# There's New Legal Drama Around McDonald’s Soft Serve Machines **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 29, 2021, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024 "2021-04-29T11:02:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2021, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024/121 "2021-09-04T20:15:33Z")
From what I’ve seen, McDonald’s franchisees have a lot less freedom in how to operate their restaurants than most other franchises. ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2021, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024/122 "2021-09-04T22:09:31Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Your post assumes that someone at McDonald’s corp isn’t getting kick backs from Taylor. Yes, I am assuming that, because I don’t believe that the executives who _weren’t_ getting paid off would look the other way. They’d have a huge incentive to eliminate career rivals and end corporate inefficiency by stopping crooked executives. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2021, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024/123 "2021-09-05T00:08:40Z")
There are many ways to monetize your decision making power without directly getting a bung from a supplier. ---
**Author:** ![LegendHasit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/legendhasit/32/8246_2.png) [@LegendHasit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LegendHasit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024/124 "2021-09-06T14:10:36Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > Even if “McDonald’s” has its own in-house technicians, they wouldn’t be in-house for the franchisees Yes, the owner-operator must sponsor them for factory training. ---
**Author:** ![LegendHasit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/legendhasit/32/8246_2.png) [@LegendHasit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LegendHasit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024/125 "2021-09-06T14:15:21Z")
No, the factory trains McD in house techs sponsored by the owner operator. Has been that way for a long time. I know McD techs. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024/126 "2021-09-06T14:17:58Z")
Then why do franchisees call the Taylor employed techs if they have their own in house tech? ---
**Author:** ![LegendHasit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/legendhasit/32/8246_2.png) [@LegendHasit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LegendHasit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024/127 "2021-09-06T14:18:23Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Also (at least, according to the prior information), training isn’t even enough to be able to repair (really, just reset) the machines: One also needs special equipment made only by the company. And when someone else managed to make a cheaper (i.e., not extortionate) device that does the same thing, franchisees were prohibited from using it. I know McD techs trained by the factory. They are trained to fully service and repair any units McD buys from the factory. McD uses equipment from various manufacturers, so the owner operators have options. ---
**Author:** ![LegendHasit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/legendhasit/32/8246_2.png) [@LegendHasit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LegendHasit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024/128 "2021-09-06T14:21:54Z")
maybe some don’t send them for the certification/training. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024/129 "2021-09-06T14:26:01Z")
Maybe the techs you’re thinking of service other appliances, such as the fryers, refrigerators, or griddles? ---
**Author:** ![LegendHasit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/legendhasit/32/8246_2.png) [@LegendHasit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LegendHasit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024/130 "2021-09-06T14:29:20Z")
Nope, have a friend, McD IHT, who went to the factory last year to learn how to service the OP equipment and have interacted with some McD owner/operators (franchisees) who enrolled them in the training. The factory is generous in its training for McD owner/operators in equipment servicing by certified IHT and for their operators (employees) for everyday use and maintenance of the equipment. This is what’s missing from the expose videos linked in this thread. Just want to fill in the blanks for anyone seeking the SD. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024/131 "2021-09-06T14:48:20Z")
Got a cite? or is it all just “trust me; i know people”? Because frankly, that “information” is worthless. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024/132 "2021-09-06T14:53:49Z")
I didn’t understand “McDonald’s has its own in-house technicians” to mean that " An owner-operator of a McDonald’s franchise can sponsor employees to get trained" . But even so, in the very next sentence I said > [@doreen](#): > > A large franchisee _might_ be able to get their own employees trained by the factory if corporate can - but that wouldn’t work for a franchisee who owns only a couple of locations. The training is certainly [not free](https://lms.tayloratlas.com/TechTraining/overview/mcdonalds) to the owner operator and it would likely not be cost effective for someone who owns one or two locations to pay for the training and hire a full-time employee just to fix the machines at two locations\* -although if the training fees are not meant to provide revenue to Taylor, I wonder why > This certification is valid for five years from the date of the exam as long as the individual remains under the employment of the Owner/Operator or Franchisee who sponsored their attendance in the course. I mean, it’s not like the technician loses the knowledge if s/he starts working for a different owner/operator. \* Or to pay for multiple people to be trained and have servicing the equipment be just a part of their job ( for example, paying for the managers to be trained) ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024/133 "2021-09-07T00:57:00Z")
the funny thing is a lot of companies are trying to push this style of repair in the car industry A honda diagnostic computer will only tell a honda certified tech/mechanic what’s wrong with it in codes that will only be able to be understood by said worker who will fix with specially made parts because the computer of the car won’t be able to accept anything else due to DRM thereby locking out joes corner shop who won’t have the knowledge computers or parts out of the business ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024/134 "2021-09-07T01:00:11Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > I just realized, are there other fast food conspiracy theories? > > I subscribe to the “Big Mac was altered at some point” conspiracy, if the patty wasn’t made smaller I think they made the bun bigger because I remember being able to see the patty protrude from the bun 25 years ago. lookup a guy called MATPAT (caps are mine)on youtube he documents internet/conspiracy theories on just about everything… some tongue in cheek and some serious… but they are categorized by subject ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2021, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024/135 "2021-09-07T01:07:34Z")
> [@LegendHasit](#): > > Nope, have a friend, McD IHT, who went to the factory last year to learn how to service the OP It’s good to see the McD has responded to the complaints described in this thread. I certainly took them long enough. Perhaps the threat of court action helped. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024/136 "2021-09-08T04:39:23Z")
Saw one of those photo-meme things on Facebook, where McDonald’s purportedly had a sign: “We serve crispy chicken sandwiches on Sundays.” … with the follow-up photo from supposedly neighboring Chick-Fil-A: “Our shake machines always work.” (I don’t care if the whole thing was Photoshopped; I found the exchange hilarious.) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024/137 "2021-09-08T04:49:21Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Got a cite? or is it all just “trust me; i know people”? Yeah, I believe I asked that before and got no response. If all of what you are saying is true, considering all that is going on legally in McDonaldland stuff like this should be out there readily available. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2023, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024/138 "2023-12-17T08:36:35Z")
Bump: Two years later, there are new developments in the legal case. > **[McDonald’s Ice Cream Machine Hackers Say They Found the ‘Smoking Gun’ That...](https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/12/this-smoking-gun-killed-the-mcdonalds-ice-cream-hackers-startup/)** > > Kytch, the company that tried to fix McDonald’s broken ice cream machines, has unearthed a 3-year-old email it says proves claims of an alleged plot to undermine their business. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2024, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024/139 "2024-10-26T06:42:45Z")
Bump again: > **[US Copyright Office “frees the McFlurry,” allowing repair of ice cream machines](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/10/us-copyright-office-frees-the-mcflurry-allowing-repair-of-ice-cream-machines/)** > > Soft-serve machines get a not-quite-parfait exemption to DMCA circumvention rule. Exemption granted. Third-party repair of these machines will evidently now be permitted. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2024, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024/140 "2024-10-26T11:17:46Z")
And suddenly, they won’t need as many repairs anymore. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-new-legal-drama-around-mcdonald-s-soft-serve-machines/941024.md?page=8)