Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →A federal copyright rule adopted in October 2024 makes it legally possible, in specific circumstances, to bypass software locks on certain restaurant food-preparation equipment for diagnosis, maintenance or repair. That may give McDonald’s restaurants more repair options for soft-serve machines, but it does not guarantee access to parts, diagnostic tools or technicians—and no reviewed source establishes that repairs have become faster or machines more available since the rule took effect.
What the federal rule allows
The exemption is part of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act’s Section 1201 rulemaking. The Librarian of Congress adopted the Register of Copyrights’ recommendation in October 2024, and the exemption is now codified at 37 CFR 201.40(b)(16). The Copyright Office said the Librarian adopted the recommendation in full in its October 25, 2024 notice.
In practical terms, qualifying users or repairers may circumvent a technological protection on lawfully acquired retail-level commercial food-preparation equipment when the circumvention is necessary for diagnosis, maintenance or repair. The regulation defines maintenance as servicing equipment so it works according to its original specifications and authorized changes; repair means restoring it to that working state.
The exemption is limited. It does not permit circumvention to gain access to other copyrighted works, and it does not cover every kind of commercial or industrial machinery. The Copyright Office’s recommendation discussed soft-serve machines and certain software-enabled ovens and refrigerators used in retail or restaurant settings, while excluding industrial-scale food-preparation equipment. See the Copyright Office’s 2024 recommendation for its analysis.
#1 Best Overall
- Powerful Performance: The high power provides continuous and long-lasting power for our soft ice cream maker. Adopts a famous brand compressor to ensure high efficiency and low noise during operation. Expansion tubes make your ice cream look more attractive while increasing yield by 25%-30%. Plus, shortage alerts will remind you to add more ingredients to the mixing hopper. With features this sweet, you can't go wrong.
- Pre-cooling & One-click Thawing: When making ice cream, pressing the KEEP-FRESH function can keep the hopper at a lower temperature, to ensure the freshness of the ingredients in the next day and maintain the taste of ice cream; in the case of a frozen cylinder, press one button to thaw, greatly saving the time waiting for the ice cream to melt.
- Smart LCD Control Panel: Our soft-serve ice cream maker features a smart digital panel for easy, real-time control. The LCD screen clearly displays ice cream quantity, while practical functions are integrated for convenience. You can adjust the texture to be firmer or softer to suit your taste. The fresh-keeping function allows ingredients to stay in the hopper overnight for better flavor, and one-click self-cleaning makes maintenance effortless.
- Well-Designed for Wide Uses: Designed in a size of 29.3"x21.3"x34", our countertop ice cream maker can perfectly fit into the commercial places. The stainless steel construction ensures enhanced durability and an eye-pleasing appearance. This unit is widely applicable for snack bars, cafés, bakeries, fast food chains, restaurants, buffets, etc.
- 22-30 L/H High Yield & 3 Optional Flavors: Our commercial ice cream maker reaches 22-30 liters (5.8-7.9 gallons) per hour. Dual 6L (1.6 gal) mixing hoppers and 2L (0.5 gal) freezing cylinders (both made of SUS304) can deliver up to 150-200 servings of ice cream (100 grams per serving) in one hour to suit your business needs. Also, 2 single flavors and 1 mixed flavor to spice up your dessert menu, allowing customers to enjoy different flavors at once. Taste the difference with every serving.
Why soft-serve machines became part of the debate
Some soft-serve machines use diagnostic error codes and software access protected by passcodes or proprietary diagnostic tools. The Copyright Office’s recommendation said such restrictions, together with concerns about possible litigation for circumvention, could inhibit repair-related work. The exemption removes a copyright anti-circumvention obstacle in the covered circumstances; it does not settle every question about who can access a particular machine or perform a repair.
The recommendation also recounts litigation involving a circumvention tool in the soft-serve machine dispute. That history should not be read as blanket permission to make, sell or distribute circumvention devices. The exemption concerns qualifying repair activity, and the Copyright Office’s analysis distinguishes that from trafficking in tools.
Rank #2
- High-Efficiency Refrigeration: This commercial ice cream machine features a high-performance compressor, powerful refrigeration,low noise. It operates seamlessly at ambient temperatures (41 to 95°F / 5 to 35°C), freezes quickly in 12 minutes, with subsequent batches ready in 6 minutes or less, and produces 10-20 liters of ice cream per hour, ensuring a constant and stable supply.
- Large Capacity: Equipped with 4L hopper capacity and a 1.6L freezer tank, this ice cream machine can produce 10-20 liters of ice cream per hour to suit your business needs. Its advanced deep puffing not only enhances the visual appeal of your ice cream but also delivers a richer, creamier texture. Additionally, it saves raw materials as well.
- LCD Touch Screen: This ice cream machine features an intuitive LCD touch screen that makes it easy to regulate the serving size, hardness and temperature of the ice cream. It is feature-rich, with a pre-cooling mode for rapid temperature reduction, a freshness system to keep ingredients fresh for a long time, and a one-touch start for the automatic cleaning program and timer setting to make fluffy and delicate ice cream easily.
- Considerate Product Details: Designed with both practicality and aesthetics in mind, this countertop ice cream machine boasts an ergonomic handle, efficient cooling vents, and a removable drip tray for added convenience. Constructed with high-quality 304 stainless steel layer, durable, rust-proof, and easy to clean, the food-grade materials ensure safety and reliability.
- Wide Application: This soft serve ice cream machine is designed to be flexible and versatile for making a variety of ice cream-based treats such as cones, waffles and cakes.Perfect for commercial use, ideal for ice cream parlors, bars, cafes, dessert shops, restaurants, supermarkets, food trucks, and any other high-demand settings.
What the rule does not guarantee
This is a narrow copyright exemption, not a general right-to-repair mandate. It does not require equipment manufacturers to supply replacement parts, diagnostic equipment, passwords, service manuals or repair services. Nor does it certify technicians or guarantee that a restaurant, employee or independent repairer has the skills, parts, access or permissions needed to complete a specific job. Other applicable laws and contracts may also matter.
- Legal eligibility: the equipment and purpose must fall within the regulation’s scope.
- Repair resources: parts, know-how, tools and service access are not supplied by the exemption.
- Results: faster repair, higher uptime and more menu availability require operational evidence; the rule itself does not establish those outcomes.
In a March 2024 comment, the FTC and DOJ supported repair-related exemptions, arguing that they could increase competition in parts, repair and maintenance markets and potentially make repairs easier or less costly for consumers and businesses. Those were the agencies’ policy arguments, not measured results from the McDonald’s-related exemption. The FTC summarized the joint position here.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Rank #3
- High Productivity & 10-35 Mins Rapid Freeze: Equipped with a powerful commercial compressor and a large 4.5L freezing cylinder, this hard ice cream machine can produce about 4.2-5.3 Gal (16-20L) of premium hard-serve per hour. With a lightning-fast 10-35 Mins rapid production cycle, it ensures a continuous, reliable supply to effortlessly handle peak-hour crowds in busy dessert shops, cafes, and restaurants.
- Silky-Smooth Texture: This commercial gelato machine Features a high-speed rotating mixer and heavy-duty dual beaters, along with advanced puffing technology, to ensure that every scoop boasts a rich, dense, and velvety-smooth texture to delight your customers and keep them coming back for more.
- Ergonomic LCD Smart Control Panel: Designed with an intuitive, sloped digital control panel, operators can easily monitor production time and quantity remaining at a glance without bending over. It integrates user-friendly, multi-functional controls—including auto refrigeration, precise timer, one-click cleaning, and real-time status updates—for ultimate commercial convenience.
- Sturdy and durable & Easy to clean: This commercial hard-serve maker features a food-grade SUS304 stainless steel refrigeration cylinder and the high-quality stainless steel fully encased shell, making it rust-proof, corrosion-resistant, easy to clean, sturdy, durable, and long-lasting. With the built-in one-button automatic cleaning function, ensuring food safety while eliminating the need for complicated maintenance, saving you time and effort.
- Compact Countertop Design & Various Menu Versatility: With its space-saving footprint (about 20.87" x 19.69" x 28.35"), this countertop frozen drink machine fits perfectly into any tight commercial line, food truck, or concession stand. From classic vanilla, chocolate, and matcha ice cream to gourmet gelato, sorbet, waffles topping, and ice cream cakes, you can create an endless variety of flavors, making it perfect for beverage shops, dessert shops, buffets, restaurants, etc.
Are McDonald’s machines actually getting fixed faster?
There is no post-rule repair-speed or national uptime statistic in the cited sources. A February 9, 2024 Axios report—published before the exemption—quoted a McDonald’s spokesperson saying the company’s sales data showed its shake machines were running “around 95% of the time across the country, depending on the local restaurant.” The figure was company-reported, described performance over the preceding couple of years and was not an independent audit. It cannot show whether the 2024 rule changed repair times or availability. The report also quoted McDonald’s describing plans for additional crew training and regular maintenance check-ups; those plans likewise predated the rule. Axios reported the company’s statement on February 9, 2024.
A Scripps News explainer characterized the exemption as allowing restaurants to have other technicians repair machines and bypass digital locks that had prevented repair. That conveys the practical significance, but the regulation’s conditions define the legal scope. Whether the change has led to quicker repairs or fewer unavailable McFlurries has not been demonstrated by the sources cited here.
What customers and restaurant operators should take away
The rule could broaden the pool of people legally able to perform certain software-dependent repair tasks on covered food-preparation equipment. It does not itself fix a machine, require a manufacturer to cooperate or promise that a restaurant will have a working machine sooner. For customers, the sensible expectation is a possible change in repair options—not proof that broken machines are a thing of the past.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
