The Biden administration is seeking exemptions to antitrust laws that would make it easier to repair ice cream machines at McDonald’s and other chain restaurants.
McDonald’s has become the butt of many an internet joke regarding the frequent inoperability of its ice cream machines. Currently, only technicians certified by the machine manufacturers are allowed to repair the machines, pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice’s antitrust division wrote a letter to the U.S. Copyright Office this past week, calling for DMCA exemptions for “commercial soft serve machines” used at McDonald’s and other restaurants, according to Fox News Business.
“In the Agencies’ view, renewing and expanding repair-related exemptions would promote competition in markets for replacement parts, repair, and maintenance services, as well as facilitate competition in markets for repairable products,” the letter reads, noting that broken machines can slap restaurants with more than $600 in daily losses.
“There are long wait times for authorizer repairs,” the letter continued. “A licensed repair technician charges over $300 per 15 minutes.”
The FTC has been flooded with complaints from consumers and franchise owners citing lengthy weight times for approved, licensed repairs on ice cream machines were costing stores money and leading to long lines for customers.
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The FTC formally opened its investigation into McDonald’s ice cream machines in 2021.
The White House did not comment on the DMCA exemptions sought by FTC and DOJ.
