a very sheltered life.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 3, Informative) by weirsbaski on Wednesday October 30, @05:34AM
I feel like "one of life's greatest" wasn't meant to be taken literally, that was a tongue-in-cheek joke to make the subject more interesting. And the word "nuisance" only means inconvenient or annoying, if this really was a "IMMA GONNA DIE IF ..." situation they wouldn't have used the frikkin word "nuisance" to begin with...