US Copyright Office “frees the McFlurry,” allowing repair of ice cream machines

A new exemption for diagnosing, maintaining, and repairing retail-level commercial food preparation equipment has been recommended. This allows users to bypass software protections for repair purposes. The exemption primarily affects devices like soft-serve ice cream machines used in restaurants, which often have unintuitive error codes and locked service menus. Proponents argued that accessing these protected systems is necessary for timely repairs, preventing revenue loss. The exemption received support from several government agencies but does not include industrial food preparation equipment.