Why The US Government Wants To Fix McDonald’s Broken Ice Cream Machines

Reading Time: 3 minutes

TL;DR:

• McDonald’s ice cream machines frequently breaking down has become a widespread meme and major issue for the fast food chain
• Current laws give the machine manufacturer Taylor a monopoly on repairs, leading to high costs and long wait times
• The FTC and DOJ are requesting exemptions to copyright laws to allow third-party repairs and increase competition

Are you tired of wondering why McDonald’s ice cream machines are always broken? So is the US Government. Here’s why the FTC is stepping in to help get the McDonald’s ice cream machines fixed.

It’s a classic punchline – you pull up to the McDonald’s drive-thru, eager for a sweet frozen treat, only to be told those three dreaded words: “ice cream machine’s broken.” The situation has become so widespread that it’s earned its own pop culture status through countless memes and jokes online. But what was once a running gag is now spurring serious action from US federal regulators who are pushing to amend restrictive laws at the heart of McDonald’s perpetually out-of-service ice cream woes.

The Ice Cream Machine Repair Monopoly

At the center of the soft serve debacle are the commercial ice cream machines manufactured by a much hated Illinois-based company called Taylor. Thanks to current copyright laws, Taylor holds the exclusive rights to repair their ice cream machines used in McDonald’s locations nationwide. This legal monopoly has resulted in exorbitant repair costs, long wait times for service calls, and a lack of competition to keep repair prices in check.

When one of these specialized machines breaks down, it spits out indecipherable error codes that baffle even skilled technicians outside of Taylor’s approved circle.

With no other repair option, McDonald’s franchisees are held hostage – enduring substantial lost sales of up to $625 per day while waiting days, weeks, or even months, for a Taylor technician to arrive and fix the machine.

Why doesn’t Taylor make their ice cream machines easier to fix or allow 3rd party repair companies to repair the machines? Because approximately 25% of Taylor’s annual revenue is from repairing their broken McDonald’s ice cream machines, as well as their broken equipment at other fast food restaurant chains, including KFC, DQ, and Jack In The Box, among others.

Government Intervention

Recognizing the anticompetitive nature of these circumstances, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) have stepped in. In a comment filed to the U.S. Copyright Office, the agencies requested expanded exemptions to copyright laws that would open the door for third-party repairs on devices like McDonald’s ice cream machines.

“In the Agencies’ view, renewing and expanding repair-related exemptions would promote competition in markets for replacement parts, repair, and maintenance services,” their statement reads. The goal is to break Taylor’s monopolistic grip and introduce multiple repair options at competitive prices.

A Win for Right-to-Repair

The government’s move represents a significant victory for the wider right-to-repair movement advocating for consumer-friendly policies. For years, repair activists have challenged manufacturers’ tight controls over proprietary devices through software locks and restrictive repair monopolies.

With McDonald’s iconic ice cream machine woes now pushing federal intervention, the implications could extend far beyond fast food franchises. From tractors to smartphones, the precedent set by revising copyright exemptions may pave the way for Americans to more easily repair the digital products they own without manufacturer approval or outrageous costs.

The Future of McDonald’s Soft Serve

As summer swelters and cravings for McDonald’s shakes and McFlurries intensify, all eyes will be on the upcoming public hearings where the FTC and DOJ’s proposal will be scrutinized. If the Copyright Office rules in their favor, it could signal the beginning of the end for McDonald’s seemingly endless broken ice cream machine saga.

For customers long mocked with “ice cream machine’s down” letdowns, that sweet frozen treat may finally become a reality rather than an urban legend. And McDonald’s franchisees weary of losing profits could find themselves scooping up savings with lots of affordable local third-party repair techs.

Why are McDonald's ice cream machines always broken? Can The US Government Help Get Them Fixed? #mcdonalds #mcdonaldsicecream #mcdonaldsicecreammachines #RightToRepair #McFlurryFix Share on X