Never even tasted one. But I'm sure many will be happy to hear about it.


U.S. Copyright Office issued a new set of exemptions last week that allows restaurants to repair equipment used in "retail-level commercial food preparation," which includes the soft-serve ice cream machines used to make McFlurrys.

Public Knowledge, a consumer advocacy group, and e-commerce website iFixit petitioned the U.S. Copyright Office for the exemption, which went into effect earlier on Monday.

https://www.oann.com/newsroom/u-s-copyright-office-permits-mcdonalds-to-repair-ice-cream-machines

I know there might be a control system, but why is software involved in a mechanical device? This piece of equipment is mostly freezing/chilling device, pumping mechanism, and a storage containers. Sounds like we need to rid the world of software-based machinery.

 

QuoteMr. Trump spends a couple of hours working at McDonald's and already the ice cream machines are getting fixed.

Is there anything he can't do?

 

Quote from: Sick Of Silence on November 02, 2024, 08:52:44 AMI know there might be a control system, but why is software involved in a mechanical device? This piece of equipment is mostly freezing/chilling device, pumping mechanism, and a storage containers. Sounds like we need to rid the world of software-based machinery.

 

 

The machines have a computer interface that used to set up and perform maintenance and troubleshooting on the machine; it has a computer controller to operate the mechanical parts of the machine (motors, valves, sensors for the dispenser switch, etc.) the issue was that Taylor, the machine manufacturer, had an exclusive deal with McDonalds to service the machine, and it was impossible to service the machine without the Taylor software system to "unlock" the maintenance screens.  Taylor charged a ridiculous amount of money to send a service tech to service the machines, and the franchisees had to pay this. The ruling allows other companies to be able to bypass the Taylor software lock on the maintenance system and provide this capability to the franchises for a much less expensive amount than Taylor was charging.

There are a number of articles on the Web about the history behind this decision, just search for "mcdonalds taylor ice cream"...

Software locks (sometimes referred to as DRM, or Digital Rights Management), are prevalent in many industries and businesses: Farm Equipment, Automotive, Entertainment media, medical devices, etc.  The  Federal DMCA law makes bypassing or removing DRM illegal.

Didn't John Deer have issues with this (DRM).

Quote from: Sick Of Silence on November 02, 2024, 08:52:44 AMSounds like we need to rid the world of software-based machinery.

Quote from: Rick on November 03, 2024, 10:29:30 AMDidn't John Deer have issues with this (DRM).

The Taylor company was started in 1926. How were we able to have ice cream without computers?

How were we able to farm without computers?

Etc...

Quote from: Solar on November 01, 2024, 02:08:42 PMNever even tasted one. But I'm sure many will be happy to hear about it.


U.S. Copyright Office issued a new set of exemptions last week that allows restaurants to repair equipment used in "retail-level commercial food preparation," which includes the soft-serve ice cream machines used to make McFlurrys.

Public Knowledge, a consumer advocacy group, and e-commerce website iFixit petitioned the U.S. Copyright Office for the exemption, which went into effect earlier on Monday.

https://www.oann.com/newsroom/u-s-copyright-office-permits-mcdonalds-to-repair-ice-cream-machines

Your shitting me! So it was stupid govt rules behind mcdonalds ice cream machine outages all along! Goodness! They screw everything up!

Why in the world did mcdonalds ever enter into this agreement in the first place?

Quote from: T Hunt on November 04, 2024, 04:30:47 PMYour shitting me! So it was stupid govt rules behind mcdonalds ice cream machine outages all along! Goodness! They screw everything up!

Why in the world did mcdonalds ever enter into this agreement in the first place?

Follow the money.